Volume 154: Rest in Membership
I was baptized as a baby.
I went through confirmation in 5th grade.
I became a Christian Junior year of High School.
And today, I officially (finally) became a member of a church!!!!
Since Junior year of High School, I have been to many churches... Martha Bowman and Vineville in Macon, Classic City in Athens, Summit in Greenville, shopped around in Chattanooga and Houston, but none have felt as home-like as Rock Creek Fellowship on Lookout Mountain.
As Debbie so wonderfully stated in a text this morning, "So grateful this little church you visited as a college student and a guest in my home has become your true church home!"
I am thankful for that as well! Even before living in Chattanooga, there was always something special to me about pulling up to Rock Creek. (And I am grateful for Debbie's invitation!!)
The way you feel at rest.
The way you seem to escape the real world.
The way you are welcomed just as you are.
The way there's no pressure to be perfect.
At the end of the service today, my Dad turned to me and stated "well, I've never been to a church where there are leaves blowing at your feet." As usual, on this perfect cool weathered Sunday, the garage doors were opened during the service. However, with large gusts of wind, leaves were blowing in. Despite some sharing a few seconds of eye contact and a quick smile after the big gusts, no one was really bothered. It's a good thing my Dad wasn't there a couple Sundays ago when a cat kept coming in...
But that's the beauty of Rock Creek. Whether it's leaves blowing inside, a kid making a lot of noise, or a baby crying, the congregation is never bothered by the small interruptions.
It's a group of broken people gathering, doing this life together, imperfections and all.
When I had first moved to Chattanooga, I kept going back and forth about what church to go to... Rock Creek is quite far away and doesn't have much of a young community (growing now tho!). But after trying the Mission and Restoration, there was a Sunday that sealed the decision for me.
Twas the terrible, dark age of time... my foot injury... when I had stepped on a nail at Debbie's house... (still waiting on my workers comp...) and I couldn't wear real shoes. As all who know me, I was confident wearing my crocs around town, but I was feeling insecure about having to wear them to church on Sunday morning...
Removing all sense of pride, I walked into Rock Creek Fellowship with my red crocs on and... not only did no one care... there were other people wearing crocs at church!!!
Come as you are!
The invitation of Jesus, lived out in the church body of Rock Creek.
Even more than the physical setting of Rock Creek and the attire, the people that go there live out a "come as you are" welcoming life of joy and kindness.
As my Dad was planning his trip to come up for the day, he kept questioning why I picked a church so far away, and I immediately answered "the people" every time.
Today, when he was getting into his truck, leaving after his few hours at the church, he commented, "the people are amazing here."
In just one visit, my Dad noticed it too. Something that I have been benefitting from for a couple years now - the authenticity of the people. Christians who just seem to "get it." There's no feeling of anyone being better than others. There's no pressure to be anyone other than yourself.
It's just a group of people who love God and love others well. Who listen to Eric's call of being a "one-anothering community."
After taking the vows of membership, I remained up at the front and quickly became overwhelmed with gratitude of all the people coming up and asking for my autograph (jk just saying congrats on FINALLY becoming a member!).
So many faces of people who I have come to greatly adore - Kim and Myra (visiting!) and Marion and Cathy and Iara and Sandy and Keith and Lisa and Jennifer and Katie and Laura and Jeff and Ellie.
Mid conversation, I had the realization that my Dad was probably standing by himself during our looongggg meet and greet time... But, I looked over and saw, off in the distance, Pastor Eric talking to my Dad. And my heart was full of gratitude. Of course he had thought to walk over and talk to my Dad!
There's nothing greater than Christian community. The way everyone gathers around one another.
The other week, in our Foundations Bible Study, we discussed the motif of love and read the verses about "put on love..." and "above all these, love..." I raised the question to the team, what do we think this looks like practically? How can we communicate this to the students we work with?
Well, walk into Rock Creek and you'll see it all around. The way people show up for one another in times of need. The way people vulnerably share prayer requests and then follow up and stay invested as they pray. The hugs and laughter and intentional conversations of the people. The doing life together - the good and bad. The beautiful and the ugly.
Love is exemplified in the way I messaged my small group and Youngbloods that my Dad was coming to church and man, they all made him feel so welcomed. It's such a special community - one that is centered on something so much greater than just our human flesh.
At one of the churches in Houston I attended, they had baptisms one Sunday. There was a woman on stage who's role was to hand the Pastor a piece of paper with the details about the families he was baptizing the baby of...
Despite my best efforts of not pouting every Sunday in Houston because I wasn't at Rock Creek, this Sunday confirmed my belief... nothing could/would beat Rock Creek and the stewardship of Pastor Eric.
This morning, the last thing Eric needed was to be handed a piece of blue paper with information about the five of us joining the church...
He knows us all. And prays for us (proven in his wonderful audio messages). And cares about us. Since day one, he was intentional with learning my name and getting to know me.
And we, the people under him, have learned to follow his lead. Rock Creek is a special place. A place where I feel a sense of belonging. A place where I am excited to go to every week. A place where God is present and working amongst His people!
I am grateful to be a member! Amen! May I give back in what I have so generously received!
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