It was hard to miss some obvious pieces: 1. it was packed. People were even up in the balcony at the reail, at cabaret tables of dancing wildly in worship. 2. people are belonging to each other. In other words, there is real commnity, intentional gathering, and sharing of the great moments of life. 3. There is a lot of energy and life.
Here is my question, well questions:
What drew you to Terra Nova Church?
WHat do you love about Sunday?
What do you like in general?
What is your big “someday” idea for Terra?
I was drawn by the fact that I could be myself, and that the leadership actually believed that God could use the real me.
I love being at church early, helping watch the Taylor and Keparutus kids. I’m inspired to see these children growing up with real examples of servanthood. I love singing along with soundcheck with Eve in my arms. I love that there’s no carpet, and everyone brings their coffee in with them for worship. I love that we’re small enough to miss people when they’re absent. Just to name a few things.
I’m excited for the opportunities Terra people have gotten to be involved in community projects for specific social “causes.” I hope that someday we will be the originators of such projects.
Christ himself drew me to Terra. It was a journey that began over 3 years ago, when he truly got ahold of my heart… my awakening, I like to call it. I started to feel unsettled at the church I attended, friends began encouraging talent in me that I didn’t know existed, and I started hanging out with (and being real with) a handful of people… and for the first time in a long time, it just all felt right. It was just part of the natural flow of the journey that brought me to and immersed me in Terra Nova.
On Sunday… I love seeing my friends serving and being served. I love the worship and the teaching at such a high level of excellence. I love observing the way that people love my kids, not patronizing them or me, but really caring and taking the time to pour into them. I love walking into a building that exudes freedom to be who I am in Christ (although I’m still working on believing it) and that the people inside are kind of like me. I love serving in a New Tribe. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Artist Lofts…
I like the fact that I can feel comfortable wearing jeans and not feel the need to nag my husband to wear something dressier that buttons up the front. I think it’s funny that there are clothes that I feel uncomfortable sending my kids to school in but have no problem with wearing them to church.
I don’t usually have big, grand ideas, but the thought of discipleship/mentoring/something fun for preteens to get involved in, maybe invite school friends out to on a Fri. or Sat. night might be cool.
Thanks for making me think, Ed. And for asking us to express all those things we usually keep to ourselves.
I heard about Terra Nova before I moved to Albany. I learned of it from some friends who know Kim Cahill from Campus Ambassadors. Once I got to Albany I was visiting a bunch of different churches and while I agreed with them theologically none of them really felt like home. I would go places and no one would spark a conversation with me (that didn’t sit well with me and made me appreciate my church home in OH all the more) but my first day at Terra at LCC Phil came and shook my hand and spoke with me for a while and I loved Ed’s preaching. It felt like home and that’s what drew me to Terra Nova.
I’m big on the Reformation and one of the big themes of the Reformation was Soli Deo Gloria. I really like the fact that Terra Nova is not afraid to give glory to God in ways that have become atypical in the Church. I also like the fact that we celebrate communion every Sunday and that we do not neglect ancient practices of the Church.
I really hope that someday Terra Nova could be at the forefront of churches and other organizations in the capital district for meeting the needs of the poor and marginalized. Overall, I am well pleased with my experience at Terra Nova and see it as a place where I can come and worship God in a comfortable yet challenging atmosphere. Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication guys.