Church Without Shoes

What does “church without shoes” mean?

Church Without Shoes is Christ’s Church united in love and service in our community. The name refers to how a collection of Christ honoring churches in the Diablo Valley have chosen to live. These pastors and churches, are pursuing ways to work together to better serve God and serve people. We seek follow the model of Jesus as we grow UP (worship) in our relationship and responsibilities with God, IN (community/fellowship) with our relationship and responsibilities with one another and OUT (mission) together in our relationship and responsibilities to the community/world where we live.

“Church Without Shoes” recalls the servant model of Jesus. On the night He was betrayed, He removed the disciple’s shoes, Judas’ as well (John 13). He washed their feet and charged them to serve in the world in the same way.

When we serve God and people together this way, discipleship becomes worship as we become an affirming “Yes” to Jesus’ prayer and plan in John 17:-21 (NLT): My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father–that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.
Begin by thinking of “church without shoes” as a verb instead of a noun. Church without shoes is a way of doing life together and in the world, a way Jesus showed us to live and a told us to follow.

In one of the most intimate moments with His disciples Jesus shows us how we should think and relate to one another. We are to be servants. Submitted before the hands of Jesus we let go of our pride and embrace His servant example.

So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet. . . . John 13
Church Without Shoes is a way of remembering Jesus’ example and saying, “Underneath all our pride, our best dreams and ambitions, even our denominational expressions, we are really the same; we are people who need Jesus’ cleansing touch and we need to serve one another and the world the way He has shown us.”

On this  site please find:

monthly links to pastor / leader prayer 

current events like music concerts benefits like Justin McRoberts Christmas Benefit at Hope Center, Art Heckman free concert at Saint Matthew, or Dave Foster’s new CD

current opportunities to serve the community like Hearing and Doing Poverty, Literacy panels etc and Our Beautiful Day when as we serve schools and walk for a cure CF Cystic Fibrosis

current opportunities to see ask, “How does my job, my faith impact the kingdom of God and my workplace?” God @ Work 

current concerns to consider the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act (H.R. 3887) a bill aiming to better address the ongoing slavery of millions of men, women, and children, who are forced into manual labor or sex servitude around the world every year

ongoing projects like ilent.org an annual forty day interactive adventure of the Spirit from the Word to the World, uniting 21c Jesus followers with the faith journey of the historic Church daily devotions hymns current music and events like 40 hours of prayer, Maundy Thursday Community Wide Communion Service, and Pastor Swap. Pastor Swap is the first Sunday of Lent when 20+ churches swap pastors for the Day and the visiting pastor brings a Gospel empowered message of encouragement, unity and urgency.

current opportunities to look at improving parenting in your home and heart

below and on each page please find links to many of the Christ honoring Churches who have intentionally committed to serve together.