Sunday, October 30, 2005
This holy ghost that rattles through the night
Old habits die hard, even when it's unintentional. Yesterday, I took Lourenzo to the Y to register him for his swimming lessons, and afterwards, we grabbed lunch at Quiznos. Today, after church, a bunch of us went out for lunch, and we went to... Quiznos. Add that to the fact that I had Starbucks both yesterday and today, and it looks like I'm susbsisting on Quiznos, Starbucks, and breakfast cereal again! Heh.After lunch, I was walking down to the Strand with Faith, a girl from church, and we were discussing the various aspects of the Forefront community.
What I didn't realize when I started going there was that not only is it a young church in terms of the congregation, but it's also a baby church in terms of its age. Put it this way: my first week there was Forefront's second week as an actual church with regular services. They'd been meeting once a week during the summer, but they had just started their weekly services the week before I started going. It's a church plant, supported by other churches (although I'm not sure what denomination its backed by, if any in particular), and so it's still so much in a formative stage.
For some reason, also, the church seems to attract a very new crowd. The pastoral staff has all moved to NYC within the past 8 months or so, and many of the people I've gotten to know have only lived in the city for less than 5 months, on average. I still don't know how every has gotten hooked up at Forefront, and I don't know how it is that it attracts this particular demographic, but it does, and it's kind of cool.
For one thing, it's nice to be in on the ground floor of something--to be, even inadvertently (as in my case) in the beginning of all this. Watching the community grow, and being a part of the initial thrust to see it go somewhere.
For another thing, it's nice to come into a group where you're not just "the newcomer." Yes, many people you meet in New York are from "somewhere else," but a lot of them have been here a lot longer than two months. It's kind of nice to be amongst other people who have no clue about the city, either, and who are still figuring it all out. We can all feel dumb together, and when someone discovers something or someplace new, we can all feel like it's new together.
In any case, for whatever reason, it seems to be a solid community that's being built. Maybe because there are so few pre-formed friendships, and everyone's coming into this with a blank slate, but it's coming. Slowly but surely.
On a side, but related, note, I have to say that I'm impressed with the level of organization and preparedness that this church seems to have, especially for one so new. I mean, I know that there have been things going on behind the scenes for a long time, and that they've been meeting and finding a core of people for a few months, but still--to have things this pulled together within such a short time is impressive.
Anyways. I'm going to go continue my stellar diet and get some cereal for supper. Yup, in a city of the finest cuisine in the world and a 24-hour deli on every corner, I'm going to eat breakfast cereal for dinner. Like I said, old habits die hard.
2 Comments:
Hey, I got a call-back from Chapters on Friday, and I think I'm going to give them a call and see if I can't get an interview. I'd love to work with the books! I looked inside the Edgemont Quizno's yesterday after church, but didn't see much; or anything for that matter!
Impressive re: Forefront. I would never have guessed from looking at their website that it had just started. Not only because they don't mention it, but it does seem very well organized and comprehensive for such a new work. Would be interesting to know who is planting it. Are there any coming from established congregations in order to be part of the plant? Enjoy being in such a church situation, and learn what you can from it!
Speaking of church plants, etc., I am on a Church Growth committee to think about where FAC might "go" from here in terms of growth--in one or several different directions. They need some "under-35" input--so if you have any thoughts on that topic, let me know. Given your history with FAC, and your exposure now to other places, they might be interested in your ideas, even long-distance!
Mom
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