Encyclopedia of Me ~ S is for...

Sundays!

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God..." (from Acts 2)

And so the Church is born, the household of God - with simplicity in fellowship, prayer, the Word, worship, and with the Lord Jesus as head. The apostles soon had the saints meeting together regularly on the first day of the week, dubbed "the Lord's Day" to commemorate the day the Lord was resurrected, our modern-day Sunday. It's a day we really enjoy...

We first met the Wagner family last year, followed by a providential encounter in Martin's grocery store. After some emails and phone calls, we started getting to know one another with visits to one another's homes. They are a dear and gracious family who love the Lord, and they are a joy to be around. The Lord has knitted our hearts as we have spent time together discussing views on family, church, theology, leadership, schooling, etc., as well as learning each other's backgrounds and having some good old fun. After some months, we decided to take the plunge and started meeting together as a fledgling church. We swap hosting, hospitality, and teaching back and forth.

We've enjoyed fellowshipping with several visitors including the Murphy family and their five children who were in the area from Washington State, a local farm intern who stopped by as he searches for a church to attend, and Deb's mom who has visited a few times.

Our Lord's Days together typically start with greetings, smiles, and chat, followed by prayer and singing some hymns (some chosen ahead, some chosen spontaneously). Then we'll usually share about what is going on in life, praises and testimonies on how the Lord is working, concerns and prayer requests, then prayer together. Then, more hymns (we'd like to start learning some psalms in parts soon), followed by the main teaching with some expansion and/or questions by the other men.

We pray and move to the eating area to celebrate the Lord's Supper with the elements and a meal (thanks, ladies!). A couple of hours of relaxed fellowship follow, and eventually we disperse home -- encouraged and thankful for the blessing of those whom God has brought into our life.

~Tom

Comments

[Tammy]

Your home fellowship looks so neat and fun!!

The praying in a small group compared to coperate prayer must be so much personal.I am sure hymns are well sung.Of course the food part looks yummy!!

Are you only doing this now or still part of a church?

[Tom]

Hi Tammy -
Both families had a transition period, but we are now in this new fledgling church "full-time." Please pray for the Lord's protection and Biblical wisdom as we go forward. Thanks!
~ Tom

[Randi]

Your fellowship sounds wonderful! How neat to meet in such a personal setting!

[Kathie]

Thanks for a wonderful post, Deb. The pictures bring back many warm memories of home-churching. Curious ~ what hymnal do you use? Wish you lived closer so we could put your log cabin quilt top on my frame ~ with all our daughters, we'd have it quilted in a day! Many blessings.

[Deb]

Kathie, we just recently ordered a box of Trinity Hymnals and have enjoyed using them these past few Sundays.

Having an old-fashioned quilting bee sure sounds like fun! Wish there was a way to make it happen! :)

[Sharon]

I'm just curious if you are intending to actually start a new church where you will outgrow the home and build a church building, or are you wanting to keep it in the homes?

My husband and I have talked before about how things are going in churches today and at some point we may have to start having our own services at home like the Apostles.

[Tom]

Sharon - we regard our fellowship, albeit small, as our new church. We intend to keep meeting in homes because of the example set in the NT. If/when we numerically grow to the point of not being able to fit in any homes, we would ask the Lord's wisdom on how best to split us up into two smaller home-based churches. Regarding your discussion with your husband on your situation, we can certainly understand your thinking. We would just encourage you to pray and attempt to appeal to the leadership in your existing fellowship to see if the Lord would use you to turn them around. If that doesn't happen and you decide it's wise to start a new fellowship, we would also encourage you to do it with other families/individuals if possible, and ask the Lord to raise up biblical leadership for oversight and protection. Grace to you...