Yesterday we woke up in Portland and stopped at a hole-in-the-wall shop and got two cups of the "holler mountain blend". We headed over to Imago Dei church and after a wrong turns found the parking lot The sanctuary is relatively small with a balcony above, the seating alternating sections of red and blue cushioned pews and a modern feeling stained glass window portraying (who else) Jesus. The way the congregation tithes is called "change for a dollar". A 20's something man walked on stage and held the microphone and started talking about a young boy, Billy Moore. He had boarded a bus last week after saying goodbye to his mother who was being taking off life support at the local hospital. As he stepped off the bus he got in to a vocal altercation and as the speaker put it "he choose to fight with his feet by walking away, rather than his words". His reward for taking the higher road was a bullet in the back that claimed his life and gave his sister a double funeral. The speaker was just a guy who worked at the hospital were Billy's mom had spent her last days, he was just a member of the congregation who saw a need. It was inherent in his talking that Imago Dei doesn't always have a specific idea for the tithe, rather they let the holy spirit push the plan into their laps each week, one of the many things I loved about this community. The speaker made the point that God can show up when he wants, but our willingness is helpful.
The text was Matthew 5:13-14; and Rick reminded us to hear it in the context of the beatitudes. Here are some notes I wrote during the sermon; " There is no podium, he holds no bible or notes. It feels more intimate, more like teaching than preaching. They have no missions team because the body IS IT... salt is a preservative, we are to preserve the world and live out a memory. The memory that this is God's world. Problem: when the church trys to hold the shaker, usually the dump on to much and run the flavor. Then they sit there and say 'why does no one like the flavor!? We're just being persecuted right now...' God shakes out just enough salt, in simple ways." He also touched on the two extreme ways christianity can manifest itself in todays culture; syncretism and sectarianism. Being too apart of the world, and too far removed. He gently reminded his listeners and friends that surrounding yourself only with christian persons and activities is sin, it's not right. It's just as bad as putting your light under a basket, it's like shining your spotlight into a room with no windows. Rick started and ended his message by pointing out that verse 13 says "you ARE". The best thing we can do, is be ourselves, not try to do anything better or be someone different. I so often feel a pressure from the "church" or christians in general to do better, be better, be doing something different in a better way. It was so refreshing and true to be reminded that the best way to showcase Jesus is to simply be who he made me.
Imago Dei was refreshing in it's lack of performance quality, there was no mingle! From what I could tell from the website and bulletin, this is a church that values community and living out the truth in simple ways and I really loved the service. It doesn't hurt that one of my favorite authors, Donald Miller, goes here too!
After church we hit the road and headed to Seattle where we had a delicious homeade lunch with my older brother Ben and his girlfriend Lydia. Then we headed over to a friend's house and played in a cash poker game with eight of (my brothers and my) our friends. Let's just say for the buy-in being $5 dollars, I made myself enough to pay for a couple of nights in Yellowstone :) Who knew I had such skill? After the game some other friends joined the party and we made and consumed a delicious taco bar. Then, because it was the fourth of July, my brothers (Ben and Jon) Hannah, me and few other boys headed to the apartment building roof to set off fireworks, while our friends watched from below. It was a blast, literally and I even got to set off a roman candle!
Last night we stayed with Jon in his great studio apartment on capitol hill. We slept in today and got coffee at Vita and walked to Elliot Bay Books, the best bookstore in Seattle. I got a few postcards, "The Living" by Annie Dillard and a book by Madeline L'engle ('m on a quest to own them all). We walked down towards Pike Place Market and stopped at a sunny cafe called Specialty's. We're just about to take off and go to the Egyptian theater to see "micmas" (by the director of Amelie). Later tonight the plan is to stop by the Living Room where Jon bartends!
So far Seattle and the trip in general have been excellent and so much fun.
-A
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