Community Covenant Church

Blog to be discontinued!

2010-02-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

Now that our new website is up and running, we can post all of our blog information on the new site.

For the most up-t0-date information, sermons, pictures, etc. check out our main website:

www.communitycovenantchurch.org

Transition Team Meeting Minutes - 2-1-10

2010-02-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

Transition Team Meeting 2/1/10
In Attendance: Stanna McDougal, Lundie Carstensen, Aaron Lawson, Ken Campbell, Mel Nelson, Marc Bellaart, Dominique Hale, CholeAnne Dilgard

Distributed the mission statement that Noel Becchetti wrote. Discussed that our underlying goal is to become a healthy missional church. Amy Conrad will work on making the statement more concise.

Communication: Team includes Noel, CholeAnne, Mike Atkinson, Amy Conrad, Doug Johnston, Whitney Bovensiep. Looking for someone to represent the older generation. The team met 1/29/10. Discussed dissemination of information to congregation, written, electronic, spoken.
To Do:
*Create a chart with the markers of a healthy missional church.
*Create a slide with the markers of a healthy missional church
*Worship leader define healthy missional church
*If you are a small group leader, please contact Stanna McDougal(for 2/14)
*In the future-Create a video about healthy missional church-interview?

Prayer: Team will meet this week.

Internal Assessment: Stanna & Mel-Team will meet soon. Contacted Stacey and Pat for giving and attendance report. Marc will give list of small groups and group leaders. Stanna will speak to 1-2 people from each group and ask focus group questions. Those people will go back to their groups and ask the questions. Stanna will be a listener and not conversationalist, a gatherer of information. Keep track of male/female, age group, member/attender, service. To think about: getting information from irregular attenders and even people who have left the church.

External Assessment: Aaron & Lundie-Deb Ferrin will work on this team, still looking for more volunteers. Good resources: realtors, school profiles, crime reports.

History: Dominique-Has begun time line. Francine Phillips is helping with this. Mapped out a plan for completion-time line, interviews for historical information. Interviews will include basic information as well as CCC events that were memorable and what was symbolic about those events. Get some oral history on video.

Internal and History will coordinate to try and not interview the same people.

Continue sign-up sheets
Post the finalized lists of groups after remaining sign-ups have been contacted

Relational Covenant-
As part of this process we are called to draft a relational covenant for how we should interactduring this process and beyond. This sets the ground rules for communication.

When we come to an agreement, this will be sent to the Elders. Marc will ask Allan how this is presented to the church. Dominique noted that there is also information on the website about how to present. Aaron also noted that we need to communicate the thought behind the relational covenant.

“How do we walk hand-in-hand when we don't see eye-to-eye.”

Brainstorm:

Because love is our first and highest calling:

*We seek to build each other up and not tear down.
*We respect and honor each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
*We believe the best in each other and give each other the benefit of the doubt.
*We seek to discover what is best for our church as a whole, not what may be best for us or for some small group in the church.
*We accept disagreement, conflict, and evaluation as normal and natural.
*We are committed to being inconvenienced for the sake of the gospel.
*We offer our opinions with charity and humility.
*We will seek to communicate directly with those we disagree with.
*We will demonstrate God's grace by forgiving as we have been forgiven.
*We seek to communicate clearly, completely, directly, and transparently.

Scripture references: Colossians 3:12-17, I Thessalonians 5:12-26

Next Meeting: Monday, February 22, 2010

1-24-10 Craig Knudsen - "For Your is the Kingdom"

2010-01-27T14:17:00.000-08:00

CCC Book Cart Gets a Makeover

2010-01-22T09:08:00.000-08:00

Book Cart – Leave a Book; Take a Book: The CCC book cart is being made-over into a community sharing library. We will use this as a place where people can share church-related books. You may bring a book and then take one of the books on the cart – just remember to bring it back when you are done. Please keep this to church-related material only! Questions? Contact Stacey in the church office (619-447-2675; office@communitycovenantchurch.org).

1-17-10 Noel Becchetti "Operation Illumination"

2010-01-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

1-10-10 Aaron Lawson "Life as it is and our response"

2010-01-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

1-3-10 Craig Knudsen "Lead Us Not Into Temptation"

2010-01-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

12-24-09 Christmas Eve

2010-01-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

12-20-09 Craig Knudsen "Forgive Us our Debts"

2010-01-21T10:02:00.000-08:00

12-13-09 Craig Knudsen "Give Us This Day"

2010-01-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

12-6-09 Craig Knudsen "Thy Kingdom Come"

2010-01-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

11-29-09 Craig Knudsen "Hallowed Be Your Name"

2010-01-20T14:05:00.000-08:00

11-22-09 Craig Knudsen "Prayer Abuse"

2010-01-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

11-8-09; Larry Warner "Walking a Mile in Their Shoes"

2010-01-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

Larry Warner's Message from 11-8-09: "Walking a Mile in Their Shoes"

11-1-09 Casey Gwinn "The Great Banquet"

2010-01-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

Casey Gwinn's Message from 11-1-09 - "The Great Banquet"

Transition Team Meeting Minutes - 1-18-10

2010-01-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

As the transition team meets to guide us through these next few months, they want to keep the congregation informed as much as possible as to what they are doing. They will be sharing the meeting minutes with us after each meeting. Below are the minutes from their first meeting.

Transition Team Meeting Minutes 1/18/10

In Attendance: Noel Becchetti, Aaron Lawson, Marc Bellaart, Mel Nelson, Stanna McDougal, Dominique Hale, Andrew Schlegel, CholeAnne Dilgard, Lundie Carstensen, Ken Campbell

I. Lundie served as facilitator and shared:

· The transition team was brought together from different areas of the church and is composed of individuals who have been with the church for different periods of time.

· Constitution: seldom changed, tied to denomination, "Here's who we are"

· Bylaws: more often changed, deals more with process, "Here's how we do things"
bylaw changes will be made after this process

· Pastoral Search Committee: Transition team will have recommendations for this team, but will not be comprised of this team

· Transition Team: Purpose is to gain input, honestly assess where we are as a church, formulate thoughts and recommendations for the leadership, help move CCC toward being a healthy missional church

II. The group agreed upon positions

· Chairperson: Stanna McDougal
· Recorder: CholeAnne Dilgard

III. Subteams:
· Communication: Noel Becchetti, CholeAnne Dilgard
· Internal Environment: Stanna McDougal, Mel Nelson (keeping missions beyond our community in mind)
· External Environment: Aaron Lawson, Lundie Carstensen
· Church History: Dominique Hale, Andrew Schlegel
· Prayer: Ken Campbell, Marc Bellaart (resource)
Prayer Team-Brian, Lisa, Lydia
Women's Ministries-Amy Conrad

IV. Next Steps
· Recruit as many members of the congregation as we can to help fill out these groups.

· We will dialogue with the group and compile information to bring back to the team.

· The team will assemble the collective wisdom and make recommendations to the leadership.

V. This Sunday
· Sign up sheets will be out on Sunday in order to give members of the church an opportunity to be involved.

· CholeAnne will man a table on the trellis between services. Aaron will also be available. Ken will be available after 2nd service.

· Communicate the sign up through: special email, bulletin. announcement in service

VI. Reminder: People have different processing styles and we need to respect each of those.

VII. Keep healthy missional markers front and center: up on screen

VIII. Questions from church members
· We can state what the transition team is about and how people can plug in.

· If there is a problem, see the elders.

IX. Transition Team Input Box
· Ken will get a box and place it at the What's Up Booth

X. Next Meeting
· Monday, February 1, 2010
· Formulate behavioral covenant

The quote Noel challenged us with:"If we disappeared tomorrow,would the community miss us?"

Knudsen Farewell Weekend Update!

2010-01-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

1. If you have photos or videos of Craig and/or Karen, please contact Mike Atkinson.
2. If you’re a past choir member and want to be part of the choir for Craig's final Sunday, please come to choir rehearsals at 7p on 1/13, 20 & 27.
3. Tickets to the Farewell Dinner (1/30) are on sale at church this week during office hours and this Sunday.

Memorial Service for Lorene Stevenson

2009-12-04T08:49:00.001-08:00

A memorial service for Lorene Stevenson will be held at Mt. Miguel Covenant Village on Monday, Dec. 18 at 2:30.

10-25-09 Casey Gwinn Message - "Do You Ever Tell Jesus to Go Away?"

2009-11-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

Elder's Update

2009-11-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

We’d like to thank all of you who came to our congregational meeting last Sunday night. We appreciate the discussion and desire to hear from you further as we navigate this major transition of our church.
One of the things we discussed was that the elders, well before Craig’s resignation, had identified the need to dialog about the state of our church and ways to improve upon it. Now that Craig and Karen will be leaving, this process is even more important to engage in.
The Evangelical Covenant Church (www.covchurch.org), of which we are a part, has developed a workshop called Veritas: Telling the Truth about Congregational Vitality to start this process and conversation. The workshop will be held at our church on Saturday, January 9th, from 9 AM to 3:30 PM and includes lunch.
If you’re a staff member, leader or just want to be involved and contribute to CCC’s efforts to fulfill the mission God has chosen for our church, YOU are invited to participate. There is no cost, we just need your open minds, hearts and a willingness to invest your time.
As a result of this workshop, there will be opportunities to be involved in the ongoing next steps that will lay the foundation for CCC’s next chapter of ministry. If you’d like more information regarding Veritas, feel free to visit the following link on the ECC’s website: http://www.covchurch.org/blogs/revitalize/events - there, you’ll find a description, list of churches that have already participated, as well links to the re:vive blog, inspirational stories and other information.
If you’re interested in attending the Veritas workshop, or just have questions about it, feel free to email or call Kyle Becchetti (kyle.becchetti@gmail.com or 619-654-3234).

Sunday Message - 10-18-09 (National Enquirer #2-How to Amaze Jesus)

2009-10-20T14:20:00.001-07:00

You can now listen to the Sunday Message here on the blog. Just click play on the file below to listen.

The "non-celebrities" of Jesus' Birth by Craig Knudsen

2009-10-13T11:57:00.001-07:00

We just finished a 3 week series called, “Mary and Joe plus 1”, in which we highlighted some stories from Luke 1-4. What we didn’t highlight were some characters surrounding Jesus birth that can still teach us some things. You’ll have to read the accounts in Luke 2:15-52 to get anything from this, so I hope you do.
Shepherds: After SEEING Jesus in the manger they SPREAD THE WORD about the angel visitation and seeing the child as the angels said. The shepherds were the first “evangelizers” of the New Testament, just as women were the first “evangelizers” after the resurrection. These 2 classes of people were the “lowest class” of Jesus’ time, which means that anybody can tell another the good news of Jesus Christ.
People who heard the shepherds: The text says they were “AMAZED.” I thought, “What AMAZES me about God anymore?”
Mary: The text says that Mary TREASURED, PONDERED, GLORIFIED and PRAISED. I thought, “How can I TREASURE God more? How can I improve my PONDERING of the things of God? How can I GLORIFY and PRAISE God better?”
Simeon: The thing that’s pointed out about Simeon is that he was WAITING and the HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON HIM. I thought, “What things will I be called upon to WAIT for? Is there anything I can do to be more aware that the Holy Spirit is “upon me?” Am I asking for the Holy Spirit to reveal things to me? Am I open and aware of the movings and promptings of the Holy Spirit?”
Anna: This is a woman who enjoyed placing herself in a position to hear God, experience God, talk to God, thank God, worship God, and spread the news about Jesus. Her spiritual practices were: worship, fasting, praying, giving thanks, and speaking about God. What practices am I consistently doing in order to hear God’s voice and recognize His coming?
Jesus at the Temple: Every year Jesus’ parents brought him to Jerusalem. On this trip, he stayed behind and it wasn’t discovered until 4 days had gone by. It’s not a good thing to be the parents and lose the Son of God. When the parents finally find him it says they were “astonished”…at what? That Jesus wasn’t looking for them? That he wasn’t remorseful? Then Mary says, “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” And then Jesus says something that might have stabbed Joseph in the heart, “Didn’t you know I’d be in MY FATHER’S house?” Mary says, “Your father,” and Jesus says, “My Father.” They needed a little reminder that he may be in this world, but he’s not their child.
All of these “musings” came from reading the text slowly, circling words (especially verbs) and asking God to point out things in the text that I needed to notice. You can do this to. And then thing through WHY it caught your attention, or why God brought it to your attention. It could be He wants to tell you something.

Bulke Bible Translation Approved

2009-10-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

We got some great news from Kyle and Noel this morning (see the email below). A sidebar of their efforts with TruthSeekers has been the chance to get a bible published in Hindi that would reflect words and language that is acceptable to the people in the OBC – Other Backward Castes. The current Hindi bibles were translated by converted Brahmin priests, so the names used for God were words that were offensive or not even allowed to be spoken by the OBC. So in part of this journey, Kyle and Noel were trying to get official approval on an OBC translation from one of the big bible clearinghouses, and Wycliffe just singed off on it! This is HUGE – this is an answer to prayer, this is so freakin’ cool, this is God moving in India, and our friends get to be a part of it!!!!!! This is proof of everything that Craig spoke on this past Sunday – HEAVEN WINS! Go God!

Truthseekers gets some publicitity!

2009-10-02T09:10:00.001-07:00

Our very own elder extraordinaire, Kyle, along with hubby Noel, gets some great pub on the Covenant website today. Two links describing Truthseekers:

http://www.covchurch.org/cov/news/item7332

http://www.covchurch.org/cov/news/item7330

Renters Needed

2009-09-23T13:21:00.001-07:00

Hey CCCers - We need to find new renters for the house next door. Please spread the word or let me know if you are interested. It is 4 bedroom; 2 bath; 1600 sq ft; recently renovated. Rent is $2250/month; $3500 deposit. Contact Stacey at the church office if you are interested (office@communitycovenantchurch.org; 619-447-2675) address is 1823 Granite Hills Dr. El Cajon, CA 92019

Moms in Touch Event

2009-09-02T13:34:00.001-07:00

Moms In Touch International is celebrating 25 years of encouraging moms to pray for children and schools. What started as the cry of one mom’s heart as her children went to public junior high school has expanded to include an estimated 175,000 moms throughout the United States and in 120 countries.

To celebrate our special anniversary, Moms In Touch International is hosting a historic prayer event on November 14, 2009, inviting Christian mothers from around the world to “Arise! Cry Out!” for the generations. We’d love you to take just 90 seconds by going to www.momsintouch.org and watching the short and compelling video about Arising and Crying Out! Could you please send this information on to any mothers that you know? It is our privilege to pray specifically for YOU as you work in our county’s schools.

To celebrate our 25 years of ministry, Fern Nichols is calling moms around the world to come together in their communities for four hours of extraordinary prayer for children and schools on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Arise! Cry Out! will be an amazing time of passionate prayer led by Fern Nichols, Pastor Miles McPherson, founder of Miles Ahead Ministries and pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, and the worship team Crimson Bridge. The event will be recorded on October 9 and 10, 2009, at the 3,500-seat Rock Church in San Diego, where our international Country Coordinators and other women from around the world will come together to pray for this generation and the next. That recording will be sent to our Host Sites, mainly partnering churches, nationally and internationally. Our prayer is to have a 24-hour wave of prayer around the world on November 14.

As Fern Nichols says, “Imagine what God could do through a generation of prayed-for children?”

For more information about Moms In Touch International, please visit our website, www.MomsInTouch.org. Our About Us section includes a Fact Sheet about our ministry and the History of MITI. You can also visit our Arise! Cry Out! section for more information on this historical event.

New Facebook Page

2009-09-01T09:42:00.002-07:00

If you are a facebook user, check out our new facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/communitycovenant

We need Volunteers to help clean the house next door!

2009-09-01T09:42:00.001-07:00

Our renters will be moving out of the house next door this week and we need to get a crew of volunteers in to get the place cleaned up and ready for showing to possible tenants. They are leaving it in pretty good shape, so it shouldn’t take too much effort! If you can help clean this Friday or Saturday, let Stacey know (office@communitycovenantchurch.org)!

Congratulations to a fellow CCCer!

2009-08-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Monet Johnston for being named one of Sharp Healthcare's Clinical nurses of the year. Monet is the first hospice nurse to receive this distinction!

Way to go Monet!!

A chance to pray for our schools

2009-08-20T13:17:00.000-07:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Pastors,

Schools are begining to reopen. Join us for the Prayer Walk on the August 22-23 (Saturday or Sunday or both) at your Local Elementary, Middle and High School.

The idea is not a formal meeting, we want to keep it simple. This is a gathering of the Body of Christ to pray for our Students, Teacher, Administration and School through out your community. Please encourage your church to go when they want on either day (or both) and pray on the Campuses. If the Campus is locked down then they can pray outside or around the parameter. They can gather with friends or fellow parents from their own school or area. You know the needs - drugs, pregnancy, depression, school failure rates, displaced students, racial problems, alcohol, violence, secularism, sex, parent divorce, broken families, over-crowed classrooms, budget cuts, loss of teachers, physical, mental and spiritual problems. As most of you know I now teach High School, so I can tell you first hand the problems and attacks are very real.

I am asking you as one of the Shepherds of your community to muster your church this next Sunday (August 16th) to go and pray for our schools and children on August 22-23 - maybe you could connect with other Pastors and churches in your area. Ask them all to get their Christian family, students, friends and fellow parents of students from their own school, to go and pray. If they cannot physically go to a school, they can pray at home or gather in your church. But please pray.

Some of the greatest enemies of mankind in the last 10 years - Stalin Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, Hussien - understood Education was the key to impacting a nation. Have we forgotten the lessons of History so soon?

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).

The greatest weapon and gift God has given us is Prayer - communication, fellowship, communion with God, the Creator of the Universe. Let us use prayer to glorify God, as we change our Schools and community. Please join us as we pray on August 22-23 for our Children.

John Neill
Prayer Shield Ministries
619-248-6302
john@prayershield.com
www.prayershield.com

"Prayer Shield is a Christ centered, non denominational, ministry dedicated to providing Biblical prayer for Pastors and Ministry Leaders and establishing prayer for Pastors in the local church."

We need Renters for the house next door

2009-08-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

A chance to help Casey Gwinn and the Family Justice Center

2009-08-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Friends,

Will you help us? See the note below. We are 20,000 votes behind…but we are trying to win the Click to Empower campaign in order to get $100,000 from the Allstate Foundation in order to create an Emergency Economic Assistance Fund for victims of domestic violence and their children currently seeking help in Family Justice Centers across the country. Please vote for us every day until September 15 and forward this email to friends, work colleagues, and family members. There is no cost to you but it could save the life of a victim of domestic violence.

Thanks so much for your consideration.

Casey

-----------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
Right now, we have a unique opportunity to help victims of domestic violence by simply voting for "Family Justice Centers." The Family Justice Center Alliance has been selected as one of four worthy national organizations to receive funds to assist victims of domestic violence. If the "Family Justice Center" receives 5,000 votes, it is eligible to receive $10,000 to help victims of domestic violence locally. If it garners the most votes/clicks, The Allstate Foundation will donate $100,000 to the Alliance and we will create an Emergency Economic Assistance Fund to help victims and their children in Family Justice Centers across the country.

Help us provide hope for hurting families. Please vote for "Family Justice Centers" today and every day until September 15, 2009. To vote, all you have to do is go to www.clicktoempower.org. You will see the names of four organizations, please vote for "Family Justice Centers," submit your email address and hit the vote button. Please also ask for your friends and Outlook contacts to vote daily for the Family Justice Center at www.clicktoempower.org.

Dedications - August 9th

2009-07-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

We will be having a baby/child dedication Sunday on August 9th. If you would like to have your child participate, please contact the church office asap so we can get you included. Office@communitycovenantchurch.org; 619-447-2675.

Church Pool Party

2009-07-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

Join us Sunday Aug. 23rd from 12:30-4:00 at the Hamilton’s for a fun pool party. Bring $5 per family and a dessert to share. We will provide food and drinks! We will have swimming, games, and lots of fun. Sign-up at the What’s Up Booth or let the office know if you plan on attending (office@communitycovenantchurch.org; 619-447-2675).

First Summer Concert was a Blast!

2009-07-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed our first summer concert on June 28th with Andrew Schlegel and his band. It was a great evening with some awesome music. Everyone came with blankets, chairs, and dinner and found a spot in the shade to enjoy the evening. Enjoy a few pics from the night!

Andrew

The band
Spectators

The crowd

The little ones had a blast playing as well!

What a great evening!

We hope you can join us for our next concert on July 19th with the band BENCHMARK. Check out their website for more info: www.benchmarktheband.com

CCT's Senior Follies

2009-06-23T12:20:00.001-07:00

From a CCC Member:

Last night we went to see the "Senior Follies", CCT's production at the El Cajon Performing Arts Center, and absolutely loved it! We wanted to recommend it to anyone who enjoys good theater. Its playing right now, and will be at 7 p.m. on June 20, 25, 26, and 27. amd at 2 p.m. on June 20, 21, 27, and 28. Our own Terry Hendriks, who plays piano for CCC's church choir and who played for MMCV's Benefit Event, is musical director, conductor, and accompanist for the production, and really does a fine job. The phone number for tickets is 800-696-1929. It really is worth seeing!

Nice honor for CCC Member

2009-06-04T08:41:00.003-07:00

This link is to the recent newsletter from the superintendent of the Grossmont High School district. It features a great honor for our own Colette Fleming for her great work with adult education!

http://portal.guhsd.net/GUHSD/superintendent/suptnews/2009/suptNews060309.pdf

Houseboat Sign-Ups Starting Now!

2009-05-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Incoming High School Parents and Veteran High School Parents!!!

It is that wonderful time of year when Summer is approaching rapidly. The weather is changing, the birds are singing, and the youth group is getting ready for Houseboats 2009!!!

If you haven't already, please consider sending your student on this truly incredible trip where they will experience community, spiritual formation, and personal renewal.

Sign-Ups Begin THIS Sunday (May 24)

$100 Deposit Saves Your Spot (Spots go fast so make sure you sign up asap!!!)
Total Cost is $425 . . . Scholarship $$$ is available
Dates are July 20-24 . . . We will be having a Student Auction on June 14th and a Father's Day Car Wash on June 21st to raise funds . . . Please write Andrew or call/text with any questions.

Men's Fishing Trip

2009-05-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

Last Chance…a Few Spots Left on the Men’s Fishing Trip

Join the men of CCC for a day of fishing on a sport fishing charter out of Point Loma on Sat. May 30th. It is a full day boat 6a-6p; cost $75 (+ tackle). Sign-Up at the What’s Up Booth if interested or contact John Houston (John92019@Yahoo.com)!

Annual Spring Concert

2009-05-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars and join us for the annual CCC Spring Concert this Sunday, May 17th at 6:30. Come and enjoy music from the CCC Choir and many other participants. This is a fun evening filled with fantastic music and worship! Childcare will be provided for children 5 and under!

Don’t miss out on this great event!

Being Neighbors - by Marc Bellaart

2009-05-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

My first real full-time job was as a loan officer for a bank. During the first few months on the job as a trainee I was sometimes sent out, along with my fellow trainees, to “shop” various branch offices of the bank. Banks use “shoppers” to pose as customers as a way of judging customer service. So I’d get my list of branches to evaluate, and drive around all day from bank to bank standing in line and requesting various services. After each visit, I’d sit in the car and write up my experience based on a handful of criterion, then move on to the next branch.
Branch managers knew when it was “shopping season”, and sometimes they’d be on to me, detecting my phony visit (was this 21 year-old really interested in an auto loan for a BMW320i?) and slyly alerting their employee as to my real identity. I remember once receiving the “next customer” beckon from a teller, and while walking to her window saw her supervisor casually walk behind her and whisper, “shopper.” I received fantastic customer service in that instance!
I wonder what would happen if churches did the same thing as banks, and sent anonymous shoppers to evaluate their experience visiting a church for the first time. How would we grade on friendliness? How would we grade on knowledge of the organization? How would we grade on first time impression and overall welcome? Of course, I realize that’s a forced analogy to some extent – but still, aren’t significant and lasting impressions formed from a first visit to a church? Weren’t yours?
Jesus told his disciples that the world would know them by their love. The apostle John wrote that real love is not just with words but also with actions. This is not just a love and care between believers, but for the world as well. Most churches do pretty well at caring for their own, but many struggle to express care and welcome to the stranger, the visitor, and the newcomer.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus told of a man on the road to Jericho who was robbed, stripped and beaten by a band of desert thieves. A priest and a Levite passed by the mugged victim, not wanting to get involved. But a Samaritan stopped and helped. He bandaged the man’s wounds, put him on his donkey and took him to an inn, and gave the innkeeper money to look after him. Then Jesus asked, “which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who was robbed?”
The Samaritan, yes. But more than that I think Jesus is asking, “are you a neighbor?” Christ’s followers ask who is my neighbor?, and then they live as neighbors to those around them. They distinguish themselves by love, attention to needs, extending hospitality, and being personable and available to others.
Being a place of welcome looks like remembering this – all the time. If each of us carries a personal awareness of our role as neighbor, host, and bearer of the love of Jesus, then combined we will reflect an amazingly clear and welcoming picture of who God is. The truth is, we’re “shopped” all the time: on Sundays, in the workplace, in our communities, and even with friends and family.
There. I just whispered it…who can you be a neighbor to this week?