Thursday, October 23, 2008

Romans Update

Hope everyone is enjoying getting into character for this study!

Just wanted to mention that we have changed the time for this study. We are meeting from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM on Wednesday nights.

Looking ahead, we are going to need to juggle how we do the study. We have 1 1/2 hour alloted for it and the book recommends 2 1/2 hours. We will see how next week goes and we may need to break up the time for each chapter in order to get everything in.

Also, if you know of someone who wants to be a visitor to the study for a week, we can include them as a visitor.

See you Wednesday!

Peace,
Lisa

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Friends, let's look at Romans!

Update on Romans Bible Study...

We are changing the meeting time to Wednesday Evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. We will be going through the book of Romans with the study guide: "Roman House Churches for Today: A Practical Guide for Small Groups" by Reta Halteman Finger. A dessert/snack will also be served.

Peace,
Lisa

Thursday, September 04, 2008

It's all about... growing in Christ

How does one encourage growing closer to Christ with people who have given up on religion?

This is my question for the day.

Is it just about showing people the love of Christ?

I think about the life of Mother Theresa who selflessly helped so many in India. Why did she do this? It was through her love for Christ that she was able to help all of those people for so many years. How can we as devoted followers of Christ do this in our communities? Where are people hurting and in trouble that we can step in?

Just in Montrose...
How can we help our children continue to participate in activities that they have grown to love but their parents can no longer afford it?
How can we help those who are about to lose homes to foreclosure?
How can we help those who can't afford food, gas and other items for daily living?

What would Christ do to help those in Montrose live a better life?

Just asking the questions....
Peace,
Lisa

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Dis-Organized Church

A little over 5 years ago I had and idea… it seemed like it was a simple idea, but I am finding out that it actually is rather complicated.

My idea was to start a church for those who didn’t want to attend church… I knew there were a TON of people out there who believed in God… maybe even Jesus… who did not believe in organized church. So, I began a dis-organized church… and it sure has been dis-organized!

Our small home-based church has attracted lots of interesting people…

- A family who wanted to keep themselves out of the church and isolate themselves from the world around them because it wasn’t Biblically based enough – or at least what they believed to be Biblically based…

- Another family who had a home built in Montrose but could not sell their home in the cities… the home they built was bought by someone else who went into foreclosure…

- people who wanted to form a church that looked like the church they came from and could not understand why we weren’t giving sermons, holding worship services, doing Bible studies, etc…

- People looking for children’s programming to keep their kids occupied while the parents went off and did something else…

- People pressing me for my opinion on Evangelical ‘hot button’ issues – homosexuality, abortion, end times (lots of end times) to name a few…

- people who have watched so much televangelism that they believe that God will send them more money if they give money to the church… and would continue giving money to large television churches…

Maybe we just weren’t clear along the way… maybe we didn’t know how to reach people who I know are out there… who might want to be a part of a completely different kind of church.

Jacob’s Well is a church for those who

- believe in God, but not religion

- value spending time with their families and don’t need another activity to suck up their time

- would like to talk to others about God

- believe that helping out others is just what they are supposed to be doing

I’ll admit… I don’t know what this kind of group would look like… my attempts at forming this group are in a holding pattern. I would like your help… if you can give me ideas on how to start this kind of group, please let me know. I am open to any suggestions.

Peace,

Lisa

Pastor of a completely dis-organized church

Saturday, August 09, 2008

How to be In Ministry without Money

A pastor friend of mine sent out a plea yesterday for more funding so that he can stay in ministry.

My mother-in-law used to tell me about her old church where the pastor would regularly request money from the congregation for his personal income.

I wanted to be in ministry without asking for money... but how can people do this? Any ideas?

We have been creative on jobs and financing in my family but with the way things are going in today's economy... how can we all live without the income?

Jesus didn't have anything... he relied on people he met to provide the resources for his ministry. Can you see pastors actually being able to do that today? Maybe in some parts of the world, but in the US... probably not.

I still am not convinced money needs to be at the root of a ministry... and I am open to alternatives.

Peace,
Lisa

Sunday, August 03, 2008

The Abbey

Announcing…. The Abbey

I have been trying to come up with some sort of clever play on words (so that I won’t be infringing upon copyright)… I have tried many names out and keep coming up with simply “The Abbey”.

So what is “The Abbey”? It is a group of people who have dedicated themselves to the following:

To growing with each other closer to Christ in such a manner so that we might share Christ’s love with others.

In other words, this is a group of people who are interested in becoming closer to Christ and also sharing that closeness with those around them. People who are following Christ will take part in regular prayers, worship, meals with each other and study of the Bible. They will also take an active role in their community in order that Christ might use them in the community.

As a part of this new endeavor, I would like to begin a more active online community in which I will place weekly teachings/devotionals on this blog. My hope is that this can keep us connected with each other even when we are not actually getting together.

If God is willing… I would like to see The Abbey group start running in September… if you are interested in joining the Abbey or if you have questions, please email me at jacobswellprayer@aol.com.

Peace,

Lisa

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

What Do You Mean By Church

People have asked me over time where I go to church. Sometimes I will tell them that I don’t ‘go’ anywhere to church, I am always at church. And they usually look at me with a puzzled look on their face.

I know that they are asking me “which building do I attend on Sunday morning?” But my understanding of the meaning of church runs much deeper than the group people see once a week.

The term used in the New Testament that we translate as church is Ecclesia. To better understand what the New Testament writers meant when they were writing about church, it is helpful to understand what the definition of Ecclesia is.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesia

Ecclesia (lat) is a term derived from the Greek root ekklesia [εκκλησία], which literally means a "gathering" of citizens, in an ancient Greek city-state, or a "called-out assembly"; usually defined as "gathering of the called-out ones"[1] or “gathering of those summoned”[2]. Theologically it has been equated from the New Testament passages, originally written in Greek language, as the Church (though the origin of the term "Church" is the Greek root kyriakon [from kyriake, kyriakos; kyrios; kyros])[3] and also as the Body of Christ, a view which reflects a deeper Spiritual and invisible dimension into the use of the term Ecclesia.

I know… you are reading this and wondering what all of this means… basically in the early years of the church, they did not refer to specific buildings or denominations but rather a gathering of people who were following Christ. And this gathering could happen at any time or any place… they just needed to meet with each other and talk about Christ. As a Christian, we are all members of the Body of Christ. So where ever we go, that is where the Church is.

So to answer the question “Where do I go to church?” The answer would be “Anywhere I go because I am a Christian.”

Peace,

Lisa Ellwoods

Pastor Jacob’s Well

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Sunday Night Supper in June - Cancelled

Due to scheduling conflicts, Sunday Night Supper for June will be cancelled. Please join us in July for the next Sunday Night Supper.

Peace,
Lisa

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Response to "The Shack" review

I read with interest Pastor Runke's article reviewing the book "The Shack" from this week's edition of the Herald Journal. (Click Herald Journal to read his article)

I have not had the opportunity to read this book although I did read the entire review that Pastor Runke had referenced in his article.

The author of "The Shack" (from what I read) attempts to fictionalize theology that has come out of the Emergent church movement. (for more on the Emergent Church visit http://www.emergentvillage.com/)

I am a pastor of Jacob's Well, a missional house church in Montrose, MN. I find myself sometimes in agreement with the Emergent church and other times I greatly disagree with what is said. Just as I agreed with some of what
Tim Challies had to say about the theology in "The Shack" and I also disagreed with some of what Challies has to say about the theology.

To me, what disturbs me is the potential for division in the church. Pastor Runke spoke of one congregation that he knew that had been torn apart by this book... and I am certain that it isn't the only one. Divisions regarding theology are nothing new to the church. All we have to do is look at the Bible and see that even in the very beginnings of the church in Acts we see differing opinions on how to approach theological issues. It still amazes me that 2000 years later humans still are causing division in the church.

Peace,
Pastor Lisa Ellwoods
Jacob's Well

Monday, April 21, 2008

Sunday Night Supper

Join the conversation at ….
Jacob’s Well
We invite you to
Sunday Night Supper @ Jacob’s Well

What it is:
A meal once a month where we can get together and share what is going on in our lives. Depending upon the weather, the activities will vary. We can pray for each other and discuss Christian teachings. We may even sing some worship songs if so inclined!

Where it is:
The Ellwoods Family Home
218 Quail Drive, Montrose MN

When it is:
Sunday nights at 6:30 PM

Who it is:
Jacob’s Well is a Christian neighborhood church dedicated to serving the community of Montrose, Minnesota.

For more about Jacob’s Well visit our blog at: http://jacobswellprayer.blogspot.com/ or contact Pastor Lisa Ellwoods at 763-675-2707.

Save these days for
Sunday Night Supper

April 27th, 2008
May 18th, 2008
June 29th, 2008
July 27th, 2008
August 24th, 2008

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Meet Missional Pastor... Lisa Ellwoods

For a class I am taking, I had to create a personal webpage. Check it out at http://www.bethel.edu/~woolis/

Peace,
Lisa

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Abbey Road and Jacob's Well

In the past few months, I have really been wondering with where God has been positioning me in Montrose and the direction that Jacob's Well is heading.

I have noticed an increase in my community activities. I am a volunteer in several community organizations where I actively serve the community. I have greatly enjoyed being a part of them and I know that God has put me in positions there in order to serve.

Then I wonder about Jacob's Well.

I put that on the back burner for awhile... I have been a substitute teacher this fall/winter. Again, I am serving the community in which I live in ways that I have the education for. I believe God has put me there in order to serve.

Then I wonder about Jacob's Well.

I decided to go back to school and get a certificate in Postsecondary teaching so that I could learn what it takes to be a college teacher. I believe God has put me there as well to pass along what I have learned about ministry to other people entering ministry. I am serving there in ways I could not have imagined.

Then I wonder about Jacob's Well.

I think that a part of the problem with Jacob's Well is that my initial vision of a coffeehouse ministry in the community never quite meshed with what actually was going on at the house church. I remember choosing the name of Jacob's Well thinking that it would be a cool name for a coffeehouse... and bonus... it had a Biblical reference. But the name didn't really fit with a house church idea and I was redefining what it was by who was there.

So, I wonder about Jacob's Well and have begun to think about Abbey Road.

What do I mean by Abbey Road?
I have been a Beatles fan for most of my life and one of their albums was named 'Abbey Road' as a reference to the recording studio in which it was produced. Their message of love and peace put me on the spiritual road that lead me to becoming a pastor. I think that Abbey Road is an appropriate description of my spiritual path.

I am pursuing a life dedicated to Christ (much like monks or nuns from an abbey) but also dedicated to being involved in the world around them. This is how I see Abbey Road… a way of following Christ where you intersect with the world around you. I believe that I am living Abbey Road now by being actively involved in my community. I am seeking others wishing to be a community of people devoted to following Christ and serving others. In other words, I am looking for others also on Abbey Road.

So, I wonder about Jacob's Well and think about Abbey Road.

Peace,
Lisa

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Operation Joseph Review

I don’t think I had fully understood Joseph’s ministry in Egypt when I wrote the blog entry for the Coffeehouse Vision…

Joseph’s ministry in Egypt was a direct response to the crisis that was happening around him. He was ‘called’ by Pharaoh into a ministry that feed people in a drought situation. Yes, Joseph had vision from God to lead him through this situation.

I, too, have found myself through circumstances to be helping out in the middle of a crisis situation here in Montrose. Last fall, the school district proposed a levy for operating expenses in the district. Well, this levy did not pass and now we are faced with many personnel cuts across the district.

One of the cuts directly effects a program that my daughter is involved in… there will no longer be funding for the instructor for the Montrose Suzuki Program. I volunteered to be a part of the grant-writing committee (thinking I would learn how to write grants for the coffee shop) and I find myself working on proposals and going to school board meetings just to save the program.

I know that I didn’t realize it at the time, but I feel that I was ‘called’ like Joseph into this situation so that I would be able to participate in it and make a difference for the kids.

I think this is what true ministry should look like… helping out when needed in whatever way you are able to. What I am participating in now with the Suzuki group is probably more like Joseph’s ministry than what I had thought about with the coffee shop. Isn’t it wonderful when God places you right where you are needed?

Peace,
Lisa

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Basic Church

A wise woman recently had this advice for me. She said that you need to have a church that you would like to attend. Sounds simple enough…

I have been wondering lately where Jacob’s Well is heading. We have been on a break for awhile now and I have been getting a pull to begin holding meetings again.

Maybe it’s just that I miss the conversation….

So I have been thinking about what I would want in a church and here are the elements that I am would like:

-People who are in love with Christ
You would think that in a church, you would find people who are in love with Christ to such an extent that they would devote their lives to growing closer to Christ. Sadly, this is rarely the case.
-Conversation
I love to talk about God and would enjoy being a part of a group that wants to talk about God as well. Not only could we talk about God but also what it means to be a Christian today in Montrose Minnesota and how we can share God’s love with others.
-Sharing life together
Purposefully spending time with one another and sharing your journey together.
-Meals together
There is just something about eating together. There is a segment on Disney Channel called “Pass the Plate” that talks about sharing food across cultures. Right now, I would be interested in simply sharing a meal here in Montrose.

So, I am proposing that Jacob’s Well would resume as a Basic Church. No frills, just people loving Christ who want to spend time with one another to talk about God over a meal. This Basic Church is the next step in the life of Jacob’s Well.

Peace,
Lisa

PS I suppose y’all are wondering about the coffeehouse. I have had a little bit of movement in this area, but I still have not found any core group of people who also feel called to this ministry. Until I do, this dream will have to rest for awhile.