6 basic ways to keep in step with the Spirit

Step into the dialogue

For us “dialogue” is definitely a verb. It is the place where a spark is lit and a movement sensed. Our deepest dialogue is between each of us and God in the silence upon which we build our prayer. But that constant spiritual conversation is also between all of us. We each carry the Spirit of Jesus, so when we get together things happen: revelation, discernment, reconciliation and healing.

▧ Your are invited into many places for dialogue:

• The cells and Sunday meetings specialize in spiritual conversation
• The pastors and their team of Cell Leaders with their Coordinators are all eager to listen. Here’s where you can find them.
• Our listservs provide for dialogue is various ways.
  1. The Covenant members have a listserv to which everyone can post.
  2. Each congregation has a listserv to which a cell leader can post for you.
  3. The whole church maintains the Share list to which we post opportunities or needs however we choose.
  4. The Parents have a listserv to offer encouragement to each other and to help figure out how to raise their children as a village.
  5. A compassion or mission team might maintain a listserv about their cause: like the Peace List, a Facebook Page, or their own website or blog.
• Our yearly map making process is an invitation to everyone to offer their discernment to the church’s dialogue about our heart and our future.
• All our meetings are open meetings. We do not have any secret or exclusive meetings. So you are free to come to any team training or leadership team meeting as you choose.

Take a risk to follow your passions and use your gifts

We make teams to get things done. You can serve on a compassion or mission team or start one. Teams are formed (and are also dissolved when their time is finished) as we rely on the Spirit to lead us.

We have formed numerous compassion teams that express the hopes and desires of a group of people who have called out like-inspired people to join their cause. The church affirms them and lets them lead us all as we are able to join in. They help us share God’s love in practical ways in order to express our hearts and demonstrate the gospel. You can see the present collection here.

• Starting a Compassion Team

Mission teams are formed in a similar way. Their focus is more on evangelism and disciple-making. You can see the present collection here.

• Starting a Mission Team

Connect with the culture and lore of our church

Explore the convictions that drive us

Our "proverbs" paint a picture of who we are. We always include them in our map, since they describe the kind of people we want to be as we express the heart God has placed in us.

We have these sayings over many years. They continue to evolve as the Holy Spirit guides us. The eleven distinctions below as titles to the collection of statements which point to our character, purpose and mission. They express something of what fuels us, how we see God refining us and shaping us, and how we want to live in light of the Bible and in tune with the Spirit of Jesus. You'll see they are much like the proverbs in the Old Testament, in that they raise many questions as well as answer them. They are designed to keep our dialogue going as we discern our distinctive path on the way of Jesus.

Jesus is best revealed incarnationally

● We are called to move with what the Spirit is doing next

● We are meant to go deep with God

● We must be doers of the word

● Generating justice and hope in our neighborhood must be at the heart of us.

● We are called out to be a living organism, building community together in love

● Dialogue keeps us connected and protects our gravity

● Fomenting diversity and reconciliation is at the prophetic heart of our gospel

● We expect people to express their gifts, talents, art and worship

● Sharing our resources brings freedom and unleashes power

● Leadership is a team effort

Explore all the proverbs, here.

Intro ▥ Experience the Wind ▥ Sail Together ▥ Read & Listen ▥ Gifts for Growing