What are Branch Communities?
Branch Communities are an intentional fellowship of neighbors, friends, strangers attempting to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ within their lives. These community are built on a philosophy of three vines on healthy community.
The Three Vines of Healthy Community--
Vine One-- Celebration
Genesis affirms that when God had finished creating "he" looked at all that he created and said, "It is very good!" Creation, relationships, human encounter with the divine are named very good. The first vine of healthy community is recognizing the inter-relationships within our gatherings and the goodness that God intends for us. Furthermore, we also know that such goodness is lived out in experiences that often fall short of God's hopes.
Therefore, in our attempt to live in healthy community we commit to gather weekly and pray for each other and our world, sing songs, read and meditate on scripture.
Vine Two-- Community Service/ Mission
The good news is good precisely because it offers to people news that liberates, sets free and transforms lives. In Branch Fellowship Communities we understand that sharing the good news is not so much an act of talking but more seriously an act of joining Jesus' hands in washing feet. The second vine of healthy community is service to our neighbors both locally and globally.
Therefore, it is our goal that together as a community we will be engaged in monthly practices of servant-hood. These practices might be as simple as working together on a particular project within one of our neighborhoods or as complex as writing letters to senators and congressmen. We might find ourselves planning mission experiences within Oklahoma or traveling to another country. However, central to this second vine is community service as an understanding that sharing the good news of Jesus Christ requires living the good news.
Vine Three-- Table Fellowship
Following the resurrection- two of Jesus' disciples were walking on the road away from Jerusalem toward Emmaus. A stranger, who unbeknown to them was Jesus, joined them. As they walked they shared with Jesus all the happenings of the day. Coming to the end of the days walk they invited this stranger Jesus to sit at table with them. As this stranger Jesus began to share with them the table blessings of bread and wine the disciples eyes quickly came to recognize him.
Branch Fellowship Communities believe that we are called to share in this most basic practice of eating together. Our third vine is a covenant to share food at least once a week. As a community to share in a collective meal at someones home gives us the opportunity to grow in fellowship and friendship. In the sharing of this meal we will focus on healthy fellowship, healthy eating and healthy conversation.
Who Is Welcome:
Branch Communities are constructed around an understanding of "Life Together" within a particular location. Our shared location is Stillwater, Oklahoma a community made up of various different social, ethnic, racial, economic, religious, age and educational levels. Therefore, the first premise of the Branch Fellowship Communities is open-ness to the entirety of God's human family. From infants to senior citizens, college students to working class families, housed and homeless regardless are invited to join in our life of growing, serving and sharing.
