ATLANTA (Mennonite Mission Network) – An air of celebration permeated Beulah Cathedral as members of four diverse urban congregations joined their voices to worship together and commemorate a year of work and witness in Atlanta.
On July 15, members of Atlanta Mennonite Fellowship, Beulah Cathedral, Community Fellowship and East Atlanta Christian Fellowship, partner churches of DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) in Atlanta, gathered together to participate in the “DOOR Atlanta Celebration,” an annual ecumenical worship service that crosses racial, economic and denominational lines.
The service included prayer, music, reflections from DOOR staff members and participants, and a meditation by Glenn Blazer, DOOR national director. After the service, all attendees were invited to stay for a potluck dinner and a time of fellowship.
“For us, it has become a little slice of what heaven will look like when we get there,” said Jeff Delp, Atlanta city director for DOOR. According to Delp, not only did the service provide space to remember and celebrate the past year’s good work, but it has become a time when four churches that typically do not gather together to worship on a normal Sunday morning in Atlanta can come together to praise, celebrate and fellowship.
The churches are united in their common support of DOOR Atlanta. Each of the congregations plays a role in helping DOOR to run smoothly by providing board representatives, staff members, volunteers, housing, and support for DOOR participants.
The DOOR program, a part of Mennonite Mission Network’s Christian Service ministries, is designed to help participants see the face of God in the city. Opportunities to serve and explore are currently available in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Hollywood, Miami and San Antonio and range in length from one weekend to a year. This past year, DOOR hosted 469 participants in Atlanta.
