Friday Five - What I Want in a church

I haven't done the Revgals Friday Five for awhile, but this is a great way to get back into it. Thanks Sally!

Her inspiration is this address from the Eunice Attwood, Vice President of the British Methodist Church.

I want to be part of a church that is prayer-filled -
A church that is resourced and sustained by the Bible,
A church that can offer hope even in a credit crunch,
A church that can live well with difference and diversity.

I want to be part of a church that welcomes the wealthy, those who have power and influence -
A church that knows how to party and celebrate life,
A church that acknowledges death and speaks boldly of resurrection,
A church that doesn’t pretend to have all the answers but encourages all the questions.

I want to be part of a church that throws parties for prostitutes -
A church that welcomes those who seek asylum,
A church that longs and yearns for justice,
A church that listens to those no-one else wants to listen to.

I want to be part of a church that believes in transformation not preservation -
A church where all who are lost can be found,
A church where people can discover friendship,
A church where every person takes responsibility in sharing the good news.

I want to be part of a church whose hope is placed securely and confidently in the transforming love of God -
A church that engages faith in its communities,
A church that makes and nurtures disciples of Jesus.

A church where the story of God’s love is at the centre.
I want to be part of a church that offers outrageous grace, reckless generosity, transforming love and engaging faith.
This is God’s story Transforming Love: Engaging Faith.

My prayer is that by the power of the Spirit of God at work amongst us, it will increasingly be our story.

Here are my five:

1. I want a church that practices hospitality well. One which the congregation knows how to make a seeker who walks in the door feel like they have come home. That means we have to know how to do that for different people in different ways.
2. I want a church whose members try to look at the bigger picture of why we have certain activities and understand that community building is important, and sometimes we attend things even if we don't want to go. If we don't go, what are we saying and what example are we to others?
3.  I want a church who is willing to go out of their comfort zone for the good of the community, both the community of the church itself and the community in which we live.
4. I want a church with diversity - age diversity, color, socio economic status, people with special needs, the unlovable, the wounded, and diversity in family makeup.
5. I want a church community who not only believes in Jesus on Sundays, but lives it throughout the week.

When I say this, I include me in these - I am guilty of not living up to the standards of what I THINK we should be doing.
More importantly, I am curious as to what You want in a church.

Friday Five- Revgalblogpals

I don't know when the last time I participated in a Friday Five, but I liked the one for today, though as the poster said - you kind of hate putting one up, but I think she posted some appropriate questions for Holy Week:
It seems almost irreverent to post a Friday Five on Good Friday, so I will try to treat it with some respect. I am still mulling over the darkness of last nights Tenebrae Service, the silence as we left was profound, and although I travelled home with others we did not speak, there was a holiness about it.....and yet we know that holiness was born of horror!

So as we enter into this darkest of days I offer you this Friday Five:

1. Of all the gospel accounts of the crucifixion, which one stands out for you, and why?
   I guess I have heard the gospel of John so much on Good Friday - I haven't given it a lot of thought as to which one stands out from the others to me.

2.Do you identify with any people in this account, how does that challenge you?

I think the I identify with Peter - as we all have some of Peter in us - when things get touch, we tend to lay low.

3. Hymns or silence? I think there is room for both and both I will experience today. The hymns that come to mind are Ah Holy Jesus, Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  and "Never said a mumblin' word"

4. Post a poem or a quote that sums up Good Friday for you? Interestingly, this one just appeared to me today and speaks loudly to me:

The death of a beloved is an event that rings and rings through a life: bearing it is not a problem to be solved, but a long, slow piece of music to listen to. And mourning, like music, is best listened to with others. - Sarah Miles, from her book Jesus Freak (mostly because this is the book I am reading now)

5.Is there a tradition you could not be without, a tradition that makes Good Friday, Good Friday?
Today I am off from school, not because it's Good Friday, but because it is a furlough day. I would much rather get off from school on Good Friday because this day has been so untouched by the commercialization of other holidays. And I would love for the service to be at noon. However, I don't think this will happen.
However, the black veil on the cross is a visual that comes to mind of what makes Good Friday,  Good Friday. The starkness of the church with all adornment removed. The silence as we enter the church (please Lord, make us all aware of the importance of this today - please let's have quiet in the church).

What about you? Do any of these questions leave with a desire to share in the comments???