Upgrading from Spaghetti

I just left a meeting that involved eight of the eleven home owners on our street and a representative from the City of Lynnwood's Water Department. As home owners on our street, the water meters for all of our houses sit at the top of the street. The water line we are each responsible for runs along the street under our neighbor's yards, until it reaches our house. My water line is close to 300 ft and some neighbors have lines over 600 ft. This is called a spaghetti line water set up. It is a set up, because when there's a leak anywhere along the line, the home owner it belongs to gets to dig up the other neighbor's yard to repair the leak. Our meeting with the city is an attempt to get a water main, operated by the city run down our street, with meters being placed directly in front of our houses.

This is ultimately what all of the home owners desire but according to the city, we are each looking at a bill of $2,000 to $5,000. We've currently got water, it's a pain sometimes when you're the house with the leak, but we've got water. To change it and make things better it's going to take a serious investment, we'll still have water. We just won't have as much water line to potentially have to repair. What's interesting is that not every house on the street has to buy into the new water main system. Once the new system is in, those that have opted in and those who haven't will basically still be getting the same water. The quality will be the same, the cost we pay is the same, the pressure will be basically the same but I tend to think that those who make the investment will have better water.

Here's why I think that. If we consider what Silver Creek offers as "water" being provided to those that consider Silver Creek their church, the "water" available is all the same. Whatever type of "water system" you've used to connect, the "water" is there. What I have discovered is that those that buy in and are invested are still getting the same "water", but it's better "water". When you or I invest in anything, the result or benefit that we experience always seems to improve. The "water" doesn't change, the message that is preached is the same, the worship team plays/sings the same song, the family camp, block party, KidFest or bunko night events are the same, the facility location is the same. But for those that have invested, that have made things happen, that have a deeper passion for the "water", to them their is an upgrade from a spaghetti water system to a water main system.

Summer at Silver Creek has a distinct emphasis on our Core Value of CONNECT. Staff and leadership plan events strategically aimed at helping individuals CONNECT at a greater level than where ever they are currently. Those that know just about everyone at Silver Creek will hopefully know everyone a little better. Those that are relatively new and don't have many connections, will have the opportunity to get to know a few more people. In order for connections to happen, it will take an investment by individuals . The investment may be a few dollars, will certainly include time and a willingness to develop relationships at different levels with other people.

We recognize that summers are busy, so we add lots to our calendar. Not to make summers busier but so that when your schedule doesn't allow you to attend one event, you'll hopefully be able to catch the next opportunity to connect and you won't go all summer without seeing other people from Silver Creek. Let me highlight some of the ways you can CONNECT and invest this summer.

• Join a CONNECT group or plan to join one in September.
• Make sure you get to at least one of our summer Family Camps (July 30-Aug 1 or Sept 3 - 6).
• Be at our Block Party on July 4th, from 5-9pm and listen for ways that you can be a part of making that event a success.
  
• Whenever you're in town, come to the Park It's immediately following Sunday morning services on July 11, Aug 8 and 11. Everyone brings their own lunch and we spend time together at North Lynnwood Neighborhood Park on 44th Ave.
• Bring your family to our movie nights out on the new grass field behind the church, July 2nd and Aug 27th.
• There are also events all summer for 5th - 12th grade students, do what you can to get you kids in those grades to these events. Sign up now and save $5.
  
• Those that enjoy riding motorcycles have several options for group rides as well.

All of these events are listed on our new web site and can be registered for there as we get closer to each particular event. Take a look at Events & Calendar.

I believe that Silver Creek offers tremendous ways to connect relationally and grow spiritually and both will happen at the rate that individuals chose to invest of themselves.

Looks like the sun is coming out this weekend, hope you get a chance to enjoy it,

Brent