find a church

Frank Viola has a new book out about the organic church, I’m going to get it. Also, I’m watching for a conference that we can go to… I get their email- so, hopefully we will get info about one that is feasible.

got a flier today about a new church…
hmmmm….

a friend told me, that a friend of hers started a Sun. “bible study” sort of church- they used to attend a church I used to attend. I’m curious, but I don’t want to get involved in the wrong thing again and have to go through the “riga ma roll” of getting uninvolved if necessary -and how do you come out unscathed in any case? ...still asking for the Lord’s direction in this. not my direction. I’m proceding slowly and cautiously.

still have not figured out what to do about church…
still praying…
still listening…
It’s been such an interesting journey. I’m surprised by so many things. Sundays are relaxing and enjoyable apart from church. It’s not so difficult to still be a believer apart from church. It’s possible to learn and grow apart from church. It’s possible to be a witness for God apart from church. It’s more pleasant than I ever would have expected.

we are looking to be connected to an organic church. I wrote to a website that tries to connect people and they said they had so many requests that they can’t answer them all, they will try to have answers this fall…. so we are still praying, waiting, thinking…

Our niece and nephew were over and brought up the house church idea and said they were interested. Her dad is a Pastor and would like to help us get started. We want to go slow and make sure we are on track with what God wants us to do. We have been waiting and praying for a long time. We really feel the need to see a house church in action, one that is established and mature.

here’s a quick poem about my search

Sheep in the Fold

If people are like sheep
And I am a sheep
Then I am a sheep looking for a fold
To find me

I have a shepherd
I know who he is
I know his voice
And he knows mine

I am not the lost sheep
That he goes hunting for
And rescues from danger
At all cost

I am not one of the 99
All huddled together then
Going through the gate
In a line for the counting

I am not a goat
That gets discovered
Mixed in with the sheep
And is kicked out for being a goat

I am a sheep
With a shepherd
Looking for the shepherd
To gather 99 more to join me

I read about the great idea this guy had about trading up from a paperclip to a house. Cyberspace got him there. Do you think I could find what I’m looking for right here in cyberspace? Can I find the connections I need?
Some people I think could help give me insight into this hunt I am pursuing-
1. Frank Viola
2. Howard Snyder
3 Anyone who is in a NT house church
So far, the suggestions I have received from very well meaning people are things like joining bible studies, cell groups, small groups that meet in houses, looking for “alive” churches… What I am looking for is New Testament Church living. People who meet together, break bread together, encourage one another, love each other, pray together, care about each other, listen to the holy spirit together, read the bible together…

It’s strange this year to not attend church- especially holidays. I have attended church for about 30 years! Honestly, it’s so much more laid back and stress free. I think I may enjoy the holidays more this way actually.
I always enjoyed going to church, especially the holidays. I never thought of it as stressful, but now that I don’t go I realize how hectic church made everything. All the time it consumed: all the dressing up, all the shopping for the dressing up, all the gift buying and giving, all the socializing, all the committees and classes and groups… It’s all very nice, but very time and energy consuming.
I never imagined not going.
It’s amazing how much pressure there is to socially appropriate observance of the holidays and church.
I’m surprised how much I like not going. It’s just nice.
I really liked being home for Mother’s Day, and then going out shopping just for fun! It was nice.
Then in the evening we tried home church again. We had sandwiches and talked about Jesus and what’s going on spiritually with us. It was nice.

our first meeting happened Sunday
I’m not sure if it could be called an official meeting
It was more like an experiment
we met as a family and tried the ideas in the book
we had a meal
we discussed how God is at work in our lives
It was really nice, no, more than that, very nice
but I have questions
what is this supposed to look like
how does it work for other home churches
who else will come to our meetings
what else do we need to know?????