MISSION CONGREGATION 2-13-10

Last Saturday afternoon The Mission Congregation met. For those of us who attend this open gathering, it is important enough for us that we will rearrange personal scheduling to attend. It is worship at its best. We share our stories. We dream. Together we refine those dreams to possibility. And then we work toward reality. It is a beautiful process. And three hours from our beginning we share Eucharist.

During this particular meeting we shared our frustrations and hopes for the merger with Iglesia Betania. We don't know yet if this will happen. If it does, we don't know when. As a group we are definitely on the positive side of the merger and we attend as many of the discernment meetings as possible. Personally, I want this merger. I am getting to know some of the Betania folk and I like them. They are as different from one another as we in our own congregation are.

The Open Air service demanded a lot of our attention. We have been doing this service outdoors on the parking lot labyrinth the last Sunday afternoon of each month at two. I am feeling that in order for it to become more attended, we should have it EVERY Sunday. We know that this is so but we don't know how to make it happen at this point. There just are not enough of us to do it. It involves Saturday sandwich making for take-away lunches for the attendees; set up before the service and clean-up after the service; and of course clergy. All of this in addition to our involvement in the regular ten o'clock services.

And then there is the consideration of location. Some think that we should move the service to another part of town where we would be more visible to the homeless. AND we discussed not having the customary canopy under which our portable altar usually resides. AND what about blocking off the area from parking cars? We decided to change nothing. For now.

We discussed having another "Social" for the Community at Grace -- all of the groups who hold there meetings in the spaces of Grace. A chance to meet new people. An opportunity to learn about other groups. AND we had the idea of a "tag" tree kind of thing that people could become aware of the opportnities that abound within the Grace Community. We will continue this dicussion at the Sandwich making on the 27th.

Oh, yes, and we touched on what it might look like if we removed all the front pews in the church and replaced them with chairs. Maybe even move the altar down. Maybe even have some experimental liturgy at another time than the regular serive.

Want to experience some of this excitement? We next meet on March 13 at 1:00 p.m. All you need is to be curious; open to new ideas and different ways of doing things; capable of listening; oh, and a sense humor helps too. We laugh!

Welcome! Do come!