The Best of Year One

CITNM recently celebrated its FIRST ANNIVERSARY...here is a compliation of pics from year one...a sort of "BEST OF"...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN!

Your best is yet to come!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.471477549546329.120121.215552795138807&type=3

A Kingdom Community

This pic was taken last night at CITNM during a time of 'Meet and Greet'...excellent flow of love, and lots of praise reports about great things happening in the lives of the people...

Look for the CITNM booth this weekend at Pride...the booth number is P-19 in the section on the hill right above Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park...

Also, this coming Sunday, October 9 is our first Sunday service! (8-9 AM)...this service is IN ADDITION TO the Thursday night services...

Come be a part of us...you are welcome!

A Good Report

This past Thursday night at CITNM was awesome...we're really beginning to gel now as a congregation and it's very exciting...pics from the service are posted on the CITNM Facebook page...here's a copy of the letter I sent out last week in case you missed it...

Hey! Hope you're having an excellent day!

I really think that last Thursday night was a turning point for CITNM...the Communion service was very, very special...I mean, Communion always is on some level, but what we experienced last week was something really extraordinary, in my opinion...

Here are a couple of things that Jesus said about His spiritual supper (I know I already shared Luke 22 from Luke In The Now with you last week)...


“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. (Revelation 3:20-NLT)

When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you..." (Luke 22:14,15 - The Message)

Two phrases in these verses stand out to me...

“…we will share a meal together as friends”,

and

“You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you…”

Revelation 3:20 wasn't written to an individual, but to one of the seven churches in Asia Minor (Laodicea), and what strikes me about the way that it is translated in the New Living Translation is that Jesus says His desire is simply to "share a meal with them as friends". That's why He was knocking at the door of that particular church...just to be invited in to sit informally at the table with them...like friends!

Then, the way that Luke 22:14 is phrased in The Message appeals to me because of the way He says "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating...with you".

Even though these two verses are talking about two different things, they both show an interesting aspect of Jesus' personality which is universally relatable. He apparently wants to have friends to eat with.

I love all the Christian sacraments...I love to baptize people in water, I love to dedicate babies (especially when I am their family's pastor), I usually enjoy performing wedding ceremonies, and when there is a real connection, I even love to serve others as Jesus did when He washed His disciples' feet. But nothing is more significant to me than communion, or the Lord's Supper, and I especially enjoy serving it in an informal, almost primitive context, where it seems like a real meal shared among friends, instead of like a sterile, religious ritual.

When Jesus said to His disciples, "THIS is my body", He wasn't just referring to the actual bread that He was breaking for them. "THIS" meant many things on many levels. "THIS" meant those twelve men...that very diverse, somewhat rag-tag group of fishermen, tax collectors, anarchists, and misfits whose common bond was their connection to the Christ revealed through Jesus of Nazareth. The real communion wasn't the physcial bread and wine symbolizing his body and blood as much as it was the subliminal, indefinable connection of those people around that table. And on a deeper level, "THIS" also meant (and means) a meaningful exchange that is an event or a unique "Christ-moment" in time.

Anyway, last week was just that, and it was awesome...and I'm expecting tomorrow night to be evern better!

Please be in agreement with me that the giving will increase at CITNM. The first several weeks I mentioned that the ministry was already paying for itself, and now I wish that I hadn't done that because I think it negatively affected the giving. The bottom line is that someone sponsored it with some start-up money for the first month (payed the rent on the room), but that was just for that month...now it really needs to become self-supporting, especially before we find a permanent location.

I have a good word for you tomorrow night, so I really hope to see you there.

As I told you before, it's just not the same without you!

Peace and love to you,

JES

WEEK V..."ANOINTED!"

Dan Shives leads prophetic praise and worship

Robert Rutherford delivers a timely word about the power of FORGIVENESS

Acts 10..."What's In Your Sheet?"

A very special "THANKYOU" to all of you who came out for Week V, especially those of you who haven't missed a service yet! You are a beautiful group of people...

This is the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
(Psalms 118:23)

REVIEWS FROM OPENING NIGHT

It was beautiful...perfect, really...to all of you who helped make the evening such a success I say thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...I love you!

"Bish, tonight was perfect and felt so complete, so right! The ballroom...ahhh I loved it. So happy to see you truly happy deep within. Midtown just does not even know...they better get ready, bc they're about to find out. I love you. xoxo"
- Lindsey Pettite

"You were great and AWESOME! We felt your happiness and peace. We are so excited for you, us, our new family. It was the most beautiful room of peeps I've ever seen. Much love to you sir. So proud to call you my pastor."
- Sheri Travis

"My divine Bishop, "there's a sweet sweet spirit in THAT place...and I know that it's the spirit of the LORD" A very humble thank you for a beautiful service."
- Javalyn Hall-Johnson

"The New Date Night: Thursdays - 7pm at The Biltmore (CITN - Midtown). It was awesome, it's going to be awesome - what a great night!!! We loved it!"
- Rowena Silvera

"Awesome, awesome, awesome!! Bishop I loved it! everything about it was blessed just like I said it would be! Oh...my "new" spot now on Thursday nites! So glad to be part of it!!!! Love you much!!!"
- Ethel Higgins

"Wow what a wonderful place, and people and message!! The whole evening was a beautiful begining for CITN Midtown!! Thank you for letting us have a part in it!!"
- Linda Green-Richardson

"CITN Midtown had a prosperous turnout!! It was a wonderful experience Jeff and I were a part of tonight!! Thank you again Bishop Jim Swilley for getting the word out!!"
- Bryce Hardin

"It was electrifying tonight at the Biltmore - it was so cool too from where I was sitting I could see the Peachtree St sign - it was like Atlanta was soaking up everything - from our music to your words Bishop - even my fortune cookie was right on the money tonight - great evening - thanks Bishop - many more to come."
- Pamela Holbrook

"I never miss a service..even if not ITB...So wish I could have been there...got goosebumbs looking at the pics and seeing you standing there...very confirming..and feeling/seeing the support from all that love you was beautiful!!!"
- Debra Murphy

"Jim, your dedication and commitment to the people you come into contact with is simply amazing. I wish you the best and hope that you continue to inspire and lead by the example of honesty and compassion you extoll every single day. You are amazing. Atlanta is a better place with you here and working in the capacity you do."
- Rich Sullivan

"The service was awesome. The Spirit of God moved in a mighty way. You folks are real and real awesome. I look forward to being there again sometime. Peace and love, Namaste, jeff"
- Jeff Rust

"I could tell by the pics, it is the right place, the right time and the right season... I am thinking of the first message I sent to you several months ago"
- Claudia James Weaver

"Great turn out and awesome Premier Service at Church In The Now Midtown last night! Those who missed it, missed the start of something great. But no need to worry, next Thursday is just around the corner. Bishop, I am so proud for you!"
- Bobby Newsome

"It was bliss for us too. An absolute pleasure. Very excited about so many new people getting to know Church In The Now!"
- Eddie Brumlow

"Bish I'm soooo jealous, i wanted to there for the opening night....seem like it was a beautiful service based on the comments below. super happy...all smiles. Go Bish.
GO CITN."
- Renaldo C. Blocker Sr.

"O What a Night! The first of many...and already additional room is needed. It was a rockin' night filled with the fresh and new. CITN Midtown is THE Place to be on Thursday nights! Way to go, Bishop...you did it...I'm so very proud to have been present at this inaugural event and so proud of you. It's great to see you so happy and relaxed! Peace & Blessings!"
- Patti Cook

"Moving on up, moving on up...to that beautiful Imperial Ballroom on Peachtree. Loved the atmosphere. Loved the spirit. Loved the beautiful people that showed up tonight. So proud to be a part of CITN Midtown tonight. Look up and count the stars in the chandellier. CITN Midtown shines. In fact, the parking attendant ask us to say a prayer that she can attend a service some time. Already reaching out and touching..."
- Cheryl Tiedemann

Not sure how to even express what I felt last night. Not the music which -my God - Jon Scott , Dan - it had no choice but to be awesome. Not you - who are always life changing, but the feeling in the room. A mix between the overwhelming joy you feel when you watch someone marry, or even those Home makeover shows - always sob when they move that bus. Anyway, there was a tangible feeling of happiness, belonging, acceptance (maybe for the first time ever),someone finding their way home, and more than anythng else, peace...you know me i am not a visions, doves, gold dust, - yada yada, kinda person, but last night was something I have never felt, and a bunch that I have all rolled into one - I, as you, have been in services where blind see, etc, etc, but last night was an inside thing, hearts, wounded spirits...beautiful. God I hope that makes sense.I love you immensely, and am honored to be a part of any and everything you do.
- Soni Dailey Brumlow

"Church in the Now Midtown was the bees knees"
- Jonah Elijah Swilley

See you next Thursday night!

What's the Buzz?

"I have been waiting and hoping for a church like this in Midtown. Great location at the Biltmore...Let me know if I can help....signed John the Baptist."
- John R Morgan



"I love this area of town. It looks, feels so different than anything this way. It's like going out of town, somewhere different, on a trip without going very far. To think it's just around the corner. This is exciting news!"
- Cheryl Tiedemann



"If you build it, 'HE' WILL come."...If I weren't in DC, I would definitely come out to support. If possible, stream Live and I will definitely be there!!!!
Luvya Much!!!"
- ReNée Aiken



"...God is about to blow the roof off the building. He has called you to this work. And He will see it through to the end. One can put a thousand to flight and two can put ten thousand to flight. If only two show up, that is enough to move mountains. Go on with your bad self man of God. Be ready, if you can for what God is about to do. Namaste, yours in Christ..."
- Jeff Rust



"Jeff ~ you are 100% right! God IS about to blow the roof off this ministry! I agree with you! And Bishop is the man for such a time as this!!! How exciting that we get to be a part of it too! This is the dawning of the age of the Holy Spirit!!! :) Bishop, go out there, and do what you are supposed to do! Only you can do it! I love you! :)"
- Jere Luck



"...keep the faith Bishop! Keep the service there for those seeking healng and restoration!!"
- Bryce Hardin



"my crystal ball tells me you'll be pleasantly surprised at the midtown attendance.... ♥ "
- Melissa Floyd Hall



"...I will be there with friends....we will have C-H-U-R-C-H...You're soooooo needed there"
- Amy Hamrick



"Right down the street from faith memorial in the 70's...history repeating itself...great area where we grew up...you'll do well there..."
- Jon Mark Swilley



"wow...It has been a while since I have been to church...now you are in my back yard...I have no excuse...and I miss the word so...thank you Bishop....thank you so much...will see you on Thursday"
- Shareese B. Smith



"I'm so excited for CITN and The Bishop as the Word begins to flow in new locations. With God and Love good things will come. Stay Blessed!"
- Bobby Newsome



So exciting Bish. Looking forward!
- Eddie Brumlow



"‎1 Corinthians 2:9...Ephesians 3:20-21...His Holy Spirit Will Reveal to You exactly What He wants you to know as you move on through this Great and Mighty Transition.... New Beginnings are every day and You have answered His Call to live in them Bishop... You are Not alone! There are Many who are Waiting for you to bring the Light, Love and Word of Truth to them! Love you Much!!"
- Lynda Edwards



"Reach out and touch Faith. Movement, change is exciting. Allows us to TRUST God and watch him work his magic in all of HIS glory. Where there is no vision, the people perish. CITN is a group of visionaries. Visionaries never die. They just keep getting up and get up stronger each time. Visionaries move forward and never in reverse. I am proud to be a part of the vision of CITN. It's all good."
- Cheryl Tiedemann