J.R. Briggs

Personal reflections from our first public gathering

April 20, 2009

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Many people have asked/emailed/called/texted, instant message’d/contact me on Twitter and Facebook the question, “So, how did your first large public gathering go with Renew this past Sunday?”

Here are a few of my thoughts:

It was encouraging. The thing that kept coming to my mind yesterday was just how normal and natural everything seemed. We wanted to pay attention to God and respond appropriately. I truly believe we did that. Our core launch team is fantastic. I loved seeing our team take ownership and step up and lead & serve via formal and informal ways – both up front and behind the scenes. I loved seeing new faces. I loved the fact that we loved each other well. I was less distracted and more present than I have ever been in a gathering I’ve been a part of. And it was fun. And I actually got to sit with my family!

I love the stories that emerged and the new connections that were made. As a launch team we’ve made a commitment to cultivate story-telling and story-listening in our public gatherings. This fleshes itself out in two ways. (1) Inviting someone to share their story from up front. (2) Marking out an extended period of time (10-15 minutes) in the middle of our gatherings to allow people to interact and connect with others and informally hear their stories. (We know not what to call it at the present moment other “intermission”). I loved seeing people connect. I loved hearing people’s stories. I loved meeting new people. People said that they thoroughly enjoyed that time to connect and meet others. It felt so relational.

We were ourselves. Since this wasn’t our “launch” I loved the fact that the pressure was off. We could just be us. A few people said, “This is great! I know this is the realization of your dream.” I quickly corrected them: pulling off a service (even this first one) is not my dream. My dream is much bigger than that: seeing God start a powerful Spirit-initiated, Spirit-evidenced movement of renewal in Lansdale and the region – and joining him in that movement. These gatherings are just a way to be a clear signpost that God is up to something new in our area. That is my dream. I think our gathering was a small, tangible expression that He’s up to something.

We weren’t striving to put on a show – and we didn’t. Since our gatherings are much more like pep rallies than they are actually getting out there and playing, we enjoyed that time to learn to live something true than to feel the need to say something new. I loved seeing people get up and move around. I loved seeing kids sit with their parents for the first portion of our gathering before they went and spent their time in Renew Kids. The gathering was refreshingly unsexy. It was a time to allow God to shape us as he pleased.

God was present. How do we know? Jesus was central to the gathering. The gospel was taught. Stories of brokenness and grace were communicated. Communion was full of depth, mystery and meaning. People were real. And emails, Facebook messages, phone calls and text messages from newcomers, skeptics and those unacquainted with God and church who were “surprised” that they connected with what we were doing and want to be more involved was evidence to us that something healthy is happening.

The mp3 of the teaching should be posted on the Renew site later this week. Stay tuned.

Our next gathering will be held on Sunday May 24, but there are plenty of opportunities – even more significant than our public gatherings - to be involved & connected to Renew. Things like:
House churches.
Future dates for doubt :: night
Lansdale Farmers Market and Community Garden opportunities.
Serving at Manna and volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club.
And other opportunities.

Stay tuned to the Renew website for further opportunities for connections and involvement or feel free to contact us directly.

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