Sacred Places Training

First, credit where credit is due.  This training was hosted by the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA, and the presenters were from Partners for Sacred Places.  

I learned several good and helpful things from the awesome presenters, Gianfranco Grande and Emily Sajdak.  Emily puts together a mean power point, and I was grateful for all her work.  Gianfranco is a dynamic presenter, and I'm hopeful that there is much I can learn from him, and ways that I can grow in my understandings of the best ways a church can be used for the mission of God -- sharing love with the world.  

The best thing I learned was this, which is a new way of thinking for many.  

We are stewards of our church buildings for our community [and for the Mission of God]. 

I was thinking so hard during the training, I live tweeted it.  This training was very worth my time, and I came away with many ideas.  I learned new language to communicate with others a new way of thinking about who we are and what we do as church, and how our buildings matter to the places the reside.  Our buildings, and how we steward them, matter to God.  If we primary encounter God through people, and if we serve Jesus by offering clothing, drinks of water, food, and visits of prisoners (Matthew 25: 31-46), how does that change the ways we use our buildings?   

Comment Below.  
1. What barriers have you heard to this way of thinking?
2. How do you feel about this?  Do you cringe thinking about using church this way?  Why?
3. What possibilities and drawbacks do you see to this way of thinking? 

Wisdom and Conversation from Sacred Places Training at MCS