The question?
We are starting a church in northern Virginia and we want you on the team. Will you join us? You could have knocked me over with a feather and I did say to them - "you DO realize that I am a mess, right?" And they assured me that was why I was chosen.
I had no idea how much work would be involved in launching Skyline Vineyard Church. People have already come and gone and that is how it goes in the life of a church. I had no idea how much work God would do in my personally during these past two years and there's LOTS more work going on. I'm a Work In Progress - a WIP. But isn't that really what we all are? A Work in Progress?
As the alarm goes off at 5 am on Sunday, as it does every Sunday, I groan and reluctantly roll out of bed. All the while reminding myself that I'm not doing this for me. I'm doing it for them. For the people who will come who need to feel the love and acceptance of a God who reaches down from heaven and redeems and restores everyone who comes to Him.
There are several of us who roll out of bed early every Sunday, drive to the storage facility where Skyline Vineyard Church is stored, load up our vehicles and drive to Falls Church High School and transform the Little Theatre into Skyline Vineyard Church. I know none of us loves rolling out of bed every Sunday but we all do it for the same reason - for the people who need Jesus and the healing that only He can bring to lives. For those who have been burned by life and even the church - those who are just tired and worn out and looking for a safe place - that's what it's all about.
We are all quiet as we being the weekly routine of loading vehicles. Some of us shivering in the cold. But we warm up or the caffeine kicks in and we start being more animated. Once we load up and get to the school, the transformation begins. FIRST things first, the coffee is put on to brew. Skyline can't happen without coffee. Then the chairs are put in place, production equipment, cables and lighting are set up. Sound checks begin. Carpets are put down, tables covered with table cloths, pipe and drape go up and in about an hour - Skyline Vineyard Church is ready to welcome the people God brings to us each week. We have coffee, we worship Jesus, our children are taught about the great love of Jesus in SkyKidz and we hear a message from the Pastor that is applicable to our daily life and often comes with the intro of a movie like the Matrix or even the hit TV series, Breaking Bad. Yeah, our church is cool like that.
We've been doing this weekly since September 2013. Most of us haven't missed a week, but a few have had time off needed for weddings, anniversaries, and vacations. I have to be honest, when its raining or super cold with ice on the ground - I don't look forward to set up. But it seems on those Sunday's is when God really shows up big and new people are there and someone says on the way out, "this feels like home" and I'm humbled all over again and so very thankful that I GET to do this, week after week.
And then we take it all down, load it onto the trucks and into storage it goes again until next week. Some of us go to lunch, others leave for other commitments, me - I like to go home and take a nap before I send the Pastor the weekly recap of attendance and offering, send out thank you notes and send emails. Yes it takes up my entire Sunday. It takes up the entire Sunday for a team of about 15 dedicated people, who want nothing more than for someone to feel Jesus and his amazing grace and love.
Did I know what I was signing up for almost 2 years ago? Nope. Did I realize it would be the most challenging and yet rewarding thing I've ever done? Nope. Would I do it again? Absolutely. I am allowed to be part of something that makes a difference in people's lives and that makes it worth my time.
So if you ever want to check us out - Coffee is on at 10 am. Service starts at 10:30. 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, Virginia.
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