I find it facinating that I have not added to this blog the past year. A lot has transpired within this last year, there has been much grief work and growth and I find that I now have the energy to reengage this journey. I had shared this idea with a friend that had stumbled back into my life. Both of us had history when we were in a married relationship and now were exploring lives apart from our partners. My friend suggested that she is still very much a believer but sometimes she is not on speaking terms with God. I believe that I still hear God's still quiet voice in my circumstances but struggle if my own ego gets in the way of interpretation.
Timbers meets in the playhouse at the junction of hwy 97 and the yellow head. When we walked in we were greeted by gracious older gentleman. I was curious when he shook the hand of my friend but gave the bulletin to me. I can't help but take a feminist interpretation of act, but given the generation gap it doesn't surprise me (and I remind myself that I am not writing this blog to be critical but just include factual observations)
Where do I sit ... How about right in the front! I thought that I would then not be distracted by the other people in the congregation and would have my full attention on the service. Part of me wanted to people watch ... maybe next time. I love Churches in which children wander the isles and explore their surroundings quietly. This was the feeling in this Church as two young children wandered in the front isle during the singing. They were later dismissed after a blessing (another tradition that brings my back to my country church roots)
The worship team was relaxed and consistent with a "seeker friendly flavour" There was a full band and the leading was flexible and spontaneous. At one point the keyboard player came to the mic and disclosed that the worship team was struggling at being together and harmoneous. This intimacy was supported and rewarded by the congregation with a round of applause after the disclosure. "you can come as you are"
One of the announcements really got my attention. A middle aged woman wearing an outfit that I can only describe as a modern day John the baptist came to speak about how she had been invited to do a service for those people staying at Baldy Hughes (a long term residential treatment centre for addictions) She had no helpers at this point and was open to anyone joining her (curious if Myers Briggs would suggest she is an ENFP)
I found the Church to have an American flavour. One of the female pastors, wore a bright red dress with a fashionable red hat and solicited amen's from the crowd as she was going through the Church family news. The guest speaker was from Texas and had a slight accent, although the message was clear and direct. The topic was "the lies that bind" He was a counsellor and described how our actions are in direct response to the thoughts we chose. My friend leaned in and suggested that he was talking about Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT for short) within a Spiritual framework. He discussed how you determine lies by studying the truth. The example he gave is how in the treasury department instead of looking at all the different counterfeit bills, they would just study a real bill.
After the service was over the lead pastor came to speak with us. He was very open but not pushy with exploring a relationship with us. He discussed his personal journey on how he came to this congregation and provided some healthy modeling of how this congregation wanted people to come as they are, especially if they are broken and honest in exploring a relationship with one another. His discussion seemed to be consistent with the Church motto of "you can come as you are".
Overall I found this congregation to be friendly, open and honest. It would appear from my impression that they are consistent with living their mission statement and trying to welcome individuals to come as they are, at least from a white middle classed man's point of view.
