Scandalized

Many of you who are reading this probably found your way here via Jessie McQuillan's recent article on us in the Indy (12/20/07). Welcome to All Souls Missoula.

I haven't read what Jessie's written yet, but from what I know of her character and caliber, I suspect she'll give us a fair shake. She turned over lots of stones, asked a ton of questions, and scurried down on all sorts of rabbit trails (which is precisely what good journalists do).

And we encouraged her to call it like she saw it. At the very least, the story should be interesting (we provided plenty of fodder, and Jessie knows how to write). But if you came here looking for us to rant about the press, you'll be disappointed. Sorry.

So why else might you be here?

Some of you might be here because you're curious. Maybe you're looking for community, maybe you're looking for a church, maybe you're just looking.

Whatever the case: welcome. Take a look around. Make yourself at home. Just be forewarned, if you're expecting "yet another evangelical church," we're probably not it. At least not in the way you might expect. So ask lots of questions. Figure out what makes us tick. See if we're on the same page. If so, great. And if not, that's fine.

Of course, some of you are here for a different reason: you're skeptical. And that's good too. You should be. But maybe not for the reasons you might think. After all, much of what passes for Christianity these days probably isn't.

So how do you discern the real from the fake?

If you're like me, you probably start by looking for the dirt. The fine print. The skeletons in the closet. After all, everyone has them. It's like that classic line from the Princess Bride: "Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something."

The same thing applies to the church - anyone who claims theirs isn't dirty is probably selling something. In fact, when it comes to church, 'dirt' is actually part of the definition: if Jesus came for "sinners" rather than "saints" we shouldn't be surprised when they show up in church. That's who it's there for - broken people who aren't all cleaned up.

So what we're really looking for as we evaluate churches (or people) is a particular kind of dirt. You know what I'm talking about. It's the hypocrisy. The scandal. These are the reasons we (rightly) write off churches.

And that's why some of you are here. To figure out our scandal.

Once again, though, it might not be what you expect.

Here's the deal. If you spend any amount of time poking around our site, or reading Jessie's article, or just hanging out with us, you are going to find things that seem scandalous. Guaranteed.

Some of you, for instance, will be appalled to learn that we actually baptize babies (gasp!), or that we dig 16th century theologians like Martin Luther and John Calvin (shudder!). Others will be horrified to discover we think the Bible is God's word (puh-lease), and that Jesus really meant it when he said he was the only way to get to God (how narrow minded!).

Oh yeah, we forgot to mention that we belong to a denomination that doesn't ordain women. And we like to drink and smoke. Sometimes we even cuss.

At this point, pretty much everyone in the world reading these words is seething in rage at something I just mentioned (kind of a funny picture, don't you think?).

But that's precisely the point - if you get to know any church well enough, you will discover some thing that just scandalizes you. And you'll be so pissed off you have to walk away.

Eventually (if you last that long), you'll either stop walking back into churches altogether (many do), or you'll start choosing not to look in any closets (don't ask, don't tell, and maybe no one will get hurt). The problem with the first approach is that you cut yourself off from community; and with the second you end up settling for something that's not real community anyway. It's a lose-lose situation.

And that's not just the nature of church - that's the nature of every relationship.

If I could pick any person in the world, and see them deeply enough, read their mind, discern their motives, look beneath the veneer, I'll bet I would find something that I despise.

Why? Because they are not me.

That's how all of us work. And that brings us to the real scandal (the 'scandal behind the scandal').

It's not that there are things about us (or any church, or any person) that positively piss you off, that make you want to walk away and never look back. Nope, that's suprisingly un-scandalous.

The real scandal is that some people who feel exactly like you do - positively scandalized by something we believe - will nevertheless choose to be a part of this crazy church thing called All Souls Missoula. Some will. Some already have.

And the real question is how to explain that.

Why on earth would someone who's diametrically opposed to us - on theology, or Jesus, or the pro-life issue, or whatever - still be attracted enough by what's happening here to actually pitch in and get involved? To talk rather than walk, to engage rather than bail. To listen, to learn, and to love one another deeply, even if we don't share convictions about some really big things.

To us, that's the real scandal, and the the real story. I don't know whether Jessie will capture that, or if she'll even try. But if I was looking for dirt, that's where I'd start.

So there you have it. Food for thought. Or ammo for the guns. Either way, we'd love to talk about it over coffee or a beer. And now you know where to find us...

Christmas Eve Service

Every year, it seems Christmas becomes more and more commercialized, less and less meaningful. And far too often, our response is simply to try and cram more 'holiday season' into our already packed schedules - more parties, more decorations, more presents (they always seem to cost more too), more stuff that needs to get done before we can actually sit down with family and friends. Then suddenly, before you know it - *poof!* - another Christmas come and gone. Too often, the only thing that remains is a feeling that we'd like to do it differently next year.

What would it look like to actually inhabit Christmas - not the cheesy Hallmark version that gets peddled to us every October through December, but the real Christmas, the ancient version, that one that goes all the way back to events so significant it actually moved people, reordered their entire year, their lives?

Would would it be like to experience that kind of Christmas - be it ever so briefly - the kind where God reaches down from the heavens and touches humanity? I'm not sure how we get there. But I know I'd like to try. And I suspect that it's only going to happen in a community of friends who share that same desire, rather than off on my own.

So here's the deal. We'd like to invite you to join us for an informal Christmas Eve service from 7-8 PM on Mon, Dec 24 @ the Cryder's. Anyone is welcome, even if you've never been to anything before, even if you're not sure whether you believe in Jesus or not. A time to sing, to listen, to contemplate, to make the Christmas story our own, all with friends.

If you don't have any plans for Christmas Eve, we'd love to have you join us. Contact Christian (529-5568) if you have questions or need directions.

1st Annual Christmas Party

It's official! We're throwing our 1st annual Missoula Project Christmas Party and we'd love to have you and your friends join us! Here's the skinny...

• festivities start on Friday Dec 14, at 7 PM
• we'll be having fine wine and amazing tapas (light appetizers)
• beginning at 9:30 PM we'll have live music by local legend, David Boone! (if you missed him at the Wilma, you can catch him in our basement)
• because of space considerations, we're asking parents to get a sitter for young children, and we're limiting attendance to the first 50 folks who RSVP (which means, you probably ought to click that link RIGHT NOW and let us know you'd like to come el pronto, before someone else does first!)
  

Here's one other thing. Normally, Missoula Project parties are completely free of charge. This time around though, we'd like to do something special for some people in our community who could use our help. Here's the skinny.

Would you consider making a tax deductible donation (~ $10/person) when you arrive? The Missoula Project will match all funds raised (up to $1000) and use them to help "adopt" two or three single mothers in our community who don't have any other support network. We'd like to help them with Christmas presents, clothes for their kids, unpaid bills, as well as any physical needs. We'd like to brighten their holiday season, but we'd also like to be a resource for these women all year long.

Would you help us with this effort? Even if you can't come to the party, you can still contribute to this effort - simply make out a check to the "Missoula Project" and write "single moms" in the memo line. You'll get a receipt for financial purposes at the end of the year. We'll keep you posted on how the money gets spent.

In addition, we may identify additional non-monetary physical needs - like helping to install a new water heater, or passing along some toys that your kids have outgrown, or maybe just being willing a mother's children so she can have a break. If you'd be interested in helping us think creatively about meeting some of these less tangible needs, please let Austen (218-8181) know.

We look forward to celebrating Christmas with you, and we invite you to help us make someone else's Christmas a little better while we're at it.

Community in Action

All Souls Missoula is a work in progress.

Our ultimate goal is to be a church (you probably knew that already). But for us, 'church' is something that is much bigger than a building or a service on Sundays. It's more than just rite and ritual (although those are important). At its best, we believe the church is something that functions all week long, and that is fundamentally a community - not just for those who believe, but also for those who don't. It should be a place where people can be honest about who they are, and who they're not.

This is the kind of place we're working to create. A place where relationships run deep. A place where friendship is not contingent. A place where you can put all your baggage on the table and not get rejected for it. A place where you can be accepted as you are, whether or not you agree with us about Jesus.

That's what we're working for. And we do a number of things in pursuit of this goal (check the Weekly Happenings post to see what's going on this week)...

• Sunday Worship - once a week we gather as friends to worship Jesus. It's a casual, come as you are environment where anyone is welcome, regardless of your convictions (or lack thereof). There's a nursery for kids, great music, and lots of interesting folks. If you are a follower of Christ, or someone who is simply spiritually curious, we would love to have you join us. It happens at 10 AM on Sundays in Room 307 of the Missoula Children's Theater (200 N Adams - it's on the 3rd floor; you can enter from Main St. on the south side of the building).

• Kettlehouse Fridays - most Friday afternoons, we gather at the KHole between 5 and 6:30 PM because we think Jesus would like this place. Plus it's a great way to meet new friends, catch up on life, and celebrate a place where our city is beautiful.
  
  
• Explorers Groups - throughout the year, we offer a courses specifically for skeptics, doubters, and people with questions to take a closer look at Jesus and Christianity. Folks who have participated tell us this is one of the coolest things we do. You can read more about it here...
  
  
• Community Groups - community groups are a chance to see how the message of Jesus should shape us as a community of faith (one that includes believers and unbelievers alike). We meet weekly to share a meal as friends, to wrestle with Scripture, and to ponder how we can work for the good of the city. You can read more about it here...
  

Specifics vary from week to week, so the best way to stay connected is to subscribe to the weekly mailing list. We'd love to have join us in this adventure!