Koinonia @ Shell Ridge Community Church
Walnut Creek, CA
Good News for All People! An exciting monthly small-group gathering occurs on the second Friday of each month at Shell Ridge Church, Walnut Creek, CA. People of various different religious backgrounds come together to worship God, learn, and share together. This is an ecumenical outreach program of Shell Ridge Church -- offering an inclusive experience and open to all interested persons in the area.
Shell Ridge encourages a philosophy of openness and works cooperatively with people of various denominations and faiths. We believe such openness provides us a way to reach out and fulfill the essential call of Jesus to follow and honor God's spirit wherever that may be found. As Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, "God is spirit, and those who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:24)
Since its inception almost fifteen years ago, Koinonia has drawn from those of Jewish, Christian, Islamic and other faiths, and attendance has included persons from Baptist, Christian (Disciples), Jewish, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Unitarian-Universalist, United Church of Christ traditions, and also those of no faith or denominational affiliation. The service includes music, quiet meditation, sharing time, and prayers of joy and concern, with participants gathered together in a circle around a community table.
We are a small group who seek to follow the values and teachings of Jesus without being limited by the "boundaries" of denomination or creed. We respect the integrity of each person's faith, as we believe Jesus did. We believe "following Jesus" means living out the values of Jesus. Participants may (or may not) have their own individual membership in the host church or in other churches and faith communities. In cooperation we gather, honoring the spiritual integrity of each person -- and excluding none who come among us in integrity and faith.
Persons of all sexual orientations -- specifically including "LGBT" (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) -- are welcome in our midst. Jesus reflected the openness of a God who loves ALL people as a father or a mother loves their own children. God's love is shown in all of the things Jesus did and said. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." (Mark 10:14)
Come, be received -- as you are -- in God's love!
In the great, wonderful, unconditional love of God,
Rev. Rick Mitchell, Ph.D., Koinonia Coordinator