Instead of attending a church service, go to a barbecue or grab a beer with friends.

God is as much in one as the other, according to Salt Lake City's Missio Dei community, because true worship happens through people.

"In the Bible, it always starts with a relationship," founding Pastor Kyle Costello explains. "We believe God always initiates as a relational God, not as a religious God. We encounter Christ in each other because we first worship him."

This nondenominational Christian community is special not only for how it worships but also where —namely in so-called "house churches," intimate gatherings of 15 to 25 people in which worshippers gatherto socialize, learn from one another and discuss Scripture. They meet throughout the week at one of four house churches in Salt Lake City, along with their regular Sunday worship at the Post Chapel in the University of Utah.

Salt Lake City's Missio Dei started January 2010, when Costello, then age 32 and on staff at a similar organization, Imago Dei, in Portland, Ore., was contacted by the Orchard Group, an organization dedicated to planting churches.

A graduate from the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., Costello had always hoped to help found a church and jumped at the chance to do so where he grew up — in Salt Lake City.

So Costello, his wife, Joy, and about 30 others from Portland began to move to Utah's capital. At first, they worshipped in the Costellos' home. They named their new community Missio Dei, or Mission of God, in a nod to their Imago Dei, or Image of God, heritage.

God's mission, they believe, is one of "reconciliation, forgiveness and redemption for all creation." The worshippers' mission, Costello says, is to "live the whole gospel in our whole lives ... it encompasses everything from our jobs to our families."

Missio may be remarkable for its emphasis on "hanging out," but don't be fooled: Its members are well-versed in Scripture and dedicated to helping one another follow Christian doctrine.

The Latin name itself, Costello says, "always starts a conversation, which is what we're all about." He notes that "mission" also resonates in Utah, thanks to the word's frequent usage by members of Utah's predominant faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The differences between institutional religion and Missio are especially notable to Costello, who was reared LDS. The biggest difference, he says, is the importance Missio places on people, not ritual.

For instance, a typical house church gathering goes something like this:

At the scheduled time, members start to filter into the host's home and chat — some in the living room, some finishing a quick dinner in the kitchen. The buzz grows to a dull roar as more worshippers arrive. Finally, about 40 minutes into the meeting, the lead pastor calls them to order. Bibles in hand, they circle up, pray together and launch into the lesson.

On Father's Day, Pastor Joe Cole's group discussed people's relationship with God as a father. The worshippers explored the topic in Scripture and weighed how their ties to a heavenly father compared to their relationship with an earthly dad. Conversations were intimate and extensive. Members seemed at home confiding in one another even when the discussion turned deeply personal.

Prayer closes the meeting and, after more conversation, the members leave.

"The moment we're here, we've begun," says Cole, who leads a house church in Salt Lake City's Avenues. "It's all part of it; we need to be together. To us, that's the same as opening the Bible."

By June 2010, Missio's growing membership required a second house church and then a third. Last November, the church started a Sunday service gathering at the Post Chapel and, at the start of this year, launched a fourth house church. The community now boasts more than 100 members.

"If someone came, it was always because of a relational invite," Costello says. "We didn't do any advertising, just word of mouth. It really has been a focus on relationships from the beginning."

That's not surprising, since relationships are Missio's buzzword. Members meet weekly for house church and Sunday service. Most also get together other times during the week, maybe for meals, movie nights or cookouts. They attend concerts or sporting events together and even take the occasional cross-state trip.

On Easter, instead of a solemn ceremony and egg hunts, Missio held a regular service then, Costello says, "partied like we truly believe our God was resurrected."

The daylong spiritual celebration included a chicken and lamb dinner, coffee bar, shoe painting and a bounce house for kids. More than 200 people attended.

Tricia Staible, who has lived in Salt Lake City for seven years and joined Missio when it began, says, "You have to be committed to be a part of this — if you're going to get to know people to allow them to pour themselves into you." She meets with Missio members at least five days a week, including offering her home as a weekly house church.

For her, such commitment is worth it.

"I feel as if the Lord has used this community to teach me new things about him that I never expected to learn through other people," she says. "It's amazing just being pushed to the depth of love that people can ... have for one another."

chall@sltrib.com —

Where are the house churches?

Downtown

9th and 9th

The Avenues

Trolley Square

Sunday service is at 4 p.m. in the Post Chapel, 120 Fort Douglas Blvd., University of Utah.

Go to www.missiodeislc.com for details. —

A parableto build on

Pastor Kyle Costello's favorite parable for his Missio Dei community is the prodigal son.

In it, Jesus tells a story of a father and two sons: The elder son is righteous and kind, the younger is faithless and greedy. The father loves both equally, forgives the younger brother and initiates a loving relationship between the whole family.

"They are first in a relationship with God [the father]," Costello says, "and because of that they can enter a relationship with each other — righteous or unrighteous."