This past Sunday was the wrap-up of our twelve week "Vintage Christianity" teaching series. It was a series where we developed a holistic look at what it means to be a follower of Jesus in community and on mission. The teaching each week started with Jesus, as He is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18) and the one who sends us on mission. So we have "Jesus" in the center of the diagram we used and walked through each of the ways we broke it down during the series.
Each week, we had several artists painting four different art pieces during the gatherings that represented "Worshiping" and "Community" and "Missional" and "Theologians". (You can click on each of the smaller photos posted below here to see the art and prayer stations larger).
Since it was the last week of the series, we set up the room like the diagram we have been using to show the flow of all this. In the center of the room, like in the diagram where it says "Jesus", we put up a large cross and the communion bread and cups were placed all around the base of the cross. We then set up the art pieces in the 4 corners of the room and created interactive prayer stations which focused on asking God to shape us into each of the four aspects we taught about being a disciple of Jesus. There were Bible verses from the teaching we gave each week displayed at each art station as well. We will be hanging up the art pieces on the walls of the sanctuary as a reminder of this.
After the teaching when it came time for communion, people got up and walked to each station to read the Scriptures and pray that God would shape us in the various ways we have been teaching about. And then they would walk to the middle where the cross was to take communion. We set up pillows so people could kneel if they wanted to as well. It was a bit chaotic as it was pretty crammed as people made their way around the room and lines were long - but it was a beautiful ending to the series showing we cannot do this on our own strength.
Before we took communion, as part of the teaching in all 3 worship gatherings I brought up Susan Harding. I blogged about her already, but Susan is a professor of Anthropology at UCSC (University of California Santa Cruz). We did a little interview as part of the message where she shared some of her journey into the Vintage Faith Church community. She shared that she first heard of church from her students who described it as a different kind of church. So it intrigued her enough to then come down and see herself. She has written books on religion, and is doing research for a book she is currently writing which our church will be part of.
Susan shared with everyone how she is not a "Christian" as we teach in terms of belief in Jesus for salvation and the atonement and Him rising from the dead. But she has become a regular part of the church community. She shared some of her observations of us as a church from an anthropological perspective. I joked with her after she told everyone about her not being a "Christian" and said that she now opened herself up to over 600 people who will be evangelizing her. But it was great hearing her heart and observations and I look forward to our friendship deepening and learning from each other.
I then did something only at the 7 PM gathering that I have never done before. I got my haircut in the sanctuary during the worship gathering. What led up to that, was that it started with my friendship with Angie. Angie is not part of any church and has been cutting my hair for 3 years. We have had great talks about faith and life over the years - in addition to a lot of talks about music. But she never has desired to come to one of our gatherings (or any church gatherings). So in a conversation I had recently, we sort were kidding and said it would take her cutting my hair in our worship gathering to get her to be there. When I then asked her, if she really would do that, she said she would. So,I figured that if it takes having my hair cut in the worship gathering for her to come - then so be it.
I desperately have wanted Angie to see and experience the whole vibe of our church, the coffeehouse, the art, the music. Most of all I wanted her to be amongst the people of our church community and meet people who are followers of Jesus, but maybe not like she would imagine. So in the front corner we set up a little chair and area for her to set up her barber tools. She even brought a bib-thing that I wear normally at her salon. It wasn't in direct view of everyone, but in the corner. But as people were coming in and as the music started Angie was there cutting my hair. She was so cool about it, and as things were happening in the gathering I would explain them to her. I explained what communion was as we were going to be taking communion that night as she didn't know what that meant. When it was time for the message part,I got up and then brought up Angie on the stage.
I shared with everyone why she is here and what led to her cutting my hair in the gathering. She was Ok with me sharing that as it was quite fun actually telling the story of it. I then asked Angie a couple of questions and she shared how she isn't as judging of Christians as she was before we met and then told everyone that she really liked being there that night. I thanked her and it was cool as people gave her a really strong applause and you could tell she had fun being there.
After we went up to my office and talked more about the whole experience, and she finished cutting my hair up there. And had a good discussion. We then walked around the building and she got to see the coffeehouse packed as a band was playing there after the gathering. Although I had explained to her about our church, she said she had no idea it was going to be like it was. It's interesting as I was walking around and introducing her to people I was so proud of the people of our church. I know "proud" is a weird word to use, but not sure what else to call it. But it was great getting to introduce her to people and for her to see all that was happening.
What was also fascinating was when I got home and I was looking at the photos that were taken that I posted here. We didn't do it intentionally but right behind where Angie was cutting my hair was the "missional" art piece and prayer area. So you can see the word "Missional" right behind us in these photos. The Scripture from Matthew 5:14-16 was there a few feet from where Angie and I were talking about being the salt and light of Jesus. So I hope that for Angie she had an experience of tasting the salt of Jesus in people of the church and experienced the light of Jesus through what was happening all around her. The goal of all this was not merely to get someone to come to a church meeting. I am in Angie's world regularly, so this is not a "invite them" as the goal. But after 3 years of friendship, it felt it was a unique way for her to experience the people of Vintage Faith Church who are following Jesus in community since she may not have otherwise.
So.... anthropology professors sharing observations and haircuts in church. You can't quite plan these things in church goals and this isn't taught in seminaries. But what a fun, joyous and unusual mission. But isn't that exactly what we are supposed to be doing? If it is haircuts, then may it be haircuts. All I know is that if anyone ever says the Christian life is dull or routine, probably is not on mission.
