Getting Closer to our Location

The ‘location team’ has been working overtime. If you know Chris Charlebois, Anne-Michelle Kirkey, Elizabeth Potvin or Andrea Mrozek, you might want to ask them to tell you one of their adventure stories. They have been everywhere from comedy clubs to a university hall to churches to a museum, and beyond…

The search has narrowed to 3 or 4 locations.

So, now it is your turn to jump into the discernment process. And when I say “your” turn, I am talking to any one of the more than 350 people who attend Sunnyside Wesleyan Church. Here is how you can join the fun:

Pack a bag lunch and meet outside Sunnyside at 12:45pm on Sunday, November 22 because we are going on a “pray and watch” walk! (RSVP kronberg@sympatico.ca by Wed. Nov. 18, indicate whether you have a car and how many people it seats. I will divide you into “pray and watch” groups.)

Each “pray and watch” group will receive a map and a set of observation questions. Your group will go to one possible future downtown site of Sunnyside Wesleyan Church. (Isn’t this exciting?) You will walk around the possible future site and its surrounding neighbourhood and you will ‘pray’ and ‘watch’. A scribe in your group will write down your specific observations and discernment. All written records will be returned to me and I will pass them on to the location team.

May I encourage all of the launch team and many other interested Sunnysiders to join this very important event in the process of becoming a multi-site church? Keep praying. We are moving forward. You may peruse the ‘Pray and Watch’ guidelines below.

PRAY AND WATCH

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009, 12:45 P.M. TO 2:45 P.M.

12:45 p.m. Leave Sunnyside Grosvenor to go to assigned downtown location.
1:15 p.m. Eat bag lunch near a possible future downtown site of SWC.
1:45 p.m. Pray that God will open your group’s eyes and give discernment.
1:50 p.m. Prayerfully walk around the possible future downtown site and its surrounding neighbourhood. Record your observations and discernment as you go.

How well does the location fit the following criteria? (There are many other essential, desirable and important criteria for our downtown site, but the ones listed below are observable from outside of the building.)

• Accessible by public transit
• A “destination hub” within the city
• Little other presence of “life-giving” churches
• Accessible for persons with physical disabilities
• Dedicated parking or available street parking
• Visible location from street and within community
• Walk-by and drive-by traffic
• Fits with our relaxed, casual and open style

What do you notice as you walk around the neighbourhood?

• In what ways do you see God at work?
• Who lives in this neighbourhood?
• Do you see any signs of the future?
• Observe a place of solitude, peace or rest.
• Are there any relics of the past?
• Do you see something scary?
• Are there evidences of the ‘gods’ people worship?
• What are the values that are honoured?
• Where is there a place of joy?
• Is there anything that makes you feel helpless?
• Describe a conversation you had with someone you would not normally talk to.

What do you think God is telling you about this location and neighbourhood?

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=not hopeful; 5=very hopeful), how hopeful is your group that this location/neighbourhood becomes Sunnyside’s downtown site?

2:45 p.m. Place your group’s comments in the provided stamped, addressed envelope and place in the nearest mailbox.

As always, you are welcome to contact me at kronberg@sympatico.ca.