The Experience is strange. Ok, maybe unique is a better word. But, it’s definitely different from many churches. In this series – Why Do We Do What We Do? I’d like to look at some of the exterior things we do and examine why do them – based on deeper things that are unique about The Experience.
Walking in The Experience can be intimidating. There, in this room that looks like a gym, an auditorium, and who a little bit like a concert venue, is a bunch of round tables and chairs. Nope, no pews, rows of chairs, or anything like it.
I still remember when this idea first came into existence. There was a group of people at our old house on Montana in Caldwell, ID. It was summer and quite hot with no air conditioning – just a bunch of fans. And someone said they’d always thought that a church should just be made up of tables and chairs. And suddenly, it was just one of those things that I knew was right – right then, right there.
The Experience is a spiritual family. It’s a spiritual family for people who aren’t sure about traditional church. Families are all about connection, connectivity, and conversation. People get together for family reunions and… talk. I met someone the other day who was talking about her cousin and how they rarely saw each other, but their love was strong anyway. And, family reunions were for connection.
The tables are because we believe strongly that community is one of the cornerstones of a spiritual walk with God. And there’s nothing like sitting down, around a table, enjoying conversation, discussing life to bring people together.
The tables are a very significant statement that things are different here. But they are different because we value honesty, transparency, authenticity, and realness. And that’s why we sit around tables – it helps us engage in community.
Join us for community!
Acouple weeks ago, my two teenage sons and a friend of there’s who stayed the night went to Church. Normally teenagers aren’t real hip on going to church, specially dragging a buddy along. But this church is diffrent, we walk in the doors and find a celebration going on, people are not quiet, there smiling, visiting, hugging, even joking around. They are not all decked out in formal wear.
The atmosphere is relaxed and fun. The boys run for the hot coco as if it was there last drink. And mom has to get a cup of coffee (a treat), even though she know’s she will suffer later through the Pastor’s sermon, because she doesn’t want to miss anything. Then we find a table to sit at, the Praise music begins and I think “I am glad I came”. I look around the room and I think that others feel that way too. Then we sit down at our table across from two other couples. Friendly happy couples. They introduce themselves, and share about their favorite teacher (the Pastor always askes us a question to share at our tables), turns out two of them are teachers. They ask my son’s and there friend about their teachers and school. I can see that the boys are enjoying the attention. I am glowing inside as these two couples are a blessing to me, because I want so much for my family to connect and be won over by Christ.
This is one mom who is greatful for tables, chairs, a gym, drums, guitars, and joyful loving people. Oh, and potluck! :0)