A Great Weekend...

This past weekend was great and I am so thankful to all who served so well.

Because we are a church that does not desire to be a parasite on the city of Reading, but to serve and give of the life we have, it was important that we started this weekend not with a service, but with serving. So, on 10.9.10, many of of the core team met at a small park in the city to clean brush, trash, and more to beautify it for a great neighborhood down at 6th and Canal Streets in Reading. We also served food to the neighbors, had some great conversations and had pumpkin painting for kids.

The next  day - 10.10.10 we had our very first public service at the IMAX theater in Reading. The theater was probably one of the last places on my radar for possible places to meet. It is a beautiful new building with free parking in a new garage across the street and many more practical benefits, but if you have read any of our previous posts, you know that the very last thing we are about is entertaining people. It seemed too ironic for us as a church that does not embrace a consumer style to meet at a movie theater. Yet, this was literally the only place that opened up for us that could meet our practical needs. I am so glad it did! The management has been so gracious and the place serves our needs incredibly well.

The service went very smooth and was a good opening celebration to all that God has in store for us in the city. I was quick to tell everyone who in attendance "while we are so grateful to have a place that has perfect room temperature and comfortable cushions for our bottoms, don't get too comfortable in those seats. The church is not this service. This is a time where we come together to celebrate all that God is, be challenged and molded by His word together, connect with one another relationally, and get us all on the same page. But most of our existence as "church" is outside these walls. Out there, we were never called to live a life of comfort but of service." Much of what I shared was not the model stuff pastors should probably say if they want to grow a church in today's culture. But no one threw tomatoes at me and even if with all my realism, all were excited and ready for this new journey.

Thank you all for your prayers and interest as this new work has been developing. It is with great anticipation that I look forward to the future.