Business Cards!

They are ordered and on the way! Here is the final design:

Front:


Back:


We had the cards printed without personalized contact information so that we all can personalize and use the cards to connect people to Dialogue. We also didn’t print a meeting location or times so that we are free to move as God leads us.

I’m actually excited that cards don’t have a bunch of info on them. Sometimes tools can become crutches. We’ve all been to churches that did a lot of cool things and wondered if all the cool stuff is really a “tool” to accomplish a larger purpose or if cool had become a purpose unto itself. It won’t do any good to leave an information-less Business Card with your tip at Denny’s. It is pointless to stuff a blank business card into magazines at the doctor’s office. These cards–these tools–require a personal touch. They need you and me to make them come alive as we enter into conversation with the world around us. There’s room to write your phone number–so you can give someone a ride or meet them for coffee before service. There is room to add your name so that our guests can look you up when they come.

They aren’t Business Cards; they are a tool to help others join the conversation.

The Song Ashlee Sang

We are SO blessed to have Ashlee lead us in worship every Sunday! This is the song she sang Sunday night at our meeting (performed by the author Brooke Fraser).

“Hymn”
If to distant lands I scatter
If I sail to farthest seas
Would you find and firm and gather ’til I only dwell in Thee?
If I flee from greenest pastures
Would you leave to look for me?
Forfeit glory to come after
‘Til I only dwell in Thee
If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision ’til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
‘Til I only dwell in Thee

95 Theses

Thanks to Jim, I now know that Martin Luther posted 95 These on the church door in Wittenberg.

Jim is now Dialogue Church’s honorary historian!

We’re Official!

We are official! Dialogue Church is now a state recognized non-profit organization! That means we can officially begin receiving tax deductible donations. If you’ve been waiting to make a donation to Dialogue Church, the wait is over!!

If you’re really bored, you can download a copy of our Articles of Incorporation here.

Rummage Sale! Saturday, June 14th

As you are all aware of, we have a budget to meet (check it out here). $45,000 is a lot of money, but with God ALL things are possible! We are excited to do our first Church fundraiser—and all church Rummage Sale Saturday, June 14th. We have set a goal of raising $2500 during the sale. The Spieldenner’s will host as a part of their annual neighborhood rummage. Every year this sale attracts thousands of bargain finders, and we are going to ready to meet their demands. We are asking everyone on the team—or who believe in this vision—to give generously. We all have junk in the garage or attic that we could part with, and we all have more than we deserve. Let’s put it to good use!

Here a few things you might need to know:
1) All proceeds are going to Dialogue Church’s budget.
2) All donations need to be at the Spieldenner’s by Thursday, June 12th.
3) If you need help getting your stuff to the sale, contact Kyle at 765.
4) Amanda will be in charge of pricing all items (but I’m sure that she’d love your help!).
5) Jamie will be organizing the sale of food and drinks.
6) Kimberly will be overseeing some fun activities for kids!
7) We will be passing promo materials for Dialogue Church to sale patrons.

If you have any ideas, comments, or questions use the comment box below!

Start Up Team Meeting 05.04.08

This week marked the third gathering of the start up team. Attendance was down. I must admit that I was confused and frustrated by the sparse attendance. Following last weeks attendance surge with an off week was somewhat depressing. Research revealed that many of our family were out of town or under the weather and so we pressed ahead. We missed the rest of our team, but had a very productive meeting nonetheless.

Ashlee started the meeting by leading us into the presence of God with prayer and worship. She shared from her heart about the difficulty and confusion that often accompanies trusting and following God. We prayed for the many needs represented by our team. We also prayed that God would unite us and give us all the determination that we need to commit to this calling.

We discussed our tendency as Christ followers to want an easy and trouble free journey. The team resolved that any pursuit of God would be filled with wonder and awe and frustration and exhilaration, but never with ease and comfort. We prayed that God would comfort us in the areas that we are uncomfortable, and that he would make us uncomfortable in the areas that we’ve grown too comfortable.

We then discussed the financial needs of Dialogue Church. We resolved that we would have a church rummage sale on June 14th at Keith and Kimberly’s with all proceeds going to our launch budget. If you have items to donate, contact Kyle. We also discussed the importance of following our individual hearts’ leading concerning making donations to Dialogue Church. Since we have not yet received non-profit status from the state of Indiana, we are unable to provide a tax write off to donors. During this season, we encourage everyone involved with Dialogue to give to any ministry they feel led by the Spirit. Donors of course are welcome to give to Dialogue, or to any other church they are currently attending. Some would like to set back their tithe during this season and give it in one lump sum after Dialogue receives its non-profit status. This is welcomed, but with one caution: if giving one large lump sum would be difficult for you (and for some of us it would be!) then you and Dialogue Church would be better served by tithing elsewhere now. It boils down to this, Dialogue Church will not be hurt by any of us following the leading of the Holy Spirit when it comes to giving—even if it means that you give elsewhere! There is not now, and never will be any expectations that Start Up Team members hold back their tithe for Dialogue Church!

We then discussed the topic of membership at Dialogue Church. We agreed that the vision of Dialogue Church would be better served by organizing without legal members. We believe that membership in today’s church falsely implies that the church is to be led through a democratic process of campaigning and voting. Members with agendas are prone to become lobbyist their position or viewpoint. We desire to be led by the Holy Spirit and through godly leadership. Dialogue Church will encourage our family to join in mutual commitment and submission to each other through a process similar to membership but without the legal headaches of yearly business meetings and elections. We will provide an in depth statement on this at a later date.

We ended the meeting with a call for everyone’s input and questions. Dialogue Church is first and foremost a conversation, and we need to hear your voice. If you have an idea or a question, please post them in the comments of the article “Got Questions“.

Gaby ended the meeting with prayer (that rocked my socks off…pretty much).

Got Questions?

Got Questions?
April 26, 2008

Got Questions?

So you’re sitting there at work, or in the car heading over to grocery, or maybe having dinner with your family when all of a sudden, it hits you…a question! Not just any question, mind you, but the question. This question you must ask! You’ve got to remember to throw it out next Sunday night at the Start Up Team Meeting. Surely others have wondered the same thing! Everyone will profit by shedding light in this important area!

Sunday comes. The team is assembled. Everyone is poised for enlightenment. Now is the time to unleash the full force of your query.

If only you could remember the question…

Ever been there? I have…often. The worst part is that we know we’ll remember later—probably right in the middle of the news or while taking out the trash.

[In best announcer voice:] “Well, have I got a deal for you!”

Post your questions here on my blog! It’s easy. You don’t have to register, sign-up, pay for anything, or spend any money, and best of all: IT’S FREE!
1) Click on the Title of the Article.
2) Scroll down to large “Comment Box” .
3) Type question in box.
4) Click on submit.
5) Voila! You’re done.

Then, I’ll look over the questions and address them next week at the meeting! How cool is that?

So, what is Dialogue Church?

So What Is Dialogue Church
April 26, 2008
Dialogue Church is not a facility or a religious exercise. It is not organized around any particular spiritual discipline or denominational affiliation. It is not a way of reconciling one’s self with God or filling the emptiness inside. As a matter of a fact, Dialogue Church is not a church in any common understanding of the expression.

Dialogue Church is a dream—a dream that pulsates within the heart of a handful of passionate Christ Followers. A dream that believes that the church can be more than what it is. A dream, that believes that Yorktown can and will be captivated by the grace, peace, and love of God.

Dialogue Church is a calling—a calling that compels followers of Christ to breakdown the walls that divide us. A calling that transforms churchgoers into change agents active in God’s redemptive plan. A calling that moves us to love our corner of the world with the same passion that Christ loved us.

Dialogue Church is a challenge—a challenge to move beyond our selves and our desires and to engage our city in a conversation. We are not the spiritual elite we are the broken—the poor in spirit desperately rethinking what it means to connect with God. We are not spiritual gurus, but we offer companionship to anyone on the quest to know God. We are not theologians; we are artists searching for beauty in the midst of doubts, chaos, and questions.

Together, we live the dream, answer the call, and face the challenge. And together we are Dialogue Church.

What are we doing?

What Are We Doing?
April 26, 2008
Trying to figure it out…

We are rethinking what it means to be the body of Christ. We are questioning the “how’s” and the “why’s” of church life. We are living life and loving each other. We are dreaming of the kind of church that will ignite the soul and capture the heart of Muncie/Yorktown. And most importantly we are trusting and leaning on the Spirit of God to lead us on our journey together.

We share a burden for a particular church in Muncie, IN called Calvary Christian Center. Some of us enjoyed a season of life and ministry together at Calvary, but we all are united in our desire to see God’s best for the wonderful people at Calvary. Should God open the door for us to serve him at Calvary we are anxious to do so. Life is crazy and ministry is insane (that’s what we love about it!), so for now journey with Calvary is stalled.

But we continue. We can not quit.

“I will not be silent! No, I will not be quite anymore!”

Church Planter of the Week

Church Planter of the Week
April 20, 2008

How do you plant a church? How do you even get the ball rolling?

You join with a bunch of people you love; you count to three; and everybody pushes!

Everybody.

Every person doing what they can do–maybe giving their small lunch of loaves and fishes? maybe providing leadership to a vibrant ministry of the Church Plant? maybe investing financially to the budget?

Maybe babysitting the kids while the rest of the team talk and dream together.

Sunday night, Hannah did just that. Her investment allowed the rest of the team to spend time unifying and rallying around our vision. Because she was willing to do what she could do, we were able to do what we did do, and together we will do what we must do.

On a team, there are no small roles–there are no extras, no cameo appearances. Everybody pushes!

Thanks to Hannah for showing us the way! (1 Tim. 4:12)