Have something nice to say?

I have wanted to share something with the Journey community. I have been hesitant to become too excited about this new place. I have not shared because of not knowing who or what was this really about. I don’t care anymore about worrying about this not being for me. It has intrigued me intensely….. since I received your flyer. I held back just in case this could be a ” nutty place”, but after my first visit I was so excited at the possibility of a church that wasn’t cookie cut out church, I could hardly wait the mile drive home, to share it with my husband and then call almost everyone I know. I am skeptical and a bit wary, with so many questions and my own doubts but my spirit is rejoicing at having a chance to discover my path. The potential is overwhelming of the good things that can come from this place, a church not of four walls and red tape. But just of everyday people working together to build their relationships’ with Jesus. My eagerness is barely contained at times, I have to pull it back in to be practical. I want so much to be involved with it the ideas, the actions and the love present in this gathering people. Today (last Sunday) I felt a bit of peace in the realization Church could really be a place to grow with God.
I tend to get to go on a bit, but I thought you all should know your efforts, your spirit and your own paths make a difference in many peoples’ lives.
With Gratitude,
Rose Worster

I am so thankful for the Journey. Although we attended church before coming to the Journey, it was in a much more “conventional” way. We showed up, listened to a message that was sometimes meaningful, sometimes not, often hard to understand, sat down, stood up, sat down, stood up, sat down, stood up, visited with people we didn’t know very well and went home. At the Journey, Sunday is often a surprise. I am constantly impressed by the creativity and thought that goes into each week’s topic. I am excited about exploring faith with other people in a different way. I’m proud that our leaders have the courage to try new things and challenge people to grow spiritually. I’m not really excited about speaking out in a large group myself but am willing to go along for the ride. I trust the leaders of the Journey to continue to offer an environment that encourages interaction and life relevant worship experiences. Will every Sunday offer something for everybody? Probably not. I think that’s o.k. I am confident that through the process, I will continue to be challenged to explore my faith and will attend worship experiences that offer a message, lesson, or interaction that is relevant to life. I hope that God will continue to bless the inspiration and courage of the Journey Leadership Team. I know it’s a Journey I wish to continue….

So for the last couple weeks I haven’t been able to attend the Journey. Instead I was with family. While you were getting a taste of “home church” and “traditional church” at the Journey, I was experiencing the traditional church…pulpit, pastor in robe, organ music, pews, no talking…for real. I can not even begin to tell you how much I have missed the Journey.

Even though the intent of the “traditional” service I attended was good and the message content was good, it was very hard for me to “just sit there”.

What I LOVE about the Journey? Open discussions before, during and after the service..during the week…in which your view points are heard, your questions are listened to, you are accepted as is…flaws and all, you are stretched out of your comfort zone, openness, community, creativity, coffee, no pews, no organ, no robes, the music, the freedom to laugh in church, the freedom to cry in church, the unexpected.

I love the people who pour their heart and soul into Journey seven days a week…we are not just a church that meets on Sunday mornings…we are real and having an impact.

First of all, thanks Jen for starting this forum…there is something about our nature that tends to skip everything good and focus on the one thing that isn’t quite right. But there are so many things right about The Journey, and so many things to be thankful for.

I appreciate the leadership, passion, creativity, integrity, determination, knowledge, faith and heart of our pastor Jeff (who just last Sunday said he doesn’t even want to be called a pastor…as yet another creative idea to challenge our thinking!) Jeff has an amazing ability to absorb “constructive criticism” , which is way beyond what most could handle. He even has to hear it from me. I tell him that if I had his job I wouldn’t last a week! But let’s remember that he is only human, and needs encouragement and appreciation. Too many church leaders quit because they get so discouraged by their own people. Let’s NOT be like that…we want to encourage Jeff to continue his success for many years to come! Thanks Jeff for all you do!!!

People won’t read this if I go on much longer so I will try to make this brief. Other things I love about The Journey:

• All the behind the scenes folks that go largely unthanked and unrecognized who put so much work and creativity into The Journey Sunday experience
• The increasing focus on the message of the good news of Jesus Christ. Abandoning following the “religious traditions of men” to return to the purity of the original Christian church we find in scripture like we talked about last Sunday. (“we talked about”…yeah!)
• All the friends I have met at The Journey. All are a blessing in my life, “the abundant life” Jesus promised and I am so thankful.
• The openess, honesty, and authentic nature of The Journey.
• The willingness and courage to try new things, even if it means failing here and there in order to find what is best.

I could go on and on…but I might end up taking up the whole blog!

So last Tuesday i went into the hospital for a surgery. While I was sitting in the waiting room with my husband waiting to be called next, Tom looked up at me in shock. I asked him what was wrong. He said listen they are talking about he Journey. So I sat quietly and I could make out bits and pieces of Journey this and Journey that. Being an extremely curious person. I went out into the hallway where the family of 8 were standing talking about the Journey. They were a group of believers already. So I listened for about 10 minutes and the husband and wife kept going on and on and on about what the Journey had done that first day at Pioneer. They were excitedly telling their kids and other family members how they were excited that a church was finally trying something new. That they were experimenting with Sunday morning. It was really neat to see their enthusiasm and hear all the wonderful things they had to say. They actually had gotten a flyer and wanted to see what this place called the Journey was all about. It was all a very positive experience. Just thought I would share.

Kelly

“Maybe this world is another planet’s Hell.”- Aldous Huxley

I am still feeling the embrace of the Journey. When I am in the gathering of such hearts I feel that I am finally home, at peace, in midst of joy and the love is abundant plenty for all. The only explanation I can come up with is that Jesus is there with us, laying his hands on our hearts. I remain in awe and for ever grateful for this gathering hearts. Merry, Merry Christmas to you all.

rose, big thanks to you and dale for all your help preparing for christmas @ the j. it meant a lot to me that you guys were so energetic and into it. hope you got to relax after all that manual labor! :) -V

I just wanted to say, helping our community was and is wonderful. I am so glad I was able to be a part of something so cool.. Seeing everyone gathered together preparing to go out into the community to help was completely awesome. I loved giving Maggie hugs and seeing her big grin as Journey worked to help her, it is too wonderful. I love meeting new people at our church and working together on different activities. Being a part of team, doing things that make a difference, helping people, who could ask for something more rewarding. Being able to tell or show someone they are cared for and that they matter not just by the people helping them for that one day, but they matter to God and that he is always there for them. Pretty Cool Stuff!!!

Awesome community day and The Journey is the place to be. I’ve been off to a difficult start this year with my husbands illness! I miss being in Service and getting a chance to listen to the thoughts of others.

My extended family wants me to return to the Catholic Church but after trying it again I have to say the best services for me are still at The Journey.

Help pray that I can join you all once again. Keep up the wonderful work and I hope to get on the ball and help out and get my tank filled back up!!

Thank You, Thank You, for all you do for all of us!

Thinking of all of you, Donna~

Matthew 18:20