Musings on 25 Years of Ordained Ministry--15

Being Grace

We launched Grace on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005. What a great day. We did one service and had about 600 people show up! It was a bit overwhelming. I knew a good many people were coming to be a part of the first service as a support to us but none-the-less, it was a big day. On top of that we had 19 baptisms.

The next weekend we were at about 360 people and held there or near it after that to our current average of about 500-550 per weekend. We'd been up to over 700 about a year in, but as often happens, many head back to other places or go to new places as the pioneer spirit wears off. Mike Perkinson says that new church starts will lost about 30% of the original group in the first 4-5 years. That doesn't necessarily mean the congregation shrinks by that size as new people hopefully come in, but of the originals, 30% will move on. I'm not sure we're that high but it sounds about right.

At the advice of Mike Breen, we started Grace by using the topics from Alpha as the basis for the sermons. Then, anyone interested could stay after and be a part of a cluster for a brief discussion. After that experiment, clusters began to move into homes during the week.

At first, I didn't lead any clusters but instead coached cluster leaders. But it quickly became apparent that I needed to lead a few so I could better lead the leaders. So I took on a few clusters, some of which I still lead. It enabled me to experiment a bit with various ideas while we were in the early stages of forming clusters.

After our launch we moved from one major event to another--emulating the fast work we put in getting ready to launch Grace.

Some highlights:

June 5, 2005: We held our organizing meeting to become an official congregation of the ELCA. I think we set a record for moving from mission status to official congregation.

July 21, 2005: I was officially installed as the Pastor of Grace.

July 16, 2006: Brian Beckstrom was installed as our Associate Pastor

December 17, 2006: Bishop Steve Talmage hands over the title to the 9.5 acres of land to Grace

January 28, 2007: We officially launched our capital campaign: Building a Community of Grace. We received $1.5 million in 3 year commitments.

We've spent the last several years dreaming about our new campus and designing, re-designing and tweaking the concept and plans. We're ready to build. We're currently praying through the timing in light of the current recession.

Other highlights: Christmas Eve services are always my favorite and the first 4 years have been awesome. Same with Easter services.

We've had in some interesting speakers and interviews over the years from Hope 4 Kids International's Tom Eggum to Walt to Jay Bakker to Rob Morris of love146 (a ministry that works with victims of sex-trafficking) to Pastor John from Rwanda to Pastor Wilbur from Uganda.

Last Thanksgiving time we did a "poverty meal" experience, where we fed everyone a small cup of brown rice and a cup of water (a typical meal for billions around the world) while a family was waited upon on the stage, being fed a gourmet breakfast.

We've done special events from comedy nights to magic nights.

Every Sunday after Christmas we have a pancake breakfast in the worship center.

We've done two Kingdom Assignments. On Palm Sunday, 2008 we brought our unused stuff to Grace to donate to the Lutheran Thrift store and filled up the truck 2 1/2 times. In the fall of 2008 I handed out almost $1100 to various people (in 50's, 20's and 5's) and invited the chosen to try to increase the money and then give it away. Currently we're in Assignment #3--where we are selling something of emotional/monetary value and then, on Sunday, April 19 we'll bring it to worship to give to the Prodigal's Home (a mission to the homeless). I sold my trumpet and received $1250!

Each December our congregation, along with others, participates in Angel Tree, buying and distributing gifts to children whose mom or dad is in prison.

Most rewarding, however, are the relationships built in worship and clusters and the mission being done on a local and international level.

It takes vibrant leaders to build a vibrant congregation and I've had the honor to work with some great people from a talented staff to a committed board to excited everyday followers of Jesus.

One of the delightful surprises of starting Grace has been the chance to reconnect with some of the Lutheran pastors in our area. Because of the size and magnitude of Joy we didn't have the time to attend many "Lutheran" functions. On top of that, through our Leadership Center, we had become a teaching church so we poured a lot of time into congregations and leaders all over the world. The pace of life hasn't necessarily slowed but it is different. And now I have the chance to be a part of a weekly Bible study with some of the pastors and also attend some of the other events.

As we move toward year five we will continue to find ways to be a missional community together, we will continue to worship, meet, serve, and pray. And, somewhere down the line, we'll probably build a new mission facility out of which the mission of the Kingdom, in one of its local expressions called Grace, will continue.