Tell me a story and other good reads: A reflection on our most recent Sharing Circle Sunday

“Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.” 

This past Sunday was a “Sharing Circle” Sunday at Refuge. For us, a “sharing circle” looks like this: we put the chairs in the sanctuary in a circle and the main event for that particular Sunday morning gathering is people come ready to share. Ever since we got rid of our pews and invested in chairs back in the early 2000s, new panoramas of experiences have opened up to us as a congregation because now we can place the chairs however we like. That's one reason “Thanksbringing”, our annual service of thanks-sharing, came to be. Since that time we have used that same formation for similar kinds of services.

For this particular gathering the week before I gave everyone an assignment: that they should come ready to share about a book they have recently read that has given them life; a book that has helped them grow in their walk with Christ. Of course, not everyone likes to read. And others don't take time to read. But in every group there's always those who are voracious readers and if you ask them they are only too happy to let you know what they're next best read currently is.

Kale & LeAnne were our worship leaders that morning and as they played the opening song people drifted in. By the greeting time that followed most of the folk who were going to be there were on hand including some infrequent guests and a family being exposed to Refuge for the very first time (but not to most of us). When the chairs are lined up in rows there is a level of security that most people create especially the further away from the platform they sit. They can “hide” in plain sight, especially if they've had a bad week. But when you put the chairs in a big circle Pangea opens up and it potentially could expose you to eye contact from the pastor. We've done this kind of format enough, however, that most of us know how the gathering will roll and, in many cases, welcome the change.

Following announcements and the weekly passing of the plate, we got right to it. While normally our gathering lasts two hours the deacons had requested that we conclude by 11:30 a.m. as immediately following the gathering we were planning a “Meal of Sharing” (which is code for “potluck”). So with all the preliminaries out of the way it was 10:30 and since we also had communion to partake of, we had potentially 45 minutes worth of sharing before we had to transition to the meal.

Here are the books that were presented during the sharing time that followed:

Run With the Horses: The Quest For Life At Its Best by Eugene H. Peterson.

(myself)

I've read pretty much everything that Eugene wrote. He vicariously mentored me as a young pastor through his writings. This book, however, brought into the life of Jeremiah the Prophet and chapter 12 (“To All the Exiles”) gave words to the feeling that was in my heart when I read this book for the very first time in 1993. Jeremiah 29:7 - “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” - has become my ministerial philosophy for my life. Everything I do as pastor, as coach, as mayor, and as substitute teacher flows through this verse and I have Peterson to thank for helping me discover that.

The Way of Life: Experiencing the Culture of Heaven on Earth by Bill Johnson.

(Dan Grotberg)

Dan is an electrician. Johnson is all about every part of our lives being used to build the kingdom and glorify God.

They Said It Wasn't Possible: True Stories of People Who Were Healed from the Impossible by Karen Hurd.

(LeAnne Turney)

LeAnne has struggled with a physical condition for many years. Karen's book has encouraged her and the diet she prescribes has helped create real change in her life.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis.

(LeAnne Turney)

LeAnne shared a portion of her favorite chapter from this book (Chapter 7: “How the Adventure Ended”) that's all about the “un-dragoning of Eustace Scrubb” and read that portion to us. It's my favorite portion, too.

“The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off….Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off – just as I thought I’d done it myself the other three times, only they hadn’t hurt – and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker and more knobbly looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me…and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I’d turned into a boy again…after a bit the lion took me out and dressed me – “

“Dressed you. With his paws?”

“Well, I don’t exactly remember that bit. But he did somehow or other: in new clothes.”

Jesus saves us but growing into his character often hurts. In fact, if it doesn't we may be trying to “scratch” our own skin off instead of allowing his claws to do their work.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream by David Platt.

(Randy Waterhouse)

This is a book that Randy will tell you changed his life. He took it with him while elk hunting out West once. He didn't bag an elk but God got a hold of his heart.

How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana with Abigail Pesta.

(Randy Waterhouse)

It's the story of how a girl from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who survived a massacre, emmigrated to America and overcame the wounds of her past. Both Randy and Renee have read several books of survivors of tribal massacre in East Africa and how they have found life through forgiveness.

Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh.

(Linda Martin)

Linda is an introvert. She doesn't care to chit-chat with a lot of people after the weekly gathering. For years she has struggled with guilt because of this. This book has assured her that being an introvert is one of the many beautiful things about her. And – as the secondary title has suggested – it's helped her to find her place at church.

You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times by Max Lucado.

(Linda Martin)

Sandy shared this book with Linda last fall and it was a real God-send in her walk these past few months dealing with losing her job and other factors out of her control.

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst.

(Linda Martin)

Linda will tell you that in the last month or so this book has helped her process more than anything else some of the interior dialogue that she has been experiencing. It has truly been life-giving to her.

Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer.

(Christine Martin)

First of all, whenever two introverts (i.e., Linda and Christine) speak up at a gathering like this eager to share the books that have helped them grow, the rest of us should take note. Shirer's book has really helped Christine grow in her attitude with prayer and she highly recommends it.

Radiant: His Light, Your Life for Teen Girls and Young Women by Priscilla Shirer.

(Emily Holmbeck)

Immediately after Christine had finished sharing Emily was eager to share about her favorite read lately. Shirer's words have been catalytic in Emily's and Christine's lives.

The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren.

(Jessica Hanson)

“This book changed my life”. That's what she said. Everything they have done as a family – adopt five children, live two years in Guatemala for ministry purposes, serve at the Pregnancy Help Center – has grown out of reading Warren's book.

The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone.

(Lara Turney through her mother, LeAnne). Lara (a first grader) likes this story because it's about Grover (of Sesame Street fame) and the things we're afraid of.

The Dodo: Pumpkin's Story by Aubre Andrus.

(Kaylee Turney through her mother, LeAnne). Pumpkin is a real miniature horse whose legs don't work to well and how she has found help. Kaylee (a fourth grader) is really enjoying this story as it's about unconditional love.

By the time we got to Reader #8 people were warmed up and I could tell if I had let it go on we would have heard a few more “book reports”. But I wanted to honor the deacon's request of

concluding the gathering at 11:30 a.m. so I closed the sharing time. Kale & LeAnne then led us in another song and then Michael, one of our deacons, led us in the serving of the Meal. For the record we concluded at 11:34 a.m. but I also happened to know we didn't start until a few mintues after 10 so, all things being equal, we pulled it off.

One of the things I loved about Sunday's gathering was that it was a true group effort. While I facilitated the gathering, the Body participated – worship leaders led, people shared from their life and then one of our leaders took us to the table of Jesus to partake in his supper.

Following the gathering those of who could stay moved downstairs for what we're calling a “Meal of Sharing”. A few weeks ago the elders and deacons had met together to converse about how we could, among other things, foster a greater sense of community. During that part of the conversation someone suggested we try a community meal on the first Sunday of the month at least for the immediate future. Those who can stay will stay. Those who have to go should feel free to do so. The story Stone Soup is all about making much out of little by sharing together. Instead of coordinating who would bring what we simply had instructed people to bring what they would and trust that together it would amount to a feast. In the event it didn't, of course, people could always go home and eat there.

If any of us were worried that there wouldn't be enough that worry was for nought. There was more than enough and with left-overs. People stayed, moved about, shared with one another and did what a healthy faith community is supposed to do – encourage one another.

It was a fun day and memorable. I heard of at least one good book that I will put on my list to read. I tried something (i.e., picking the topic of our sharing time) I hadn't before and it seemed to work. The two ideas that had come out of the leadership team meeting a few weeks before worked as well – create opportunities for leaders of our fellowship to grow in their communication abilities and foster a greater sense of community through a common meal on a regular basis. I would say for our fellowship this past Sunday was a win all the way around and something we'll reference time and again.