Stewardship Moment: July 2020

The Journey: A Bridge to the Next Chapter

A testimony from Randy Floyd

As a long time member of the Open Door, I was both sad and excited when we learned that a chapter in that service we had always known was coming to a close—sad at the loss of what was, but also excited and anticipating what the next chapter might look like. That next chapter is still being envisioned, but in the meantime our leadership has created a wonderful new experience to serve as a bridge to help us get there.

In case you haven’t heard of it, The Journey is a time of prayer, song, and exploring Scripture. It is a new offering that feels like part worship, part small group, and part Scripture study. What’s really great about it is that it can be a standalone experience or an extension to the traditional service that proceeds it.

…as I sat there mesmerized I thought, “Wow, I wish church had been like this my whole life!”

My favorite thing about The Journey is the small group breakouts. One is always a discussion of Scripture directly related to the pastoral message, and the other is designed to be a reflection through creative arts or service. This could be anything, and any lay member can offer their talent, interest or hobby to lead a small group. In our first gathering, David Price led us through the creation story through music. He guided us through excerpts from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets”,  an orchestral suite where each movement is named after a planet of the solar system. David related each of the excerpts to the days of creation, and as I sat there mesmerized I thought, “Wow, I wish church had been like this my whole life!”

Since then I have led reflections through both art and music and I’m looking forward to joining in on the discussion of Scripture. And, of course, there are still songs and shared blessings in the flow. But the keyword here is choices.  I think having choices that allow you to identify where you fit based on interests and personal style is unique and offers a low barrier to engagement.

So do yourself and your family a favor and check out The Journey. We are currently online so be sure to watch for the weekly newsletter or check the church website for links and information.