Typically our gatherings begin
with the people meeting and gathering at our pre-arranged meeting
place, which is usually a home.
These gathering times can be on
any day of the week and time of day. Our largest gathering takes
place on a Friday evening. This has been with purpose and intent.
We sensed as we sought the Lord that He desired us to meet on
Fridays (which incidently is the beginning of the Sabbath, for any
trivia buffs!) This allows and encourages maximum participation
during the weekend for others to either meet socially or to go and
support other expressions of the Body of Christ within the city.
The city
church is very important
to us, and as such we encourage all people to seekout and support
a variety of church life and ministry opportunities. We desire to
bless what the Father is blessing.
We try to begin at a pre-arranged
time, but typically people like to connect with others and
re-establish contact with some or get to know those they have not
known. Or gathering is open to any who may want to come. It is not
closed. We view it as the entry point into what the Lord is doing
in our midst through church in the house and the ministry that
erupts when we gather to worship and minister to the
Lord.
We believe and practice that the
Lord Jesus is the head and that He leads our gatherings through
the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that we do not
give direction, but rather as servant leaders we submit ourselves
and any agendas to the Lord and leave them at His feet. We have
found that our personal devetional time with the Lord during the
week very often prepares us for the ministry that takes place when
we gather together. These gatherings are not a platform for the
ministry of the few professional ministers, but rather it is the
ministry of the Holy Spirit at work through the Priesthood of
Believers. Everyone is a participant. There are other gatherings
where specific teaching and impartation are the focus. But regular
house church is for the building up and equipping and releasing of
the saints for the work of the ministry. This is revealed when
people share in ministry to the Lord and to one another. Some
people will share poetry, scripture, song, prayer or insights or a
prophetic word. This is what we call body life, where according to
1 Cor. 14:26, everyone participates in what the Lord is saying and
doing in our midst.
The basic components that seen
consistent in our gatherings include prayer and intercession,
praise and worship, testimonies, interactive teaching/bible
discussion, personal ministry time, the Lord's table and
refreshments.
The gathering is rather open and
spontaneous and encourages particpation and interaction. You are
free to participate as much as you desire and to express yourself.
Our motto that gives us direction is simple to honour and prefer
one another. As John Wimber said, "Everyone gets to play!" And
that's the way church should be!
G
a t h e r i n g s