That's why I'm so excited to say that we've finally found and confirmed a space that we can meet in and grow into! I met today with the VP of the Association for Individual Development and they agreed that we could use their building right here in downtown Yorkville on Sunday mornings. It is the perfect type of space for us. It already has a "living room" feel and there are several side rooms for children. There is a full kitchen, a foyer, even an outdoor deck! It will give us enough space to grow into without feeling like we're in too big of a room or too institutional of a setting. The best part is that, at least right now, the AID people seem very friendly and eager to have us in there. They are very flexible with our needs and were willing to let us use the building at other times during the week when they aren't there if we need to. They said we can have full use of the kitchen if we want to do meals, and we will be able to leave our set-up stuff there so we don't have to cart too much back and forth.
We really couldn't ask for a better situation right now. This is a huge answer to prayer. God really came through! :)
We will sign a contract after the New Year. The rent is well within our price range right now - another big answer to prayer! They suggested we sign a 6-month lease and see how it goes. We can renew for another 6-months after that if all goes well and if we still fit the space by that point.
We should be able to begin meeting there as early as January 14. We're hoping to make this our official "launch" of the new church in the community. We'll probably give ourselves a few weeks to settle in, and then plan a special "launch" service for the first Sunday of February. I want to send out postcards again to the whole community announcing our move and the launch service. If you're in the area and can make it out then, you should come on out. Everyone is invited!
Labels: personal
While I'm especially attached to the idea of household gatherings, it is hard sometimes to avoid associating the congregation's space and the host's space. There is something special that happens when the congregation suddenly has its own 'home', like the way you felt when you moved out of your parents house and on your own for the first time. Blessings on 'moving out'.
At 12/20/2006 11:35:00 PM, 
Mike Clawson
Good point Michael. I hadn't quite thought of it that way, but I think you're right. Meeting in my home probably did create more of a sense of my "ownership" of the church than I would really like. By moving into a non-home location it takes away one level of my "control" over the church - in a good way. This new location will be "our" space, not primarily "my" space.
I mentioned it to my wife, and she said (we've been through this church plant thing before ourselves) that it feels less like a child moving out and more like giving birth.
For a while, you have this new life in your personal space, nurturing it and embracing it completely as it resides literally within you. Then, the day comes for it to emerge and, while you will always be close and even necessary for the child's life, there is a separation now that is both joyful and bitter as the child becomes more fully itself.
All the mothers out there will have to decide if that makes sense, but I'll simply pray that the bitter will be small and the joy great as you folks finally give birth to what has been gestating for so long in your home.
(This is the first moment I've had to myself all day, so I guess I'm waxing overly poetic.)
Mike and Julie,
We're happy to hear this for you folks. I'll link to this good news Saturday and announce it that way.