Remembering & Leaving

Tomorrow is our last day at Imago Dei Community. Below is the letter that was sent/given out to all the volunteers and families last week. This will be the last post for this blog. Thanks Imago Dei for the years of memories and ministry together for the sake of our children, our marriages and to glorify our King. Love, ~Karen

January 15, 2010

Dear Imago Dei Kids Parents & Volunteers,

As most of you know, my family is moving to Salt Lake City, Utah in February to help start a church with Kyle & Joy Costello and a team of people from Imago Dei Community. We’re excited about what God is going to do to build His church in Salt Lake, though we are very sad to leave Imago Dei, Portland, and our families and friends here.

Nine years ago we arrived in Portland and Imago Dei Community. God showed up in many ways then, and He has continually grown and blessed us. Among those blessings and growth has been my time pastoring children and families. What an amazing ministry!

When we arrived there were just a few families with kids, and we met in Schlatter Chapel. There was a clipboard that got passed around on Sundays so that people could sign up to watch the kids and play Veggie Tales in the basement. Gasp! We’ve come a long way in nine years.

One night at a leadership meeting, Rick asked us all to pray about what ministry we would like to start up. I knew immediately that children and families is where my heart was and where I wanted to serve – but I wasn’t a fan of children’s ministry. Rick asked me to go read my Bible and come back to him with all the ways God speaks about children in the Bible. I’m still so grateful for that response; I think most of the pastors from my past would have said, “Well, go make a really cool children’s ministry then!” We started with the Bible, and as I leave nine years later, the Bible is still where we base everything. Praise the Lord!

As I read, the theme that stuck out most to me in Scripture was that of integration. Children were a part of everything, a valued part of the church. Our vision statement was born out of that theme, and we’ve held onto it: As children belong to and are an integral part of our church body, we commit to coming alongside parents in the raising of them. Together our goal is to see kids come to know who Christ is, experience how He works in their life, and integrate them as important and valuable people in the life of the church.

We’ve worked diligently to create a place on Sundays and beyond that is truly safe for kids. Safe for them physically, emotionally and spiritually; safe for them to be who they are, to be part of the Imago Dei (image of God) and express themselves in that. Many teachers and leaders have been part of the process of forming kids’ hearts, teaching them the truth of scripture in creative ways and sharing their own faith journey with them. My memories of walking with you over the years are deep, and full of God’s power in how He has worked in your lives.

Many families have come through our doors, staying and growing as a family in Christ. I still remember the first Sunday when I wasn’t able to remember each name, each of your kids’ names any longer, and I cried. Being with you, watching you raise your children, crying with you over miscarriages and losses of life, celebrating with you at baby showers and baby dedications, praying with you over our “kid issues,” going with you to counselors or doctor appointments, sitting with you and your spouse in the middle of marital tension or reconciliation – these . . . these are the things that I will remember and miss the most. Doing life with you. And you doing life with me.

We have people, hundreds of people that care very much for our kids, for relationships with them and their parents and each other. These people are the face of Imago Dei to me and to you. Children have grown older and been baptized; parents have come to Christ; volunteers have discovered their gifting as a teacher or leader. We have all become more mature in Christ in these years of being church together.

I am leaving. I will be helping to start a new church and will meet new families and see Christ work again, and that is worth everything. But I will miss you. Leaving here is very hard for me, and though I am sad more often than I’d like right now, I leave grateful. So grateful in wonder at what God has done in all these years. Amazed at the Jr. High and High Schoolers I see who have grown up here, grown up under our care and teaching, our stories and crises, our being together and praising Him through it all. And I am amazed at how God has brought marriages back together, matured parents and brought many of you closer to Him through community with each other and with Him. Thank you, Imago Dei Kids, for allowing me to serve you and grow with you all these years. I cannot imagine a better experience to have spent in this decade of my life.

By God’s grace you are not left empty-handed, but with great people that you know and trust to continue on. Jeff Marsh is now Pastor of Families and will be overseeing all of nursery through high school, and parenting classes. Jeff is a good friend, father, pastor and leader. We’ve worked together for many years on staff and there isn’t a better person to pastor the families of Imago Dei.

Jen Taylor remains as an integral part of Imago Dei Kids. Jen has served faithfully with me for the entire nine years that I’ve been here. She started, taught and led elementary ministry for the first several years and most recently has been the leader and deacon of our entire front door ministry. Jen has a deep heart for children and is highly gifted. There isn’t anything Jen doesn’t know about Imago Dei Kids. With Jen, as well as with Jeff, I cannot imagine anyone more suited to carry on this ministry. She is a gift to us all and – other than me being bummed she isn’t coming to Salt Lake with us – I am overjoyed that she continues here in ministry to kids and families.

I will miss you all greatly. Continue on in faith as you raise your kids, support those that have kids and love one another. I look forward to hearing stories of what God is doing in you all in the months and years to come. I will visit often.

Love, thanks, peace to you, and glory be to God for His beautiful church,

~Karen Rogers

Former Pastor of Children and Families

Imago Dei Community

Observation of parents

Great blog post I just read on parenting here.

Advent Conspiracy Family Curriculum

It is here! Family curriculum to take your child through the story of Christ's birth as well as the Advent Conspiracy themes. Simpler ideas for younger children are at the back of each section. Blessings upon you as you lead your family through Advent. See link below.

~Karen


Advent Conspiracy Family Curriculum

Imago Dei announcements are online!

All Imago Dei announcements are online now - and in video! :) Check it out so you are in the know...

http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/article/spotlight/

Baby Dedication next Sunday!

Baby Dedication Sunday is just around the corner! October 25th during all services.

Dedicating your child to God is a public sign that you are seeking to raise your children in the ways of Christ. There is a preparatory class the Sunday before (this Sunday, the 18th! 9am service in rm 150 near the auditorium) to explain what baby dedication is and is not. All involved parents or guardians are asked to be present.

RSVP to Neisha (neisha@imagodeicommunity.com) if you’d like to participate!

Early Childhood curriculum snapshot

The preschool & 2's teachers got together last night to plan out the next 2 months of curriculum. We provide curriculum so it's not that they were working from scratch. But what they did is added to it and reworked it so that it reflected more of who we are as creative people made in the image of God and who response to God. Here is what they came up with. Here is what my 4 year old will be gleaning from the next 2 months. Thank you God for these people who care about the little things for little kids. There's nothing like young children "getting it" (learning about God) for the first time.

october



wk 1

Creation Day 1: Light & Dark Gen 1:1-5

Activity/Movement area: Blob

sensory: shadow play

Art: Light & Dark Painting

Need: black construction paper 8x11 & white paint (sponges for the 2's class)

Key Verse: Gen 1:3 God said, "Let there be light."



wk 2

Creation Day 2 Sky & Water Gen 1:6-8

Activity/Movement area: catching clouds with parachute/ bubbles

sensory: water

Art: Sky Collage

Need: blue construction paper

Key verse: Gen 1: 6-8 "God made the sky and water."



wk 3

Creation Day 3 Land, Plants and Sea Gen 1:9-13

Art: leaf rubs

Sensory: potting soil

Playdough - create things on land

Need: potting soil, printer paper,and coffee filters

Key Verse: Gen 1: 9-13 "God made the land, sea, and plants."



wk 4

Creation Day 4 Sun, Moon and Stars Gen 1:14-19

Movement: Moving Moons

Art: Sun & Moon Foam Balls

sensory: tin foil strips

Need: foam balls (talk to Jen about oriental trading), glitter, silver & yellow paint, flat pushpins, tissue paper- red , orange, & yellow

Key Verse: Gen. 1:16 "God made two great lights."



November

wk 1

Creation Day 5 Fish and Birds Gen 1:20-23

Movement: Bird walk

Dramatic Play: Bird Nests

Sensory Table: Eggs, worms

Art: Rainbow fish

Need: plastic eggs, packing strips paper, tissue paper white, blue construction paper in shape of a fish

Key Verse: Gen 1:20 "Let the water have fish and the sky have birds."



wk 2

Creation Day 6 Animals

Movement: Surprise

Dress up: Pet Vet

Art: Masks

Need: paper plates, construction paper brown, orange, and yellow

Key Verse: Gen 1: 24-25 " God made all animals"



wk 3

God made people so we can know Him/ Adam & Eve Gen 2:7, 20-23, 3:8

Movement: My Name

Art: Body Maps

Sensory: People

Need: butcher paper, crayons & markers, rubber bands

Key Verse: Gen 1:27 " God created man and women in His own image."



wk 4

God provides for us / The Garden Gen 2:8-15

water works

Art: My garden

Garden Scents

Need: koolaid (without sugar), & white card stock

Key Verse: Gen 2:15 "God put man in the garden to care for it."



wk 5-

Creation Celebration Gen 2:1-3

Art: Mural of Creation

Need: 11x17 white paper, Blue Paint

Key Verse: Gen 2:1 " The heavens and the earth were completed."

End of Summer Announcements!

• Today (Aug 30) is the last day of Summer Electives! It’s been one of our best summer’s ever as far as quality in teaching, line up/variety of classes, and involvement from staff, pastors and mature adults in our community. Kids have gotten a great view of the bigness of God and how He is at work in all aspects of life.
  

• Next Sunday (Sept 6) all elementary kids will be IN SERVICES with their parents. We will not have elementary ministry going on. Have fun worshipping together before back to school craziness begins.

• Regular Imago Dei Kids elementary ministry starts Sept 13th. 10 returning teachers are excited to serve and know your children this fall. Please take some time on the 13th to meet your child's teacher!!! Would be great to have a few more teachers to lead small groups or people that are great at leading all group games or being part of worship. Let Karen know if you are available. karen@imagodeicommunity.com

• Parent subs needed throughout the year. We are gathering a list of parents who can sub in for teachers throughout the year. If you are not able to be on a regular Imago Dei Kids rotation but could sub in from time to time to cover a teacher who needs a week off, please let us know. Jen@imagodeicommunity.com
  

• Sunday Sept 27th is our Fall Elementary Parent Meeting!!! It is during the 11am service in the Library. Please make this a priority to come and be together as parents and hear the vision of Imago Dei Kids and what we are teaching your child this year.

Camp

A couple weeks ago I was asked to be the camp speaker for a week at Camp Tadmor. It was for Jr Camp so it was 220 3rd-6th graders. None of which I knew. I had never been to a week long camp before nor had I ever spoken that many times in a row for that many kids in that age group. I'm more familiar with Sunday to Sunday. Or a one time, evening/Saturday deal. As many years as I've worked with kids and parents I felt suddenly very out of my element. I was pretty nervous - panicked as it were.

The first night I got introduced as a "he" only because the program staff hadn't met me yet and assumed I was a male speaker. So my nerves were pretty thrown and I did my best to recover and get the kids excited about having a woman speaker. But I came back to the lake house that night (where my husband, son and I were staying) and was about in tears regardless. I was up till 1:30am planning my talk for the next night and was pretty sure I was invisible and was going to SUCK at speaking.

But God surprised me as He often does. At my low points I was on my knees exasperated with planning and worrying and told Him it was a mistake that I was there and somebody else should come or at the very least I should go home. So God came and did what I could not. Be Himself in the midst of counselors, kids and staff.

On the 2nd night I spoke about Sin and how we aren't perfect. 3rd night was all about Jesus and who He is and how much he LOVES us. Loves you. Loves me. I was starting to love speaking to this group of kids but was concerned that their hearts weren't engaging. By the eve of the 4th night I asked counselors what God was doing in their cabins (as I had every night but only general comments had come thus far) and expected more of the same as in nights past (general niceties). But suddenly hands were raising and counselors were all chiming in passionately. A child had received Christ the night before! 3 kids in another cabin. An entire cabin received Christ and danced around saying they wondered if the angels were dancing with them! Another gal told her church counselor that because I spoke she learned that Jesus is for everyone...she always thought He was just for Christians. She received Him and told her counselor the next morning she felt "new". An hour or so later I was to speak on new life and how it changes everything.

I was in tears at the counselor meeting and couldn't hide my surprise at the kids response. Together with the counselors we celebrated and talked about allowing God to speak to the kids and not get in the way with ourselves. Suddenly speaking wasn't scary and I was getting to know the kids and it was an absolute privilege to be sharing the gospel with them all.

After that it felt to me all mayhem ensued in the realm of what God was doing in kids and counselors hearts. We had a worship night that night and the kids were way into it and praising like I'd never seen a group worship. We shot up colored/silver butterflies over the kids symbolizing life, had ballons bouncing everywhere and just celebrated. The last night I spoke on loving others and we talked a lot about when our heart breaks for someone and when the moments are that we most feel loved. By the time the week was over I estimated 40-50 kids had received Christ or rededicated their lives! I've never seen anything like it. It changed me in many ways and gave me much more confidence to speak again. But more it re inspired me to come home and be with our local church to be in the lives of our kids who are growing up here.

For sure I'm taking our kids to camp next year. And for sure I'm coming home again refreshed and excited to be part of what the day in and day out life in Christ looks like with them. Thanks Camp Tadmor for a chance to speak and see God work.

Beautification!

One of the summer elective classes for this Sunday - awesome idea!

Elective Class Name: Beautification

Class Limit: (girls only)

Opening Activity: Soaking fingers in Palmolive!

Elective Course:
We ladies are going to push back our cuticles, file down our rough edges and paint our nails! We are also going to make a natural face scrub to take home with us.

Truth Piece:
Scripture:
Ps 139.13-14 I am God's work, and His works are wonderful!
Luke 12.7 God knows everything about me, and still, I have so much worth to Him!
Ps 45.11 The King is enthralled by my beauty, so I will honor him because he is my lord.
God uses the bible to talk a lot about what He values as beautiful in us. Dive in and find out how you can please our Lord with your beauty!
I Peter 3.3,4 [your beauty] should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Main Theme/Character attribute:
God loves us and thinks we are beautiful! The beauty that God sees in us is unconditional, and is far greater than anything beautiful we can create. The value of beauty that is ascribed to us by God, being His creation, is far greater than the world's value of beauty. To know and believe God is to know and believe that we are beautiful to Him...not because of how we look or what we wear or what gifts and talents we have. We are valuable to Him and beautiful because we are HIS, and His creation.

Parent Handout for at home conversation:

Portland is a city full of opportunities to think and talk about what BEAUTY really is. Look around and you’ll see many examples of a false, short-lived, dead-end kind of beauty authored by the World. Talk about where the world’s beauty falls short in fulfilling our deepest desire to know and believe God, and then talk about the true beauty that comes only from God, and feeds our hearts and draws us closer to Him…

Stories from last week

This week up for elementary summer electives is:

9am:

• Performance group of high schoolers comes to share the with the kids via drama, games, etc.

11am:

• Telling stories through drama (kids learn to act)
• Martial arts/self defense
• Singing & history of worship

• 
  

STORY from last week: Last Sunday a mother from our community made pizza dough with the kids and taught on the bread of life. Our friends from California were up visiting and their daughter went to this cooking class. Our friend Rob was so impressed with the take home ideas and the dough that was sent home that their family made pizza that night for dinner! Rob sat at the table talking to his kids about the suggested scripture and theme on her parent handout. It is so awesome to see parents get empowered to have discussions of faith with their kids!! It is so shaping for our kids to get an inside look into the lives of people in our church and in turn for that to spur parents onto sharing their own story with their kids.

Summer Electives have started!

Elementary Summer Electives
God + your passion + our kids = Real Life Learning

Every summer, we extend an open call to our Imago Dei Community to come and live out a piece of your story with our elementary children. We offer elective style classes and children choose what class they would like to take. The classes are taught by YOU, our church community. All of life is sacred. Your passions and pursuits are all done before God. Our desire in Imago Dei Kids is to connect God to our world.

This week's classes taught by people in our congregation were (July 5th):

Vegetable Painting (Making prints with vegetables, learning about how to eat healthy and take care of our bodies)

Make a Joyful Noise (worship class where kids got to make their own instrument, learn how to use it and sing worship songs with a gifted leader)

Making Smoothies (This week's most popular class of course, kids made different kinds of smoothies included some with spinach! Learned how to eat well and treat their bodies)

Adventure on the Bus (Our class for older kids this week. They totally went and rode a bus route and talked about the adventures of life God allows us to experience)

Next up for Sunday, July 12th:
- Stewardship (learn how to organize, spend and save your money!)
- Soccer!
- Poetry with all 5 senses
- Cooking

Make It Personal!

I'm quoting again. This book has some good words though. Check out this segment by Reggie Joiner in a chapter about making it personal with kids:

Kids already have a front-row seat to their parents' lives; the question is, what are they watching? Is it just a show? Or is it real-life adventure where they see courage and passion to overcome personal obstacles? Parents must show them what it is like to pursue a better relationship with God. Show them what a committed, loving marriage looks like. Show them how it looks to prioritize Jesus above anything else. Show them what it is like to reject the materialism and consumerism of this world. If parents want their children to have it in them, they have to see it demonstrated.

Kids need to see their parents
struggle with answers,
face their weaknesses,
deal with real problems,
admit when they are wrong,
fight for their marriage,
resolve personal conflict.

Children need to see their parents make relational, emotional, and spiritual growth a priority. If parents don't make it personal, it may never be personal for their kids. Some of my favorite stories through the years have been told by children of single parents who watched their moms or dads overcome difficult obstacles. Don't forget that God is writing a story in the hearts of parents, a story of redemption and restoration. One of the most powerful things that children can see is God at work in the lives of their parents, but they can't see who their parents are becoming if they never see who they were in the first place. Otherwise, how will they know the difference God has made and continues to make in their parents' lives? It is the firsthand look at that difference that will give them hope for their future and faith in what God can do in them.

Uber challenging. I am noticing as I parent my son that I always try to be my best around him. If I curse my first response is to cover it up and pretend I didn't rather than just apologize and tell him why it frustrates me that I do that. When I'm having a bad day I ignore him or hide my face from him rather than just talk about how I'm feeling. On the days when I just let it all out - we have the coolest conversations. Being vulnerable with our kids - letting them into us. That's how I want to live. I hope we'll be friends later in life because of it, and I hope more that He sees the God of the universe playing out in me (somehow, someway).

Family Rhythm

I've been thinking a lot about rhythm lately - something my husband and I have been intentional this past year on building into our lives. We started Sabbath-ing a year or two ago, taking Fridays completely off from the world. We don't ever schedule anything then and we do whatever we want to - many times just resting and playing at home. That's become a rhythm. The other thing we've been building this year is being home more nights than out. This is something we want our son to grow up noticing and valuing. For some this may seem like a no brainer, but being pastors - it's easy to be out every night if you keep saying yes. These things have built some consistency and sense of home that we all really needed.

I'm reading a book called Think Orange. It's a book about family ministry - about the church and family coming together. I'm pretty stoked on it. The "Orange" references are overdone, but once you get over that - it's a good read.

There's a lot in it and I may post more later - but where I'm trying out some new skills in my own family right now is regarding family times. Deutermony 6:7 is something we read and say a benediction over our families with at every baby dedication and then hope that we all follow in the years to come.

"Impress (these commands) on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Joiner makes the point that:

"it's not enough to spend time together as a family if a family's time together is never meaningful or strategic. It's not just about quantity, and families can't make up for frequently missed opportunities by going on a nice vacation once a year or by spending several days together during the holidays. And it's not just about quality - families have to to be both intentional about how they spend time together and consistent about how often they spend time together. In short, they need to create a rhythm. As leaders, we should act like Moses and encourage families to get in sync with the natural patterns that already exist in life. We need to help them find their beat and see their time as an opportunity to celebrate God's story."

So this is his attempt to break it down for us - to remind us of what we value so deeply, intimacy with our children:

MEAL TIME When you sit at home
Focused discussion as a teacher to establish core values

DRIVE TIME When you walk along the road
Informal dialogue as a friend to help your child interpret life

BED TIME When you lie down
Intimate conversation as a counselor to listen to the heart of your child

MORNING TIME When you get up
Encouraging words as a coach who gives a sense of value and instills purpose

I'm pretty excited about it - this simple reminder of scripture that I hold dear but worry that I don't live out well enough. The fact is all we do these things. No matter what is going crazy in our lives; we all wake up with our kids, drive them around, eat dinner with them and go to bed with them. The rhythm of making those times sacred and real - gets me excited. Peace to you as you live a life of faith with your children.

Summer Electives!

We are getting close to kicking off the summer here at Imago Dei Kids! It all starts July 5th. This is when:

1. All our 5 year olds that will be Kindergarten age move up to the world of elementary to make space for all the preschoolers that are growing up. This also gives the new Kindergarteners a chance to get used to the elementary program before the fall so there isn't one more transition for them in September when they are already saturated with change at home starting a new school.

2. Our graduating 5th graders that will be in 6th grade in the fall, begin participating in the Jr. High ministry. Leaders came down to meet them today, and next week we'll take them on a field trip to the Jr. High room where they can see what it's really like.

3. This is also when we kick off Summer Electives!!!!! Our regular teachers and leaders are off for the summer. This is the one focused time a year when we invite all of our Imago Dei Community to come and teach the kids once or twice during the summer. Something creative that fits a passion they have (cooking, sports, biking, drawing, clay, graphic arts, you name it) while tying it in to the character of God. The kids LOVE this time of year as they get to pick their own class (usually 3-4 classes going on simultaneously during each service)! And adults get that don't normally see our children's ministry get to try their hand at playing a part. We still need 30 more people to be a part of this!! So please help spread the word and consider teaching a class yourself. My teachers and myself will help you develop the curriculum so you can successfully transfer your passion to the kids. Contact me at karen@imagodeicommunity.com for more info.

4. Lastly this is when we invite all the nursery and early childhood parents to come teach in their child's class for one service this summer. We give the regular weekly teachers 4-5 weeks off in the summer and need help filling their places. Since parents are the primary discipler of their child it seems to go hand in hand to have the parents BE the teachers during the summer. Other teachers and myself will help each parent with the curriculum and coach them on how to teach a group of kids. We still need 40 more parents to help with this! So please let us know if you can come teach for a day. Contact me at karen@imagodeicommunity.com

As if all this isn't enough, this is also the week (July 5th) where we go to just 2 services for the summer. We'll be doing a 9am and 11am service only. Though this change is actually very welcome for Imago Dei Kids!

Happy summer planning and vacationing to you all. On the weeks you are in town consider jumping in to teach a special class for the summer!

The godly adults that bless us

Tonight I had our last meeting of the year with our elementary team. I had to arrive late due to an emergency so I asked one of my leaders to get the fire pit burning, S'mores out, and to invite the teachers to pray.

I arrived to a group of 12 people praying for our kids, for each other, and for God to change them. Have you ever arrived late to a meeting you set up and found the whole group praying honest prayers? It's really something.

So we spent the evening evaluating the ministry. What went well this year, what inspires them, what needs improvement, etc. I'm still trying to articulate what it was that moved me so. I mean we had quite full lists of pros and cons. But I think it was the eagerness each teacher had to share! All but one chimed in more than once and had significant contribution to make. This isn't a passive group or another meeting to get through for them. This was how are we going to love these kids well and be the church to them?

I feel I have made some good friends this year with this group. And they with each other. These are good people. Solid character, mature in their faith. A deep love for the church, in it's wholeness, including the kids.

New Set Up

As promised, a picture of the new gym set up. Of course, it's not so new anymore. :) But we still like it. Thanks to Dan Young the architect who helped make the maps that the set up team can actually use (they weren't too fond of the maps with pretty pictures we used to make).

You can't actually see all of the classrooms here. But what you can see is the 1's and 2's rooms with new playground area. It's working really well. On the sides not shown is the large preschool room (on left) and the improved mothers room, snugglers room and scooters room (on right). Also not pictured is the family hang out area with video feed and the parent resource tables. We are enjoying the new set up!

We Fall Down

This video is from one of our families. It's their son singing a solo at the closing ceremonies night at Awanas. Now, I think he sings quite well - but that's not the only reason I asked his mom if I could post it here. First off, his mom is playing the piano. Which makes the whole video less about Samuel and more about God to me. There is a sense of worship here. And really the thing that moves me the most is the song he's singing. It's a main stream song sung on the radio, churches and in home and on CD/mp3 players. And he knows it. In fact he's MEMORIZED it. I work with several worship leaders in Imago Dei Kids and often the question comes up about which songs kids can actually sing. I usually respond that kids can sing most any song. It seems we all sell kids short on what they can actually understand and are able to do. This kid, Samuel, displays for me the maturity and ability to grasp not only lyrics to a song but worship to our King at a young age. May all of us parents be encouraged that our kids can understand and be part of much in the life of Christ.

May 2009 - Samuel sings solo from Theresa Frazee on Vimeo.

May Newsletter

Check out our Spring/Summer newsletter - has what we are doing with curriculum, dates for summer, invitation to serve this summer, and resources. Happy reading!

God is big, we are smaller now

Tonight was the 2nd week of an all church prayer night we've held. 2 weeks ago our lead and founding pastor, Rick, announced in the sermon that Imago Dei Community was shutting down all activity, programs, meetings, etc for a month. To pray. Once a week, all together as one body. A reminder to us all that this is God's church, not our own, and that it's time we start loving each other.

So we've been praying. Last week 700 people showed up to pray! Kids were running around past bedtime in the family rooms as parents and community members swapped off caring for them so the other could go and pray. One wife described the night to me as "humbling".

Tonight we gathered again. Less people, less kids. Which seems so typical of prayer - what is it about prayer that loses people's interest? Like I should talk. Prayer is often hard for me. Praying in groups of people you don't interact with all that often - even harder. Until you do it. And then WHAM! I'm hooked. All in and can't wait till the next one.

So tonight my blogging friends - was wonderful being with a community of believers you love! Seeing Rick get emotional as he thanked God for saving him and for doing more than he ever dreamed or imagined with this church - was inspiring. So inspiring that the thanksgiving opened up. People stood and praised God for all kinds of things - not specific to their own situations so much - but praising God for our church, for each other, for what God is, has done and will do.

Then some people came and shared what God had placed on their hearts for us to be praying about. One shared about the desire of the heart - and how God is our ultimate desire. We all got in groups and prayed over that. Which led to more thanksgiving but also some repentance of how we just don't desire Him much sometimes. Another friend shared about giving of money and time. And if we have not much of either maybe it's time to reevaluate some things and trust God. She was so humble but passionate and inspired us all to pray about that. Again, prayers of repentance lifting up all over the room.

Toward the end I just started listening as the prayers of the people, our people, our friends, the church - rose into one voice. And it sure sounded sweet to me. I looked up at the old wooden rafters where people had prayed for years and years and decades or longer in the same building before us. I imagine it was sweetness to God's ears. We, this broken group of people here in Portland, prayed in unity and unison for a common purpose. To know God, to desire him, and to love His people.

I was in tears by the time we ended in worship and went and grabbed my son from the play area and brought him in to sing with us because I wanted him to experience it. Which, of course, he wasn't interested in as it was an hour and a half past his bed time. But he did for the first couple minutes immediately sense something. My husband nudged me and I looked back to see his little 4-year-old hands raised and eyes closed. We both looked a little surprised but then noticed that the room of people was doing the same, he was copying. Or maybe there was some semblance of Spirit flowing through him. I don't know. But in my heart was an overflowing thing happening. I was grinning and hugging everyone. The Spirit of God I believe - and you could see it over most all the faces. We are becoming one family again. I'm so glad to be part of this family. There is much more work/prayer to do. Many friends have not come to pray and some are suffering in isolation critiquing the church. But tonight many changed and loved each other again or perhaps for the first time.

God is so much bigger than us and it's truly an inspiring and humbling thing to see it in the physicality of a people learning to love each other and lay themselves down for the sake of something much bigger. I'll be there again next Wednesday.

Thoughts on friendship

This last month at our teacher meetings I've been burdened to teach on friendship. It seems to me that community is sometimes a word that is either overused or more likely misunderstood. Many times I've talked to people about their disappointment in a home community or a ministry. Their marriage tanks, the group splits up, you name it - something happens and they are crushed. The expressions I hear from so many is "it doesn't work", "we need a closed group", "no one really knows me". As if community or ministry is somehow a method and that there is a stepping stone process to achieving it. Which ultimately, is a failed process and why doesn't the church come up with something better?

I have to ask, isn't what you're describing friendship? There are many things about community that are great and what God asks us to give ourselves to. But something He consistently asks us to in it is to love and be loved. To give and to receive. Friendship. Community can not replace deep friendships, and deep friendships seem to be what we are all asking for. Have a listen to Kyle Costello's sermon last week for a deeper look into that.

I am convinced that most people who call themselves a Christ follower authentically want to grow and be a person of godly character. But the how...seems to escape us all from time to time. In Ephesians 4 Paul speaks of living as children of light. It is this picture of what it looks like to be a person filled with Christ-like character and in it, he points out that we are to speak truth to one another. Really the entire section brings up unity and being together. We aren't in this alone. It is very difficult to see the fruit of godly character all by yourself. Sure there are disciplines, some that I need to grow in. But overall what I read in Ephesians (and most anywhere in the bible really) is that we need each other. Or at the very least that we are stuck with each other and there can be great benefit and beauty in it.

In a book that I have been challenged on a lot this year called, The Ascent of a Leader, the authors speak of this character. This godly character that it takes to lead others, and how if you want to start on the road of growing this way (in godly character) - that you better surround yourself with some good people. Certain kinds of people. Friends. These are people who:

- Are ordinary people who are willing to tell you the truth, and who will also receive the truth from you
- People who are willing to have fun and dream with you
- People who believe in you

Get to know these people as intimately as possible. Let them know your goals, your dreams, and your struggles. Perhaps more important let them know how you FEEL about your goals, dreams and struggles. Let them know how you feel about them and their own passions.

Best environments are produced when a core group of people commit themselves to each other for life, no matter what.

Even for a definite/defined period of time. It's called FRIENDSHIP. Committing time creates opportunities for vulnerability. Vulnerability builds trust, and sooner than we think we will be able to encourage one another toward spiritual maturity.

So I think it's time we ASK SOMEONE(S) to walk with us. Someone we respect or want to be more like. Compliment them by asking them, but be clear what we want. Don't apologize. Just ask them to walk with us and tell them why we want to walk with them. Part of living in community is having some deep friendships. We all want those but are scared to start. It's so scary to ask someone to love us. But it's what Christ is calling us to and a sure start to becoming people of godly character I think.

May God give us courage.