i know each of you has a home. think in your mind of home. now why is that place home? what is it about that place that makes it home? what about an encounter with god? is there a certain place where you "feel" god more than anywhere else?
when we are really honest, we know that god is everywhere. place does not matter that much to him. but also when we are really honest, place matters to us. so it matters, but it doesnt, but it still does. this is a tension we live in.
so this week, i want us to discuss (dont hold your breath, i know), what kinds of things we would like to have as far as facilities go. place does not matter that much for a church, but it matters incredibly. what things about a church make it seem like home? how can we cultivate a place of worship with the building itself? one thing i love about nexus is that we tried to make it where our building would tell a story. someone could know what we are about by being shown the facilities and having some things explained. what ways can we do that in denver?
i dont want anyone to misunderstand, it is much more important who is in the space than what the space is, but i also think we should strive to have an excellent place, even if it is not that way at first. so. lets just throw out ideas. they can be complete, or incomplete, they can just be thoughts, or they can be things you are passionate about seeing. lets just keep in mind, we will not be able to do everything, but i think this is something good to think about a long time out.
as always, lets be praying for one another. i know we can pray for tyler as he is in the land of florida, wanting to end his life, for bethany as grad school decisions are being made, for tanner as he is going to the middle east and spain, for robin and i as we are beginning to move, for grant as he looks for a job and as he and desiree settle in. i may not be up to date completely, so if im behind just update. hope you all are well.
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Pack some sweaters, we're going to Denver!
Oh, we WILL see some snow baby!
Here We Go: All About the Snowy City of Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and most populous city of the state of Colorado. Denver is located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains. The Denver downtown district is located immediately east of the confluence of Cherry Creek with the South Platte River, approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Denver is nicknamed The Mile-High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile (5,280 feet or approximately 1,609 meters) above sea level. The United States Census Bureau estimates that, in 2006, the population of the City and County of Denver was 566,974, making it the 27th most populous U.S. city. The Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated 2006 population of 2,408,750 and ranked as the 21st most populous U.S. metropolitan statistical area, and the larger Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Area had an estimated 2006 population of 2,927,911 and ranked as the 17th most populous U.S. metropolitan area. The city claims to have the 10th largest central business district in the United States.
11 comments:
I think that no matter how old we get, there is always a part of us that wants to go "home." A place in us that seeks out that safe haven, where we can be comforted and loved. I love the way Nexus immediately puts you at ease when you walk in the door. The message is clear that "no matter who you are or where you are coming from, you are welcome here" and people don't have to worry about "fitting the mold" like at some churches. Regardless of what we choose to do with a building, I think it is what we put into our people that will build a home for our members and visitors.
But I will say my favorite part of Nexus is the community room; a place to meet as a family, have a meal, hang out and fellowship. I would love to see something like that in Denver. Also, ya'll can be praying for me, I resigned from the church I am working at yesterday. I KNOW the time has come (finally) that I part ways, but I made some great friends here and it will still be hard. Also, there is always that nagging little detail of bills to be paid...so I'm on the job hunt again!
Ok, also dream things to have: washer and dryer for people to use, maybe some bunks or couches if people need a place to crash, kitchen (obviously), coffee bar?(i mean, come on, its not like we don't have enough experience between us...and how many churches can say their pastor makes them lattes?) a couple of old computers with internet access, a space for the youth to make their own, as well as children's, clothes closet/food pantry
like i said...just a wish list.
those are great ideas. sorry to hear about that news. well, kinda, i knew you were miserable. i guess you are in a similar place as robin and i, waiting on god to provide a job.
i would love to have those things as well. ill say some of the things i woudl love a bit later, im opening today, so i gotta go.
ok ok one more...practically i think it would be amazing to have a die-cut machine and a laminator...probably cause i'm working children's right now...but they are so useful in so many ways.
We need a big screen TV and on that very TV there should be a constant loop of The Passion at all hours of the day. There should also be mountains of Robin's amazing enchiladas ripe for the picking... sorry I had to say some stupid stuff.
I agree with Erin, the community room stuffed full of stuff to me really feels welcoming. It promotes fellowship with a relaxed atmosphere. I also pray that we do away with pews in Denver, I really hate pews.
really? i kinda love pews. but if there are a lot that hate them im ok not having them. i just like the idea of sitting next to people, not so much sitting individually. pews are also pricey, so that may be a hindrance.
i guess the reason i dont like the chairs is that i associate it with the trendy "christian contemporary" type of singing. but im ok with either.
and those are good ideas, minus the bigscreens, robin, your gonna have to make some more sweet enchiladas.
Ha! I will make enchiladas whenever you want Tyler. Just stay away from the sofa ok? Just kidding... sorta. I too love pews, but can compromise on that issue. And, I would a room full or arts and crafts stuff. Erin would have orgainze it, but then we could always be pulling stuff out for whatever project or craft youth and kids were doing. I'd also like for us to have a solid library of books like "Blue Like Jazz", "Velvet Elvis" maybe some CS.Lewis and other favorites.
i love the library idea!! as far as pews, i agree with chris, i gotta say i love them...however...when you have chairs that makes the room MUCH more flexible to the needs of the church, and as chris also said, they are also cheaper.
wow, its like we have a real dialogue going...
I guess maybe I should add something here... it's rare I acutally get to sit and read blogs and formulate thoughts on them. But today I am blowing off work for just a little while and catching up.
I agree with Erin - that there is always a part of us longing for home. And while part of that is for our physical home - with our family, whoever that may be and a place where we feel loved. But also, there is that deep longing that never goes away for our real home. There are some days when it is stronger than others, but it is always there. And while, nothing on this earth will satisfy that longing, obviously, there are some places that come close. For me, there are few - my home with my family of course, the church I grew up in, Pine Cove and Nexus has joined the list. When I think about all the things these places have in common, one stands out - I know that there is freedom in those places. I feel no pressure when I am there to perform, to appear a certain way, to be something I am not. I have nothing to hide. And as a person who has lived her whole life with those pressures pressing in from every side, that is the best part about home to me. And that's what I would love to see in our home in Denver. And I have no doubt that I will.
On a practical note - I'm all about a room filled with couches to foster a relaxed atmosphere - not necessarily for worship, but just to have one. Soon, I plan on getting a laptop - mostly for grad school, but really, who doesn't want a laptop? But when I do, I'll have my desktop that can be used for the church for whatever. It's only a couple years old, so it's still in great condition.
And I guess an update - Sylvan during the summer is crazy and for awhile one of the directors was out sick, leaving all summer planning to me and someone else and neither of us had done summer with Sylvan before. But things are calming down now. Grad school - very difficult to get in touch with any professor during the summer, but I haven't given up yet. And as far as me - God is changing me, little by little, bit by bit chipping away at all the parts that are not of Him. Not always the most pleasant, but always good for me. Allowing me to realize, once again, that I must die to myself every single day, every single hour. And all I ask is "for grace to trust Him more."
- love the library idea, and i do love pews and we can have mounds of tater tot casserole too... :D
Alirght here is my comments on the "place", I like having pews and think that chairs make worship to individual. I like having verses painted on the wall either in the sanctuary or community room. Maybe have a wall somewhere that people are able to put pictures of people or things that need prayers, for people who might want to visualize when praying. Just a couple ideas.
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