Headed West . . .

3 am rolled around and I woke up in a panic . . . I only sent one email to the launch team - they were not going to have a clue about today, we would be lucky if we had 30 people show up! AND maybe that would be a good thing because I FORGOT all about getting stuff for the nursery.

One of those MINOR details at a launch of a new faith community in a high school. There are NO toddler toys lying around!!!!!! So after a brief trip to Walmart this morning we had what we needed to do our first service where we were trying to tweak all the things that need to be perfect on Sept. 12 for our public launch!

Right before it was time for people to arrive I had another moment of panic - we had no "hospitality!" No signs, no refreshments, what would it be like, would people feel like it was a total waste of time and energy! BUT we said it would be a service where we worked on sound and lighting so no need to stress on all the other factors, there was nothing I could do about it at the last minute.

We had worship! There were 101 people there . . . and we had people from WC Brawley Campus that are willing to serve on the launch team and we had folks that are new to the WCUMC community period! That's truly what the west campus is supposed to be and I am so grateful for the folks that are willing to take this leap of faith into HARD WORK and lugging carts, etc. to make the West Campus happen!

BUT the coolest part of all came after the service. I went to the hallway to take off the microphone contraption that will have to be exchanged by next Sunday because it made me look like I had my hair in pigtails and I heard tons of laughter and noise.

"Hmmmmmmm," I thought, "What's the deal? Why is everyone happy? There is no food out there, no refreshments, nothing to do, people are just chatting and standing around, people sound happy."

Then I hurried out there because I wanted to see it for myself. . . there were the folks that had attended worship, just being friendly and warm to one another and I venture to guess there were probably no groups larger than 10 that knew each other . . . the people came from all aspects of WCUMC and the community.

And even though they did not know each other - they were sharing radical hospitality and love with one another. And that is what it means to be the church!

I pray that God will continue to pour out his blessings on the West Campus of Williamson's Chapel as we prepare for our public launch on Sept. 12. It is my hope that people will encounter the presence of Christ through an atmosphere that is open to all!

Speaking of atmosphere - did I mention some of the launch team wore p.j.'s?

Some folks took me literally - "Come as you are!" So they did! And guess what . . . I don't think anyone judged them . . . I didn't see any noses turned up, etc. I will admit I was a LITTLE puzzled at first but I figured, "oh well, I'd rather them be here in pajamas than not be here at all!"

The Scripture Passage today was taken from 1 Cor. 13. Not the traditional way of looking at the text in light of love between a couple committing their lives to each other but a definition of love in light of the church being a body of believers who follow Jesus, whose defining characteristic was love.

It is our dream to live out this calling to "Be the church." I encourage you to read this Scripture but instead of putting the word "love" put the words "The Church" . . . this is who we are called to be and how we are called to live!

I am EXCITED and HONORED to be a part of the church!

From 1 Cor. 13:

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies.

Grace and Peace,
Andrea