Tables Are Turning

This weekend is a landmark in the life of our fledgling church, as a new neighborhood table is scheduled to meet for the first time. A couple of other tables should begin also in the near future. I have waited and prayed for this moment for a long time, and I am excited to see it happen.

For the most part, our "original" tables were formed by organizing people into groups according to where they lived. The economies of scale when we started the church meant that we had three groups covering relatively large areas; in my particular case the group covered more than three subdivisions. This was a good start for us, but it isn't the end game. With the establishment of a new group this weekend, we will have our first group that is focused exclusively on a single neighborhood, and a second group in that neighborhood is likely to form there in the near future. This is significant for several reasons:

• Frequency of interaction increases as the physical proximity of group members gets closer. People see each other in the front yard or at the park. Their kids go to the same schools, and may even be in the same classes. Informal and spontaneous interaction is jet fuel for relationships.
• Neighborhood life is easier. "Pedestrian Scale" community--where group members are within walking distance of each other--means that instead of packing up the family for a meeting, you're just walking over to the Jones's place.
• Awareness increases. Because of the increased interaction, you know more about what is happening in other families' lives. You become more aware of needs in those families that you can meet, and they become more aware of yours. Things like car pools, play days at the park, and gatherings of 1 or 2 group members or families are now realistic. When a more serious need arises, families tend to know about it.
• The table becomes accessible to the neighborhood. This may be the most important of all. I've noticed over recent weeks that my immediate neighbors have "come by" the house several times when the table was meeting, but they seldom stay because most of the people in our house at that time are unfamiliar to them. When your table is truly in your neighborhood, it's accessible to neighbors who aren't already participating in neighborhood life. The table becomes an effective base for ministry to the community, as it should be, instead of being perceived as a church meeting that is more exclusive. It's accessible to Springs participants, people who attend other churches, and people who don't attend church at all.

One day it will be impossible for someone to live in Brittany Lakes, Bay Colony, The Landing, Rustic Oaks or Riverbend Apartments without experiencing the presence of Christ in their neighborhood. People won't be able to live here without someone caring about them and loving them in Jesus' name. They'll have opportunities to belong, play, grow and serve with people who are becoming Springs in their community. We're not there yet, but this weekend we're one big step closer!