Being THE NEW GIRL

It seems almost impossible to believe it has been nearly 2 weeks since my last entry - so much has happened around here. That is the reality of being "the new girl" I suppose! Everything seems like a big deal.

Quickly, my first intensive week of school went well, I had a wonderful Labour Day Weekend relaxing with my friend Andrea, her husband Jim, and their kids Allie and Reid (I can't imagine being away from everyone without having them so close by!), and then jumped in to the first week of my fall semester. PHEW!! What's even crazier, is today, I won't be blogging about any of that.

In addition to school and social adventures, I have found a great church to attend while I am away from The Meeting House. It is called FLOOD, and has many similarities to TMH. Last Sunday was my first weekend service, then this Thursday I went to my new Community Group (equivalent to our Home Church model), and I am signed up for the newcomers lunch, have asked to be put on the list for Welcome and for Growth Group Leadership Training (to lead a small group of 4-6 women for 4-6 months in prayer and accountability). Sound like I am all connected?

I'm not! I showed up last Sunday, a little nervous, but mainly really excited to meet new people and start to connect with a community of believers again. I asked this cool looking guy (turns out he's an ex-navy seal!) if I could bring coffee into service....much like at TMH, he laughed and said they would go down in attendance by 50% if they didn't allow it.....and suggested I enjoy some of their complimentary coffee by the Welcome area. GREAT, I thought....a friendly guy and free coffee....he showed me the coffee, and I was surrounded by about 5 or 6 more really cool looking guys and girls. YAY, I thought....MY PEOPLE!! I wasn't wrong - they all seem really great, but unfortunately, they were so busy connecting, getting caught up on each others week, and setting up for Sunday service (they are also a portable church model), that not one person welcomed me, smiled at me, introduced themselves to me or acknowledged me in any way. I waited around as people started filling in to the general area waiting for the doors to open for service - again, it felt like TMH - young, great people with lots of energy, loving Jesus, each other, and drinking coffee in shorts or jeans.....but they weren't talking to me. I felt invisible.

I entered the theater (in a school) for service, and officially received a smile and handshake from the first greeter and then a bulletin from the next greeter and sat by myself. I did not feel greeted. We paused after an AWESOME worship set to welcome one another....obediently the people in front and behind me and those seated 4 or 5 seats away from me all leaned over, smiled and shook my hand....but no one asked later if I was new (after all I was sitting all alone), or struck up conversation.

The message was terrific - Daniel 1, 1-16....we are talking about Transformation. Loved it!! More worship during offering, closing prayer....and then out to the Welcome area again for juice, muffins and social time....so I took some juice and looked around for people to be social with....they were all doing a GREAT job socializing...just not with the new person.

Not one to be ignored, I went up to the person on Welcome Duty, told him it was my first time, signed up for some stuff and asked a bunch of questions....he never asked my name or offered me his.....

All this to say, I think Flood is an amazing community and am soooo excited to be there! What it drove home for me was how at The Meeting House Uptown we are also an AMAZING community, but I am certain there are new people who are experiencing what I experienced on Sunday. Because I have my TMH Uptown family and know I am loved and because I understand how easy it is to be preoccupied on a Sunday morning, I was not upset or angry...but I am sure there have been people who have come, excited and nervous to Uptown for the first time, and never returned because no one noticed them.

Jesus noticed everyone - significant and seemingly insignificant. He interrupted his scheduled plans or intended direction constantly to pause and connect relationally with someone new. This is also what he calls us to do...not just when it is convenient, but ESPECIALLY when it is INCONVENIENT! When people you haven't seen all week are milling around and you want to see them, when FAST has to get done and a new person is in the way, when Prayer is starting before service and you don't have time to say hello to the new person, when you are in service and don't know the person to your left so you talk to the person on your right, when you are hungry and want to arrange lunch plans with friends after service and see a guy or girl out of the corner of your eye just standing around, or when you are working the Welcome desk and someone asks a generic question so you only answer that and avoid getting into a relational conversation. THOSE ARE THE TIMES JESUS WANTS US TO STOP AND BE INCONVENIENCED!!!!

I challenge all of us, myself included, to pause this Sunday, and next Sunday, and look for the unfamiliar face, and make time to connect. Some people may keep coming out without knowing anyone, but eventually, if YOU don't reach out, they will give up. This Sunday, even though it is only my 2nd week at Flood, I am going to look for someone who seems awkward and try and connect with them.

I continue to pray for Uptown and miss our community. Thank you for your prayers, they are reaching me in abundance!!! God is pouring love on me daily here and I am sooo grateful.