Today I had my semi-regular meeting with the other United Methodist Church planters in the area. We get together every few months to support one another, share ideas, and check in with our supervisory team. As we shared today one of the phrases that got used to describe church planting was beautiful chaos. It really is this amazing experience, full of highs and lows and twists and turns.
I experienced this just recently. In February we had good turn outs at our two gateway gatherings. These are events I hold monthly for those people in my network who are interested in the community. It’s a way for people to dip their toes in and check out what we are all about. One of these groups meets in a local bar one Wednesday a month and has been doing so since this fall. In February we had a great conversation about justice as the social expression of love. It was energy giving and there were new people there that others in the community had invited. It was beautiful and so affirming of what we were doing. In March I spent the Wednesday night drinking alone. I stayed for an hour, hogging a giant table all to myself, waiting for no one. Some of the people were busy, some didn’t feel like coming, and it might be that this ministry has run its course. As a planter I have to be attentive, but not anxious. Willing to adapt, but not so quick as to pull the plug before we’ve really started. And that’s the chaos part of church planting, of life in community really.
That night at the bar I made notes in my notebook, chatted with the waitress, and took some time to just sit and people watch. I considered it a good night, even if there wasn’t a table full of folks talking theology. And the reason I’m able to think that way is because I’m working on the long view. One low night does not make or break us. One changed event does not signal our demise. It’s information. How I use that information in service to God’s call for the community is what matters. What I’m learning as I sit surrounded by people contemplating deep questions or when I wind up marking time is what matters. And what I see is that it’s time to move to what is next, to the deeper level activities. Our network is transitioning into people who want a more structured time and want to commit to that. It’s funny that no one showing up means it’s time for an activity that asks folks to go more deeply into their faith, but that is why we discern and pray and talk to one another. God is full of surprises for us.
I’m thankful for the people who walk this journey with us, the other planters, the hierarchy, the people who are becoming part of this community, and for the moments where we can witness to the beautiful chaos of this call.
-Eilidh
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