Inspired by the first Christians, we meet in public, large groups on Sundays and in private, small groups we call “Cells” throughout the week. Sundays have teaching and worship, and Cells are more conversational. Face-to-face we get to encourage each other, meet personal needs, and include our friends.
Cells are small groups of about 10 people that meet throughout the week all across our region.
Just like cells of the human body, each cell is unique and infinitely valuable. The character and content of a cell depends on the people who are in it. No matter what, we know that when we sit down together in love and orient ourselves around Jesus, good things happen.
We meet on Sundays in four different parts of our region, in Philadelphia (Fishtown, Germantown, and South Philly) and South Jersey (our building is in Pennsauken). These large group meetings are designed to bring us together and demonstrate love.
We meet on Sundays in four different parts of our region, in Philadelphia (Fishtown, Germantown, and South Philly) and South Jersey (our building is in Pennsauken). These large group meetings are designed to bring us together and demonstrate love.
Our meetings are always taking on a different flavor to keep us fresh and aware. A few ingredients that remain consistent:
You don’t have to believe to belong. Cynics, skeptics, agnostics, long time believesr and everything in between – come to relate, deepen, and strengthen your bond to Jesus and to others.
God is doing new stuff and so are we.
We express our hearts through original music, art and meditation. We draw from various traditions of the past and present. These meetings are alive and dynamic to engage the body, mind and spirit.
We aren’t going for lectures and sermons. The speaker is not the only one who has something to share from God. Our leaders share a message but then we talk back. We rely on the Holy Spirit to move in the conversation.
Get to know your neighbor with some down time to just relate. Hang out after the meeting to connect.
Kid’s are part of the body, too. They have a special place among us, and it’s not off to the side! Learn more about our unique approach in our Teens and Kids section below. We call it “Village Parenting”
Young people are a vital part of our community. Our Village Parenting approach is about loving and relating to children and teens so they experience God’s’ love for them. We don’t expect them to have grown-up faith; we create the opportunity for relating to God through our care. And we do this together! Children learn more by what we do than by what we say, so the 24/7 life of our community becomes a main teacher. Together we create an environment of God’s loving presence through the practices of community, worship, sharing God’s story, prayer, and service. It takes a village to nurture children to grow into adults who can face the world with faith, hope and love. It also takes a village to support parents and caregivers in this crucial work! We want you and your child(ren) to be a part of it.
We design Sunday meetings to include kids in age appropriate ways. When we meet in our buildings, the Children’s Team provides meetings for kids to hear stories, playfully relate, and engage in wonder about God together. All of our amazing volunteers are properly screened and receive ongoing training to provide for the safety and well-being of all the children.
We strive to create a safe space that is appropriate and comfortable for all ages. All of our amazing volunteers have been properly screened.
Babies and toddlers
Childcare is provided for 6 months olds to 3 year olds.
Preschool
An age appropriate kid’s meeting designed to develop a sense of community, have fun, and engage with Jesus stories.
Elementary School
Explore and relate with God and each other in a creative meeting for grade-school kids. Sometimes they join the adult meeting to experience worship together.
Middle schoolers
Preteens are participating more with adults in worship and teaching, but we provide other ways to build relationships with caring adults, share their stories, ask questions about God and faith, and connect with others at their developmental level. We help them discover their gifts and skills and find ways to share them in the church.
Teens
Teenagers participate in the full life of the church through our adult Sunday meetings and cells when they are ready. We take them seriously and encourage them to serve in the church by using their gifts and skills on our various teams.
Stay tuned for Upcoming Events for family oriented resources and opportunities.