This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 (KJV)
Yesterday was an exciting day for Women of Power at our church, Power Plant Ministry Center, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This was the first time I had been invited to a cookie swap or even known about such a concept. (Where have I been?)
How it works is that each person bakes about three dozen cookies and brings them to a specific place for swapping. In our case, we did it at our church. Each person goes around the table and takes one cookie from each plate until all the cookies are gone or until she wants to stop. There were all kinds of cookies at the swap; however, the most fun was had by women who came together to do what women do best, talk. And talk we did. Also a luncheon of simple sandwiches was arrayed along with chips and dips. You could tell our pastor's wife and others had put some time into the preparation for the luncheon.
The two events (both the luncheon along with the cookie swap) surrounded by Christmas decorations and Christmas music gave us an environment which was both fun and relaxing. We took our time and stayed as long as someone was still there. At some cookie swaps, people engage in sampling, but most of us took our cookies home.
Click for Taste of Home Minute about Organizing a Cookie Swap
Our church (which meets its maximum on Sunday mornings of around 200) is basically a typical sized church, similar in size to many of the churches in the United States. The median church in the U.S. has 75 regular participants in worship on Sunday mornings, according to the National Congregations Study http://www.soc.duke.edu/natcong/ (median meaning that half are larger and half are smaller). The average (186 attenders reported by the USCLS survey http://www.uscongregations.org/charact-cong.htm ) is larger due to the influence of very large churches.
For many years, I went to a large church, or a mega-church as they are called in the United States. Due to some personal situations I had been through, my heart's desire was to enter into a small church and develop relationships which would enrich my Christian experience here on earth. My previous affiliation with a large church made me feel that I only had surface relationships. The word was great, social interactions were nice, but for me there was a hollowness on the inside of me which could only be filled by deep
"real" relationships. Have you ever seen alot of people, most all going around with smiles on their faces, each afraid to open up and allow people to really get to know them (most all wearing masks). The "feel good" mentality was shallow, at least for me. Thankfully, I have found those enriching relationships for which I craved at my current church. It did take some time and also both change and commitment on my own part, before I finally felt a sense of belonging.
I attribute the prolonged timespan (one year) for developing close friendships and the nurturing I was craving partly due to the fact that we had no Sunday School; however, classes are now planned in the near future. Another large aspect of not developing close relationships was also due to the fact that I was "broken," as I believe many people are who attend church. Healing takes time and commitment. A person or family cannot realistically believe that a strong comfort level will be achieved within their first few times of attending. It does happen, but it is not a realistic espectation, in my opinion.
Our church is also multi-racial and has a young pastor who is in his early 30's (the average age of a pastor according to the above report is in his early 50's). Our church breaks both age and racial barriers. Our church was formed on the premises that it would not be just another "me too" church. Even the name, Power Plant, differentiates it from most churches in our vicinity. It was planned to be different because we wanted to break down walls of religion which have pervaded our area for many years. We do not even have formal membership. There are many aspects of our church which do make it unique. All churches are different to some degree, but those which do God's will are those which allow its constituents to worship God in both spirit and in truth (worship from the heart and the teachings of the truth found in the scripture). There are many churches now which teach on concepts not even related to scripture.
| 23: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. |
| 24: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24) |
I believe God knew our time here on earth, following after him and his principles, would not be an easy route to follow. It is easier to follow the road of the masses which have a different agenda. When a person is truly "sold out" to Christ, he craves to be around other like-minded people. Even if he did not, it is still scriptural for people to assemble themselves together as one unified body.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (KJV)
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The cookie swap as we had at our church, was a memory which will be cherished for years to come. I feel pretty sure we will do it again next year.
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The cookie swap as we had at our church, was a memory which will be cherished for years to come. I feel pretty sure we will do it again next year.
