So hey, it's that time again... time for any of you who are still checking in here to vote on possible names for another of my (impossible?) professional ventures. This time a new worship service, to be Sundays at 5pm with an alternative/eclectic style of music and prayer and conversation and such. Emphasis on all are welcome (doubts and questions included) and faith is more than an hour on Sundays (do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God). We're particularly looking to reach young adults and families; the immediate neighborhood is mostly Anglo upper-middle-class but other nearby neighborhoods include lower-income families, African-American and Hispanic/Latino communities. The current congregation is mostly older and most of them have moved out of the neighborhood, so we're starting outreach more or less from scratch.
With that in mind, here's the current list of top contenders from my brainstorming sessions... What do you like? What else would you suggest?
the commons - a gathering place, also a sense of togetherness created by recognizing the common good, resources that are available to all, the world we have in common (*note: this one was added late*)
all in - all people are welcome, each person gives their all
work in progress - church is a work in progress; we all are works in progress; God is at work, we are at work, we are making progress
midcity God - reading Psalm 46 recently I came across this:
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. / God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
living room - a place for living, for life in abundance, not stuffy but casual, a place for play and talk
pigs and madmen - Matthew's gospel tells of two men possessed by demons, and Jesus cast the demons out into a herd of swine; Peterson's The Message has the swineherds telling "everyone back in town what had happened to the madmen and the pigs." I liked it. Maybe for the name of our band?
allsacred - no distinction between sacred and secular; all people are of sacred worth
open house - God's house is always open to all
kin'dom - the reign of God without the hierarchy and patriarchy of kingdom, replaced by relationships among the family of God
koinonia - meaning community, communion
sheltering tree - the tree of life in the garden of Eden and in the City of God
deep life - life abundant, going out to deep water, heart & soul life
living word - the Word became flesh and lived among us; we are the Word of God living in the world
pilgrim band - think I heard this in a song? fellowship of those on the journey together
2nd-tier options:
vintage love
beloved fools
unholy rabble
come as you are
good earth
grace encounter
unexpected treasure
love in action
4 comments:
my votes for appropriateness and catchiness and minimal cheesiness:
1) open house
2) kin'dom
3) living room (already in use in Melbourne)
Love Megan
With the caveat that I'm not a fan of worship styles that've emerged since, oh, the 17th century (so you may want to discard my vote), I'll go for pigs and madmen-- if you can make it gender neutral, which I guess would spoil the catchiness... Oh, hell, I'm undermining the suggestion, aren't I? True to my tendency, I'll depart, only having muddied the waters further.
hmm... for gender neutrality, it could be pigs & madness, or pigs & mayhem... but it does kinda lose the biblical tie-in a bit. maybe someone else will pick it up for a band name... :) thanks for posting!
I like "the commons." I think it speaks to the style that you are wanted to foster. My sons' high school had a commons which they loved because that was where they hung out to just be - no pressure, no homework, just friends and conversatiion and food. So, as you can tell, i am partial to that idea. Good luck!
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