Our Stories
They'll Know
By Abigail Short | posted 10/10/2007
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35 NIV)
Last week, the Lambie-Pies said a joyful, tearful (and delicious) farewell to two dear members. It was an evening full of memories and shared fondness that- Wait, what did you ask? What are Lambie-Pies? Well, let me tell you a story.
In September of 2004, I had just moved to Seattle from my home town in Michigan. I visited Creekside Covenant Church because I had found its website, and the people were so friendly that I never left. Since I work at Microsoft, and thus everyone I had met up to that point had been male, I determined to join a women's group. Creekside's small groups flyer listed one not far from my new apartment, so I drove to the first meeting and...was told to come back in two weeks, when everyone else would actually be there. It was a fitting start - humorous, friendly, and loving.
We're an eclectic bunch, really. Our ages span more than twenty-five years. We are single, married, and single-again; parents and non-parents; life-long Christians and recent believers. We are programmers, teachers, writers, businesswomen and stay-at-home moms (sometimes at the same time!). Some of us love to talk, some of us to listen (and it's a good thing, too, or we'd never leave before midnight). We are all very open - some might say too open - and that has fostered a true sense of family, of a group that is completely safe.
Together we've been through anniversaries and break-ups, promotions and illnesses, answered prayers and disappointing news. Do you need a place to stay? Someone has a spare room. Are you frustrated by moving? We'll help you pack or move or unpack, as the need arises. Did your babysitter back out at the last minute? We've got you covered. Sometimes we do hurt each other's feelings or let each other down, but then we also reconcile. We have painted walls, put away Christmas decorations, lent cars. We have prayed and advised and listened and cried and prayed some more. We've laughed and sympathized and crowed "Too much information!" (but not meant it). In short, we've been alive together.
In the book of Acts, the early church is described as being a similarly close-knit community. "[T]hey gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people" (Acts 2:45b-47a). These new believers were learning a new truth - that through the Holy Spirit, we can experience freedom to be ourselves and love one another in relationships that are deeper than anything the world has to offer.
I believe this is the kind of love to which Jesus was referring in John 13:35 - the kind that people can't get enough of. This love is what Christianity has to offer the world, the experience that is unique among all religions and philosophies. It's relevant to everyone in every time and place and culture. It isn't divisive, accusatory or shaming - it's something we all desperately want and need.
The next sentence in the Acts verses above is, "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47b NIV). One time, a discussion question asked whether our group would be recognized as Christian even if no one ever heard us speaking about God (which would be surprising). We looked around and each of us slowly smiled as we realized...yes, we could be. We had this community and it happened so naturally we never even noticed.
This story is not unique to or at Creekside, but it's our story. Throughout the last three years, we have stayed remarkably close. The five of us from the first meeting (when it finally transpired) weren't separated until last week, though we have added other friends to our number and some have transitioned in and out. We just can't stand to be long without our Lambies!
Oh yes! But I promised to tell you the story of the name "Lambie-Pies." In the spring of 2005, some of us went to the Creekside women's retreat. Though the theme that year was our identity as princesses - daughters of the King of kings, you know! - the name that stuck was a casual line from the speaker. She said God looked down on us and called us Lambie-Pies, because he just loves us that much! The name tickled our fancy and we adopted it. So if you hear people talking about "lambs" or "pies," that's us, and that's why.
Abigail can be reached at abigail@daughteroflight.com. The Lambie-Pies meet on Thursday nights at 7:00 PM at Leah Smith's house; contact her at leah@sphericalcow.net. Our next study will be on the book of Daniel. No neuroses are required to join, but we can't guarantee that they won't develop once you're here.
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"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35 NIV)
Last week, the Lambie-Pies said a joyful, tearful (and delicious) farewell to two dear members. It was an evening full of memories and shared fondness that- Wait, what did you ask? What are Lambie-Pies? Well, let me tell you a story. In September of 2004, I had just moved to Seattle from my home town in Michigan. I visited Creekside Covenant Church because I had found its website, and the people were so friendly that I never left. Since I work at Microsoft, and thus everyone I had met up to that point had been male, I determined to join a women's group. Creekside's small groups flyer listed one not far from my new apartment, so I drove to the first meeting and...was told to come back in two weeks, when everyone else would actually be there. It was a fitting start - humorous, friendly, and loving. We're an eclectic bunch, really. Our ages span more than twenty-five years. We are single, married, and single-again; parents and non-parents; life-long Christians and recent believers. We are programmers, teachers, writers, businesswomen and stay-at-home moms (sometimes at the same time!). Some of us love to talk, some of us to listen (and it's a good thing, too, or we'd never leave before midnight). We are all very open - some might say too open - and that has fostered a true sense of family, of a group that is completely safe. Together we've been through anniversaries and break-ups, promotions and illnesses, answered prayers and disappointing news. Do you need a place to stay? Someone has a spare room. Are you frustrated by moving? We'll help you pack or move or unpack, as the need arises. Did your babysitter back out at the last minute? We've got you covered. Sometimes we do hurt each other's feelings or let each other down, but then we also reconcile. We have painted walls, put away Christmas decorations, lent cars. We have prayed and advised and listened and cried and prayed some more. We've laughed and sympathized and crowed "Too much information!" (but not meant it). In short, we've been alive together. In the book of Acts, the early church is described as being a similarly close-knit community. "[T]hey gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people" (Acts 2:45b-47a). These new believers were learning a new truth - that through the Holy Spirit, we can experience freedom to be ourselves and love one another in relationships that are deeper than anything the world has to offer. I believe this is the kind of love to which Jesus was referring in John 13:35 - the kind that people can't get enough of. This love is what Christianity has to offer the world, the experience that is unique among all religions and philosophies. It's relevant to everyone in every time and place and culture. It isn't divisive, accusatory or shaming - it's something we all desperately want and need. The next sentence in the Acts verses above is, "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47b NIV). One time, a discussion question asked whether our group would be recognized as Christian even if no one ever heard us speaking about God (which would be surprising). We looked around and each of us slowly smiled as we realized...yes, we could be. We had this community and it happened so naturally we never even noticed. This story is not unique to or at Creekside, but it's our story. Throughout the last three years, we have stayed remarkably close. The five of us from the first meeting (when it finally transpired) weren't separated until last week, though we have added other friends to our number and some have transitioned in and out. We just can't stand to be long without our Lambies! Oh yes! But I promised to tell you the story of the name "Lambie-Pies." In the spring of 2005, some of us went to the Creekside women's retreat. Though the theme that year was our identity as princesses - daughters of the King of kings, you know! - the name that stuck was a casual line from the speaker. She said God looked down on us and called us Lambie-Pies, because he just loves us that much! The name tickled our fancy and we adopted it. So if you hear people talking about "lambs" or "pies," that's us, and that's why. Abigail can be reached at abigail@daughteroflight.com. The Lambie-Pies meet on Thursday nights at 7:00 PM at Leah Smith's house; contact her at leah@sphericalcow.net. Our next study will be on the book of Daniel. No neuroses are required to join, but we can't guarantee that they won't develop once you're here. |
