Now…for some ramblings….

I’m a structure kind of guy. I use to be a Systems Administrator (computer) and so systems and structures facinate me. Now, I’m bringing the same thought process into the church. But recently I’ve been looking at things differently. I use to be into programs and stuff, now, I think as a chuch simplicity is what is needed.

Yet I serve a traditional church in a traditional denomination. I don’t think I can simply stop everything to implement a more simple existence. Instead, I would love to be able to work and keep what is working, yet tweak the structure some.

As I see things currently, there are basically three dimentions I would like to see: Celebration, Cell and Service. I redefine the term cell to mean any type of group that brings you community. Celebration is basically that. Celebration/worship/whatever you want to call it. Service is on hands, on going serivce to those in your community.

What I’m finding is that we have celebration (or something like celebration), we are beginning to find cell, but I believe we need to focus on service. The two Cs should empower our service to the community. Yet, what I’m finding is that between the choir, worship team, youth group, committees, Sunday School, Dance groups, kid’s ministry, there is quite a bit of service but it basically focuses on keeping the Sunday Morning celebration going, or keeping the building open.

I have a hard time telling someone that the work they do on the finance committee, or trustees, or in the choir, isn’t really service. Yet, the service that I am convinced we need is service beyond ourselves into the community.

There seems to be a catch-22 here. People are involved in service, but not in service to the community. They are already busy, perhaps so busy that choices must be made….so, how does one choose and what does one loose?