So, what does church look like?

In just a few weeks from now Ronnie and I are taking four weeks leave to rest and recharge the batteries. At first my main intention was to take my lovely wife away after 18 months of hard slog at Aberdoon House; but increasingly I am realising how important the break might be for me.

Over the past six months there has been a significant change going on among us. Several key people who were a part of the very start of this journey have moved on and at the same time a number of newer people have put their hand up to be involved. This new cohort of people is younger and less experienced in the way of church structures or policy which makes for some interesting dynamics.

Sometime ago I used the picture of a new building site to make sense of the changes going on among us. In our beginnings we had a bit of a concrete slab of faith upon which to consider building; but we needed some scaffolding to give us something upon which to begin the journey. We have been blessed with people who were eager to be part of that scaffold and give some shape to the journey. However, there comes a time when you can begin to remove the framework and begin to see what the building might really look like. I believe that this is where we are at right now.

The problem for me right now – and this is why a holiday is going to be good – is that I am having difficulty adjusting to the new look. I quite liked the scaffold!!

As with just about everybody I have never done this kind of thing before and it is scary being seen as the ‘expert’ who doesn’t really know all that much himself! I don’t know much, but I do know that we have the nucleus of something very exciting indeed, and I want to make sure that I am in the right shape physically, mentally and spiritually to see it through.

Some of our best stuff that happens occurs away from Sunday morning. For so many congregations the Sunday worship defines who they are. I am not sure that this is so for us. Sunday is simply a component part of a whole bunch of things that define us. Some of these things are very regular such as our ministry at Aberdoon House our children’s work and home groups, others semi regular in Pub Chat, Thank God You’re Here, Family lunches, Movies and Martini’s, Dinner and Daquiri’s etc. Then we have our Big Day Out, Trivia Night, Shopping Trip, Marriage Course, Church Camp, Melbourne Cup, ANZAC Day and Christmas Eve.

I am occasionally asked by others who hear of our ministry, “John, where or what is the bridge that connects them into the church? You know, you are doing this great stuff; but when do they join the church?” My response is that we don’t have any bridges, as our belief is that they are already a part of us and that the church is much bigger than the church!

Lot’s of people don’t get that or if they do, they don’t agree with it or like it.

So the scaffolding is gone. What do you see emerging out of the mist? What do you think we will look like into the future? What are your hopes and dreams? What do you expect of my leadership for the next stage of the journey? What are some of the things that you would like me to be addressing when we do gather together on Sunday? These are not rhetorical questions; I would love to get some responses so that I can return from a break well equipped for what lies ahead.

All feedback will be gratefully received and prayerfully reflected on so that the next twelve months will be our best yet and see a great new church emerging from our corporate hopes and dreams.

Cheers - John