Same Church, New Setup

We successfully had our first portable church service yesterday, and it went surprisingly smooth and really well. It only took a little over an hour to set up and about an hour to tear everything down. My muscles are so sore from moving heavy cafeteria tables and chairs back into place in the wing where children's church is held.

The Chattanooga Vineyard is now being held on the campus of Tyner Academy. The main auditorium is where the main service is held, but children's church is in their cafeteria area, and Kids Rock (grades 1-5) is held in their gym. It's pretty crazy being so spread out, but that's where volunteer help makes or breaks the efficiency. I was sort of all over the place, despite that I only signed up in 2 areas. I think doing so helps with efficiency though, so I'm never standing around somewhere not doing something.

Just to give you an idea of how the portable church system works, we have purchased 2 trailers full of selected equipment needed for all of our purposes: lighting, draperies, band and audio gear, lobby tables, coffee machines, signage, children's area carpets and toys and area walls, kid's area stage, band and audio gear, and tons more other things. All these items are kept in variously sized rolling cases which are surprisingly light weight and easy to load and unload in whichever area they belong in. Teams were established for initial set up, and then for area-specific set up in each ministry.

I didn't really expect this, but the portable church thing is a lot more fun than I anticipated, ha. It's something about the challenge of the efficiency as to how quickly and successfully we can get everything accomplished, and still have time to talk with people and be welcoming. Already I feel like just through the volunteering process, I've met about 6 new people. It is fun, but it's also pretty tiring, at least this past weekend was for me. Sundays will be less relaxing, but I guess that's what the afternoon is for.

I think what I like the most is that everyone seems to take initiative. There are area-specific leaders, but it really is all of us together in one giant Lead Team to get done what needs to get done. I wish I could be in all areas at once to see how well and how quickly it all actually comes together. Or that I had an aerial view of everything going on at once. I bet it's amazing. I guess only God gets that perspective ;)