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March 09, 2009
Life : An Interesting Week
Last week proved both exhausting and informative with respect to churches in San Francisco.
On Sunday, at her knitting group, Anne heard that there was someone in our neighborhood who was looking to plant a new church in San Francisco. We didn’t get a lot of details; but expected to hear more in a couple of weeks. This was after we had gone to the church meeting we have been attending (at least until God is clearer about how he wants us to server Him in the city). The church we have been going to is called “The Journey”.
On Monday night we want to a book club meeting at our apartment complex. As I have previously noted on this blog, I believe relationships are the only thing of eternal value, so Anne and I have been looking for new ways to meet people; and a book club sounded like something worth trying. The book we had all read was Mortenson’s “Three Cups of Tea” (interesting book about a man who has been starting schools in rural Pakistan). The meeting was interesting, although the views expressed were rather polarized. There were however some people we thought we might want to get to know more.
Tuesday evening, thankfully, we had a chance to rest.
Wednesday night, we went to a gathering of people who were thinking about starting House/Organic/Simple Churches in San Francisco. There were about 14 people there (including us). Some were seriously committed to starting a house church, while others wanted to understand the concept better. Many were students at a local seminary. A few wanted to start ministries focused on some specific ethnic groups in the city. One of the people (who encouraged the meeting) was someone who provides support and advice for individuals who want to start House Churches in the Bay Area. He is someone our old pastor has been in contact with as well, so it was good to meet him. There was no one else who was in quite the same position as Anne and I; but the plan is for this group to get together monthly so it may serve as a support group for us in the long run. Just as important, we seemed to connect with a few people at a personal level, so some friendships may come out of this.
By Thursday we had heard a bit more about the people Anne heard about Sunday. Turns out the couple who are leading the effort to start the new church live in our building. We arranged to have them over Friday night to get to know each other. Given that (and given how busy we had been the rest of the week), we decided to punt on home group sponsored by The Journey that we have been attending Thursdays.
So Friday, we had the church planters over to share dessert with us. Turns out the wife was one of the people at the Book Club on Monday (and another from Monday was part of their team). They are certainly interesting people, and regardless of whether God leads us to join their church, we hope to be friends with them (that the husband is a Chicago Cubs fan pleased Anne). In the process of talking, they invited us to their monthly team meetings on Saturday.
So, Saturday morning, Anne and I went to the meeting of the team that hopes to plant a new church in San Francisco – over a dozen people. They are starting their small groups this week, and hope to start Sunday meetings in the Fall. Turns out, about half of the team are currently going to The Journey (the church we have been going to) so lots of familiar faces; and the leader of this group has even preached at The Journey when the pastor was away. We still have no clear guidance if we are supposed to join in on this (it is intended to be a more traditionally structured church, so not exactly what I had been hoping for; but I serve at the pleasure of My Lord).
So, lots more cards on the table, and much more for Anne and I to pray about. Plus a few nascent friendships formed. A good week.
Posted by Steven at March 9, 2009 05:00 AM
Comments
You forgot to mention that there was another knitter at the Wednesday night meeting, and two of the women on Saturday want to learn to knit (-:
Posted by: Anne at March 9, 2009 08:17 PM
