COMMUNITY

Josh is an official Starbucks partner today.  He went in and filled out the necessary paperwork and will be back to start “barista-ing” on Thursday.  I know, I know we are Caribou loving Midwesterners- but I am excited to join the Northwest and become a Starbucks drinker!

We had lunch with Chris this afternoon at a tasty Mongolian grill.  We enjoyed good food and conversation of life and ministry.  We then headed back to the Renzelman’s for more discussion on Josh’s ministry “assignments” of getting to know more about Rainier Valley and the churches that are here.  It will be great tools and experiences to bring back to MN and really learn about the area. Chris also brought us next door to “the cabin”- a house literally FULL of ministry resources…seriously its crazy, but good to have on hand!

On our way back to The Station we made an IKEA stop for a few small kitchen needs and found a coffee table in the “As Is” section for cheap.  I would say we are officially furnished and it doesn’t look like a college house- bonus/answered prayer!  Oh and Chris loaned us a larger computer monitor so we can watch movies on a decent screen- sweet.

Tonight Josh and I ventured out to a young adults community group (aka small group) through Mars Hill.  To our surprise it was the first official night of this group that literally was thought of last week- fast turn around on getting it going!  Everyone was surprised to hear that our first time at the church was yesterday and we were already jumping into a group.  There were 12 total and the couples house we met at are originally from Wisconsin.  Another girl in attendance recently moved from Iowa and another lady has a 9-year-old son named Dante- crazy.  It was so good to be in community with people our own age with a lot of them not native to Seattle- making us feel not so much like complete new comers.  It was good to get into the word with other believers and to feel like there is actual potential for relationships to be formed.

The biggest theme that keeps arising is community.  While it may seem obvious but I feel that our focus is greatly shifting from building a center to helping build a community (not to say a center is out, but more our attitudes, thoughts etc toward it all).  We studied Acts 2:42-47 which is a prime model of Christians living in utter community- why wouldn’t you want to live in a community like that?  Why wouldn’t you want to encourage the communities around you?  Why wouldn’t you get to know your neighbor?  It is all so obvious, yet Christ is necessary for it all. 

Thankful for:  being sought after in Church and being told about the community group- hence being part of the process of building community.   

Love your neighbors, love your church, love your community.

Good night J