{"id":587,"date":"2012-03-05T11:13:59","date_gmt":"2012-03-05T16:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/slowchurch\/?p=587"},"modified":"2012-03-05T11:14:54","modified_gmt":"2012-03-05T16:14:54","slug":"bringing-slow-church-to-a-fast-generation-ekklesia-project-guest-post-by-jarrod-longbons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/slowchurch\/2012\/03\/05\/bringing-slow-church-to-a-fast-generation-ekklesia-project-guest-post-by-jarrod-longbons\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing Slow Church to a Fast Generation [Ekklesia Project Guest Post by Jarrod Longbons]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
\"\"<\/a> [ On July 5-7, The Ekklesia Project will hold its annual gathering in Chicago, which will be on the theme of Slow Church.\u00a0 Between now and July, we will be running a series of lguest reflections here by folks connected with the E.P. We\u2019ve asked guest posters to reflect on the meaning of Slow Church from their own local contexts.<\/em> More info on the E.P. gathering<\/a>.\u00a0 ]<\/h6>\n

Today\u2019s reflection, the second in the series, is by Jarrod Longbons.
\nRead the first post by Lee Wyatt<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am part of a thriving, yet \u201cslow church\u201d community.\u00a0 It\u2019s called YAC (Young Adult Community), a ministry of Northside Church of Christ for members of late generation X and early generation Y in the campus \u201ctwin city\u201d of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. \u00a0Our group is mixed, consisting of college and graduate students, single professionals, marrieds, parents (babies in tow), dating couples, those who attend Northside, those who are disillusioned with church, Protestants, Catholics, and some with disabilities.\u00a0 The patchwork of people makes our life together quite colorful. \u00a0Like many other ministries, we have regular meeting times, classes, a community garden, creativity nights, campouts, mission trips, service projects, etc.\u00a0 But the \u201cbread and butter\u201d of our life together is our Sunday evening Eucharistic celebration.<\/span><\/p>\n

At 7pm, participants descend upon our home with enough food and drink for all.\u00a0 Our house immediately starts buzzing with fellowship; a meal is shared, stories told, jokes rehearsed.\u00a0 At dinner\u2019s end, most are intentional about cleaning up the potluck aftermath.\u00a0 Norman Wirzba is right when he says that even doing the dishes together can build community!<\/span><\/p>\n

Conversation time begins traditionally: announcements, updates, prayer issues, and then an offering.\u00a0 The money is taken up and gifted to single mothers, health bills, catastrophe relief efforts, or whatever burden is most pressing.\u00a0 With the clamor turning to calm, we take a moment to pray for the food.\u00a0 Often the prayer includes lines such as \u201cGod, we thank you for this meal.\u00a0 We acknowledge to eat something had to give its life, so we are grateful for the gift.\u00a0 We acknowledge that to participate in the Body of Christ, Christ gave his life, and we are more grateful for that gift.\u201d\u00a0 This is an intentional way to reflect on the costliness of<\/em> and grace in <\/em>everyday life.\u00a0 With Josef Pieper, we believe this practice wrests us away from the traps of a \u201cworkaday world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, we move to a group conversation.\u00a0 Currently, we are encountering Bonheoffer\u2019s Life Together<\/em> with the aid of the Ekklesia Project\u2019s CFI discussion material.\u00a0 Other times have been devoted to theological doctrines and others to books of Scripture.\u00a0 As noted, our group is diverse, especially so in relation to people\u2019s understanding of Christian thought.\u00a0 Our group has a few PhD and MA students of theology\/philosophy and others with advanced degrees in economics and literature.\u00a0 There are also missionaries (on furlough), woodworkers, artists, professionals, and social workers.\u00a0 So, conversations are varied; not everyone is at the same place.\u00a0 Paramount to the community is discovering and discussing the faith together, even if it takes more time than one would like. \u00a0In fact, a member recently commented that they appreciate how \u201cthe group teaches itself;\u201d there\u2019s always someone who can address the ideas of another even if it is not the leader.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seamlessly, the focus moves to communion.\u00a0 It is for this reason \u2013 not food, study, or fellowship \u2013 that we gather. \u00a0Everything else finds its consummation in our practice of the Lord\u2019s Supper.\u00a0 Ever-present are a loaf of bread and a decanter of wine on the table in the center of our space.\u00a0 We uphold the idea that this is a communal event, unlike the inward private moment so many American churches have made it.\u00a0 Often, the meditation includes some reflection of William Cavanaugh\u2019s ideas from Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire<\/em>: \u201cas we consume the body and blood together, we acknowledge that we are being consumed into the Body of Christ.\u00a0 The deeper we explore the purpose of this meal, the more we become part of one another.\u00a0 Your hurt is my hurt; my joy is your joy.\u00a0 Because of Christ, our fates are aligned.\u201d\u00a0 We then break bread and raise our glasses.\u00a0 At this time, it is also common for people to share testimonies of thanksgiving with the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though the climax, our evening does not end here.\u00a0 The spirit of everything before flows into a time of spontaneous fellowship, of simple \u201cbeing together.\u201d\u00a0 The point is slow, intentional investment in one another.\u00a0 This is a low-tech, \u201chigh touch\u201d time, as we encourage one another to be present by resisting texting or facebooking; our challenge is to \u201cbe where you are.\u201d\u00a0 Sometimes this fellowship goes on into the early hours of Monday morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not long ago, after the house emptied, I sat outside with Corey, expressing my anxieties.\u00a0 I explained that I am excited to participate in a group so thoroughly committed to life together.\u00a0 But could it be sustained?\u00a0 I mean, in our area, and in my own congregation, people clamor for more community, but lifestyles stand in the way.\u00a0 Older members of Northside reminisce of a similar time with their cohorts and lament its passing. \u00a0I wondered, \u201cWhen we have kids and buy big houses, will this all end?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A month later, as Corey and I sat behind my house waiting for another unpredictable Sunday night to begin, Corey pulled out his Mac book and read a letter addressed to me.\u00a0 Allow me to paraphrase what it said:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur group grows because it is about life, which is something everybody wants.\u00a0 What we do is slow, intentional, and life giving, and if we continue to allow these things to shape our faith, then we will continue to discover how to live in intentional community despite the life stage.\u00a0 However, if our aim is growth for the sake of growth, we will fail to be life-giving, and we will diminish.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It rings true to me.\u00a0 Our little community is experiencing vitality, and it does so because of its commitment to slowing the pace with intentional practices.\u00a0 The pace and practice has proven powerful enough to withstand my best efforts as a leader to mess it up with too much planning, preparing, and pushing.\u00a0 YAC thrives because its members carefully filter life through the description of the ancient church in Acts 2:42 \u2013 \u201cThey devoted themselves to the apostles\u2019 teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (NIV).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Jarrod M. Longbons<\/strong> is an Associate Minister at Northside Church of Christ in Bloomington, IL and a PhD student at the University of Nottingham (theology).\u00a0 His theo-blog is www.theartofthegoodlife.blogspot.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[ On July 5-7, The Ekklesia Project will hold its annual gathering in Chicago, which will be on the theme of Slow Church.\u00a0 Between now and July, we will be running a series of lguest reflections here by folks connected with the E.P. 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