Big Idea to Consider

I'm wondering about something. This may sound crazy, so bear with me, please. In past years a youth director friend of mine and I have considered what it would be like to spend a night with the homeless folks in downtown Albuquerque. A couple of years ago I asked a few men at St. Stephen's to consider spending a night out with me, but got no takers. It is a crazy idea after all.

I am wondering if any or all of us would be willing to consider spending a night outside with folks in downtown ABQ, perhaps over Thanksgiving weekend? A homeless ministry I have worked with in southeast Ohio does this on Good Friday night and they call it a Fast from Shelter.

I have never been able to shake the idea that I have no idea what a homeless person really has to experience. One night is a taste only, it proves nothing. One night could, however, bring us closer to the Jesus who spent so much time with those on the outside of society.

This is an uncomfortable, unusual idea, I know. Can we get closer to knowing what exile is through such an experience? Would we develop a deeper sense of thanksgiving through it? Thoughts?

A new face for worship

September 16th was X-ile's first foray into worship in public. A good first effort and a good time was had by all. Readings from the Bible, questions and discussion. Prayer. Sharing. Relationships built. Good stuff.

Our next meeting is tonight, Tuesday, 9/23 at 7:15pm. We'll meet in the parking lot at the back of Walgreens at Lomas and Carlisle. We'll walk from there to the "hidden" park (McDuffie Park) to think through next week's worship.

Today is my birthday. I only mention it to explain why I don't think I'll be there tonight. I need some time with my kids together and we haven't been getting it lately. That's the birthday present I need today. We're going out to eat somewhere. Please keep me and the kids in your prayers. I'm struggling with a decision that I don't want to make.

It would be great if someone would post the results of tonight's discussion later this week. Thanks.

With a longer view down the pike

We're not ready to take this far yet, but we will eventually need to consider how we'll handle our offerings to God and neighbor through the community. The Relational Tithe may be a good source of ideas, if not a structure from which to build. Here's a link to their principles of giving https://www.relationaltithe.com/understanding.php . We could register our own relational tithing group on the website, linking us in solidarity to the other groups as a network, not as a binding relationship.

We'll need to work on becoming a recognized non-profit organization. The paper work is fairly straightforward.

Again, this isn't something we need to act on immediately, but it will need to be addressed eventually. Our finances are part of our spiritual response to God's blessings in our lives and must have a plan/goal. This is a place to begin the conversation.

Birthing a new community of faith

It is hard to believe that just a few months ago this community of faith was only yet a dream in the minds of a couple of fired-up United Methodist clergypersons in New Mexico. God has moved us to join together and begin seeking the members of our cornerstone group. This cornerstone group will be the seed for growth of the community and the incubator for its practices.

We seek to realign the Way of Christ as practiced in The United Methodist Church by forming a community of those beyond the margins of the mainstream church. There are many people who have been hurt or dismissed by the imperfect actions of the Church. Those people need to know that Jesus can be found in other places that are ready to be more flexible and more open than many churches. We contend that both the old and the new can coexist for the benefit of what Jesus called the Kingdom of God.

Our premise is that the modern church is comparable to the Jerusalem Temple of the Israelites of old. For a long period of time the Israelites relied upon the Temple as their sole place of worship. During the Babylonian exile, the Temple was destroyed and synagogue worship began to be practiced. It was community based. Even after the rebuilding of the Second Temple, the synagogues continued. Today we face a mainstream Christian religion dominated by "temple" worship: Many coming to the central locus of worship. We generally lack the synagogue component: An abundance of more local places to worship in more intimate ways bringing the faith out of the walls of the church buildings to where the people are.

Imagine a community of faith emerging from a mainline denomination that has no building, nor wants one. A community of faith built entirely of bands of people willing to explore new practices of Christian faith using Wesleyan roots and themes. Imagine worship taking place in the community - in a bar, in a coffee shop, in a park, at the mall, or wherever the Spirit leads! A community where contributions are almost entirely used for the needs of the community. If a participant in a band has a need, or a friend of a participant is in need, the community will be able to respond with prayer, service and financial support, if called for.

We will be missional, relational and incarnational. We will be out in the community for practically everything we do. We strive to live up to the example and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. We seek to be bearers of Jesus' love in a world suffering from a drought of such love. We believe that the relationships built between the members of the bands and their relationships with God are integral to the potential to grow as humans.
There is a concurrent effort to build such a worship community in Houston, Texas. Please keep this community in your prayers. We will post more information on the organization as the language is polished and clarified.