gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,752 
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Post by gottapeanow on Jun 23, 2015 0:53:13 GMT
I happily go to church in a nice building that has been there for decades and housed at least three different groups.
However, all the comments here by so many who don't attend church are so heartwarming.
The communion and fellowship and love at home meetings is really second-to-none. Earlier this year, I went to a home group when I was in Ohio - it was so simple and amazing and powerful. So there is a very special place in my heart for this type of church.
Simply beautiful. I am so glad that your family did this for you, Jen.
Lisa
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Post by littlemisssunshine on Jun 23, 2015 1:02:09 GMT
That's so beautiful and such an encouragement to me. I've struggled with finding a church home and this made me not want to give up.  |
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Post by jenjie on Jun 23, 2015 1:54:29 GMT
I happily go to church in a nice building that has been there for decades and housed at least three different groups. However, all the comments here by so many who don't attend church are so heartwarming. The communion and fellowship and love at home meetings is really second-to-none. Earlier this year, I went to a home group when I was in Ohio - it was so simple and amazing and powerful. So there is a very special place in my heart for this type of church. Simply beautiful. I am so glad that your family did this for you, Jen. Lisa I've heard the same. We definitely go to church in a building with a lot of people. This week some of those people decided to bring church to us.  I have heard amazing things about house churches though. |
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Post by jenjie on Jun 23, 2015 1:56:35 GMT
That's so beautiful and such an encouragement to me. I've struggled with finding a church home and this made me not want to give up. Keep seeking! Ask the Lord to show you where you belong during this season. When it was our time he took us from a church 3 minutes from our house to one 20 minutes away. It was worth it. |
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Post by doesitmatter on Jun 23, 2015 2:04:19 GMT
We had such a special time yesterday morning. Various church friends have been bringing us dinner the past couple weeks. It's extra nice when they can stay and visit a bit. On Saturday R and C came. The inevitable question came up - what do you need? How can we help? Typically we aren't even sure what we need or what would be appropriate. For instance one friend came and cleaned house a while back. She offered again and somebody else anonymously paid for a spring cleaning service. But my house is too messy and disorganized to even make it worth their while to clean right now. We are in survival mode. Anyway as this question is posed to us again, we are stumped. Then I think back to an offer given a few months ago by our assistant pastor/good friend S - let me know if you want somebody to come and have church with you. My understanding was that someone could come and pray, read the bible together, maybe share communion. I had thought about calling that morning but here was R and I felt like I should bring it up with him. I suggested that he call S and let him handle it. R took that ball and ran with it up and down and all around the field a whole bunch of times! He asked this one guy who occasionally leads worship to bring his guitar. He said I was thinking we need to do something too. So he came along with - let's see there were 13 adults who came altogether. Some brought their kids and they all had a great time. I'll add pics on via tapatalk in a minute. It was such a special time. R said i had to stop calling people because EVERYONE said yes! This was so good for Fred because he has often felt, like so many do, "do people care about me? does it even matter to them whether I'm there or not?" To see the love poured out over him, over us, not just today but continuously over all these months was such a healing balm. They were willing to come whatever time of day would work best for us. even with it being Father's Day. "You are our family." We cried we laughed we worshipped we spent time in the Word. We got real. It was one of those moments we will all remember. Being that it was Father's Day I can't help but think our Father was so honored and pleased by his kids. I'll add pics via tapatalk in a minute. I asked DD to take pics and because of where Fred was seated she managed to get everyone but him into the photos.  I am so ahppy for you that your church has been there for you and shared this time of worship with you. God is good! Lifting your dh and your family in prayer. |
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jun 23, 2015 2:09:09 GMT
What a special Father's Day to remember forever.
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Post by ntsf on Jun 23, 2015 2:12:28 GMT
that is so great...btw, no house is too messy to have someone else clean it...they just stack the piles. (ask me how I know!!!)...
at least they can hit the bathrooms and the kitchen.
may God watch over you all....
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,375
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Post by cycworker on Jun 23, 2015 3:53:25 GMT
That is awesome.
Screw what's appropriate. If you need it, or it would in any way help you, put it out there. Anybody who would suggest that what you're asking for is too much, or inappropriate, or whatever, ain't someone you need in your life. It's like I said to a friend of mine once when she asked if I could give her a ride to the hospital... her hubby had been hurt at work & they only had one car at the time... I said to her, "S., in a situation like this, there is no 'Do you have time...' - you simply say "I need you. Come get me,' and my responsibility as a proper, loyal friend is to drop what I'm doing and come get you."
I read something wonderful about true friendship once in a magazine. Basically, it said, there are two types of friends. The real kind, where if you call them and say, "I'm in a bar in Mexico. Come and get me," and they are no their way, no questions asked, beyond 'Where in Mexico?' and 'Which bar?' And then the fair weather ones, who hem & haw and say, 'Well, if you'd given me a bit more notice, and I could have used my frequent flyer points...'
True friendship/family means that sometimes you do what needs to be done, even when it's inconvenient.
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gramma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,903
Location: Sacramento, Ca
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Post by gramma on Jun 23, 2015 4:05:50 GMT
This is the definition of true Christianity in my book. Prayers to you and yours.
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Post by jenjie on Jun 23, 2015 7:21:19 GMT
That is awesome. Screw what's appropriate. If you need it, or it would in any way help you, put it out there. Anybody who would suggest that what you're asking for is too much, or inappropriate, or whatever, ain't someone you need in your life. It's like I said to a friend of mine once when she asked if I could give her a ride to the hospital... her hubby had been hurt at work & they only had one car at the time... I said to her, "S., in a situation like this, there is no 'Do you have time...' - you simply say "I need you. Come get me,' and my responsibility as a proper, loyal friend is to drop what I'm doing and come get you." I read something wonderful about true friendship once in a magazine. Basically, it said, there are two types of friends. The real kind, where if you call them and say, "I'm in a bar in Mexico. Come and get me," and they are no their way, no questions asked, beyond 'Where in Mexico?' and 'Which bar?' And then the fair weather ones, who hem & haw and say, 'Well, if you'd given me a bit more notice, and I could have used my frequent flyer points...' True friendship/family means that sometimes you do what needs to be done, even when it's inconvenient. I like that. I get it. I just don't want to take advantage. Our closer friends have made it clear that their lives revolve around us right now. Not my words. The ones who live closest are on vacation right now. They were conflicted about leaving. My other friends told us she made them promise to look after us while she's gone. Which was unnecessary. Most of our friends live by our church which is 20 minutes away. My one gf asked if I needed anything. Her husband btw came and cut our Grass yesterday. In the rain. Anyway she asks if I need anything. "No thanks. Ask if I need anything if you're heading my way." "Do you need me to head your way?" No! The other night another friend couple, also 20 minutes away, came over at midnight in a thunderstorm because we were having trouble setting up a fresh oxygen tank (for those in the know - we couldn't get the regulator off of The old tank and didn't know if we were Doing something wrong. No it was just tight). Good thing they came because we did end up losing power. Somebody texted a few weeks ago: What kind of milk does your family drink? 2%. I happen to be out of milk. (For two days) Not for long. Did Jesus tell you to bring me milk?! I think so because I meant to ask if you needed bread! Do you need bread? I could use bread. She shows up at my door with 2 gallons of milk, 2 loaves of bread, 2 lbs of butter and a rotisserie chicken. Yesterday she texted and said "I'm dropping off ice cream. What kind do you want?" So it's definitely not them making me hold back. |
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,375
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Post by cycworker on Jun 23, 2015 9:47:12 GMT
I'm tears reading your last post Jen. Those are good people.
Mexico is now the code word me and my close friends use. Now though if they want to hear from me in a timely manner, but not at all hours, they'll say - "this isn't a Mexico" - the result of a worried 730 am call after I forgot to check my messages one day.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jun 23, 2015 11:24:14 GMT
Now THAT is the true meaning of community and what it really means to be a part of a church. Praise God that you have such wonderful people surrounding you.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by melissa on Jun 30, 2015 22:42:19 GMT
I had to come back to this thread. I did not post on it initially. It has stayed with me and is such a beautiful illustration of the love and support of all those who are surrounding this family in their time of need. This is not just what church is supposed to be, this is an example of good people, plain and simple. I know they are continuing to hold Jenjie's family up and will continue to. <3
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Post by papersilly on Jun 30, 2015 22:49:43 GMT
Jenjie--I hope you are finding comfort and support with your family, your church and your community.
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Post by farmdpea on Jun 30, 2015 23:27:29 GMT
I'm glad that you bumped this thread, Melissa, because I missed it the first time around. Jenjie's home looks EERILY similar to the home in my first "house church" service. I needed that visual reminder as well as the comments in the thread reminding us what the Church is really about.
Continued prayers for Jenjie. {{hugs}}
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Deleted
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May 15, 2024 13:41:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2015 23:36:59 GMT
I had to come back to this thread. I did not post on it initially. It has stayed with me and is such a beautiful illustration of the love and support of all those who are surrounding this family in their time of need. This is not just what church is supposed to be, this is an example of good people, plain and simple. I know they are continuing to hold Jenjie's family up and will continue to. <3 I've been thinking of her all day.
I'm so glad these people were there for Fred and are there for Jen and her family. We would all be so lucky to have this kind of love and support IRL.
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Post by jenjie on Jun 20, 2016 4:54:42 GMT
Sorry to bump this from a year ago. ~Lauren~ a while ago you asked about the "church family" kind of thing. I read the comments and really couldn't put a finger on it in a way that would make sense. I've been thinking about this thread of mine for several days because it was from last Father's Day. While It doesn't spell out the what and why of church family or brothers/sisters in Christ, it shows one way in which it might be demonstrated. |
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I have heard amazing things about house churches though. 
