Even though we've been doing this for well over a year, church in a bar still seems a bit of an oxymoron to me. It's unusual to worship in the midst of neon beer advertisements, the wafting odor of stale sweat and wretch, and the alcohol saturated floors which grab your shoe soles and never let go. However, I firmly believe God is God, no matter where or when we choose to worship.
This week at CIAB was bittersweet for me.
The bitter
A homeless man who we have been working with was, for lack of a better term, self-destructing. This is one of the fellows we had over to mom's for Thanksgiving dinner. On that Thursday, he was on the upswing with a temporary job, a place to crash, a thankful attitude, and a lucid mind.
Last night, this same man was maniacally screaming at everyone, and at no one. His proximity and tone affected actual fear in me. As he finally left, muttering to himself on his way to his car/temporary home, I was bereft. There is sooo much pain and soooo much need and I feel overwhelmed.
The sweet
The first ever wedding at CIAB was a smashing and touching success! The way our peeps reached out to the couple was a-maze-ing!
Ryan was our worship leader last night. I have been leading worship with Ry since he was in high school and it's only on a rare occasion that I am led in worship by him and not with him. I was smacked with awe at how far God has brought him, and how far he has come in worship leading and guitar.
I know that God is good, and I'm still trying to figure out the rest....
i want to see pics from the wedding portion!
ReplyDeleteand i should probably check you guys out. Sunday nights?
Yep. at 7:00
ReplyDeleteNext time I'm scheduled for worship is April 5th.
Oh, and I love pics but almost NEVER take them..
CIAB was extra sweet this week!
ReplyDeleteWe did CIAB for a while, at "Rafters" here on St. Simons - it was a blast, but wasn't a success, as we (the leadership) were not in unity about how it should look ... I think it had some real potential!
ReplyDeleteSounds awesome - never experienced this sort of church before. Props to you for going out. I have a feeling you'll have a a LOT more stories to tell....
ReplyDeleteThe homeless man you have been working with is probably off his meds because he has run out of them, has decided he hates the side effects of the meds have ceased to be effective and he needs a different treatment approach.You gave him the freedom to leave and take care of himself in whatever way that was by letting him go, keep him in prayer and warmly welcome him again next time he comes around. Working with folk like that is like working with stray cats, they become frightened, in his case of what is going on in his head, and scatter away. Set the food of love and compassion out and they will come back. We are God's hands and feet. In Amos it talks about worship, offering alms and also working for justice. This is the justice part. Nami (National Alliance for Mental Illness) has some good guidelines under their section Faithnet. Blessings, SOunds like you all are doing a good work Jen.
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