shop-front

We have a bit of a dilemma.

What if someone wants to join us?  

We want to be a welcoming community, but there's a lot at stake for such a small group at such an early stage.

We've seen God cultivate a culture of open-ness and interaction -- surely we have a responsibility to protect this fledgling culture? 

Yes, for the people who are already in the room (especially the kids), but also for those we anticipate will find this culture to be exactly what they need for spiritual renewal -- we have some people in mind who God has placed on our heart.

But we are also vulnerable to the expectations of people looking to attend a regular "church service." A church service has become such a consumptive product -- the shopfront for spiritual community, where Christians come to test if 'this is the place for them'.  

Little Church feels different.   Our gathering isn't the shopfront, it's the back room.  The vulnerable space where we sort through our mess.  We want to welcome people into the back room, but we want them to be aware of what they might be walking into -- and it feels respectful to others in the group to give them a heads up if someone else wants to join us.

"Isn't that a bit exclusive?"

It might appear that way on the surface, but the intent is the exact opposite.  

We want to invite people in, and we want to invite them into something that is true -- and an authentic worshipping community requires an honest appraisal of practices that are false.  

Our neighbours often carry the expectation that people who go to church are pretending.  And those who are 'shopping' for church at a Sunday gathering are often expecting the same -- perhaps even hoping for it.

At Little Church we are wanting to drop the pretence, pursue authentic relationships, and explore some creative ways to introduce people into genuine spiritual community.

What might it look like to build a different kind of shopfront?