Update - Family Integrated Church

In June 2008 I wrote THIS POST

about what our Family Integrated 

Church looked like.

Yesterday I went back and read that post

again.  It fascinated me to read it knowing 

that when I wrote it

we were just learning about and beginning to 

experience this intentional style of worship.

Now, as I write, so much has changed.

For one thing I am no longer defensive

of our choices.

I am humbly grateful for what God has done. 

I would erase every bit of defensiveness from 

that post were I to write it again.

At that point we were a congregation of about

twenty-five people with a few young children,

Several teens and no babies.

We are now seeing an attendance of 50 to 

60 nearly every week.  We have many children

and young people.  

It has been a nice paced growth allowing

us to get to know each family as they 

have joined us.

What has not changed is anything of what I wrote

about how we worship.

We still do all of our Sunday School and Worship

together as families.  It is not uncommon to hear a 

little voice pipe up in answer to a question from 

Pastor Mike.  Children also occasionally

pray out loud during our corporate prayer time.

I actually got in trouble with one little boy

for praying for "his" prayer request.

He wanted to pray for it himself!

So cute!

And I thought I was doing a good thing....lol.

When volunteers are asked for to read during the 

Sunday School time it is often a young person

who raises their hand....their input is welcome too.

Anthony(15) gave a report not too long ago that related

to our topic at that time.  He put a lot of time and study

into this.  Currently, Pastor Mike is seeking

volunteers to make videos of the stories of 

Paul's Missionary Journey.  

These will then be shown as we get to those

points in his journey.  

Interaction and involvement of those

of all ages. 

This is the goal.  

This is our reality.

A recent development has all of us excited.

The men had just started meeting after our 

Fellowship Meals to share and pray together.

As heads of households they have concerns and 

burdens that only they can relate to.

They understand each other and are lifting each 

other up in encouragement, advice and prayer.

Some of the women felt that this might be a great

thing to do as well.  So...we had our first meeting

two weeks ago.  It was so wonderful.  

Sharing from

the heart about our joys and concerns.  

Then a wonderful time of prayer. 

I just know that this

will bring us closer together 

and help us to understand

where each of us is coming from.  

We have a better

idea of how to pray for those we worship with.

I am looking forward to our next time together

on Sunday afternoon.

As you know Missions 

are very important to us

 as a church.

We continue to prayerfully support those

from the congregation who have 

opportunities to go to the mission field

as well as involve the children in projects

relating to our Compassion Child from Indonesia.

Recently they colored pictures to send to 

young Herman.

Families take turns

writing and sending photos

to him.

We continue to work together

to teach music to interested

young ones.  

Piano lessons, Voice lessons

and working together with instruments.

Most of this 

happens during the afternoon 

after Fellowship Meals.

I am excited about the opportunities for 

Dads with talents in various areas to 

share during this time with the boys and teen guys.

Maybe some time to learn the basics of 

automotive maintenance or other such 

practical things.

 Moms have talents

to share, as well.

Sewing?  Knitting?

Canning?

Sharing skills with each other.

A very good thing.

I often observe Kelly and Lindsay

sharing with each other as it relates 

to photography.

I think they are so good for each other!

Conversations on gardening are common.

One family set another up with 

chickens this past Fall to see

if they enjoyed it.

They did.

More chickens are coming 

to Creekside Cottage in the Spring.

Many of our families drive more than a 

half an hour to get to church so we make

the most of the times we are together.

Sundays tend to be that time...

all day.

I could go on and on about all that 

God is doing in our tiny fellowship.

Suffice it to say that

we are not disappointed with the

path we chose.

God has blessed us greatly

with a closeness of fellowship

that we desired.

Pastor Mike is preaching from 

2 Corinthians.

His sermon on Sunday dealt with

being "Bound Together"

in the good and the bad of life.

Paul set the example 

in his love and care for 

those he ministered to.

Praise be to the 

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion 

and the God of all comfort,  

who comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those 

in any trouble with the comfort 

we ourselves receive from God.  

For just as we share abundantly 

in the sufferings of Christ, 

so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  

If we are distressed, 

it is for your comfort and salvation;

if we are comforted,

it is for your comfort, 

which produces in you 

patient endurance of the 

same sufferings we suffer. 

And our hope for you is firm, 

because we know that just as 

you share in our sufferings, 

so also you share in our comfort.

Praying that we can follow Paul's

example and really 

live this out.

It is not always easy.

People are not perfect.

I am definitely not perfect!

But, with God,

it is definitely possible!