Starting a new church has its ups and downs.
There are moments filled with excitement and joy.
Others, filled with uncomfortable risk, rejection, and loneliness.
This past Sunday evening, our launch team hosted our first event.
We have been meeting weekly for Dinner Church but this was the first time we put our gifts in action to prepare an event and invite our local connections to attend.
This prayer + vision night had two primary goals:
1. To provide another step forward for those interested in joining Restoration Church.
2. To provide an opportunity for our gifted team to move closer to being prepared to host regular church gatherings.
We were excited to meet at a local coffee shop called House of J's.
Our team of 8 adults broke into groups, weeks ago, to cover various needs of the event.
We arrived to setup and prepare at 5pm. The coffee house was full of life and some nervous energy as we put together borrowed (thanks MHV) and gifted (thanks VCM). sound equipment and rearranged furniture.
People started showing up at 6pm to socialize and, of course, drink coffee.
We began programming at 6:30 (or maybe 5 minutes late) with introductions, thank you, and a connection activity.
After a small break, or recess, a friend of mine co-led a simple collection of corporate worship songs.
The longest portion of the night was me (Jared) sharing the vision, values, and prayers/dreams of Restoration Church. In the midst of talk time, Curt (Assistant Pastor) shared his household's story of joining Restoration Church before I closed us in prayer.
Some people had to depart immediately and other stuck around to connect as a long as they could.
We had a total of 24 people pile into that coffee shop for our first event.
We have so much to celebrate and (at the same time) so much to learn and recalibrate.
This was our inaugural event meant to morph into monthly worship nights at the coffee house.
We do not plan to have a sermon or talk explicitly about Restoration Church each month.
Our plan is to create space to invite our neighbors and strangers to join a community that aims to walk with Jesus for the rest of our lives.
This is only the beginning.
Thank you for your support!
- Jared
Comments