I have always loved the churches who’s names are The Church at…
It makes me think of the power of a local community, banding together in their area (neighborhood, town, city, etc.) for the cause of Christ. Serving the people of their area. Having all things in common.
Moving on.
This past Sunday, Winston-Salem had quite a freak snow storm, at least by North Carolina standards. The result was our trailer, full of our equipment – stuck in a storage facility by the snow and ice.
Enter the advantage of being a small, mobile, flexible church: we went to Starbucks.
We honestly only expected a couple people to show up. After all, we weren’t having “church” and didn’t think people would respond. Wrong. Over 30 people crammed into the Starbucks, including a couple first-time guests. And shocking to me, the guests knew we weren’t having a service. This was eye opening to me, and I think speaks to the nature of our corporate gatherings. Let me say this before I proceed: I love a good corporate gathering, worshiping together, hearing a sermon (and/or giving a sermon). I love it all.
Here’s the thing, though…
One guy made the comment at Starbucks, “this was great, I love talking to people.”
Yes, we allow talking at our weekend gatherings. Yes, we encourage people to connect, and we make space for it. But, people who have ever come in contact with, or even heard of church, have a mindset that they are there to observe. Passively. And people aren’t just passive by nature, but we lead people to be passive by producing a good show. You watch a show.
Over a cup of coffee, crammed in a Starbucks, all church growth principles go out the window. We encouraged people to meet someone they haven’t talked to before, and share what’s going on in each others lives. That’s about all the control you can have in that type of setting. And that’s all it took.
I talked to a girl who goes to our church regularly who had just gotten accepted into college the day before, and had the opportunity to celebrate with her. I would have never known that otherwise. Some things can’t happen during a “church” service.
It proved to be one of our coolest Sundays to date.
Scrap the weekend gathering? No. Hold random church services off site? Maybe. Probably not.
Create environments where community can begin, grow and thrive? YES!
We, as people who follow Jesus, have to acknowledge that some things can happen over a coffee, latte, doppio espresso or chai tea that simply cannot happen while people are watching a production and listening to one person talk.
What works, and what doesn’t when it comes to creating a culture of community?
What works? I would say things that are programmed but things that aren’t. Community is organic. It needs attention, it can’t just happen on it’s on but it sometimes does. It can not be and will never be something you can put into a book and market on how to create community but there are principles the book of Acts sheds light on. Bottom line, it must be Holy Spirit led and then complimented through our attention to details in environment, programming, and taking notes from those who have gone before us. It is a living breathing entity of the church. Organic.
I love that: Holy Spirit led, complimented through our attention to details and learning from those who have gone before us.
Yes yes yes.
I was at Starbucks on this particular Sunday and I have to say it was one of the most authentic times of true community at a church that I’ve witnessed. I think a significant reason this was possible was because this group isn’t about big egos or some charismatic personality that thinks the community can’t function without having them talk for 45 minutes but is instead about others.
Thanks One Church for being flexible and willing to live outside of a program and/or location.
Thank you! That is about the best compliment a church could possibly get, in my opinion. We had a blast, too!
Sam, your post provided a framework for helping me to understand why I am not so wild about the “service/program” of corporate worship. It is really difficult to connect with everyone when staring at the back of heads and directed toward a couple of people, who though facing me, may or may not “SEE ME” (Avatar reference–I loved that movie).
Also, the arrangement of furniture or seating is significant to cultivating culture. We need more environments where we are encouraged to sit in circles facing each other, sharing focus and attention. (I truly embrace this thought, which is why I have a round dining room table. I really enjoy our time with you and Amanda sitting around that table!)