This past Sunday was the opening of the first phase of the vision of the coffeehouse/art gallery/music venue with Vintage Faith Church and First Presbyterian Church (where we now moved to and partnered with). There was a "fellowship hall" at the 1938 Presbyterian church which was a very, very ugly room (complete with ugly smell too) - but it has just been just transformed into the coffeehouse/art gallery/music venue. Its a great location on a major intersection and also has a bus stop to the University of California Santa Cruz campus right at the end of it's driveway.
The dream is creating a "third place" for students to be able to study and hang out and have free wi-fi etc. Also, to hopefully see this space become a cultural center known in Santa Cruz as we have scheduled bands, art openings, films and discussions etc. throughout the month. We are starting with church usage only, as to figure out a business plan and see how things go and at "Phase 2" we will open it to the public and name it something at that point as well.
So after many months of many people working very, very hard, this past Sunday we had a special opening of Phase 1. Nina, is the ninety-something year old wife (widow) of the pastor of the Presbyterian church who served there in the 1940's. She still comes every Sunday morning to worship, so we had her cut the ribbon after the 9 AM gathering. 
As part of the sermon I gave on the Parable of the Mustard Seed, I had Shannon who is a new Christian come up to share. Shannon is 22 years old and became a Christian at Vintage Faith a year ago. She explained how thinking differently and why the arts are so important - she is now on the photography team. She shared that there are many "Shannon's out there" and was encouraging to everyone to not ever forget the mission.
I so admire Shannon as someone who I consider so creative and very unique, and I am honored she has made Vintage Faith part of her life and church community. I am always thrilled seeing her as she became friends with Liz and others in our church and found a great friendship niche as a new Christian. I met her when she walked up to me on a Sunday night to let me know she prayed and put faith in Jesus and I had the privilege of hearing her whole story. Mainly, she gained interest in Jesus through some Christians from Kansas who she was friends with who in great ways represented Jesus to her and through them (and the Spirit) she became interested in being part of a church to find out more. She moved to California and then heard about Vintage Faith and starting coming to the worship gatherings. She told me that she liked I wasn't speaking from on a stage and that the cross was in the center and oddly she liked the smells of the candles as they reminder her of her photo lab.
Last Sunday, after Shannon shared with everyone some of her story as part of the Mustard Seed message, I had her help serve communion and at the evening gathering she prayed and read the Scriptures for serving the communion. It was a wonderful moment for me hearing her pray for the church as we prepared to take communion.
Then we went into the coffee house, and Josh Fox led us in a few dedication prayers, and thanked those who served so long in all the work that went into it. After the two morning gatherings the deacons of First Presbyterian had a free BBQ and then had time for everyone to hang out - and after the evening gathering, we had Ben Bishop play an acoustic set and then a local band (I am forgetting their name) played a show to inaugurate the room. There were about 4 or 5 artists whose are was on the walls for the opening too.
In the afternoon, between the morning and evening gatherings, I had to dash off and perform a wedding for a Vintage Faith couple, Brian and Dawn, who got married that afternoon. I wore a suit (my only one and at least over ten years old) and then did the quick fashion switch when I came back for the evening gathering.
It was a very full 
Sunday, but that night after being fairly pooped - it felt very fulfilling and as though slowly but surely, the mission was moving ahead. 
