The number one question I get from people when they are asking me how the new start is going is, “How many people do you have in worship?” My response of, “We’re not doing a worship model,” inevitably brings confusion.  It seems like no matter how many times I say that we are experimenting with the form of church it never quite makes sense.

For most of us church is Sunday morning worship.  There are other activities to be sure, but gathering on Sunday morning for worship and fellowship is the defining experience for most congregants today.  However, the church didn’t start out with Sunday morning worship.  The church started out as groups of people living and eating together.  These early Christians were sharing their lives as they tried to faithfully follow the teachings of Jesus.  Over time church buildings were built and regular worship services were held.  Worship was the celebration of the community life, a time to come together to participate in reinforcing rituals that taught the theology and illuminated the practice of the day.

The church has evolved over two millennia to the form we currently have in the US, but that doesn’t mean it is the only way for people to be living lives of deep faith.   For us a faith community is about sharing our lives with others as we all strive to be more faithful to God.  Right now this means bible study, book study, one-on-one conversations, service projects, weekly dinners, and monthly worship.

What I really think people want to know is are we successful?  We’re meeting our financial benchmarks, learning a ton, and touching people’s lives.  So while I can’t tell you how many we have in worship I can tell you that God is most clearly at work here in Sellwood and I’m excited to share that with you as this form of community continues to transform.

-Eilidh

Beautiful satined glass in the sanctuary of the church where I grew up going to worship every Sunday