Sherwood Community Church Of Christ Journal

Why a Move to Bella Via would be a Move Forward

2012-01-31T21:38:00.001-08:00

Whena group of church planters say, “why move?” it's just possible that they needto. So here are the drivers in the decisionprocess. This first section are theheavies—the primary and main concerns. Whatfollows after are other factors we have in mind. Enjoy!

PrimaryConsiderations

· Reawakeninga Sojourner Mentality The longer you stay in a place,there more it defines who you are. Wehave been at Middleton so long, we have built it into a kind of cathedral ofour own. So it is that we would do well—ifthe Lord makes it possible—to put that sterile, cavernous “Middleton Definition”behind us, and become tent-dwellers again, who see physical space as temporary,and are forced to be defined by other things—soon to be clarified. Your leaders would be more comfortable movingseveral times this year than staying put any longer. Especially since everyone is aware we havebeen looking for quite some time, and contribution pledges were made by peoplewhich (we hope and pray) allow us to afford an alternative.

· Livingin the Tension JoelBarfield summed it up well as we were completing our tour of Bella Via. He said, “It’s a solid 8. Which is saying something; because we’ll neverfind a 10.” He is so right! As long as we are sojourners on a mission (asthe church is always meant to be) we will never find the space that fits usperfectly. It is good for us to have tomake the best of things—to “make do.” Those whose Savior died painfully for them need to learn to acceptinconvenience as a given. Not enoughclose parking? We’ll make it work. Need to spread out into an extrabuilding? We’ll adjust. Healthy tension keeps us mindful of whatmatters most.

· PreparingHearts for Deeper Changes “An object in motion tends to stay in motion;an object at rest tends to stay at rest” (Sir Isaac Newton). Many things need to happen this year to getus back in motion. While “a physical move won’t change everything”(which is true: it certainly and absolutely won’t) it will make some difference, and set the stage for other, moreheart-level changes. Discussions arehappening right now to more clearly define these heart-level concerns ofSCCOC.

· Gettingus Closer Together “Love grows best in littlehouses” (Doug Stone). The size of—inthis case—Bella Via eliminates our ability to spread out to the point that wedo not grow closer. Some of the advice inchurch planting lore indicates that size matters. Being in a space too big for you is inadvisable. On the other hand, living like a HermitCrab, in a space just large enough to accommodate growth, while being constantlyon the lookout for the next “shell,” is considered an effective strategy.

· Gettingus in the Public Eye (and Centrally Located)We presently gather on the first day of the week in an out-of-the-way location,very far from the center of our community, and the people most prone torecognize their need for a Savior. BellaVia, if everything works out for us to move there, places us in the heart ofour community.

Secondary Considerations

· StillRoom for Growth Bella Via will seat 72 people attables on the lower level, and another 30+ on the upper level. So there is room for growth from our currentaverage Worship Gathering attendance of 55.

· StreamliningSet-Up This move eliminates the need to:

o Roll some tables out beforesetting up other tables

o Manipulate heavy tables

o Set up any tables for refreshments(there is a bar in the back)

o Haul water from 100 yards away tothe refreshment table for coffee and water

o Bring grape juice with us eachweek from someone’s fridge (hard to remember at times!).

o Etc.

Arewe jumping from the frying pan into the fire? Perhaps. Won’t know till wejump. Seth Godin wrote a blog articlesome time ago called “The Perfect Problem.” (Google “Seth Godin The PerfectProblem”) which ends with this statement:

If the only alternative is a slow and painful failure, the way to get unstuck is to blow up a constraint, deal with the pain, and move forward. Fast.

Hopefully, we are on the verge of blowing up some constraints. In our minds, that is an excellent idea!

Speaking Of...

2011-10-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Are you, by chance, praying for SCCOC? Because there is so much afoot that I am having to carve out time to do post this. Speaking of which…

TwoSundays ago we tried to break 100 for the third time this year. Wefailed. And succeeded. 83 were there including threereturning guest families and five first-time guests. Two of thosefirst-timers (a young couple) were back the following Sunday, and again yesterday. Don't want to jinx this, but it looks like they may be getting a fresh start! Speakingof people starting something new…

Hadcoffee this week with an old acquaintance and new friend who has moved back to the Northwest to serve a Christian nonprofit inthe inner city. This husband and father represents a family with “missionary hearts” who are seriously considering being another answer toour prayers for more “harvesters” (Matthew 9:37-38). Even if they don’t theirconnection with us will move us into service opportunities that many in ourgrowing fellowship are very excited about. Speaking of newHarvesters…

Ibought lunch for a young couple with one child who just movedhere from the Midwest, want to join our mission, and have already inquired withone of our Home Community leader couples! Speaking of HomeCommunities…

Sixweeks ago we started a long-overdue regular meeting of Home Community Leaders where, among other things, weprayed that God would multiply our Home Community life at SCCOC. Yesterday we gathered again. This time a brand new Home Community wasrepresented, consisting of three SCCOC families who are joining aHome Community for the very first time. Add our new Pre-Teen HomeCommunity, and a sixth that hasbeen underway for three weeks, and in six weeks, the Lord has doubled ourhome group life at SCCOC! Please pray for the couples and families stillnot involved in such fellowship. Speaking of people getting moreinvolved…

One of our friends has been consistently part of a Home Group or some time now, has beenat worship again recently, where she shared with me that she is finally readyto surrender her life the Lord. Please pray this decision movesforward!!! Speaking of people moving…

TheLord pruned (John 15:1-3) one family from us recently. We prayed for them as a body yesterday, and we wishthem well. Speaking of fruitfulness…

Afterour “Break 100” attendance two Sundays ago, we had 71 the followingSunday. Last Sunday we didn’t even flex and there were 63 present, withat least six of our regulars out of pocket. Our average worshipattendance for the year is 53 (it was 48 last year at this time). Ourcontribution (average per attendee) is $14.02 (it was $9.59 last year atthis point). How Exciting is that?!!

...Of Every Opportunity

2010-10-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

This story starts last winter during the freeze when a pipe broke and
caused water damage in our garage ceiling and wall. We had no idea
how extensive the damage was, so we called the insurance company.

They referred us to STOP (Service Team Of Professionals) Disaster
Restoration Services. Eric Blackburn and his partners came and
assessed the damage. They explained everything well. The damage
wasn't that severe. We talked for a while. They told us about other
clients they had who were in hotels for the holidays because of pipes
bursting over their kitchen or over their natural gas furnaces. One
of their clients was an assisted living facility. elderly folk were
crowded together in the undamaged section of the building!

They left some high-power fans and promised to come back the next
morning. Kristen and I looked at each other and said, "why? This
damage is minimal, and it is only impacting our garage. Go help
those other people! Get to us when you can!"

They thought we were joking. Seemed only logical to us--as it would
to any of you--but it turns out they had never had a client who had
said something like that. Consequently, when they did come back,
they wanted to know about our church. They asked lots of questions. They
also opened up about their perspectives on God, church, Christians.
It was an honor to listen.

When all was said and done they gave us a really good deal to thank
us for our patience which allowed them to get to the real disasters
first. I wrote them cards on church stationary inviting them to our
Alpha Course. I never heard back, but I knew we had put in a good
word for God to some guys who had some bad church experiences in
their past

Which brings me to this morning.

Ready to drop Mary-Adele off at school and head to the Chamber of
Commerce Breakfast, I met Kristen in the upstairs hallway to say
goodbye. That is when she noticed that the washing machine had been
overflowing for about fifteen minutes. "GO!" She said. "Get the
kids to school; I know where the Shopvac is."

We ran downstairs and endured a waterfall in the garage on our way to
the van.

All day I struggled with the timing, and all I have to do, and how
this is distracting me from the tasks of ministry!

Once again, I called the guys at STOP. This time I wanted to know if
they could simply reassure me that fans would do the trick. Eric
insisted on letting me use a couple of fans and a big dehumidifier
for a couple of days at a ridiculously low price.

We caught up. They have moved to Sherwood--walking distance from our
house! Said they think of us often when they pass our street on the
way to their office in Wilsonville.

When we had a moment, I told him about our plans for October 24th--
how we are asking our friends to come "just once to check us out" that
Sunday. He said, "my job is 24/7 so I am not into long term
commitments; but I think I can do one Sunday." "That's all I'm
asking for," I assured him.

Tonight when Eric's partner Jeffrey came by with the equipment, there
was a woman with him. Turns out she is Eric's wife, April. We had a
good talk. Just as I was about to bring up my invitation to
Experience Sunday, she said, "Eric told me you invited us to church
on the 24th and we are really going to try to come. My parents will
have the boys that weekend, but I am going to talk to them about dropping
them off early so they can come to. I've been telling Eric that now
that we are settling in to a house I really want to find a
church...."

All day I had felt "off my game" and frustrated with the tasks--
important as they are--that were left undone. And all along, God was
using our washing machine to put us back in touch with Eric Blackburn
and introduce us to his wife.

It calls to mind Ephesians 5:15-17: "Be very careful, then, how you
live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity,
because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but
understand what the Lord's will is."

Can't wait to see what God has in store for the repairman from Walt's
Appliances. He'll be here Thursday morning to look at the washer....

James Stockdale, and what we learned from our Parenting Seminar

2010-05-19T13:23:00.001-07:00

Dear Sherwood Community:

This post is offered as a teaching/encouragement message as we reflect upon our Parenting Seminar this past weekend.

People often asked James Stockdale how he survived as the highest-ranking prisoner at the infamous Hanoi Hilton POW camp during the Vietnam war. His reply has come to be called “The Stockdale Paradox.”

“This is a very important lesson," he told Jim Collins circa 2000. "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”

As church planters (and if you are a member at SCCOC, then you are all church planters), we must do the same two things, and (actually) add a third and a fourth:

Be realistic about the difficult and challenging realities of our situation, and at the same time…
Never lose faith that we will succeed
Celebrate everything we attempt (and those who made the attempt), even if it did not reap the results hoped for.
Always look for the “take-aways” in every situation.

Take every lesson we can from everything we try
Trust that good came out of our efforts, even when the tangibles are not so obvious.

So let’s take these one at a time…

“Be realistic about the difficult and challenging realities of our situation.”

We advertised in a variety of ways and had about ten guest families we were expecting. The sun came out and…none of those community guests showed up. This was a bummer, no question about it.

“Never lose faith that we will succeed.”

The fact is, our church is growing! It is growing because we are real-and-loving people who love people for real! That growth is natural growth from our authentic, genuine friendships. And that is a fun and caring and personal way to grow.

“Events” like the Parenting Seminar are not really “programs” to us. They are our attempt to be in touch with yet more people whom we can befriend genuinely. And here is what we need to remember about “events:” Big events have a cumulative effect. Even though those ten families didn’t make it, they represent perhaps 100 families who are aware that they were just offered a valuable gift by this church. And they appreciate it. And they won’t forget.

“Celebrate everything we attempt (and those who made the attempt), even if it did not reap the results hoped for.”

In our growing fellowship, we celebrate that we tried, and tried creatively, and tried together to make something happen that would serve and bless and benefit people in a positive and meaningful way. God is watching, and God has “banked it.” He has blessings in store. And we have some great material available on our website for parents to download! This seminar is the gift that keeps on giving!

Some of the people who stepped up and volunteered did so for the first time! That is HUGE! Others who needed to set healthy boundaries and NOT attend, stayed away. That is healthy and I am proud of them.

Always look for the “take-aways” in every situation.
Take every lesson we can from everything we try

What did we learn? You may have a few things to add, but…

• We (those able to attend) learned a lot of great information about building healthy families!
• We learned a lot about working together to get things done—and done well!
• We learned how to use radio, and newspapers to get the word out, and found a school district very willing to assist us in doing so! Additionally, this situation got the attention to the founding editor of Christian News Northwest with an offer to help us get the word out next time!
• We learned how to put packets together for future guests. I want to explore how we can build on that foundation with a packet to hand out to guests every Sunday morning!
• We learned a lot about our unity and our comfort level. I am speaking of the fun many of you had Friday evening participating together in Susan’s exercises. I saw signs of growth here and was very encouraged!

Trust that good came out of our efforts, even when the tangibles are not so obvious.

Hey, look! We have already done this! And we will continue to do this. Keep looking and keep praying! There may be more tangibles ahead that have not yet surfaced.

Thankful for each and all of you,

Wilson

Off The Ground!

2009-01-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

Launch went well on January 25^th! We had 90 in attendance. It was a great celebration; our Team did great; all the pistons fired. Just prior to Launch, we…

Prayed—a LOT! Wilson had set a goal of twenty-five hours on his knees in January. He made it to 17.5 hours praying for our Launch. J

Invited our friends and acquaintances personally, including everyone who attends our Financial Peace University Classes (Many of them came!)

Sent out a bulk mailer to over 8,000 addresses

Paid a Sherwood Pizza place$500.00 in exchange for their help: The first 100 pizza orders on Friday evening received a $5.00 discount, and our Launch postcard attached to the top of their box with a note telling that we paid $5.00 of their order.

Picked up the entire beverage tab at a local coffee shop Saturday the 24^th, handing invitations to whoever showed interest (cost us about $500.00)

Handed out over 100 bags of microwave popcorn with our postcard attached outside a video store Saturday afternoon.

Of course, our Launch attendance included a number of family members and some Kairos people. That is normal and is to be expected. Church plants typically experience a 40-50% drop in attendance from Launch Sunday to the next Sunday. We will consider ourselves enormously blessed if we hit between 40-50 this coming Sunday.

Now we, as a former Launch Team, are working on our “Corban Covenant” as I have dubbed it (the particulars are below, in case you want to read all about it) and preparing to launch Alpha Small Group courses February 22^nd.

It is a start. Not the end of the journey, but a very good start. We are thankful for God blessing us thus far!

Corban Covenant

As we anticipate Launch next weekend, we cease being a Launch Team and will need to alter our language.

So I call upon us to make a Corban Covenant.

What does that mean?

It means your Launch Team Covenant remains intact, but becomes at this point a “Missional Member” covenant instead.

It means that we all agree that that all we have contributed thus far is “A Gift Devoted to God.” When that gift is laid on the altar, it is burned up, and the heat and smoke and flame rises up to Heaven. God receives it. There is nothing left for you or I to parade around, brag about, or wear as a laurel or a badge of honor.

Making a Corban Covenant precludes (rules out) any possibility of:

Comparing the commitment and/or contribution of one to another

Inappropriate language/attitude: “other people were slackers…I did most of the heavy lifting

Having a sense of entitlement (I am owed something) connected to the fact that you are a “Charter Member,” or “have been here since before we launched,” etc. No one is owed…

A place of leadership when it comes time to appoint a church board or elder board for SCCOC

Special recognition at some future date.

Etc.

Slacking off when new people come because it is their turn to do the heavy lifting.

Let’s work together to change our language and keep our hearts in check. Only by making such a covenant can we open the circle wide enough to receive God’s blessings as a much larger community of faith.

The Next Salvo: A Christmas Eve Encouragement

2008-12-24T11:34:00.000-08:00

Dearest Launch Team:

(Electrical power service has been restored. So a note I wanted to send days ago I now can send you.)

It is Christmas Eve, and the snow is just beginning to show signs of…melting. J The sentiment around our neighborhood is “the novelty has worn off.” No one can remember this much snow for this many days with temperatures this low—EVER—in Western Oregon. Wow.

Guys we have been hard-at this church planting adventure for ½ a year now and I want you to know I welcome Christmas with thanksgiving in my heart for all God has done. Let me just offer a few “Fun Facts” to remind and encourage you:

We have grown closer to each other. Before a seed sprout breaks the surface, the tap root goes down. That has happened and is happening among us as we learn more and more how to love each other—how to “Do Life Better Together.”

Six of us volunteered at the Robinhood Festival, signaling to the “movers and shakers” of Sherwood that we were serious about serving this community. The relationships built through that act of service continue to bless us. Here is an example: The Executive Director of the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce called upon me to be one of seven Christmas Tree Lights judges (cruising around town, giving awards to homeowners for their decorations. Though cancelled due to the weather, it spoke volumes to me about our church’s impact up-on this community ALREADY!

Families At Play continues to connect moms and build relationships. It is a “long haul” ministry that will more and more reap a harvest for Christ. GREAT STUFF!

We now have several Community Gatherings where discipleship is taking place, and the prospect of adding several more in the next few weeks and months. In fact, the next e-mail you receive from me will be our plan for implementing ALPHA in a meaningful way to reach this community!

We have let the Spirit flow creatively and we are learning from everything we do.
I can’t wait until this Summer, for example, when free water at two Music on the Green events will morph into renting a booth for the whole seven weeks and offering free custom-labeled water and free face-painting for the kids!

Free coffee for a day was an incredible way of getting the word out in a playful way that made people feel really good! Jackie (the owner of Coffee Central) almost doubled her “beverage take” last Thursday, and—for just $435.00—we served hundreds of people! Jackie was out more outspoken than we were! Every time she told a customer their beverage was paid for, she pointed to our sign, pointed at us, told the customer we were a new church start-up in town, and told them we meet at Middleton Elementary School. She was incredible!
4,000 Sherwood homes received a door hangar inviting them to our event. Sure, the event was cancelled (along with every other school and church holiday event in the Tualatin Valley). But we still got the word out about us in a positive way!

We marched in the Christmas Parade and Hope came to church—and wants to come again!
We are offering Financial Peace University and the Clark family intends to connect with our church!

Ashley’s friend is in a Bible study with us now!

We had our first annual Christmas Party at the Barfield home and there was a great turn-out, including neighbor Becky who has been faithful to the Barfield Home Community, and Joel’s co-worker and her husband!

Our website is getting better and better and will soon have a five-minute audio presentation synced to a PowerPoint!

I am sorry. I am leaving things out. There is just so much to tell. There are so many things that every one of you has been doing—sacrifices that each of you have been making—to get us this far. Every one of you is a valuable member of this Launch Team. Every one of you is making a vital contribution.

Every one of you is a precious gift I treasure this Christmas.

It has been tough going! Like the disciples in Mark 6:45-50, the wind is against us as we attempt a midnight crossing. But Jesus is praying for us. And Jesus sees us. And Jesus comes to us. Take courage, Team! We have made more progress than we realize!

Thankful for all of you,

Wilson

Our Hope

2008-12-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

Sunday night was a toughy for me going in. I was kind of a ball of nerves, saddled with the weight of this entire undertaking all in one moment.

When we sat down for our ten minute prayer at 4:30 (set up begins at 4:40), I noticed Tristan was back. And that was certainly a good sign and something to celebrate! Not only was she sitting there next to her dear friend, Ashley. But she was here in time to pray with us, and then assist with the set-up. And assist she did--in a big way!

Tristan presence represented a victory. Still, I was tense, feeling the frustration of staring square in the face of a Preview Worship Gathering, and wondering if anyone else besides Tristan and the Launch Team was going to show up.

Others were tense too. Moms were tense about how kids were behaving, the tech guys were tense because something was going haywire with the computer set-up for PowerPoint.

Some now-unremembered straw broke the proverbial camel's back and I left the cafeteria, headed into the library, and made a b-line for the far corner. I sat down in one of those little chairs, and simply prayed...

God, please--tonight--send this little church plant...hope.

Then I rose, and went back to the cafeteria.

5:15. Ushers to the front door.

5:30. time to start. Tech problem almost solved. A bit of a late start.

In came Michael and his mom, Juliana, and Juliana's friend, Dana (Dana for the first time!). As always, the Helwig presence lifted our spirits. Especially with the news that Dana and Michael had been baptized that morning!

Before Chris began the first worship song, he reminded us that Sundays are not what this church does; Sundays are a celebration of how we live church throughout the week. Then he called upon us to share how God had been present and at work all week.

So, when the worship songs had been sung (and my spirits were further lifted), I followed Chris' lead. I gave a "vision peptalk." I reminded everyone what we are about, what it all means, and how everything we are doing fits together.

A visitor walked in. A woman in her twenties. This one was totally unexpected. As the evening unfolded we learned that she had been the recipient of one of our 500 candy canes (with church invitation attached) which we had handed out the previous day as we marched in the Sherwood Christmas Parade. So that was a boost. But wait! There's more!

She had walked. The distance is around two miles.

She got lost. She still persisted. She arrived right on time.

We enjoyed meeting here, enjoyed hearing her say she felt welcome and "definitely" wanted to come back again. We arranged a ride home for her.

After the trailer was all packed up, someone handed me the Friendship Communication Cards. Realizing I had not yet heard our newcomer's name, I thumbed through them and found hers.

Her name is Hope.

The Count

2008-12-03T16:48:00.001-08:00

I asked Joel how many were at our pre-Thanksgiving Worship. He said, 32 was the count... not including the janitor :) (and Riley was in the car)

That's a new record!

New Record

2008-11-28T11:37:00.000-08:00

Had record attendance last Sunday, November 23, 2008 at our eve3ning, Pre-Launch Worship:

32!

That included a lot of extended families, visiting for the Holidays, but two things make it a significant night:

1. We were able to experience "critical mass." and respond to it.
2. Two of our visitors were from the Sherwood community, and had responded to an invitation by a Launch Team Member!

Like a hurd of turtles. but even turtles eventually get where they are going!

A Promise Kept (On A Busy Day)

2008-11-16T13:14:00.000-08:00

If I hadn't honored my commitment to my kids it might never have happened.

Yesterday. Friday. The desk was a mess, the immediate "next step" on the task list unclear. My mind a jumble, I heard Kristen yell upstairs that my lunch was ready to take to the school for lunch with my kids in the cafeteria. I would have to run errands after that, and we had to leave by 3:00 for a photo shoot.

Could I skip today?

Glad I didn't. Bradley's teacher told me he talked about it all morning--about how Dad had been in Seattle LAST fwiday, but was NOT in Seattle this Fwiday and would be coming to lunch like he ALWAYS likes to do on Fwiday. (his teacher likes his accent as much as I do, apparently.)

One hour, and two lunches (the fourth grade daugher at 11:05 and the first-grade son at 11:40) later, I was off to Target and then to the bank. Just a check to deposit; shouldn't take long.

The Teller was one I had never met before, named Lisa. "Why do you have two checking accounts?"

"One is for our rental."

"Did you know our Business checking is now free--just like regular checking?"

"How long will it take to make the change?"

"Minutes."

Sitting there between the customer service reps, I wondered, Will it be Anne? I have been praying for Anne. It was Anne.

To make a long story...even longer, the conversation with Anne went from business checking...to how I wound up with a rental...to how our "renter demographic" are usually divorced women and their kids starting over. Then it went from there to when Anne took her son and left her "ex" and was that "renter demographic" and had, in fact, rented a townhouse for a while...to how we all have a checkered past full of mistakes...to some of MY collosal missteps. Before I knew it, it was about her religious upbringing and how she left that behind at 15. Right before she went up to the counter to transfer my funds, she said, "anyway, one day I will look for a church."

When she came back, I said, "Anne, I should warn you: Telling a guy like me that you might look for a church one day is like offering cake to a starving dieter."

The conversation went well from there. I was able to tell Anne how her input in a new church would help shape it--that she would be one we would rely upon--who keeps us honest in making the church work for people who had not been in church for a long while--if ever. I left with permission to send Anne some information, and to talk with her more about our church.

Leaving the desk--and even the time on my knees--for a while turned into a "God-Moment;" as in my best-yet conversation with one of those people "out there" for whom I am praying and with whom I am developing a relationship.

Only God could accomplish that.

Praise God for my kids, and the promises I have made, and the power of Christ to keep them.

A Vision Further Refined

2008-11-04T11:45:00.001-08:00

“[insert child’s name here], what is our church’s ‘Wannabe?’”

“Ours is a journey of Connecting and Celebrating—learning to ‘do life’ better together.”

If Ethan can say it, and Bradley, and Mary-Adele, and Alaina, and Ari, and even Riley, then it is a Vision Statement we can all remember and share.

Dear Launch Team,

Sunday Night was just great, wasn’t it?! I was so encouraged by everything that happened—every conversation, every prayer, and the fact that there were no traces of mold in my fruit-of-the-vine. :-)

My class at GFES continues to bless this church. Yesterday Dr. Morse chewed up and spit out several “Vision Statements” that didn’t make the cut. Apparently, "It has to be memorable—even a little catchy...." It has to be something you are, AND something you want to be in five years, all wrapped up in a short, catchy, memorable phrase.

I was so glad I was not early getting my Homework in!

So here it is, Folks. Our catchy phrase, based on this shared Vision.

And Hey! It is time for some memory work, OK?

Please quiz each other, and teach your children (I want Clarissa and Caleb and Riley reciting this by this Sunday!) our Vision Statement. Here it is:

“Ours is a journey of Connecting and Celebrating—learning to ‘do life’ better together.”

(wow…right after I wrote that, there was this huge peal of thunder! I think maybe God likes it!)

That is all the little ones have to learn. Here is the rest for you:

Our Mission Statement:

SCCOC …A people journeying prayerfully together as devoted followers of Jesus Christ, calling and helping others in SW Portland to join them.

Our Wannabe (Vision):

Ours is a journey of Connecting and Celebrating—learning to “do life” better together.

Unpacking that for you:

Connecting with people through “Short Excursions”

An SCCOC Excursion is Anything from running to relaxing, as long as we are using it as a time to connect with each other as SCCOC, and connect others to SCCOC. As long as our faith community comes up in the conversation at some point, it is an “official” SCCOC Excursion.

Our goal is to live a lifestyle where we do this intentionally at least once a week. Does the activity have to be official? Nope; can be though. What do you enjoy doing? Dinner with friends? Movies? Board games? Bike riding? Wudevuh! Just do it and make Christ a part of it!

Connecting with God through “Long Expeditions”

Thus far at SCCOC discipleship is happening at two Breakfast Bible Studies, two Evening Home Communities, and a Women’s Bible Study Thursday mornings. Three things make it a “God connecting event:” time in the Word, time in prayer, and time sharing what is going right, and not so right, in our lives. And all three don’t have to happen every time!

Our goal is to live a lifestyle where we do this intentionally once a week, learning to live life better together. What will work best for you? Early morning over breakfast at Shari’s, or after we all eat dinner together in the Family Room of one of our homes? Wudevuh! Just do it and make Christ a part of it!

Celebrating Along the way through Sunday Celebrations

At SCCOC, we are dedicated to the proposition that church doesn’t happen on Sundays. Sundays is when the church gets together to celebrate what God has been doing in our lives together all week long, remember the Savior we are following, worship the God to whom we are journeying closer, and encourage each other to continue the journey with and toward Christ. Join the celebration!

Semper Fi

2008-10-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Launch Team,

Semper fidelis.

Best known in our culture for the Marine Corps motto, shortened to “semper fi,” semper fidelis is Latin. It means “always faithful.” It makes me think of you.

I recently read the story of Admiral James B. Stockdale. Perhaps you have heard of him. He was the highest-ranking prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton for seven years from 1965-1972. He was the one who created the “tap code” of the alphabet so he and the other POWs could communicate with each other constantly—unbeknownst to their captors. He was tortured mercilessly more than fifteen times. One night, after a period of relatively good treatment, he was told that the next morning he was going to be paraded through the streets in front of foreign journalists. Knowing this was a publicity stunt to convince the world that prisoners were being well-treated, he cut his scalp repeatedly with a razor and beat himself with a wooden stool to disfigure himself.

Upon his release, he was reunited with his wife and sons—young sons.

A few years before Admiral Stockdale’s death in 2005, Jim Collins had the opportunity to interview him for his book, Good To Great (HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 2001).

“I never lost faith in the end of the story,” he said….”I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.”

Jim Collins asked him, “Who didn’t make it out?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” he said. “The optimists.” Given what he had just said, Collins was confused. Admiral Stockdale went on.

…”They were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas.’ And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, ‘We’re going to be out by Easter.’ And Easter would come and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.

“This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—[a faith] which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of the current reality, whatever they might be.”

Jim Collins calls it “The Stockdale Paradox.” It is the tension between the discipline to confront the brutal facts of the current reality (on the one hand) coupled with the faith that you will prevail in the end (on the other).

Launch Team Members: What we are doing is hard work. Our culture is a “post-Christian” culture, convinced that Christianity is part of the problem, rather than the only solution. 90% of those around us have nothing to do with church—much less Christ. Even among those who go to church many—perhaps most—are “church consumers,” more concerned with getting their needs met than being on God’s mission. Those are just some of the brutal facts confronting us.

And we will prevail in the end.

God called us to this mission of church planting

God called us to Sherwood to carry it out

God has demonstrated Divine blessings and Divine support over and over again--in a variety of ways

God is faithful

We will not pretend the harsh realities are not there. And we will never lose faith that we will prevail.

Semper fidelis.

Celebrating Victories (or: What's a Ninja Octopus?)

2008-10-08T17:10:00.000-07:00

Ashley's Notes from our "Celebrate the Victories Sunday" a couple of weeks ago:

Meeting of the Sherwood Community Church of Christ
Parrish Abode, Moose Room
Sunday, September 28, 2008
11:00am-2:00pm

We have much to celebrate!

Shannon! We love her! Families at Play is such a success. For example, neighbors coming along on the “excursion” are now coming along on the “expedition” and bible study! It’s Neat! This reminds us of the mantra in LST: “The word is the teacher; you are the illustration.” The Holy Spirit does the WORK! We have seen a ministry of young moms come into existence! This was way out of Shannon’s “comfort zone” but she did it. The Lord has been in the conversations! God Bless Creativity!

Tom has opened up many wonderful doors in the city, he has facilitated so many great meetings—City Council, City Manager, others at City Hall, Chamber of Commerce. Good opportunities! Continue to reap benefits. Presence at public events,

Custom-labeled Bottled Water handed out at summer event, etc.

Julie has officially joined our Launch Team! (She’s awesome at Disc Golf!)

Wilson’s Update: Matt is in process of officially joining as well!!!

Several of us have have homes! (as in, have re-located for this church planting adventure!)

“Church location!” Middleton Elementary School (Free rent for August!)

Singing! GO CHRIS! You have us “Shouting Hallelujah!”

Wilson’s Note: Chris is now known as the Worship Leader leading the way among church plants at Cascade Hills, Agape, and SCCOC! There are murmurings and stirrings to have a cooperative Worship Retreat led by Chris

People who haven’t been to church in a while are just starting to take notice: Annette and Hali are expected at Home Community this week.

Wilson’s Note: Annette was doing outreach before she ever came to one of our events! Chuck came with her because of her encouragement!

Stephani and her husband are expected at Home Community also this week!

Wilson’s Update: Ask LaNae and Joel about the newcomers to their Home Community last week!!!

(Home) “Long Cycle” Communities:

Evenings:

Barfields: continuing the one started with the Floreses in Newberg
Parrish Home “Acts of the Holy Spirit” study
Flores: Getting one going in Durham

During the Day

Morning studies of Luke at: Shari’s King City (Wednesdays, 7:00 AM) & Shari’s Newberg (Thursdays 6:45 AM)
Women’s Study of Luke at the Parrish House Thursday mornings

April- major attacks endured and we are still standing! Praise God!

Kristen is a rock! Service! Our “Ninja Octopus” of time and stuff and junk! Great leadership, wisdom, communication, advice, patience, partnership, Gospel focused! Bible Study, bravery, BOLDNESS!

Wilson - great leadership, patience, humor, steadfastness, faithfulness, Leadership vs. Management- from “Transactional Leadership” to “Transitional Leadership.” Open discussion and group consideration. Praise for the Moose Room!

LaNae and Joel - Praise God that they are strong even through the trials. Lots of invites! Taking care of Kyle, Youth ministry, willingness to trust, obey and be flexible

Areas of children’s classes and the wonderful teachers, Kristen, Beth, LaNae, Ryan, Joel, Shannon

Adele, Bradley, Kristen are in the school system! The kids each have friends here!

Mentoring, Kairos relationships, insurance, deadlines, etc… All working out WELL!

Tithe’s already! Keep it coming!

Parrishes fully Funded through 2009!

Our committed family! VICTORY!

Meals together! Always great- (low sodium YAY!)

Women’s conference- Selah, amazing, encouraging, motivating experience!

Health- Clarissa, and all of us- and the old man (sorry, Wilson)!

Tom and Karen are very kind, always a blessing when they are able to come.

Church supplies provided! Creative graphics, T-Shirts, our church trailer, sound system, great signage, etc…

Ashley- Soprano stellarness (says Christ Flores)!

Unity! Belief in Why WE ARE HERE! Faith! 1st Corinthians 15: 1-11

Tension! Praise God for the growing pains!

Wilson and Kristen say we are their heroes, pioneers blazing a new trail in Jesus’ name and to His Glory.

Update to Sponsors

2008-09-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

Sherwood Update
Interview Style
September 17, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Below is an update of our lives as Church Planters thus far in 2008. I thought you might enjoy reading it “interview style,” where you are asking the questions. At the end of the e-mail, you will find all our contact information, in case I missed a question, and you would appreciate further information.

Enjoy!

What are you learning about Sherwood?

Quite a bit! Just a few highlights of our efforts:

Made an official “Citizen’s Comment” before the City Council to introduce myself and my family in July, then sent follow-up notes to all city officials present that evening (25 in all).

As a result, our efforts are known to the City government, and I was the “local minister” interviewed for a documentary film being produced about Sherwood for the Public Access Channel.

Joined the Chamber of Commerce; am trying to attend every breakfast, morning mixer, and ribbon cutting.

A group of six of us volunteered at one Chamber event in June, the annual “Cruisin’ Sherwood” classic car show.

Another six-or-so of us will be volunteering again on October 11 at the 22nd Annual Sherwood Great Onion Festival. And this time we get to wear our church-logo t-shirts while we volunteer!

Treated the Police Chief, Jeff Groth, to lunch. Thought I should thank him for the kindnesses the city has extended.

Have stopped in to visit with the local Fire Department Captain a few times. His name is Dan Atkisson. A friendship is developing. Dan is very supportive of what we are doing.

After a few weeks at the Rebekah Lodge, we finally secured our permanent location! We will be meeting at Middleton Elementary School here in Sherwood (Let me know if you would like details on why this took so long, and how, in the end, the timing was perfect).

The Superintendant of Sherwood Schools, Dan Jamison is so excited to have another group utilizing the local schools that he gave us our first month’s rent free at Middleton Elementary (feel free to ask for details).

My Church Planting Coach (Stan Granberg) has been after me to create a “spiritual map” of the city of Sherwood. This map would have the major landmarks, but then would also have:

Places of greatest opportunity
Places in Sherwood where the light of Christ is shining
Places in Sherwood where the darkness seems more prevalent.

I obtained a 3’ X 2’ map of the city from Tom Nelson, a member of our Launch Team who is also our contact at City Hall. Then I went on the prowl for some butcher paper, so I could use the official map to trace my own. Lesson Learned: Butcher Paper is scarce in these parts. It took some doing, but I finally located some. I will be tracing the Sherwood map soon and commencing the “spiritual Mapping” process.

Are you staying organized, and staying on top of what is coming up in the next few months?

Finally found a PDA which will sync with my Outlook Calendar; so I am now electronically carrying around the same schedule as I have on Microsoft Outlook at home. This is helping me be more mobile--big time.

At the same time, I finally completed the “Parrish Family Calendar,” an important first stage of the process of re-setting the church calendar for a January 25, 2009 launch.

Why did you re-schedule the Launch Date from October to January?

We set our Projected Launch Date (for fall 2008) back in fall 2007, before we were even fully funded. It was our best guess, based upon our hope that:

We would be funded by the end of November, 2007
Our house in the Corvallis area would go on market in December
We would spend our “missionary month” with our primary supporting congregation (you) circa February 2008
We would be “boots on the ground” in Sherwood no later than mid-March, 2008
This would get our children in the local schools (along with my wife as a substitute teacher and volunteer) well before the end of the school year.
Our Team would be ready when we arrived.

Reality was more like:
While Davis Park committed early, another key early funding source fell through. Full funding was all-but-guaranteed by February 1st 2008, but not fully secured until mid-March 2008
Our house went up for sale in February, sold in April
Our “missionary month” with Cordova (including two meetings with ministers and an elder in Modesto) was April
Wilson was finally moved to Sherwood May 6th
Kristen and the kids completed the school year in the Corvallis area and did not arrive until mid-June.
Our team was moving—from all over Oregon. One couple just arrived about a month ago as of this writing; another family will re-locate in early October to be closer to Sherwood. The obvious good news here is, seven households have been so committed to being a part of this team, that they either have re-located or will soon re-locate to further this mission!

Bottom line is, sometimes we ministers are slow to learn. I was still convinced we could make a Fall Launch. Trouble was, I was still thinking like a Campus Minister. In Campus Ministry, few of your leaders have small children, and all of your leaders have flexible schedules. (You want to talk with your key leaders? Just yell real loud.) Wilson needed to adjust his thinking to counting time in weeks instead of days.

So it was that in mid-July Wilson finally came around (much to the relief of our team) to God’s time-table for this church. Kristen and I broke away for one night to a Bed & Breakfast for our Anniversary. We took out laptops. After a lovely dinner and a romantic sunset, we spent some of the evening in prayer and planning. What resulted from this time away was a sharpening of the mission and vision for Sherwood (I look forward to making more detail available to you).

As if to prove the point (about busy schedules), it took four meetings over a ten-day period to communicate this renewed and more focused vision to a team of fifteen adults.

How is your team doing now?

Sold out, committed, wonderful! Also, further beyond their spiritual “comfort zones” than ever they have been before. The change in Launch Schedule also gives them crucial time to get used to this spiritual “altitude” before we climb even higher.

In the meantime, we have discovered something wonderful about our little group: We are excellent singers and we have a great Worship Ministry! Our Worship Leader, Chris Flores, is passionate about the collection of a cappella music coming out of Nashville from the Zoe Group, and is teaching us a new song every week. For a small start-up, we are richly blessed with great voices!

Where do you and the Team go from here?

This past Sunday, we entered a “Transition Cycle” designed to re-orient us from that period of adjustment to the Launch Team we need to be to move forward. This Transition Cycle will consist of five steps:

Celebrate the Victories (we have experienced and achieved thus far)
Took place this past Sunday, September 28 in our home
It was very encouraging! We were all encouraged by the progress we have made!!

A Season of Prayer
In the next two weeks, we will host a Prayer Vigil and a neighborhood Prayer Walk
The Team is encouraged to be at both events if at all possible, but to make sure to participate with us in at least one of these times of seeking the Lord

Re-Casting the Vision
Together with the Team, we compose a “We Have A Dream speech” to remind ourselves of that for which we are striving
This will take place the week after our Season of Prayer

Launch Team Commitment Cards
The week following the Vision Re-Casting, “the direction we are going from here” (what it will require of us to launch this church) is communicated clearly by Kristen and I as the lead planter and lead-planter’s wife
The “non-negotiable” commitments for those willing to go with us and follow us as leaders are spelled out clearly, and the Team is called upon to re-commit

Setting the Schedule and moving toward launch, January 25, 2008!!

Any other reasons for re-setting the Launch Schedule?

There are two schools of thought about Launch Schedules. Nelson Searcy (successful church planter in New York City) says, “once you’ve set the date, stick with it.” Stephen Gray (successful church planter in the Midwest) says, “don’t launch until you have essential systems in place.” Searcy has planted one church; Gray has planted several. I subscribe to Gray on this one.

What are those “essential systems?” And how are they coming along?

At least 40 adults on the Launch Team.
We thus far have fifteen (make that sixteen!) adults on the Launch Team, with at least two more seriously considering, and a few more “on the fence.”

Connecting with the community through social and service events, and “point of entry” conversations.
A “Point of Entry” conversation consists of giving people the quick synopsis of who we are (mission) and what we desire to be (vision). These are taking place regularly by members of the Team. As for the Parrishes…
The kids are now enrolled in school!
Kristen is set up to volunteer in each of their classrooms.
Kristen is also making application to substitute in the district.
Wilson goes to eat with the kids every Friday for lunch and is getting to know their peers
Bradley wants to join Cub Scouts; Mary-Adele wants to be a Girl Scout. We want them to for two reasons. They are wholesome activities; they provide us with a many “point of entry” opportunities!

An evangelizing process that is already bearing fruit through conversions
I am looking hard at the ALPHA Course material, which I believe can be adapted for our use. I plan to attend the Alpha Converge Conference in Seattle in early November (another confirmation that a later launch will suit us well).

"Long Cycle” events: Home Communities (at least three), a repeatable, sustainable discipleship process.
Two Home Communities are underway and lots of inviting is happening. These finally got underway in the last six weeks. We rejoice that we have come this far! In addition to evening Home Communities, there are now several other opportunities for people to learn to follow Christ more devotedly in the form of morning breakfast (men’s) discipleship studies, and a weekly women’s study taught by Kristen.

What Personal Goals are you working toward?

Wilson’s personal goals:
Extend 25 invitations every week either to a Home Community/Discipleship Study, or to our Sunday afternoon Launch Gatherings at Middleton Elementary School.
Start at least six personal Bible studies with un-churched persons within the next two months.
Continue to pray daily for this ministry.

How are you and your family?

When you move kids from a cul-de-sac and their own swing set in their own backyard to spend a summer in an apartment, it’s pretty tough on them, and even tougher on mom. But we counted our blessings and made it work (and also used it as an opportunity to invite a lot of our fellow apartment dwellers to join our new church!)

Now that we are settled in on SW William Avenue (and the swing set is reassembled…and school has started) the mood is much, much brighter.

Every church planting family we are aware of is faced with attack from the enemy. We are no exception. Among the many things that have happened in our extended family (and the inexplicable-but-consistent delays to our schedule!), there is one about which you are already aware, and have been gracious to pray about and ask after.

In late June, after a bout of vertigo, I was diagnosed with an incurable, non-fatal condition in my right inner ear called Ménière's disease

It is not fatal, but when an episode hits I am temporarily “out of the game” for about a 24-hour period. Each episode incrementally-but-permanently diminishes my hearing in that ear.

The treatment goal is to (A) minimize the number of episodes/year through medication (diuretics) and a low-sodium diet, and (B) manage the episodes so they are not as debilitating.

After the initial diagnosis from an ENT, God has sent me to an excellent family practitioner who herself faces this challenge, and is well-versed at helping me manage it.
I covet your prayers, joined with mine, for complete healing from the Lord.
By His Grace, thus far, my treatment has stabilized me. I just completed my fifth week without an episode! That is a new record since the disease manifested itself in late June.

Other than that, we are doing very well, and are enjoying the community connections God is placing in our way. It seems we never leave our dwelling without God orchestrating a “coincidental” meeting, and/or creating an opportunity for us to share our story and invite someone to join us!

Mary-Adele has started the 4th grade and is off to a great start. (Ending her third grade year with the distinction of being in the top 3% of 3rd grade readers in the state of Oregon doesn’t hurt.) We look forward to seeing how Adele’s tender heart impacts her friends for Christ.

Bradley entered 1st grade and is making his mark. Like his sister, he entered 1st grade already an enthusiastic reader. You would no doubt enjoy witnessing how comfortably he has taken to this schedule and to increased interaction with his peers. We have already met the divorced father of one of his classmates, and hope to make further connection with him soon.

I hope this has been helpful in bringing you up to speed. Please keep in touch! Here is our up-to-date contact information:

The Parrishes
Sherwood Community Church of Christ
PO Box 676
Sherwood, OR 97140

Reflections on our Strategy Lab, June 23, 2008

2008-06-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Launch Team,

Fellowship…Accountability…Discipleship

I am so impressed with and thankful for all of you. I appreciate the way we hammer things out. I learned a lot last evening!

Last evening I provided a lot of information and perspective on what a Home Community (Do we like that term? How about “Journeys Fellowship?”) can become.

And become is the operative word here. As in not "be," fully developed and full-grown, by July 16, but start becoming (or in some sense continue becoming) on or about July 16.

Journeys Fellowships: Fellowship…Accountability…Discipleship

But not all at once. By the end of our discussion, we had learned a lot of valuable things about what distinguishes where we have all been in past Life Groups, from where we want to go in our Journeys Fellowships.

One of the things that was made clear is that this is a progression that will take time.

Phase One

Intentional Fellowship with the un-churched around us.
All the time, praying that God will take us on the course He has plotted out toward the next phase

Phase Two

Intentional Fellowship + Authentic Accountability.

We share ourselves and our struggles; We make it clear we are on a journey, always striving to follow Christ more fully, more authentically
We ask them where they are, and where they would like to go. We invite them to share their struggles and the challenges they are facing—as we have shared with them

All the time, praying that God will take us on the course He has plotted out toward the next phase. This is His journey; we are just along for the ride.

Phase Three

Intentional Fellowship + Authentic Accountability + Radical Discipleship.
All the time, praying that God will take us on His Journey into authentic relationships, real faith community.

Thank you that you have already begun Phase One. You have begun Phase One by inviting people into your home, by gathering this week as mothers and children to lay out a schedule of weekly play groups with an intentional goal of including the un-churched.

The wheels are moving. The tractor-trailer has started slowly rolling up hill, against the wind. In other words, we are building momentum. :-)

Be not afraid. You are doing exactly what you should be doing right now.

My heart is full of thanks to God for you today.

Launch Team Gathering Bible Conversation, June 22, 2008

2008-06-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

The Gospel According to Genesis

Lesson 1

The title for these conversations for the next few weeks may surprise you (The Gospel according to Genesis?) And—just in case you are NOT surprised—allow me to help you so you will be surprised.

First of all...

Genesis is part of the “Torah” which is another way of saying, “the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures. Or, for us Christians, the “Old Testament.” That’s not all the word Torah means (by a long shot), but it is one of the uses of the term. This collection of the first five books of the Bible is also called the Pentateuch.

On the surface, when you are just looking at it, there are two parts or sections of the Christian Bible: The Old Testament, and the New Testament. …We’ll talk about that later.

Second of all...

“Gospel” is a New Testament word.

It is also an old English word which means “good news.”

It is also the word traditionally used in the Bible for the ancient Greek word “Evangelion.”

But mostly it is a New Testament word.

So—if you follow—how can it be used in a study of the Old Testament?

(Are you surprised yet?)

Third of all…

Gospel is kind of a good thing—you know: “Good news.”

In the past, people have sometimes summarized the Bible like this: “the Old Testament is all about the wrath of God, and the New Testament is all about the love of God.” If you have had that view, I do not want to insult you and I do not want to make fun of you. But I do want to kindly and lovingly correct you; and I do want to respectfully and lovingly change your view and I want to start by saying, “not so much!” Because let’s face it: God gets kind of angry sometimes in the New Testament. And as for the Old Testament? Wow. There is just...so much love from God in the Old Testament. In fact, the love of God is defined for us in the Old Testament. We would have a much harder time understanding the love of God in the New Testament if it weren’t for the way He expresses His love in the Old Testament.

And fourth of all…

The Gospel begins in the Old Testament. Another way of saying that is that the problem that the Gospel solves happens—initially—in the Old Testament. Let me ‘splain…

As you may have heard before, every good story has the same basic elements. Story form has been the same, essentially, in just about every culture and from the very beginnings of recorded human history.

Every good story has these five elements: situation, conflict, solution, climax. and resolution.

Have you noticed this? Have you noticed that every movie you go to, every novel you read—even every children’s story—have the same basic elements?

Situation: A sow has piglets. One of the piglets is a runt named Wilbur.

Conflict: Because he is a runt, he is doomed for certain destruction.

Solution: A sentient and benevolent spider decides to spin webs which contain messages about Wilbur for the unsuspecting rural farm community.

Climax: It works! Wilbur is spared!

Resolution: Life goes on, spiders die, sentient baby spiders hatch, and fly away, etc.

Donald Miller, in his book Blue Like Jazz, tuned me into the fact that the Bible is no different. The Bible is a narrative. The Bible is a story.

Situation: God creates among His creation are sentient, self-aware beings—humans who are created in His image, and who are created to be in completely harmonious relationship with God.

Conflict: Humans blow it. They are no longer in completely harmonious relationship with God—which was God’s intention, and the original destiny of humankind and creation.

Resolution: God will sacrifice Himself, which is the only way humanity can once again be what they were made to be—creatures that are in completely harmonious relationship with their Creator.

Climax: It works! God’s own Son comes to earth. He becomes human. He lives, against all odds, in a completely harmonious relationship with God. Then, even though he does not deserve to die, because He has actually managed to live in completely harmonious relationship with God, He dies in the place of all the other humans, who deserve death because they are not in the completely harmonious relationship with God—the fulfilling relationship which they were created to forever enjoy! Humanity is restored to its original purpose and destiny! Yeah!

Resolution: Humans have the opportunity to accept this gift and enter into relationship with God again, in anticipation of Heaven, which will be—at last—the place where every creature is in a completely harmonious relationship with the Creator. In the meantime, those humans have the opportunity to live righteous and moral lives not by their own power, but by the power of God’s loving sacrifice.

So, you see? The whole Bible is the Gospel—the good news story about God creating us and loving us!

And the obvious question is, Where does the Torah—specifically Genesis—fit in to this?

The thing is, (and here’s the thing): The Bible has two sections. And they are NOT the Old Testament and the New Testament as you might assume and suppose. The Bible has two sections and they are: The first eleven chapters of Genesis, and the rest of the Bible.

The first eleven chapters of Genesis tell us two things: First, the situation. And that only lasts for two chapters. God creates. Humans (and therefore the rest of creation) are in completely harmonious relationship with the Creator. Then comes chapter three. And in Chapters 3-11, we get the second element of story: The conflict. And—wow!—do we get conflict! As in the whole thing goes down the toilet, over and over and over again.

Another way of saying all this is that in Genesis chapters 1 & 2 we have blessing, and in Genesis chapters 3-11 we have curse. It is important to think in terms of curse and blessing. These are good words to have in mind when trying to understand the story (the narrative) of the Bible. God created as a blessing and in order to bless. Creations rebellion was a curse that set up a cursed world.

For two chapters in Genesis we see a creation which is created to be blessed and for blessing. And in chapters 3-11, it’s all cursed and cursing. If you want you can read it for yourself. Note—if you choose to pursue this reading—the number of times those words appear, and where they show up. I mean, seriously! By the end of chapter 4, the very first family, created for blessing, has disobeyed the one rule they had been given, hidden from God, lied, and committed outright, cold-blooded murder! Yeah; play time is definitely over.

Even the story of Noah (which seems like some kind of solution) turns out to be part of the conflict! Noah is barely off the Ark when he gets drunk, his son’s make fun of him and (when he sobers up) he curses them. See? Cursed and cursing, when the Creator had made it all as a blessing.

By the end of chapter 11, humanity has gone as far away from what the Creator intended as it can possibly go.

Chapter 12:1 is the beginning of the solution.

Now YAHWEH said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ²I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

And the climax of the story? It is in story of the Christ.

A direct descendent of this Abram fellow, and the fulfillment of that promise, that all the families of the earth would be blessed through Abram.

When he (Jesus) dies? That’s the climax of the story. Resolution starts happening after that!

An Encouraging E-Mail

2008-06-20T21:12:00.001-07:00

Dear Pastor Parrish:

Thanks for coming to City Council on Tuesday evening and introducing your family and your Church to our elected officials and staff. I appreciate very much your offer of prayer support for me in my role as “public servant” with our City. I firmly believe that an important part of our community is the faith community and the role you, your family and your congregation will play in serving others and their needs mentally, physically and spiritually.

Again, thanks for taking time to drop me the handwritten note. I am grateful for your support as we serve Sherwood together.

[Name]

[City Official]

City of Sherwood

503-###-####

Location, Location, Location

2008-06-20T20:49:00.001-07:00

Among the most frequently asked questions this Church Planter encounters is, “So…where’s your church?” This sets up the opportunity to explain with enthusiasm that you are a “church at large” which intends to use rented public facilities for the foreseeable future. Which people find intriguing. Even conversational. And that’s fun.

And, let’s face it: It would just never do to give them “the real answer.” It would be a condescending thing to do to an un-churched person. Saying something like “what you mean to say is where does our church meet; the church is the people. You knew that, right?” is a real no-no. No matter how theologically accurate such a corrective may be, corrective is never charming. Some theological truths can wait.

But here, on this blog, in chronicling the history-in-the-making of SCCOC, I relish the present prospect of giving the correct answer—just this once.

I can’t say where all of us are, but I can tell you that…

The Barfields are eating dinner with and hanging out with the Flores family this evening, as these two Launch Team couples strive to know each other better—build some esprit de corps. They already love each other; tonight will strengthen that loving relationship.

The Cates invited another family to their home to talk to them about joining our small-but-growing Launch Team. I have stopped and prayed about their conversation throughout the day. As with everyone with whom we converse about joining us, it will not be the sales pitch of someone hawking used cars. It will be an occasion for giving someone an opportunity; asking them to seek the Lord—to discern His Call, either to remain where they are in Christ, or serve with us in Christ. It might furthermore be an opportunity to ask about one’s spiritual priorities. “What interest you more: being ‘Church of Christ’ or being a radical Disciple of Christ?”

Matthew, Liuba, and Angel Williams are at home under the watchful eye of their elder brother, Kyle Williams, so their parents can go out on a much-needed date. Rachel and Greg Williams are…on that date.

I do not know what Tom Nelson is up to this evening, but I am sure it is wholesome and perhaps appropriately restful on this warm Friday evening in Western Oregon. Our engaged couple, Luke Woodward and Ashley Conner are no doubt neck-deep in wedding plans.

And as for the Parrishes? The fine cuisine of the McDonald’s Corporation was brought to the park nearest our home. Bicycles were parked, a blanket was spread, bag-chairs were set up, thanksgiving was expressed, and dinner was had by all. In our minds and hearts, Kristen and I prayed for an opportunity. It did not look promising; we had the park to ourselves. Then along came Stacey with two-month-old Chloe and her bike-riding boys, Cameron (age 6) and Tristan (age 5). As is our custom, Wilson opened the conversation, and then tossed the ball to “too-shy-to-initiate-but-happy-to-converse” Kristen. They must’ve talked for an hour. Greg, a retired high school principal from the Philippines who is on an extended visit with his children here, getting to know his grandchildren, happened along and shared stories of growing up in a rural area in his home country.

...And a Church Planting Family knows their community just a little bit better now, as bed time stories are being read to freshly showered and pajama-clad Parrishlings in the room next door.

And that, dear reader, is where our church is.

At the moment, anyway.

Glad To Be Here

2008-06-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

Just went to the City Council Meeting to introduce myself in the "Citizen's Comments" portion of the meeting. Here's what I said.

"My name is Wilson Parrish. I recently moved to Sherwood for the purpose of starting a new church here, the Sherwood Community Church of Christ, and I wanted to come in and introduce myself and my family, my wife, Kristen, my daughter, Mary-Adele, and my son, Bradley.

"When my wife and I decided to make a change after almost 13 years serving in college ministry with a church in Corvallis, we decided we were best suited to serve young families. In the process of choosing a setting for this new church, we researched a number of venues in the greater Portland area. Our move to the City of Sherwood was an intentional, thoroughly researched decision based upon the thriving, energetic sense of community here in Sherwood.

"Thus far our church start-up group boasts only fifteen adults. But I am pleased to report to you that six of those fifteen—including myself—served as volunteers this past Saturday at Cruisin’ Sherwood 2008. Also, we have already made informal contact with Phil McGuigan of the Robin Hood Festival about supplying him with some volunteers as well. We hope that this is just the beginning of a long-tradition of our service to this growing community.

"Our official public launch is October 5^th, but our small team is already meeting every Sunday afternoon at 4:00. This Sunday will be our first meeting in the Rebekah Lodge here in downtown Sherwood. In anticipation of outgrowing that facility, we have already opened a dialogue with Middleton Elementary School about facilities rental.

"I have already been contacted by one of the ministers here about meeting with other Sherwood ministers, and I look forward to that opportunity as well. I should also mention that Tom Nelson has been showing us a great deal of hospitality.

"So, I just wanted to come here this evening and let you know how glad we are to be here, how eager we are to get started as the Sherwood Community Church of Christ, and how excited we are to serve this community in meaningful way.

"Thank you."

...So, anyway, that went well.

June 15, 2008

2008-06-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Signs of Growth Update

June 15, 2008

We’ve spent five weeks together so far, settling in. In the process we’ve discovered that getting a church off the ground is a lot like getting a tractor-trailer (AKA “18 Wheeler” or “semi”) to full speed from a dead stop, up a 6% grade, into a headwind. And yet we have taken/are about to take, some crucial steps forward:

1. We have officially served the community. Out of only 15 adults, three of us watched children so six of us could serve the community by volunteering at Cruisin’ Sherwood 2008 yesterday. That’s nine altogether, or 60% of our adult population involved in one service project. Astounding!

2. Having applied for State Incorporation, acquired a FEIN (federal employment identification number) and having appointed a Board of Directors (for state purposes) tomorrow we will take steps 3&4: 1^st Board Meeting and opening our bank account. This will allow us to begin taking contributions, apply for federal 501 (c) (3) status, and follow that with application for a bulk mail permit.

3. Related to that, we have established a well-qualified financial team and have hammered out the basics of our financial policies and procedures.

4. We have found a place! Next week we will gather at the Rebekah Lodge in downtown Sherwood. We still await word from the principal at Middleton Elementary School about moving there in August. If we are serious about “Launching Large” (and we are) Rebekah will only hold us for so long, with a capacity of 125 persons, and no classroom space.

5. Our team has grown from ten adults to 15 in five weeks. Just 25 more to go to reach the crucial benchmark of a minimum of 40 adults on the Launch Team. Are you intending to talk with someone about joining the team? Delay no longer; the time is now. I met with the Hills (Robert and Dana) this past Wednesday, I meet with Luke Ankeny this week for breakfast, and I hope to meet with Jeremy Kilpatrick in the next two weeks. Please pray about these on-going conversations. (And feel free to have some of your own! J)

Monday night’s Strategy Lab is the “Time to take it to the next level” Lab. Please be there is at all possible.

Truly, God is at work among us!

What Happened Yesterday at Sunday Gathering?

· Our Worship in Song focused around our Mission Statement, also known as the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

· Dovetailing off of that call from Jesus to “go,” our Bible Conversation was a reflection upon the first few verses of Luke 19, where Jesus

o “went” into a town (Jericho),

o Looked for what God was doing (in whom the Father was already at work, in this case Zaccheus)

o Joined the Father in the work He was doing in the life of Zaccheus

o Salvation happened!

· While Wilson finished preparations for meal (Spaghetti…Mmmm), everyone else went on two Prayer walks through the neighborhood. The prayer focus went something like, “Lord, as we plant this church, please lead us to the people in whom you are already at work. We don’t want to waste our time, your time, or the people’s time by trying to do a work of our own where you are not already working, Lord. Please put us in touch with those Sherwoodians in whom you are already at work, leading them to Jesus.”

Expect more Prayer Walk experiences in the near future. And feel free to host your own, in your own neighborhood this week!

Living in Sherwood, Gathering Together

2008-05-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

As of three weeks ago, we are all moved in to our Sherwood apartment, and have hosted three Launch Team Gatherings thus far.

The Nordlings announced to us that Centex Homes is transferring all management (that's him) to Seattle. We are sorry to see them go.

5/11 twenty of us were there. The Parrishes, the Cates, the Barfields, the Floreses and the Williams--all our principle families. Tom was not feeling well.

5/18 we were 16 strong. The Barfields were out of town and the Cates had a medical concern. Tom was out of town.

5/25 the Barfields were out of town again, and the Flores family was welcoming Clarissa Joy into the world. But we had three new families checking us out. So there were 24 in attendance. Tom was out of town.

This Tuesday (tonight) is our first "Strategy Session" to plan events between now and Launch Sunday.

Our Ten Goals

2008-03-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

Listed below are the goals we established for our month in California interacting with our sponsoring church.

The Parrish’s Ten Goals for our month in Rancho Cordova
March 8 – April 3, 2008

1. Connect broadly with Cordova Church of Christ—multiple generations, groups, classes, etc.
2. Communicating and affirming in an effective way who the Parrishes are theologically.
3. Clarify “expectations and processes” for
a. Reporting
b. Communication
c. Problem solving
d. Finances
e. Decision-making

This coalesces into two question sets:

A. How will Cordova communicate and keep Sherwood work in front of the Cordova Family? What will Cordova need from the Parrishes to do this effectively?

B. What will Cordova want from the Parrishes to feel comfortable with the partnership?

4. Meet one on one with each minister; meet as a couple with support staff.

5. Keep Davis Park included

6. Gather people interested in visiting and working; help them think through what it will take for them to organize

7. Connect potential short-term missionaries at Cordova with counterparts in Modesto

8. Enjoy shared history with Bill and Janice Mara (take a trip to Santa Cruz County!)

9. Present a challenge to the Goldmans about church planting: What role does the Lord want them to play?

10. Encourage and edify the house church in Placerville
(Contact: Kathy and Doug Norwood)

The Itinerary

2008-02-19T17:29:00.000-08:00

Here is the itinerary we created to keep track of ourselves while we were building relationships with our partnering/sponsoring churches in California in the Winter/Spring of 2008!

Sherwood “Partner Churches” Itinerary

& Wilson’s Schedule

Spring 2008

Saturday, February 23

Travel to Modesto

Alaska Airlines Flight #2541

Arrive Sacramento (SMF)

11:25 A.M.

Host :

Virginia & Ernie Yoshino

203 Park Avenue

Modesto, CA 95354

(209) 529-9899

Saturday, February 23

Fellowship Meal with Davis Park

Leaders and their families

Modesto, CA

Sunday, February 24

8:45 A.M.

Combined Teen/Adult Class

Overview of Church Planting Plans w/Q&A

Davis Park Church of Christ

Sunday, February 24

Worship 10:00 A.M.

Preach

(Include Overview of Church Planting Plans)

Davis Park Church of Christ

Sunday, February 24

Travel to Oregon

Alaska Airlines Flight #389

Depart Sacramento (SMF)

7:28 P.M.

Monday, February 25 - Friday, March 7

· Sell home; purchase home in Sherwood

· Plan for April 6!

· Prepare for Month in California

Saturday, March 8

Travel to Rancho Cordova

Host:

Sandy & Chuck Donald

9254 Brown Road

Elk Grove, CA 95624

(916) 682-4111

Kim & Chris Goldman

114Garrett Drive

Folsom, CA 95630

(916) 983-2839

Sunday, March 9

8:30 A.M.

11:00 A.M.

Preach

Cordova Church of Christ

Text: Romans _________

Sunday, March 9

3:00 P.M.

Leaders’ Meeting

Cordova Church of Christ

Sunday, March 9

6:00 P.M.

20-minute overview of Church Planting Plans

Cordova Church of Christ

Monday, March 10

6:00 P.M.

Leader’s Meeting

Davis Park Church of Christ

Tuesday, March 11

8:30 A.M.

Staff Meeting

Cordova Church of Christ

Wednesday, March 12

10:00 A.M.

Overview of Church Planting Plans (Discussion)

Coffee, Donuts & Study,

Cordova Church of Christ

Wednesday, March 12

Overview of Church Planting Plans

Adult Class Offering

Cordova Church of Christ

Sunday, March 16

8:30 A.M.

11:00 A.M.

6:00 P.M.

Worship

Cordova Church of Christ

Sunday, March 16

9:50 A.M.

Attend Adult Class

(possibly teach or offer

Overview of Church Planting Plans)

Cordova Church of Christ

Tuesday, March 18

8:30 A.M.

Staff Meeting

Cordova Church of Christ

Tuesday, March 18

12:00 P.M.

Staff Meeting

Davis Park Church of Christ

Wednesday, March 19

10:00 A.M.

Facilitate Discussion Class

Coffee, Donuts & Study,

Cordova Church of Christ

Wednesday, March 19

Vision Meeting

Cordova Mission Team

Cordova Church of Christ

Saturday, March 22

Move to New Host

Sandy & Chuck Donald

9254 Brown Road

Elk Grove, CA 95624

(916) 682-4111

Kim & Chris Goldman

114Garrett Drive

Folsom, CA 95630

(916) 983-2839

Sunday, March 23

Easter Sunday

8:30 A.M.

11:00 A.M.

6:00 P.M.

Worship

Cordova Church of Christ

Sunday, March 23

9:50 A.M.

Attend Adult Class

(possibly teach or offer Overview of Church Planting Plans)

Cordova Church of Christ

Tuesday, March 25

8:30 A.M.

Staff Meeting

Cordova Church of Christ

Wednesday, March 26

10:00 A.M.

Facilitate Discussion Class

Coffee, Donuts & Study,

Cordova Church of Christ

Wednesday, March 26

Teach Adult class (two-week series)

Cordova Church of Christ

Sunday, March 30

8:30 A.M.

11:00 A.M.

6:00 P.M.

Farewell Worship

Cordova Church of Christ

Sunday, March 30

9:50 A.M.

Attend Adult Class

(possibly teach or offer

Overview of Church Planting Plans)

Cordova Church of Christ

Sunday, March 30

3:00 P.M.

Leaders’ Meeting

Cordova Church of Christ

Tuesday, April 1

8:30 A.M.

Staff Meeting

Cordova Church of Christ

Wednesday, April 2

10:00 A.M.

Facilitate Discussion Class

Coffee, Donuts & Study,

Cordova Church of Christ

Wednesday, April 2

Teach Adult class (two-week series)

Cordova Church of Christ

Thursday, April 3

Travel to Oregon!

Friday, April 4 – Saturday, April 5

9 A.M. – 5 P.M.

Class Meeting

for On-Line Intensive course

George Fox

Evangelical Seminary

The Summary

2008-02-19T17:24:00.001-08:00

Here's a summary for your reading enjoyment of what we were up to and what was just ahead of us on this rainy February day in 2008. It is a document we shared at our second Launch Team Meeting February 10, 2008, and our first meeting in the actual city limits of Sherwood!

We ate at Red Robin, and then met in a room at the Sherwood YMCA....

What We’ve Been Up To

...And What Lies Ahead

An Update for the Stellar Launch Team

of the

Sherwood Community Church of Christ

Launch Team Gathering, February 10, 2008

What’s Been Happening?

· November

o Continued fund raising, prepared for Strategy Session first weekend of December

o Talked with Joel and LaNae about moving up ASAP to be a part of the new church

o Met with Tom Nelson

o Met with Williams Family

· December

o Recovered from bad news from a Tennessee Church

o Two weeks later, received the first word of great news about Cordova Church

o Married LaNae and Joel in Central Oregon

o Met with the Beth & Chris and then Ryan & Shannon

· January

o Worked with Roger Elliott to prepare and list house in Philomath

o Completed full Prospectus

o Prepared for journey to Rancho Cordova

o Traveled to Rancho Cordova, formalized relationship with Cordova Church

· February

o Completed grant proposal to the Bell Trust to be signed and sent by Cordova Elders

o Arranged and prepared for a meeting of the stellar, growing Launch Team

What’s Next?

· February (continued)

o Incorporate!

§ Establish a Sherwood address

§ Apply to IRS for Employee Tax ID number

§ Apply to State of Oregon for 501(c)3 corporate status

§ Open a bank account

o Discuss other uses for grant proposal with Kairos and Cordova

o Get ready to spend last weekend of February with the Davis Park Church in Modesto, being officially introduced, preaching.

o Get ready to spend a month in Rancho Cordova “settling in” with Cordova Church

· March

o Move family to Rancho Cordova for four weeks, March 8 - April 3

§ Preach and teach

§ Firmly establish relationships with elders, staff, and members

§ Meet with members at Cordova and Davis Park (a convenient 75 miles from Cordova) interested in coming up for short-term mission projects; get to know them, discuss ideas

§ Keep office hours as a Cordova ministry staff member, attending all Staff and Elder’s meetings

§ Spend office hours

· praying

· reading

· continuing incorporation process

· continuing fund raising for Start-Up (additional grant proposals, etc.)

· cleaning up computer from fund raising and prospectus research

§ Rest up!

· April

o Target for being located in Sherwood: April 6^th!

§ We pray our house will have sold and we can purchase our Sherwood dwelling

§ If not, we will find a way to rent in Sherwood (while paying Philomath mortgage…zoinks!)

o Begin “pre-launch” in earnest

§ Host a Launch Team Retreat Gathering

§ Get as many Home Communities as possible up and running as soon as possible!

§ Build the Launch Team from our un-churched contacts in and around Sherwood

§ Establish meaningful infrastructure for on-going spiritual formation of everyone in the community

§ Start scouting out a place to meet

§ Begin meeting community leaders

§ Begin fellowship gatherings in public venues

§ Continue fund raising as necessary or start-up funding

§ Begin major purchases

· Multi-media equipment

· Sound system

· Furnishings

· Supplies

· Trailer

· Marketing campaign

§ Work with each Launch Team household about a timeline for transitioning your tithes and offerings to SCCoC (assuming all incorporation work is complete)

§ Focus all our attention as a Launch Team upon having 250 in attendance on Launch Sunday, October 5, 2008!!!

Two Vocabulary Words:

Please work to change your vocabulary in preparation for our life together:

~~Christian~~ please start saying… Christ-Follower

~~Meeting~~ please change to… Gathering

How It All Began

2008-02-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

Sunday, September 1, 2002. Elmer's on Stark Street in NE Portland.

That's when and where I met Gena and Dr. Stan Granberg of CPNW--"Church Planting Northwest." I think Stan was still teaching at Cascade College at that point. And CPNW had not yet morphed into Kairos Church Planting Support--if I'm not mistaken.

It was just not enough for Stan and Gena that we had sent them four church planters (two couples) who were alumni of our campus ministry. Oh no. They wanted us too. That's why they wanted to talk.

And I was willing to listen. Anybody who can do ten years of successful African missions, come back to the states, guide their four kids through reverse cultures shock, and then see all four of those kids remain faithful as Christ-Followers...has my attention. Clearly, they are doing the most important things right.

I listened. I turned them down. I told them if I ever left Corvallis (and I likely never would) it would be to plant a church.

Gena looked at me very penetratingly and said something like, "You will be contacting us eventually, because God intends for you to be a church planter." It kind of frightened me. I mean, these people were in Africa. They are tuned in spiritually. She probably knew what she was talking about.

Fast forward to July of 2005. At just about the ten-and-a-half-year mark of our work in college ministry in Corvallis, Oregon, and just about the six-month mark of a burn-out phase I was not even aware I was experiencing at the time. We were picking up our Japan team at PDX, and who should be waiting for their luggage on the same carousel but...Gena and Stan.

The stirring in me had been intensifying. So I knew this was no coincidence. Standing there next to Stan--who seemed to be smiling knowingly--I figured I'd best broach the subject.

"Stan, we need to talk."

"OK" (bigger smile).

We played e-mail tag for a few busy months. Early December, 2005, while my college charges were busy with finals, I traveled to South Salem and met Stan at Applebee's.

And that's how it all began.

March, 2006 we were in Discovery Lab
April, 2006 we made our decision
May, 2006 we started a two-month process of informing the leaders at Circle Church of Christ, trying to "end well," and leave room for their prayers (in case the Spirit wanted to tell us to "stay put" through them)
June, 2006 we informed the rest of the church
July 31st was our last day or employment with the Circle Church of Christ.

Thus began six months of a perfect, blessed-by-God tension between the intense, spiritual journey of fund raising and a sabbatical of sorts, where reading and praying and reflecting and envisioning and planning were shaping Kristen and I--and our young children--for a new ministry journey. Meanwhile, our team of four has grown to a Launch Team of 24, and our Intercessory Prayer Team (IPT) of 20 Prayer Warriors have been lifting us up daily since August of 2006!

We are now financially supported by:

Our Partner Church, the Cordova Church of Christ in Rancho Cordova, California
Our Sponsor Church, the Davis Park Church of Christ in Modesto, California
Over 60 individuals and families who have helped us through the transition months with "special (one time or occasional) gifts," and/or have pledged monthly support for the next five years while we plant this church.

And one day I will look back on this first entry on some Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. I will smile as I think about what the Lord has done and is doing with this mustard seed.

And won't that be fun!