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current: STORY
We've all been
shaped by certain stories--whether they are larger stories
of our country or more personal family stories. As Christ
followers--we're continually being shaped by the grand story
of God--the gospel. As a local community of Christ followers
in OKC, we have been shaped by some specific stories in Scripture.
While we subject ourselves to all the stories in Scritpure---there
are a few that have challenged and encouraged us lately.
The above (and following) links will reveal some more detail
about those stores that we pray will one day define us as
a community.
about our sundays: the GATHERING (5pm @ The Convergence Collective)
The Gathering is our
weekly moment to come together as an entire community. You
will find that it is a very casual atmosphere, created for
interaction and participation. Join us and particapte at
the level you are comfortable with--but, just know, that
no matter your background, age, or perspective---you matter
to us. While our time 'gathered' together is meant to be
casual and inviting--we are also very intentional about every
element of the night.
the values we celebrate
within the gathering . . .
God-Focused - While we
desire to be relevant and contextual, we gather together
for God. Our time together is defined by God, the Father,
Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Participation - Everyone is important
to the community. Each person is gifted uniquely to bring
about the groups intended distinctive shape. Participation
also leads us to preparing our life to be involved in this
community expression of God. While we pray it is a spiritually
enriching time, the Gathering will be found most effective
as we each come together prepared to be active in our worship.
Story - Our
stories and expression should be unique and universal.
We participate in God's general story of redemption because
there is a larger context of the Church (catholic-universal).
There is also a more unique story that is ours individually
and ours together as a community. We bring all of those
stories together to remember what God has done and to bring
a testimony of what God is still active in doing in us
all.
"When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. . . and you all learn from each other . . . When we worship the right way, God doesn't stir us up into confusion, he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches—no exceptions." 1 cor 14
the elements that create
the gathering . . .
Scripture - Teaching. Preaching. Readings.
Confessions of Faith. Song. Imagery. Lectio Divina. Explore
creative ways interact with the Word of God.
confession - Silence.
Prayers. Instruction. Create opportunities for people to
respond to the leadings of God in the moment of conviction.
hope - Song.
Readings. Prayers. Testimonies. Stories. Imagery. The Gospel
brings us hope. It is a hope that must always be before
us.
thanksgiving - Prayers.
Song. Stories. Imagery. Silence. Our thankfulness is in
relation to our awareness of our redemption.
generosity - Offering.
Tithes. Prayers. Stories. We give out of God's gracious
generosity to us, our cheerful resolve, and our knowledge
that all things are His.
expression - Songs.
Imagery. Prayers. Writings. The Arts. We give voice to
who God is and what God is doing, has done, and one day
will do.
spiritual disciplines
- Introducing,
teaching, and adopting ancient and new spiritual practices
for our lives. We seek to live out a life that walks with
Christ.
stories - Testimony.
Readings. Writings. Video. The Arts. Those from our community
sharing their own story.
experience - Communion.
Baptism. Other action oriented elements.
edification - Prayers
of Blessing. Words of Benediction. Teaching. Gathering
together should produce both conviction and encouragement.
My friends may you grow in grace and in the knowledge of
our Lord and Savior. My friends may you grow in grace and
in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. To God be the glory now
and forever, now and forever, Amen.
some diverse perspectives that shape the variety in which
we gather . . .
(The content below is taken from Gary
Thomas' "Sacred Pathways".
As a community, we worked through each of these aspects
of loving God through our diverse leanings. Each Sunday
during the summer of 2007 we approached each "pathway".
We pray that as a community, we might enjoy diversity,
celebrate our differences, and live out lives passionately
devoted to loving God and loving others.)
The Naturalist: loving
God through the outdoors
In Psalm 19:1, David extols nature's ability to awaken
our cold hearts to God's warm presence: "The heavens
declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork" (NKJV).
The apostle Paul spoke of a similar reality in Romans 1:20a
when he wrote, "For since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made." Both writers testify
to the reality experienced by naturalists — being
outdoors does something to awaken our hearts to God.
The Sensate: loving God through
the five senses
The best avenues for some believers to commune with God are
the five senses: taste, touch, hearing, seeing, and even
smelling. Just as naturalists are spiritually awakened
while walking through a forest, so sensates become spiritually
attuned when their senses are brought into play. Your most
powerful spiritual aids might be majestic music, symbolic
architecture, outstanding art, or the sensory experience
of communion.
The Traditionalist: loving God
through ritual
For you traditionalists, religion isn't a dirty word — it's
an outgrowth of your relationship with God. You're designed
to appreciate the role of ritual, which builds on the power
of reinforced behavior. There is something profound for you
in worshipping God according to set patterns — your
own, or history's. You may organize your life around scheduled
times of prayer, and may even choose to carefully observe
the Christian calendar, aligning yourself with centuries
of faith. According to Acts, both Peter and John had set
times for prayer. And Paul followed the custom of praying
by the riverside on the Sabbath.
The Ascetic: loving God through
silence and solitude
The best way to picture an ascetic is to think of a monk,
or John the Baptist — someone who goes off on his
own, in an austere environment, to get his spiritual batteries
charged. You like to meet God internally; you don't want
the distractions of a museum or a group meeting, as you
prefer to shut out the world and meet God in solitude and
austerity. Your preferred environment for personal worship
is silence, without any noisy or colorful stimulants.
The Activist: loving God through
the action of serving
Activists follow in the footsteps of Moses, Elijah and Habakkuk;
you love to meet God in the vortex of confrontation. If
you're an activist, you want to fight God's battles. Church
is primarily a place to collect signatures and sign up
volunteers for the "real work" of the Gospel
that takes place outside the church building.
The Caregiver: loving God through
caring for needs
Caregivers love God by loving others. You're the Mordecais
to the world's Esthers; the Dorcas's (Acts 10:36) to the
local church. Providing care and meeting needs in Jesus'
name spiritually energizes you, drawing you ever closer
to the Lord. For you, caregiving isn't an obligation as
much as it is a threshold to intimacy with God.
The Enthusiast: loving God through
celebration and thanksgiving
An enthusiast, walking in the footsteps of David, loves excitement
and celebration; you probably buy far more worship CDs
than books. Enthusiasts tend to be more relational, and
therefore favor group worship. You feed off the excitement
of other believers praising God.
The Intellectual: loving God
through concepts and and understanding
You're an intellectual if your heart is awakened when you
understand new concepts about God. Your mind is probably
very active, with the result that new intellectual understanding
literally births affection; it creates increased respect
for your Creator, which leads to worship.
The Contemplative: loving God
through emotion and devotion
Contemplatives are marked by an emotional attachment and
even abandonment to God. Like Mary who sat at Jesus' feet,
you see yourself first and foremost as God's lover, and
you want to spend your time in God's presence, adoring
Him, listening to Him, and just enjoying Him.
Most of Us Are Blends
Intellectuals want to understand new things about God; activists
want to fight God's battles; enthusiasts want to experience
God; naturalists want to meet God in nature; sensates want
to see and touch things that remind them of God; traditionalists
want to faithfully remember God; ascetics want to be alone
with God; caregivers want to be God's hands and feet; contemplatives
want to adore God and to know Him better.
The important thing is to understand how you
best connect with God so that you can more deliberately and
consciously cultivate an increasing affection for your Creator.
Do you see yourself in any of the above categories? Please
don't feel that you have to choose just one; most of us are
blends, and many of us will move in and out of certain temperaments
as we age. The important thing is not to find the right "label," but
to understand how you best connect with God so that you can
more deliberately and consciously cultivate an increasing
affection for your Creator.
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