What do you think about Zac's?

When I arrived at Zac's last night Bas said, 'Oi you, I gotta talk to you,' and he nodded towards the kitchen.
'Oo er.'

It turned out that Sean was absolutely knackered and had asked if Bas and I could take the evening so he could stay home. 'He suggested we find out what people think about the study and whether it could be improved. Things like that,' Bas said.
'Oo er.'

So we did. Quite a few regulars were missing but the place was still full - and very very warm - and it turned out, as expected, that everyone loves it just the way it is. As Nick said, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

Some of the points made were:
everyone is welcome from the homeless alcoholics to, well, me;
we're a community, a family, and we cover a huge spectrum of lifestyles;
we've developed and changed for the better from where we started;
it's not one person pontificating but everyone can join in;
different views can be shared and they're all respected.

Pete said he'd like more study; Raquel said she'd like some worship music; several people suggested something on Sundays; and everyone wanted to support Sean more.

As for me, yes, I love it: the place, the people, and what it gives me. I've learned so much and I was unbelievably thrilled to be asked to help Bas last night, to be trusted, to be considered one of the core, to be given such an opportunity.

We're in the middle of studying the life of David and we're using a book by Eugene Peterson (translator of The Message) as an aid. In it he writes, "When Christian communities are healthy, the 'little ones' aren't demeaned and dispirited into being followers and consumers but find themselves acquiring initiative and originality as their priests and pastors, deacons and bishops, friends and neighbours serve them."

That sums it up for me.
xx