Neighbor News
Introducing Grounds of Hope
An alternative worship service introduced by First Congregational United Church of Christ Downers Grove
First Congregational United Church of Christ, Downers Grove, is trying a faith experiment.
Rev. Scott Oberle, Senior Pastor of First Congregational explains why: “In seventeen years of ministry, I have gone to weddings and funerals and people ask me questions about faith and God. People are eager to engage in the spiritual. But when I ask them where they go to church they quickly retreat and back pedal. They become flush or embarrassed or disavow the church in skepticism and sometimes anger. ‘Too hypocritical’ I hear often. Too exclusive and narrow is another. But the most common is, ‘I don’t feel like I need church, I find God at my home reading the paper with a coffee or walking in the Arboretum.’”
Less than 20% of Americans go to a church on a regular basis. Today millions of Americans state that they are spiritual but not religious.
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Going to a church can be intimidating, especially for people who have been hurt by such experiences in the past, laden with heavy guilt or felt wounded by “church” people. Many people find comfort and joy in Jesus, but sometimes the church seems far from the teachings and love of Christ.
Knowing how daunting a church service can be, Rev. Oberle is offering an alternative. He invites anyone and everyone to a coffee house gathering of coffee, music, and yes - God. This alternative service called Grounds of Hope, seeks to be a place to enjoy other people, relationships, coffee, music and dialogues about God. Grounds of Hope is meant to engage the faith journey without heavy-handed coercive evangelism or judgment. Hopefully, it will be a spiritual safe place for any of God’s children to share some of their faith thoughts, struggles, and joys.
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Grounds of Hope is held Wednesday evenings between 6:00-7:00pm at the Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss Street in Downers Grove. Use the west front entrance under the lattice pergola.
Grounds of Hope invites everyone to come, not be converted or asked to become a member, but to join a time of community and sharing that leads with the most basic of God’s gifts – the gift of Love.
