Membership

adpic.gifWe like to think of membership as the basement.  It's where we encourage everyone to come.  It may sound strange since most homes try to close off the basement when guests arrive.  That's just it, we don't want people to stay guests at MERCYhouse.  We want them to become a host and that means working themselves down the ladder.

From very early on in the teaching of Jesus he made it clear that this life is not about us.  It is about loving God and serving others.  He stated it this way in the book of Matthew chapter 16 (see below).  


"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Matthew 16:24,25 (NIV)



It is the paradox of the Christian life that as you loose your life for God and others you actually embrace the life you were created to live.  Selfish living never led to the fulfillment of anyone.  

This is the view we take when talking about "church membership."  Those who want to become members of MERCYhouse are saying that they agree with this vision for church and want to uniquely commit themselves to this body of Christ for the purpose of passionately loving God and actively loving others.  

If this sounds like something that you are interested in , the first step is to attend one of our Newcomers Classes that are offered on Sunday afternoons a few times during the semester.  In that class, you'll hear about the beginnings of MERCYhouse as well as the vision and beliefs of our church, be able to ask questions, and find out more about what it means to be a member of this local church.  See you in the basement!

Newcomers Classes coming this Fall 2009

Date:
Sunday, September 28 (1:30-4:30pm)
Sunday, November 9 (1:30-4:30pm)


Location: 
main building (365 n. pleasant) in Amherst

Contact Robert at Robert@knowmercy.org or 413-374-7532 if you have questions or want to sign-up for an upcoming class.