My mind has been movin' to getting our church building going. Honestly, I can't imagine me heading up any kind of "building program," 'cause, you know, that's just so much pressure. But... it's in my head so what am I gonna do.
My thinking is along the lines of Church as third place. I love their tag line "Your living room only bigger. Your life only bigger." Yep.
My building dream:
Something like a 60'x100' barn-type structure. Somehow attach it to our restroom hallway. Enter from the east or east/north side. Have a big moveable divider down the middle of the room, and as you enter, there would be a kitchen with a big counter and there would be tables and chairs and couches and whatnot (big living room, dining room) and t.v.'s and video games and pool tables and all that whatnot. This would be the entryway, hangout spot. On the other side of the divider would be the worship area. Probably need a portable stage set-up or something in the south west corner, and it would be nice to have several screens hung in different spots - some straight on and some angled in different ways (for when you're slouching sideways in a chair or laying on the floor). Probably have chairs up front, but in the back have some tables and chairs and whatnot. And maybe in the way back have a couple little cubicles where people could go to pray or whatever.
I think in any church building built today the entryway needs to be just as big as the worship space. There needs to be lots of places for COMMUNITY to happen. Face to face, one on one, small group, big group sorta stuff.
I would anticipate there always being drinks and snacks available - heck, maybe pop machines and stuff like that. Having it be a meeting place not only before and after our worship gatherings, but at any time during the week. You know, like, if you don't have anythign to do some night, or need a place to go but don't want to spend a bunch of money, stuff like that. A meeting place; a third place; a place to be alone but not alone; a place to be; a place to find God maybe! And of course there would be free wireless. That goes without sayin'. We already have that.
Yeah, that's just what I'm thinkin. There's more too, but gotta go.
5 comments:
Just thinking out loud--why does the community area and worship area need to be separate?
Howdy Shawna,
Thanks for stopping by. I miss reading your insights on the cggc blog.
Anyway... they wouldn't "need" to be separate, but I believe it helps. I've been in places where they weren't. Some reasons: I have a pet peeve about people coming in late and disrupting things (not that it's always a disruption, but sometimes it is); I think there might be times when people may need to talk while the worship service is going on and they could do that without disrupting others; some people might be willing to come "check things out" but not yet be comfortable with actually "being there" and it would allow them to hear everything without having to necessarily be seen; logistically it would help if we were having a dinner or something and people could go ahead and set up before or during the service without creating a scene; there may be times when people wanted to stay after the service and pray or cry or whatever and it would allow them that atmosphere without having the clamor of others leaving and talking bothering them. That's some of my thinking for wanting separate spaces. It wouldn't need to be a wall, but even like those big tall curtains or something. Nothing permanent, but something better than Les Nesman's duct tape walls (if you remember WKRP).
I think I understand what you're getting at - that worship and community go together, and in that regard I agree. I would want the worship area to be very free and 'community-friendly', but I also think it's beneficial to have separate space and lots of options. Not everyone is comfortable just being "out there" so-to-speak (IMHO).
Does that help explain?
Thanks again for dropping in.
Great ideas. I appreciate the way you are really working to blend community and worship together. That you see both as extremely important.
I like the movable divider idea. That way when you want a more open room, you have the ability. But yet when you want a more reverent quiet space that can happen too.
Great thoughts!
How could anyone not want to be at this place???? :)
I don't know--a nice private restroom in it's own hall is hard to give up. After the expansion it'll be right in the middle of everything.
Sounds nice, Dan, with the pavillion, you're really growing that place.
[expression turns evil]
...and just wait until the Methodists ask to use it!
Post a Comment