inter-congregational fellowship

This past weekend the SFC staff which I'm a part of went away for a retreat. We didn't go far, but we felt very distanced from the normal hustle and bustle of our neighborhood...

This isn't "normal" in our christian culture for all the pastors (Sr, associate, youth, music) to be absent from the worshiping congregation on the same day. Yet for me, there was clear value in the experience.
1. It was an amazing time of being together as a staff, building relationships, cooking meals, dreaming, reflecting, and casting a vision for the future.
2. We relied on the fellowship & support of the Kingdom of God.

A big part of why we were able to go away is because of the way we've structure our building. Discovery House, the building our church owns, currently has 5 congregations who call it home. And as such, I believe there is value in how we, as a staff had a weekend away, relied on the support of the Discovery House family. As we were away, we asked one of the other congregations to help us in speaking and leading worship. What ensued was a joint worship experience where 2 congregations came together as the CHURCH.

Growing up in a pastoral home, I never saw my dad leave on a staff retreat in this way. I never heard of inter-congregational fellowship taking place where support was felt on both ends.

I hope this past weekends experience for - SFC - all the congregations of Discovery House - and the greater Church - can be one of learning what it means to be neighbors in the Kingdom of God!