At regular intervals, Brothers and Sisters in Christ come together in the Motorway Restaurant at Heverlee, Louvain to take the Last Dinner in memory. For the Breaking of the Bread only baptised brothers and sisters partake , but the service can be followed by everybody who want to share this moment of worship.
Everybody has been invited to pray or to sing with us.
We dare to ask a lot of those who want to pray with us together. Part constituting of a church without facilities holds in that the members have to be very creatively. One will look at the things with an other perspective.
Those who would like to attend our meetings in Belgium must dare to overcome shyness. Meeting on Sunday, in the afternoon, in a public place as a restaurant and a motel were we are visible for everybody, dare to sit together to pray and read in the Word of God and dare this to openly discuss, while every passersby can see us at work.
We are no closed church community, as everybody is welcome. though I agree that the consuming of the Broken Bread and drinking of the Cup of Wine as symbols of Christ's offering, we only permit for baptised brothers and sisters. Other drinks, like coffee or soft drinks, of course, anyone can drink with us. Coming together as a community in Christ hears to be a pleasant occupation, and that is what we try to offer to anyone who wants to come visit us.
For us, a Church is about 'Men', and it are the faithful who belong to and make the Church. We have no church hierarchy that structures or impose and oblige this or that activity to direct to make that organization financially feasible .
We should try to cook our own beans and our efforts mainly have been directed on the proclaiming of the Good News and our focus is on those people who come to us. Each human is important and is contemplated as an important contribution supplier or co-worker. Each family can make us part of a team together to go for one and the same goal: God praise.
In Belgium there are few baptised Christadelphians, and we must admit that not many people have registered with us to stay informed.
ReplyDeleteIn Belgium, one beholds the Church as the great establishment of the Catholic Church. But we are not such a grouped roller distribution organization which has several sister organizations that keeps the money rolling for supplying the executive priests.
Our church or community must not have the programs that have a large church, but we are convinced that our church community can offer that which is most important. We have a passion for the Lord and have friendship for each other. We have a compassion for children and for those seeking a deeper relationship with God. And we continue to hunger for God. We dare to be aware of each of our weaknesses, but try to overcome those by working together to try to help each other grow and become like Christ.
The places where we come together have nothing compared to what many in these parts of a church expect. With us no rush building. No pillars to bite. Preferably not too large room where you can sit to stand aside.
We hope that those who come to us are snug at home and can feel at ease.
With a drink and a snack together we form a community in Christ, where everyone can feel at home. Small or large, educated or uneducated, black or white, rich or poor, everyone would be able to feel on equal footing and should be able to feel what his or her involvement in the community can bring. Everyone can find something they can excel, and be of utility to the entire community.
What we hope is that everyone dares to do and dare them to exchange views as an integral part of the group that we want to build together.