Second interest meeting about forming a Life-Giving community - and a fun list from our first interest meeting

On November 29 @ 10AM @ Nick and Brie's we will be holding our second meeting for those who are interested in being a part of a new community. We held our first meeting on November 8 and I thought it was really great to be with everybody. We looked briefly at Jesus' own mission statement found in John 10:10 - I have come that they might have life and life to the full. In light of Jesus' mission statement I suggested that as we dream/pray/think about a new community we will be really helped by starting a new community only if we sense that we are hearing a life-giving invitation from Jesus. In other words if/when we launch a new community we will be greatly helped if we understand that the opportunity to begin a new community is a way that Jesus could be fulfilling his mission of bringing us fullness of life.

In the spirit of experiencing life to the full, we thought together in smaller groups about what in our past we have found life-giving (I actually pitched fun as one potentially helpful world in determining if something is life-giving) in faith communities we have been a part of. I felt like some very helpful things emerged. Here in no particular order are things that came up in our small groups that have been life-giving in communities we have been a part of.

• Relationships were mentioned over and over again. 
• No Bullshit 
• Singing/worshipping together - especially fun and organic worship - like worshiping on a porch 
• That awesome sense that God is alive 
• Stories of how we have experienced God 
• Meeting Diverse people - people I wouldn't have otherwise 
• Meeting fun people 
• Serving Together 
• Mission Trips 
• Being on a journey with others 
• Being a part of something bigger than ourselves 
• Feeling like people are your family 
• Bonfires, music and beer 
• laughter 
• Raising kids together 
• that kids could participate (no junior Holy Spirit) 
• Services when we didn't have any electrical power 
• playing with Kids 
• Unconditional acceptance 
• Friendship 
• Support 
• Having Fun 
• Unity in Diversity 
• Participating in Puppets 
• Worship and being on the team 
• Learning from others 
• Knowing others and being known 
• Sense of belonging to each other and to God 
• Being accepted 
• Agenda free moments 
• Wine together 
• Working together 
• Spontaneity 
• Small group epiphanies 
• Community Holy Spirit moments 
• Conversations 
• Praying for people 
• Getting Prayer 
• Seeing healing 
• Playing games 
• Eating together 
• Wedding Celebrations 
• Laughter 

I love this list. I feel that a community where even some of the list regularly happened would be pretty life-giving. It strikes me that much of the list we can't program (like try programming: now is the time when we are spontaneous; or, now is the time when we have a meaningful conversation; or now is the time when we laugh). What we might be able to do is live with a sense that these things are signposts of the Kingdom. We might be able to live with a sense that these things are an indication that Jesus is fulfilling his mission of bringing us life. And perhaps together we can cultivate a culture/ethos that is conducive to these things on our list happening more often than not.

I think to cultivate a culture conducive to these great things we are hoping for, it is important to be in touch with why Jesus really is good news. So I thought for this upcoming Sunday - the first Sunday of Advent, it would be worth simply asking this question: Why is Jesus really good news? I will share a little of why I think Jesus is the best news ever, and we will sing and we will break bread and remember Jesus. Join us if you would like, and feel free to invite others who you think might enjoy the gathering.