church in brooklyn
Two members from Christ's Church of Brooklyn have written on their blogs recently about their experience or their take on the church. Check out what they said.
On Wednesday morning, May 10th, Jen said:
I go to an amazing church. Or more accurately, I am a part of an amazing church. That old Church of Christ lesson about the church isn't the building, you know, it's hardwired in at this point. It certainly isn't the building that makes this church what it is, although there's a certain grungy style to meeting in a barren, concrete-floored former workout room at the YWCA. It's what happens there every Sunday that makes this church what it is, and what that makes possible for the rest of the week for all of us when we leave and go back home to neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey, wherever.
I've been grateful for this church for a long time, but every so often something amazing happens that functions as a new reminder that church isn't just something we do because we're in the habit, or because we happen to like the people we get together with, but because there's something life-changing, transformative, about it. These little epiphanies are few and far between and spontaneous and maybe don't get noticed by everybody, but Sunday night, there it was. A little glimpse of God in the middle of a circle of plastic chairs in a barren concrete-floored room, as one friend revealed a need and the response was immediate: we will take care of you, if you need us. That's what we are. The church.
I would love to say more, but I was just there, observing an amazing moment between people as they became Christ to each other, saying amen. Just a witness to a presence that was suddenly more than the sum of those visible.
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On Sunday night, May 14th, Kristen wrote:
Church tonight was great. As I write this, I am still trying to think of a more appropriate adjective for church tonight, and I just can't do it. Tonight affirmed to me 1) why Christ loves the church body 2) why I need the church body 3) why I chose Christ's Church for Brooklyn in particular. I can't believe the way this strange mix of folks get their hands dirty in the lives of their fellow church members. They're not afraid of your problems; bring them on. Go into uncomfortable detail; you won't shock this bunch. There will be no gasping, no uneasy avoiding of eye contact. Over the course of class time and worship, there's a lot of shifting of burdens and relieving of pressure, and the church walks out liberated of old weight and carrying new weight. And new weightiness - the weight that was formerly oppressing your brother or sister - feels a lot different from your own "me-me-me" worries. It's bearable and almost welcome.
I love church.
-
On Wednesday morning, May 10th, Jen said:
I go to an amazing church. Or more accurately, I am a part of an amazing church. That old Church of Christ lesson about the church isn't the building, you know, it's hardwired in at this point. It certainly isn't the building that makes this church what it is, although there's a certain grungy style to meeting in a barren, concrete-floored former workout room at the YWCA. It's what happens there every Sunday that makes this church what it is, and what that makes possible for the rest of the week for all of us when we leave and go back home to neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey, wherever.
I've been grateful for this church for a long time, but every so often something amazing happens that functions as a new reminder that church isn't just something we do because we're in the habit, or because we happen to like the people we get together with, but because there's something life-changing, transformative, about it. These little epiphanies are few and far between and spontaneous and maybe don't get noticed by everybody, but Sunday night, there it was. A little glimpse of God in the middle of a circle of plastic chairs in a barren concrete-floored room, as one friend revealed a need and the response was immediate: we will take care of you, if you need us. That's what we are. The church.
I would love to say more, but I was just there, observing an amazing moment between people as they became Christ to each other, saying amen. Just a witness to a presence that was suddenly more than the sum of those visible.
--------------------------
On Sunday night, May 14th, Kristen wrote:
Church tonight was great. As I write this, I am still trying to think of a more appropriate adjective for church tonight, and I just can't do it. Tonight affirmed to me 1) why Christ loves the church body 2) why I need the church body 3) why I chose Christ's Church for Brooklyn in particular. I can't believe the way this strange mix of folks get their hands dirty in the lives of their fellow church members. They're not afraid of your problems; bring them on. Go into uncomfortable detail; you won't shock this bunch. There will be no gasping, no uneasy avoiding of eye contact. Over the course of class time and worship, there's a lot of shifting of burdens and relieving of pressure, and the church walks out liberated of old weight and carrying new weight. And new weightiness - the weight that was formerly oppressing your brother or sister - feels a lot different from your own "me-me-me" worries. It's bearable and almost welcome.
I love church.
-
posted by jch at
10:34 AM
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