The EPIC Journey

God and stuff

2006-11-02T16:08:00.000-06:00

I miss church. I miss EPIC Journey worship. I miss the act of imagining and participating in experiential and active worship of God. I miss the doing of church. I miss spiritual discussions with wise and heretical theologians. I miss talking about God and politics with Kari. I want to talk to Kari about how great the Sufjan Stevens Christmas CD would be at an EPIC service. I want to hear about the great cultural material with spiritual significance she has found.

I miss youth group. I miss the ragtag group of kids coming into adulthood with a million questions. I had to run a couple errands last week and while driving I went past them doing their annual scavenger hunt for the food shelf. It broke my heart that I couldn't be there with them.

I need some spiritual fulfillment that doesn't come on Sunday mornings.

Church Report

2006-05-29T16:53:00.000-05:00

We did a little adbusting at youth group today. I had Sandra Robinson come and talk with the groupies about media awareness. We played an object lesson game and she helped them gain a better understanding of how the media plays our minds so that we will buy more stuff.

At EPIC we staged our own little Thin Place at the center of our universe in the Chapel. Thin Places are those where the separation between God and ourselves is "thinnest". It can be an actual place (nature, church) or other things like people or music. They are places of connection, a place where you allow your heart to be opened.

It made me think about my own Thin Places. I think I'm something of a neo-transcendental, where transcendentalists found God all around them in nature, I tend to find God all around myself in culture and the city. Like in secular music, or in good works and justice, etc. Of course, walking the Labyrinth at First Lutheran is a place where I allow/force myself to be in the moment and in that can commune with God.

God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a personal deity, but we die on the day when our lives cease to be illumined by the steady radiance, renewed daily, of a wonder, the source of which is beyond all reason.
Dag Hammarskjold

Eric in England

2006-04-06T11:48:00.000-05:00

Eric took a trip overseas last week and made a stop to talk to fellow postmodern worship guy, Jonny Baker.

Two theologians coming together from accross the world to discuss worship philosophy. Eric wrote in an email:

"We discovered that we are both into Marshall McLuhan. I guess I am not surprised…

Basically, he said that he has no formula for Alternative Worship. It is more important to have it develop out of the people who are involved. So I have no words of wisdom from him other than “just do it.”

We both agreed, however, that the internet is changing the world dramatically because it is essentially anti-hierarchical and it links people together around the world in diverse ways that would never have been possible even a few years ago. What would McLuhan have said about the internet? – Answer: The “medium is the message.”"

One more thing about last night...

2006-04-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

We listened to my new favorite 'non-church song about God' - "When God Made Me" by Neil Young.

"When God Made Me"

Was he thinkin' about my country
Or the color of my skin?
Was he thinkin' 'bout my religion
And the way I worshipped him?
Did he create just me in his image
Or every living thing?

When God made me
When God made me

Was he planning only for believers
Or for those who just have faith?
Did he envision all the wars
That were fought in his name?
Did he say there was only one way
To be close to him?

When God made me
When God made me

Did he give me the gift of love
To say who I could choose?

When God made me
When God made me
When God made me
When God made me

Did he give me the gift of voice
So some could silence me?
Did he give me the gift of vision
Not knowing what I might see?
Did he give me the gift of compassion
To help my fellow man?

When God made me
When God made me
When God made me
When God made me

I have it on my computer if you would like a copy.

4.5.2006

2006-04-06T09:14:00.000-05:00

Last night we had station that will help us get to Holy Week. I found these stations here. We ended with this prayer that I found on Mark Berry's site.

Do you need me? I am there.

You cannot see Me, yet I am the light you see by.
You cannot hear Me, yet I speak through your voice.
You cannot feel Me, yet I am the power at work in your hands.

I am at work, though you do not understand My ways.
I am at work, though you do not understand My works.
I am not strange visions. I am not mysteries.

Only in absolute stillness, beyond self, can you know Me
As I am, and then but as a feeling and a faith.

Yet I am there. Yet I hear. Yet I answer.
When you need Me, I am there.
Even if you deny Me, I am there.
Even when you feel most alone, I am there.
Even in your fears, I am there.
Even in your pain, I am there.

I am there when you pray and when you do not pray.
I am in you, and you are in Me.
Only in your mind can you feel separate from Me, for
Only in your mind are the mists of “yours” and “mine.”
Yet only with your mind can you know Me and experience Me.

Empty your heart of empty fear.
What you get yourself out of the way, I am there.
You can of yourself do nothing, but I can do all. And I am in all.

Though you may not see the good, good is there, for I am there.
I am there because I have to be, because I am.

Only in Me does the world have meaning;
Only out of Me does the world take form;
Only because of Me does the world go forward.
I am the law on which the movement of the stars and the growth of living cells are founded.

I am the love that is the law’s fulfilling.

I am assurance.

I am peace.

I am oneness.

I am the law you can live by.

I am the love that you can cling to.

I am your assurance.

I am your peace.

I am ONE with you.

I am.

Though you fail to find Me,
I do not fail you.
Though your faith in Me is unsure,
My faith in you never wavers,
Because I know you,
Because I love you.

Beloved, I AM there. Amen.

God is Here | EPIC | 1.february.2006

2006-02-02T13:23:00.000-06:00

to partake in the eucharist is to be mindful of the sanctity of everyday actions
GOD IS HERE. CONNECT.
when i am mindful, i will bless my food, my company, and myself.
GOD IS HERE. CONNECT.
i will take a moment to breathe with the spirit of the universe, offering intention, an invitation, to remember the divine within myself.
GOD IS HERE. CONNECT.
when i am mindful of what i put into my body, the food and drink reflect the love i choose to put into this vessel that holds god within me.
GOD IS HERE. CONNECT.
as we share the eucharist, we acknowledge the presence of god at our table.
GOD IS EVERYWHERE. WE ARE CONNECTED.

18.January.2006

2006-01-20T09:14:00.000-06:00

CHRISTIAN UNITY WEEK

God be in my head and in my understanding:
God be in my eyes and in my looking:
God be in my mouth and in my speaking:
God be in my heart and in my thinking:
God be at mine end and at my departing.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left…
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

An Opportunity to Serve

2006-01-17T10:54:00.000-06:00

Should EPIC serve a Soup Kitchen meal? Our church prepares and serves the meal 4 times in 2006. Two open dates are June 29th and August 31st. What do you think?

Future EPICs

2006-01-05T11:32:00.000-06:00

the next epic is january 18th. we need someone(s) to put it together.
other dates...
february 1st
february 15th
march 1st - ASH WEDNESDAY
march 15th

Epiphany Party Photos 3

2006-01-05T08:48:00.000-06:00

Kristin and Sarah taking down the Children's Tree.

Epiphany Party Photos 2

2006-01-05T08:47:00.000-06:00

Prayer Lanterns

Epiphany Party Photos

2006-01-05T08:45:00.000-06:00

As the smoke from the incense rise up, so do our prayers to God.

Epiphany Party

2006-01-05T08:31:00.000-06:00

Last night, we celebrated Epiphany.

The gifts of the wise men – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – are often interpreted as foretelling the later life of Jesus: gold for a king, frankincense symbolizing divinity, myrrh a perfume for a burial. Tonight we invite you to experience and meditate on these three gifts and think what they might mean in your life in light of the birth of Christ.
- Host -

We un-decorated the tree, travelled to gold, frankincense, and myrrh stations, and "made crafts with God" paper lanterns on the altar.

Then, Jackie introduced to a beautiful new song from Joe Crone...

Strive

that your actions day by day may be

beautiful prayers.

Turn towards God,

and seek always to do

that which is right and noble.

Enrich the poor,

raise the fallen,

comfort the sorrowful,

bring healing to the sick,

reassure the fearful,

rescue the oppressed,

bring hope to the hopeless,

shelter the destitute!

'Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p.81

"Now it's time to do the work of Christmas!"

epic 12.21.2005

2005-12-15T12:35:00.000-06:00

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows--light! sunbursts of light! Isaiah 9:2

Join us for EPIC on the longest
night of the year as we leave
behind the gathering shadows of
autumn and bask in the light of Christmas.

21.December.2005
5:15 PM Meal
6:00 PM Worship

EPIC 12.7.2005

2005-12-08T11:11:00.000-06:00

WAITING ON THE WEST SUBURBAN TRAIN

Merciful God, forgiver of our foibles,
Forgive the rush of madness here before
WE CELEBRATE the coming of your child.
We are aware -- in our most placid moments --
That all our frenzy does not warm our hearts
As solitude and contemplation would.
We know the downtown multitudes around us
Make us forget the reasons why we came
To stand and wait and elbow through the masses.
I am here at the station, tired and quiet,
Waiting for the west suburban train,
Waiting for home and cocoa and a bath,
Waiting -- ah, I have not forgotten, Blessed One,
For that much longed-for Christ.
Yes, I remember.
- Joshua S. Lang

Advent Blog

2005-12-01T11:01:00.000-06:00

Check out our new Advent Blog. It is updated daily (ok - I'll try really hard to post everyday).

Next EPIC - December 7th

Keep in your prayers...

2005-11-03T08:47:00.000-06:00

Brian Manly (one of the original members of the EPIC team) fell from a 25 foot high deer stand and broke his leg in two spots. Keep Brian, Michele, Jewel, and Luke in your prayers.

Future EPICs

2005-11-03T08:45:00.000-06:00

November 16th - Kari & Walt
December 7th - Youth - Advent
December 21st - Tiffany & Kari - Advent

Meal @ 5:15 Worship @ 6

All Saints Day

2005-11-03T08:40:00.000-06:00

EPIC was wonderful last night. The atmosphere was warm, lively, and cheerful. More like a family gathering than worship. Elementary age kids, youth, college students, singletons, widows, retired, marrieds - all came together to laugh, share, and worship in God's presence. It was awesome! It was even a little crowded in the chapel.

Some words from last night...

May this service of remembrance lift our spirits, lighten our hearts.

...Teach me to take stock of what I have given and received, May I know that it's enough, That my striving may cease In the abundance of God's grace... Edward Hays

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; Not so much to be understood as to understnad; not so much to be loved as to love: For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning, that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we awaken to eternal life. - St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

Speaking of saints - prior to EPIC, we watched a wonderful movie in youth group. I highly recommend Millions (www.hollywoodjesus.com review). A rare PG movie that is challenging and entertaining.

More Photos...

2005-10-25T14:04:00.000-05:00

...Just for Julie. :)

Earth | Wind | Fire | Water

2005-10-24T09:41:00.000-05:00

A photo share from our most recent EPIC. Thanks Jackie and Betsy. Next EPIC - November 2nd.

Like the wind which stirred the waters of creation - GOD IS MOVING IN THE WORLD

Like the holy fire burning in the desert - GOD IS LIVING IN THE WORLD

Like the wind which drove back the waters of Exodus - GOD IS ACTING IN THE WORLD

Like the breath which stirred dry bones in the valley - GOD IS GATHERING IN THE WORLD.

Hey! Look what I did!

2005-10-12T09:34:00.000-05:00

I added the lovely "Make Poverty History" wristband banner to our blog! More importantly - I did it using HTML and didn't screw anything up. Huge progress!

Poverty

2005-10-06T08:35:00.000-05:00

Last night was our first gathering on our new night and new time.

May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that yoiu can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

Franciscan Benediction
www.tearfund.org

New Time...New Date

2005-09-27T09:04:00.000-05:00

E.P.I.C. will now be meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 6 PM. Join us for a shared meal at 5:15 and then for worship.

Brainstorm

2005-09-21T23:19:00.000-05:00

I did a little thinking and here are my notes for the upcoming EPIC:

potluck
prayer
blessing/ceremony - go outside? stand in a cross facing in
song - Jackie can we sing "for the turning of the world"
discussion of direction of EPIC season
benediction

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. - Thomas Merton

A Blessing for the EPIC season
God of us, God of everything
We come to you as ragged journeyers
Welcome God,
Have we said that enough?
We are the deliquents.
The ones who want to shout out in the middle of the sactuary "But what about this?!"
The ones who stay up too late on Saturday,
The ones who would rather go to brunch on Sunday,
The ones who talk about you over cocktails and keg beer
God, we don't know anything, but we really like to try and figure it out.
So, we ask you to give us a little laser pointer towards the truth.
We do our best to love others, as you first loved us
As we serve each other, we serve you
Help us remember that its about you, its about love
Not us.
As we begin our new season
bring us chaos, bring us peace
bring us truth, bring us song
And as your people we all say:We Believe

Over apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah

On Rosh Hashanah eve, at the start of the festive meal, it is customary to dip some cut raw apples into some honey as symbolic of asking God to grant a sweet new year.

The blessings for the apples and honey:

ברוך אתה ה׳ אלהינו מלך העולם בורא פרי העץ

Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melech ha-olam, borei p’riy ha-eitz.

Translation: Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.

A bite of apple dipped in honey is eaten, which is followed by:

יהי רצון מלפניך ה׳ אלהינו ואלהי אבותינו שתחדש עלינו שנה טובה ומתוקה

Transliteraion: Y'hee ratzon mee-l'fanecha, Adonai Elohaynu v'elohey avoteynu sh'tichadeish aleinu shanah tovah um'tuqah.

Translataion: May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors that you renew for us a good and sweet year.

Sue Wallace: An A to Z of Alternative Worship

2005-09-20T09:12:00.000-05:00

Check this out - An A to Z of Alt Worship.

EPIC Gathering

2005-09-14T14:36:00.000-05:00

EPIC will begin meeting again on Sunday, September 25th at 5PM. Contact Kari for more information.

Encountering God

2005-04-20T13:51:00.000-05:00

This Sunday's theme is "Encountering God". One way that we encounter God is through Art. We will begin creating a banner. Join us for an evening of faith and fun.

2005-03-28T14:14:00.000-06:00

The Prayer Path

Prayers from the Prayer Path

2005-03-28T14:11:00.000-06:00

thank you, God, for the gifts of this week, the signals pointing toward a future. your wonders are truly amazing - and what traveling companions you have given me!

thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness, your love, and for our future.

we praise thy name! we raise our prayers to thee for the [individuals] that lost their lives on the red lake reservation. we lift our prayers for their families, friends, teachers, and their tribal leaders.

thank you God for letting me be calm and teaching me the right ways to walk.

in choosing ephemeral "presence" actions - have i missed the chance to do things or produce what might be more lasting - willit be remembered when i am gone? when those i was present with are gone?

o God, how many people have helped me, cared for me, adn some have let me help them in small ways. i want so much for healing in our world.

God heal us. we are broken. show us to love, hope. God save us. Amen

The Prayer Path

2005-03-25T13:12:00.000-06:00

Our first participant just finished. She said it was wonderful and that she would like to do it again. "Are we going to do it again next year". Awesome.

2005-03-22T15:46:00.000-06:00

mayBe

Marian's great idea:

2005-03-13T22:42:00.000-06:00

Lets have a banner making gathering...

THE UTTERANCE OF LOVE

2005-03-13T22:35:00.000-06:00

THE FREEING of Lazarus from death and restoration to life sets in motion the events that lead to Jesus' death, a death full of
anguish and hopelessness. ...

But Jesus' death brings Mary to the tomb in the time after death. And in the darkness of the morning there are flutterings,
utterances. At the tomb, Jesus utters Lazarus's name. At the tomb, Jesus utters Mary's name. At the tomb, Mary utters Jesus' name.
It is the utterance of love, the encounter between human and divine love. The utterance of love -- the breath of life. Names of
loved ones are spoken. Love stands in the way between the darkness and the dawn, between death and life. Love is in the silence.
Love is in the waiting.

This is the way and work of Love.

-- Susan Henry-Crowe
THE UPPER ROOM DISCIPLINES 2005

A spark for discussion/ideas?

2005-03-08T00:13:00.000-06:00

All That Has Ever Been Hoped

I’m like a rag picker, rummaging through a mountain of moldy prayer books, old hymnals, triptych art, candle stubs, ancient texts, and other things. I crawl all over the pile, poking here and there with a stick. When I find something that interests me, I sit down and take a closer look. I flip through the pages. I look at the pictures from every angle. Sometimes my head will tilt to the right, like a dog that has just heard something very interesting.

March.13.2005

2005-03-03T14:06:00.000-06:00

Our theme for the next gathering is based on the scriptures: Ezekiel 37:1-14 and John 11:1-45. Dry bones and the resurrection of Lazarus. Some things that we are thinking about as of Tuesday were... death, destruction, and new life. We're also planning on celebrating communion at this gathering. Ideas for readings, music, etc... we'd love to hear them.

2005-02-17T10:46:00.000-06:00

...the prayer path...

2005-02-10T14:49:00.001-06:00

the chapel

2005-02-10T14:49:00.000-06:00

the chapel

2005-02-10T14:48:00.000-06:00

the chapel

2005-02-10T14:47:00.000-06:00

the chapel

The Chapel

2005-02-10T14:45:00.000-06:00

Hello All! I rearranged things in the chapel this afternoon. I tried to stick with Julie's "Fun with Worship Space" worksheet. We might want to rethink the big comfy blue chairs and the pew. They take up a lot of space. We have seating for 16 and 4 extra chairs off to the side. Hope I didn't step on any toes by doing this. THANK YOU YOUTH GROUP for moving that big ugly couch!

Also... John Herath (my favorite Methodist) approved of what we are doing in the chapel.

2005-02-10T09:28:00.000-06:00

Ash Wednesday @ Youth Group

Choral Reading - Temptation

2005-02-04T09:28:00.000-06:00

Walt came up with a choral reading for next Sunday...
I have taken the Matthew and Luke accounts of Jesus' temptation and melded them into a single choral reading for three voices: narrator, Jesus, Satan. See what you think about this for Feb. 13.

CHORAL READING ABOUT JESUS' TEMPTATION

NARRATOR: After his baptism, as Matthew and Luke tell the story, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by Satan. There he fasted for forty days and nights and became very hungry.

SATAN: I came to him and said, "You say you are the Son of God. Tell these stones to become bread."

JESUS: No. The scripture says that no one can live by bread alone. Your bread won't feed my soul.

N: Then Satan showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world.

S: See all this power and wealth I can give you; all you have to do is kneel and worship me.

J: My Torah commands me to worship only the Lord God and serve only Him.

N: Then Satan took him up to the pinnacle of the Jerusalem temple and said to him:

S: If you are truly God's Son, throw yourself down from here. Your God will surely order His angels to catch you up, lest you dash even a foot against those stones.

J: Outta here, Satan! I will not put my God to the test.

N: Then Satan sulked away, and angels came and tenderly cared for Jesus.

And how did Mark tell the story? With his characteristic brevity, he put the whole event into three verses. Listen:

"After Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit called him into the desert, where he stayed for forty days, being tempted by Satan. Wild animals were there also, but angels came and ministered to him."

Two accounts of Jesus' temptation for our reflection.

We are now wireless!

2005-02-04T09:22:00.000-06:00

Hello all! I'm typing away while in the chapel! How much fun is this going to be?

I was able to find my copy of the Jesus movie. It had a "Camping Video" label on it - written in my handwriting. I honestly don't know how my brain works most of the time

Have a great weekend. See you Tuesday!

Stations | Labyrinth

2005-01-26T10:37:00.000-06:00

We've been talking about doing a station worship or labyrinth. Check out this link. You can virtually walk the labyrinth that Jonny Baker, Grace, and YFC created. This is the same labyrinth that we have in the paint can in my office. What do you think? Could we do it?

Holy Week and Easter

2005-01-26T09:07:00.000-06:00

If we're going to keep with the 2nd and 4th Sundays for our gatherings - we have a small kink in the operation. The 4th Sunday of March is Easter Sunday. Are you going to be out of town? Would you rather meet on Palm Sunday? Have a gathering during Holy Week?

Also... during February and March we are going to meet in the chapel. Down the hall from the offices. Let us know what you think.

Temptation - 13.February.2005

2005-01-26T08:55:00.000-06:00

Hello All!

We're putting together the outline for our gathering on the 13th. These are the scripture verses that we are looking at: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32, Romans 5:12-19, and Matthew 4:1-11. From the sounds of our meeting last night, we're going to focus on the scripture from Matt - honing in on tempation. Temptation surrounds us everyday. From simple and harmless - "Do I want that Oreo from that bag on the counter?" to "Do I want to cook the books so that my mega-million business will look even better?".

Jesus was tempted three times in the desert by devil - food/sustenance, self-importance, and power.

We're not quite sure what the gathering will look like yet. Suggestions?

Time and Date Issues

2005-01-19T12:24:00.000-06:00

Read this post below. It has some good thoughts that we can use in our discussion on Sunday. Do we need to be on Sunday?

I miss Church (pt 2) - "but I like my Sundays..."

Following on from the last post, I was chatting about this stuff with a friend last night who has also been spending a bit of time away from traditional church, and was also surprising herself by thinking about returning sometime.

And as much as I hate to admit it, one barrier between returning to 'normal' Church is that Sundays are just too damn precious and valuable! Now I hate how that sounds - as if anything were too valuable to give to God - but in this busy era that we live in, Sunday mornings are rare periods of quality time. Time to go out for breakfast with the family, go riding with friends, get up and do that study, reading or home project you've been putting off all week. And church can really wipe out over half of Sunday in most circumstances. Now perhaps if you're in a church you love with great relationships that might be a good thing, of course!

I also have to admit that I'm increasingly a fan of weeknight church. Both for these reasons but also because I feel that church on a weeknight actually more closely relates to and integrates with our normal lives, rather than creating a 'separate' space where you can almost live two distinct lives... on a weeknight people come to the gathering with the stories of the day, the emotions and stresses, and then their interaction with God and his people has to work with that and through that, which I think is a great thing, rather than creating an isolated and distinct space where little has to reflect the reality of our working lives.

I found it on the Breathing Space blog.

Vision

2005-01-17T20:48:00.000-06:00

I want to invite everyone to give us their vision of what they want EPIC to be. Part of the reason we started this whole thing is because there was an unrest in the church. A longing of something more. We still have that unrest - what is the vision of the next part of our journey?

A thought about the chapel...

2005-01-13T10:31:00.000-06:00

Hello All on this chilly morning.

I've been thinking about our space. While I love the upper room - the soft lighting, the skylight, etc. It really is a big classroom. And we have to take everything down and re-create it every two weeks.

If we were to use the chapel - we could create an altar, prayer corner, whatever we want to call it. But it could be a holy space that anyone could use throughout the week. Plus, this would cut down on our set up / take down time. We could easily get rid of the horrible couches and out of tune piano.

On another note... check out the willzhead blog. He mentions Alias (one of my favorite shows) and that they are trying to get away from the self-contained episodes to a more "narrative" approach. Will asks how can we do this for the church? How can we do this for EPIC? Should we have "self-contained" episodes or a "sprawling narrative" that connects all our worship gatherings?

Enough for now. Stay warm and be good.

2005-01-12T10:30:00.000-06:00

...The EPIC Journey...

Just because I'm in the kitchen and your in the hall doesn't mean we're not at the same party

2005-01-11T01:36:00.000-06:00

A concept church design. Start with a party and add God, as opposed to start with church and try and make it fun.

It might be better to have a party that is redemptive than having a boring service that has moments of drama/fun. More on this later. Its really important. Many of my friends start with a "service" that is, in its kernal, BORING and then try to add the fun element. But house church people start with a party in the living room - that is indeed fun and relational, and make the party work, make it useful, add purpsose and direction to the party.
If church is a party . . .
Andrew Jones

Coffeeshop church? Maybe lets do little clusters of chairs around small (preferably round or square) tables. It gives us a place for our cider;)

Conversation spaces. It seems like those who attend EPIC feel a little uncomfortable. Everyone is always very quiet. Is there a way to encourage comfort, conversation/decrease anxiety and still be reverent. My first inclination is to set the room as "cocktail party": (semi)loud music, pretty lighting, a host and a room small enough to make it feel like there are a lot of people. Maybe our room is too big.

Lets try stuff in the Chapel. Its smaller. We could have one hell of a God party in there...

This is what I missed while I was away

2005-01-09T19:59:00.000-06:00

We were talking about the tsunami and what we could do to help. We decided to do a coin drive for UNICEF. They were excited to give money to help kids. So, during the discussion I pull out "The Word on the Street" and read Mark 12:41-44

Jesus takes a break, sits down opposite the collection boxes. He watches the loaded wafting their big notes around so everyone can see how much they're giving to God's charity. He doesn't miss the cash-strapped widow who sneaks up and tries to get two measly little coins in to the box without them clattering around and giving her away...

Nudging his team, Jesus points her out and says, "Truth is, this woman's put in more than the rest put together! If we're talking percentages, they give a tiny fraction of their vast disposable income - she gives all of it, 100 percent."

Some of the kids, say stuff like "that sounded different", etc. I say it is a new translation, interpretation of the bible. Ian Hess says "No wonder I understood it then". You missed a pretty hot and heavy discussion about America’s role in the world – “why should we give to them, if they don’t appreciate it” “what happens if these countries end up bombing us” etc. We have to be above all the crap that happens in the world and be compassionate and generous because that is who we are as Americans.

So... this is what we're going to do. Amanda is going to make an announcement in church and challenge the church, Sunday School kids, and themselves to collect coins. For example...

1¢ for each window in your house

5¢ for each room in your house

10¢ for each door

25¢ for each family member or roommate

$1 for your house (Chris suggested $1 per square foot – I told him that was only for the big givers)

50¢ for each can of pop you were going to drink today.

Just wanted to let you know what our awesome kids are doing.

Have an awesome day on the beach today.

2004-12-21T10:34:00.000-06:00

The Bemidji United Methodist Church has just entered the 21st Century. YIPPEE! More posts to come.