Take Back Vacant Land

The Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land has been hard at work over the past few months to get a land bank bill community members can trust. Our Compassion Team working with the campaign has been showing up at council regularly, sharing testimonies, and fighting to win the version of the bill that Philadelphia neighbors can benefit from and be invested in. Among the 100 people that gathered in council last week, Jonny Rashid, one of our pastors, spoke to the vitality of the land bank. An amended version of the bill has been passed and with some more effort will be won by the end of 2013! Keep praying with us and our neighbors for our communities across the city.

See Jonny speak at City Hall here.

Reporting: Sara Semborski

Organizing for Environmental Justice

On Saturday, 70 people came out to Broad & Washington to be inspired by Lisa Sharon Harper—Director of Mobilizing for Sojourners—to organize for environmental justice. Lisa explained that environmental justice is beyond just caring for creation. It is mobilizing for clean air, water, and land for everyone, not just those who can afford to live wherever they want to. She explained that in the United States, the poor consistently live in areas that contain higher rates of environmental toxins and less access to fresh food, resulting in lower life spans and more disease.

In the face of this racist and classist policy, Lisa encouraged us with evidence that people of faith are fighting for change. Our work with the Land Bank Bill here in Philadelphia is evidence of that change. Lisa helped us to identify "core spiritual lies" that keep people accepting of the status quo here in Philadelphia. Some of the lies that groups identified included "affluent people deserve better" and "without a commitment to profit we won't survive" and "it doesn't matter what I do—I'm too small to change the system." Lisa said that if we can confront spiritual lies with spiritual truth, we can unlock a movement. She gave us spiritual truth to stand on from the Bible that is confirmed by the movement of the Holy Spirit among us. Reporting: Rachel Sensenig

Multiplayer Mode

Joining the international fundraising efforts of Extra Life for the first time, Circle of Hope Marlton & Crescent hosted a Sponsor-a-Nerd 24-hour gaming marathon on November 2. Twenty-one gamers registered online as part of the Circle of Hope team and then raised money for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (and a couple of other children’s hospitals) by finding donations through sponsors, just like their more athletic counterparts might do for a charity run.

On the day of the event, participants started arriving at MC at 8am where we had repurposed the space into a gaming haven. We brought in extra couches, hooked projectors up to gaming consoles, set up several tables for board games, and created an area for the computer gamers. The variety of games stretched from bestselling titles to bins of obscure tabletop games to stacks of NES cartridges that still smelled like the 80s. People were free to play whatever they wanted at any given moment, but we also held tournaments for which participants competed for donated prizes and tried to unlock achievements. If you would have walked in Saturday night, you would have seen a room of forty to fifty people variously watching the Power Rangers Movie projected onto a wall, battling it out in Super Smash Brothers, demoing the Occulus Rift, facing off in Magic the Gathering, concluding a five-hour Settlers of Cataan tournament, or trying to destroy one others’ towers in the PC game Tower Wars. And many of these gamers were playing with/against people they had never met before.

By the time we emerged with blurry eyes at 8am the next day—actually 25 hours later thanks to Daylight Savings Time—there were only about ten of us still standing. The more important number, though, was the $2,330 our team ended up raising to help kids at CHoP receive treatment regardless of their family’s ability to pay. And remember, we weren’t doing this alone. Through the collective efforts of other gamers in the region, CHoP raised over $71,000. And as if that number isn’t mind blowing enough, over $3.8 million dollars was raised for various children’s hospitals throughout the world as a result of the Extra Life event in a simple reminder that what we can do alone pales in comparison to what we can do together. Reporting: Randy Ribay

October Love Feast

On Saturday, October 26th, Circle of Hope celebrated its October Love Feast, a time of looking over the past quarter as well as celebrating new people who have decided to partner with us through making a covenant. 

Before the Love Feast began, several people—John Geating, Brianna Serrano, Anna Rhoades, Stephanie Carter, Cameron and Becca DeWhitt—were baptized in the cold waters of the Wissahickon.

The Love Feast was a time of celebration where we worshiped Jesus with original songs by our music leaders, pop songs, and songs from around the world. We also heard from Aaron Foltz and Tricia Fussaro. Aaron shared a story in his life regarding a time he saw great gentleness in a co-worker, and Tricia shared a personal account of anxiousness due to pregnancy, all of which was related back to a theme of overcoming fear and seeing beauty around us by resting in and celebrating Jesus.

The night of celebration and sharing ended with Communion, a breaking of bread and serving of juice, for those who attended, and a emotional finale of worship and prayer.

All told, 10 people covenanted with Circle of Hope, which included:

From Broad & Washington: Brianna Sérráno, John Geating
From Frankford & Norris: Stephanie Carter and Cameron DeWhitt, Becca DeWhitt, and Lindsay Li
From Marlton & Crescent: Stevie Neale and Juan Rodgriguez
From Broad & Dauphin: Tori Hayes, Donovan Hayes

Mark Van Steenwyk

Last Thursday about 50 people came together as we teamed up with the Alternative Seminary and The Simple Way to host our friend from the Mennonite Worker in Minneapolis in a time to consider "Liberation from the Gospel of Empire." Mark Van Steenwyk ran out of copies of his new book "The UNkingdom of God: Embracing the Subversive Power of Repentance." Mark was funny and sincere as he urged us to keep encountering Jesus as the center of who the church is while unmasking the powers that have co-opted the gospel as a tool for domination.

Reporting: Joshua Grace

Baby and Kids Goods Exchange

I love the Free Baby/Kids Goods Exchange, one of our compassion teams. We opened the doors to our space at Broad and Dauphin this weekend, and welcomed our neighbors to share and receive clothes, toys, and books for babies and kids. It was a joy to see so many participants and volunteers. We felt God's presence there!

-Steve Hess

Leadership Training: Getting Unstuck

On Saturday, Joshua Grace offered some wisdom to cell leaders (and anyone else interested in being trained!) on how to move through the "sticky places" in spiritual development and leadership. His goal was to convey that we get "unstuck" by participating in the work of the Gospel and by proclaiming the Word of God. He cited an example of Moses's persistent frustration with the wayward Israelites in the Genesis story and Moses's constant choice to either trust and obey God or be led by his limitations and frustrations.

Joshua guided us to consider different ways we perceive leadership when it is going well and when it is difficult. He reminded us of Jesus' instructions to his disciples to proclaim the good news of Him throughout every town, and he pointed out the difference between following Jesus and simply expecting Jesus to help us do "whatever." Joshua also explained the various ways by which we can proclaim that Gospel around us and how that loosens us up, gets us unstuck, to lead more effectively. He ended the training by suggesting simple practices for getting unstuck in our thinking and leading, as well as further reading for effective leadership.

Reporting: Luke Bartolomeo & Rachel Sensenig

Baby (& Kid) Goods Exchange

On Saturday, Sept. 21st, Circle of Hope FN congregation hosted it’s 3rd FREE Baby (& Kid) Goods eXchange of the year. What a beautiful day! Families swapped baby and kids clothes, items, toys and maternity clothes with each other. There were 160 neighbors and friends that came out to this glorious event; some new faces and familiar faces a like! Lots of redistribution going on and friendly connections!

Each month a Circle of Hope congregation hosts a FREE Baby (& Kid) Goods eXchange. Visit our Circle of Hope events calendar for the next one and/or ‘Like’ our Facebook page and invite friends.

Concert to Stop Fracking

DJ Robinson set up a benefit show at Circle of Hope Frankford & Norris for a forming grassroots group the Shalefield Organizing Committee (SOC), with the mission to "work to protect human and ecological rights for those living in the shalefield." DJ brought together musicians from the neighborhood who are all share similar passions about ecology and the dangers of fracking. Matt Sowell brought his rendition of American Primitivism and ragtime guitar, Dance Nook came off of a hiatus to bring soft and joyful folky prophecy, and Birds of Maya closed the night with heavy psychedelic rock. 

Over 80 people attended, including a bunch of families with kids, to raise $776 for the Sullivan County-Wide Listening Project where SOC will be "focusing on listening and relationship building, the project will help SOC learn how we can best support strategic, grassroots-led, movement building for human rights." We're happy to make more opportunities for people to learn about the dangers of fracking and to make partners with groups working on the ground in the currently most affected areas.

Reporting: Joshua Grace

Al Tizon On Evangelism

This past Saturday, Al Tizon, professor at Palmer Theological Seminar and co-President for Evangelicals for Social Action, talked to us about the "dreaded E word"—evangelism, and ways we can approach evangelism that are more relational and genuine in nature, as opposed to the manipulative and coercive methods that many people have experienced and practice. He talked of five "life-postures" for a mode of evangelism that reflect incarnational mission. That is: to be yourself, to be sensitive, to be ready, to be active, to be good. Tizon also directed us to get into groups and tell our story to someone else as a way of practice. Along with these life-postures and practice, he also emphasized weaving our personal narrative into the much larger narrative of God's people, following from the good creation being turned away from God and its course into the Jesus redemption project up to now.

Listen to the talk here.

A sea of yellow at City Hall

Today, dozens of members of the Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land went to City Hall to offer out "muted" support for Maria Quinones-Sanchez' land bank bill. The bill seeks to put the 40,000 vacant lots in the City into a land bank bill so that neighborhoods can use them for gardening, green space, good businesses, and affordable housing. In part, due to our support, we got a guarantee for a hearing (more details about when soon)! Circle of Hope is a member, through our Take Back Vacant Land compassion team, of the coalition. Rachel Sensenig, Ben White, Jonny Rashid, and Steven Hess were attended.

AM PM

Kids, families, and friends met this past Sunday at Di Silvestro Playground at 15th and Morris for the AM PM, a special public meeting geared toward children and families. The topic was about making peace, which was conveyed through several animated stories in two different languages. The group played soccer with an over-sized ball and the game "What Time is Mr. Fox?" Cookies and juice boxes were also provided. It proved to be a joyful time to hang out with neighbors and see the presence of Jesus out and about in the neighborhood.

New Compassion Team focuses on connecting with prisoners through letter writing

There is a new Circle of Hope Compassion Team! The Inside-Outside team plans to pair an incarcerated individual with someone from the Circle of Hope community to engage in written correspondence. They will partner with the Pennsylvania Prison Society and the Chaplain's office at the Philadelphia county jail facilities. The purpose of the team is to provide encouragement and support for the incarcerated individual. Many times people who are incarcerated, especially for an extended period of time lose their close family and friend connections and can benefit greatly from an intentional, compassionate relationship. The second purpose of the team is for the Circle of Hope community to become more aware of the social justice issues entangled with mass incarceration in a very tangible and authentic way. By engaging in the letter-writing program people at Circle of Hope can help to dispel the stereotypes common to incarcerated people and work to humanize the entire situation. Fostering a connection between someone "inside" and someone "outside" can be mutually beneficial and this program holds that as it's final goal.

For more information or to join the team contact Julie Smyth.

Several Circle of Hope members join the school funding rally

Hundreds of protesters gathered on Thursday afternoon outside of Comcast to speak out to elected officials who are not doing what it takes to fully fund Philadelphia Public Schools. The march traveled by City Hall and concluded at The School District of Philadelphia. For the Love of Childs compassion team mobilized several Circle of Hope members to join the rally. Among the group was Tricia Fussaro, a ten-year veteran teacher with the School District of Philadelphia.

For the Love of Childs support has also been keeping Circle of Hope's network updated with developments and action campaigns to support the schools, including calling and meeting with elected officials, writing letters, and circulating petitions. (For more information on yesterday's really visit the Public School Notebook.)

   

Breaking Records in South Philly!

On Saturday, August 17th, 200+ parents, children, and volunteers gathered at Circle of Hope's Broad and Washington space for another FREE Baby (+ kid) Goods eXchange—the largest group ever for that location! Participants shared bags and bins full of clothing, toys, and books to share with other parents. Many brought bags of grocery bags to share as well. For over nine years, Circle of Hope and Circle Thrift have partnered to host regular opportunities for parents to pass along what their children no longer need, and pick up what they can use for the next season. Now offered on a monthly basis at various locations, all FREE Baby (+ kid) Goods eXchange events are organized and staffed completely by Compassion Team volunteers. During Saturday's exchange, many expectant and new parents were able to benefit from shared resources and make new connections.

To receive invitations for future events, like the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/freeBGX.

The Trials and Temptations of Women in Leadership

On Saturday, teaching pastor Dr. Gwen White and executive dean of Eastern University, Debra Heath Thorton led us to consider "the trials and trauma of women in leadership." They spoke candidly about some of the challenges that many women face in leadership, particularly in Christian settings. They led us to see that it is possible for women to pursue wholeness in Christ and lead out of their giftings by listening to God and working it out in community. Gwen and Debra asked questions like, "Is your cell a safe place for women to explore their gifts?" and encouraged ongoing dialogue.

Making partnerships with other churches

Members of the Conoy BIC (Brethren in Christ) youth group blessed Circle of Hope Compassion Team with their hands, feet, and love! The team of five youth and three adults spent an afternoon in the G.W. Childs School library. The group entered books into the electronic catalog system (finishing the wall of young adult fiction) and alphabetized the entire section of children's books! The next day the group volunteered at Circle Thrift Broad Street for several hours. We are grateful for our partnership with Conoy BIC, which has flourished this summer!

From Megan Rosenbach.

Design Teams Summit

Our Public Meeting Coordinators organized a place for Design Team leaders to get resourced and grown into a deeper and more facile team. It was a treat to get together forty leaders and friends from around the network interested in worship to refine our skills and, of course, worship. The pastors and PM Coordinators all offered some training according to our common strategy as well as some space for worship and networking. We are hoping to make these summits more regular, maybe even quarterly. The cherry on top this time - those who wanted to were formed into a choir to sing together for a possible contribution to a future release by Circle of Hope Audio Art. Look for the next PM Design Teams Summit this Fall!

For The Love Of Childs joins parents to affect new policy

On Monday evening For the Love of Childs Compassion Team joined over 50 parents and community members at the School District's first community meeting to discuss the development of a new school report card system that would be used to improve the accountability of district and charter schools.  We joined public school parents in their concern and outrage that the district would impose a new accountability system on schools in a year where the “doomsday budget”, as people are calling it, is leaving schools void of counselors, all school aides, extra curricular activities, and more. Parents grilled the district leaders and explained that it seems suspicious to grade schools in a year of desolate funding and argued that the they are just trying to deem more district schools as failures in order to push  more charter takeovers and closures. Tricia Fussaro spoke up reminding the hired consultants that there are hard working, loving people doing what they need to do to educate children in every school across Philadelphia; there are also children in every school who come to learn and do learn! Her comment was the first to receive a resounding round of applause from the audience.

You can find a list of upcoming meetings and more information on this facebook page.

The Notebook has more coverage.

Love Feast

These beautiful covenant keepers (and more) came together on Saturday at Marlton and Crescent. Joshua Grace reminded us that being the Body of Christ is not something that happens in our heads, but that it is a mutual expression of love between real people, with Jesus at the center. We ate, talked, worshiped with song and received the communion meal from Jesus and from one other. The communion meal, in particular, was joyful evidence of our freedom and belovedness. Marlee Sheaffer, Hannah McMinn, Brett Steiger, Drew Ericksen, Andy Hankermeyer, Mable Bakali, and Jamie Weist were welcomed into our covenant. Marlee and Drew were baptized.

Reporting: Rachel Sensenig

Baby (&Kids) Goods Exchange

It was 100 degrees outside one week ago...but that didn't stop over 40 adults and children from walking in the doors of our Marlton & Crescent space to drop off their gently used baby and kids goods and pick up what they needed for the summer and fall seasons!

On July 20, our team of 8 Circle of Hope volunteers set up tables and displays, greeted folks, passed out bags, baked delicious cookies, and carried items out to the cars of the friends that showed up to take part in this event - the Free Baby & Kids Goods Exchange.

Tracy, a new grandmother from Cherry Hill stopped by. She couldn't believe that everything was free! It was perfect timing for her as her daughter was lacking the funds to purchase new items for her infant son. Tanya from Camden was able to find clothing for both of her daughters, as well as some new toys and baby gear for her sister and nephews. No one left empty-handed, and everyone asked when the next exchange would happen.

Overall, the exchange helped us to meet neighbors, add new contacts to our ever-growing e-mail list, sow generosity and provide for the needs of others. We are looking forward to the next season to continue the giving!


Reporting: Kim Hewlett

Take Back Vacant Land doesn't recess

The Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land met yesterday afternoon in Center City. Rachel Sensenig was representing our team.

Right now, we're working on putting up "danger" signs in vacant lots to garner the attention of City Council.

We recently realized it was a powerful strategy when the head of the city's Redevelopment Authority called our coalition leaders from his vacation to angrily ask us to stop because the city has plans for some of these lots.

So over the next few weeks we need to put signs on privately-held tax delinquent properties  to raise awareness of the problem and our proposed solution (the Land Bank Bill).  Rachel will be helping in the 1st district (BW/FN) and in the 8th district (Germantown). Jonny is working  Let me know in the 5th district (BD). Do you of any vacant land in those districts that need attention?

The coalition agreed today to escalate our efforts in the fall because city council convenes again on Sept. 12.  We want a hearing for the bill as soon as possible (it got pushed aside in the spring due to school issues and such).  The coalition agreed to meet at city hall that day at 9:30 a.m., and talked about publicizing some kind of message then that we want a hearing within 30 days.  We'll continue to meet weekly at City Hall on those Thursday mornings that the Council meets and do a countdown of sorts.  On the fourth week, if the bill hasn't come to hearing, the coalition will most likely do a "People's Hearing" there.

Next coalition meeting is in the same spot (Liberty Resources on 7th and Market St.) at noon on Sept 4.

From Rachel Sensenig and Jonny Rashid

Destroying Evil with Generosity

Last Monday night, our Capacity Core Team hosted a conversation around Circle of Hope's Common Fund Budget. We are committed to the counter-cultural act of talking about money. Believing that how we allocate our common resources is a reflection of our values, 32 people gathered to discuss where we stand on Sources (income) and Uses (spending) half-way through the calendar year. We heard about some significant new uses in 2013 on technology, speaker honorariums, and QuickBooks online - which are all increasing our Capacity for meeting the next person in our region. We discussed a new way of allocating our World Hunger Giving, and will be sending a percentage of our Common Fund giving with Macha Mission, a community, hospital, and malaria research center founded in Zambia. Finally, we brainstormed in small groups about how we might allocate our resources in 2014 - centered around our 3 main uses: Human Resources, our shared spaces, and technology. We hope that this conversation serves as a springboard for further discussion about how Circle of Hope shares our common resources.

If you would like to continue the conversation, please reach out to Capacity Core Team members Alison Wear, Michael Heneghan, Kyle Zieba, or Aaron Foltz. If you have shared with Circle of Hope's Common Fund in the 2nd Quarter of 2013 (April, May, June), you will receive a Statement via email in the next week or so. Please check your statement for accuracy, and contact Operations Manager Matthew Abraham with any questions or concerns.

Reporting: Alison Wear

The Congo

On Saturday we hosted our fourth seminar of the year as our friends Bruce Campbell-Janz and Jesus Cruz from Mennonite Central Committee led us to ponder the Congo, an active faith, and God's call to the world. Over 50 people gathered to hear about a country devastated by nearly 20 years of war. MCC's work with youth, refugees, and internally displaced peoples was inspiring and gave us a good picture of where some of our Common Fund sharing dollars go.

As an added bonus, a visiting Syrian Orthodox Church bishop joined in our conversation and commented on the recent conflict in Syria, the humanitarian toll, and the physical and psychological damage being inflicted within the borders of his beloved home.

As a group, we were driven to our feet in solidarity, offering prayers of peace, reconciliation, healing, and restoration. We continue to pray for Jesus to be at work and for the safety of our partners as they do the work of Jesus in difficult circumstances.

Debt Annihilation Team - Another Round

On Monday night, our second round of the Debt Annihilation Team officially commenced. Our first group launched in 2010 with five people - nine lines of credit totaling over $22,000 in consumer debt. With $8,000 of seed money, our plan would save thousands of dollars in interest to credit card companies, expedite freedom from debt, and teach a number of healthy financial habits and understanding through being formed into a little community within our church. This first group, whom we affectionately referred to as the "astronauts," took a lot of risks and courageously demonstrated that our ideas can work. We learned a lot along the way as people grew, their situations changed, and four of the five made it to the finish line and are nearly complete replenishing the seed fund - which will be most of the money we need to prospect for a third group.

Our second group, now underway, is five people again. This time with nine lines of credit and over $26,000 of consumer debt. Our $10,000 seed fund and improved relational structure would save over $7,000 in interest to predatory credit card companies over the next two plus years. After 21 months, the debt will be erased. After 38 months, the seed fund will be replenished for a future group to use. In July, we'll have our first meeting hosted by one of the Group members, a simple meal at their home to help foster love and enjoy hospitality and generosity as part of Christ's antidote to shame and scarcity.

Keep the Debt Annihilation Group members, their Everence-trained coaches, and our administrators in your prayers as we take some huge swipes at bondage while taking strides towards more freedom together.

Clandestine Fiddling

Clandestine Fiddling 2013 - Watch it now.

A Trip to Conoy

The Compassion Core team and musicians from our network traveled to Elizabethtown to Conoy BIC Church on Sunday. Following Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25, Jonny Rashid shared why we would care to have compassion on others and Megan Rosenbach gave the details about how we are doing it through our compassion teams. Our musicians shared original and foreign language songs. Our fourteen compassion teams give people fourteen different opportunities to help spread justice and peace in the Philadelphia region and beyond, and the Compassion Core team is working to find creative ways to expand our reach. Sunday was a great start! The good people at Conoy BIC welcomed us with hospitality and even orchestrated a love offering of $300! We are looking for more venues to share the stories from our compassion teams in the coming months.

Reporting: Megan Rosenbach

Missionary Mindset

On Saturday, our cell leaders gathered to learn a bit more about what Paul was really talking about when he told Corinthian women to veil their heads. We concluded that he was really trying to be on a mission, striving to be all things to all people as he had written about just a few chapters earlier. Our cell leaders then brainstormed about ways that we could make connections within our neighborhoods and meet the next person by being cultural sensitive and flexibly presenting the Gospel.

The summary of Jonny's complete talk at the training can be read at his blog: http://jonnyrashid.wordpress.com/ 

Reporting: Jonny Rashid

Circle Thrift shares nearly triple so far in 2013!

Last year by the end of April Circle Thrift had shared $12,750 with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). This year they have already shared $33,700 with MCC! That is nearly a tripling in giving!

The money donated to the Mennonite Central Committee is used to support peace, education, health, food, and water programs around the globe. Here are a few real ways that Circle Thrift's donations to MCC are impacting people:

Syria: MCC's work with Syrian partner organizations to respond to the basic human needs of Syrians by distributing food, blankets and kits, and supporting peacebuilding and education in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

HIV AIDS Prevention: MCC supports volunteers, churches and organizations who are courageously speaking out to prevent the spread of HIV, caring for their neighbors and supporting those orphaned by the pandemic.

Clean Drinking Water: folks in Zambian villages are trained by Brethren in Christ Churches to maintain hand water pumps in their communities to provide access to clean drinking water.

Fixing Up

On Saturday May 25th, twenty-five people from across the Network descended on the Marlton & Crescent space to get some crucial work done. It felt like an autumn day, but the cool breezes helped keep them moving! Parking lot cracks were fixed, trees and bushes planted in freshly weeded beds, and mulch was put everywhere. Marlton & Crescent is gearing up for the final push toward getting their Site Plan finished/signed off on and gaining their permanent certificate of occupancy. The additional love and effort went a long way! There were a lot of sore backs, dirty kids, and joyous smiles...well worth every second!

Imaginarium: Getting Free of Mammon

Joshua Grace speaking to us on sharing, saving, spending.

On Monday night, Circle of Hopers gathered for an hour to discuss money and how as a community we should use it. Among the personal anecdotes shared, there was also some insight that the common perspective of spending, saving, and sharing—a perspective that is rooted in how much one makes—should in fact be flipped to sharing, saving, and spending, and that sharing money was even reported by research studies to bring much more happiness than spending on yourself. 

The group also took an in-depth look at how Circle of Hope gives away our money and the various ways in which we are attempting to practice sharing, saving, and spending. The hour ended with Vanessa Caruso leading the group in pooling ideas that would help us take steps to getting more responsible with the way we spend and how we share. Some of those ideas included war tax resistance, sharing stories of giving, learning economic policy, tracking a congregation's spending, and practical workshops.

Rob Wetherington ended the hour by leading the group in a prayer toss where the group prayed for our wisdom in how to handle money, and as a symbolic action threw money at the wall.

Some of the results of our prayer toss.

 

Seminar: Sexuality, Spirituality, and the Politics of Identity

Jenell Paris brought some of her brilliance to us this Saturday. She’s an anthropology professor at Messiah College and wrote “The End of Sexual Identity.” She came to Frankford & Norris to teach about ourselves, sexuality, and our souls. She brought a great deal of eloquence and taught us to be conversant about such a so-called “controversial” topic. Jenell did the good work of deconstructing our bifurcated and compartmentalized sexuality identity and pointed us to an identity as the beloved of Christ. There was a great degree of universal praise for the seminar, and we had well over 100 people present. An MP3 recording is soon to come.

Written by: Jonny Rashid

Love Feast: A time of reflection and covenants.

On Saturday, Circle of Hope had its quarterly Love Feast, a time of celebration for new baptisms, people making covenant, and a reflection on what Circle of Hope has done so far in the year.

The baptisms were done earlier in the day at the Wissahickon, and included: Gerald Lumarque, Wenson Georges, Amanda Johnson, Nick Schummer, Sarah Inman. Hannah Eshlemann was later baptized by Jonny Rashid at the Love Feast.

Following the baptism was a potluck across from the Frankford and Norris space where people from all congregations met and talked until the official start of the meeting.

The meeting was an energetic celebration that involved singing songs, several videos taking a glimpse at things happening in our community, and a sampler listen of the music that the Audio Arts team has been putting together for an upcoming album of Circle of Hope worship songs. Following that were the formal introductions of people wanting to make covenant with our community. They included: Sarah Inman, Steve Falkowski, Monda Mwaya, Gerald Lumarque, Wenson Georges, Mo Manklang, Preston Cabe, Naomi Sonne, Hannah Eshleman, Ruthie Carden, and Lexi Singleton. The night ended in more singing and joyful reflection. 

Retreat to the Woods

This past weekend, over sixty men gathered at Kenbrook Bible Camp for rest and bonding that also involved listening to several talks based on Richard Rohr's book, Adam's Return. Along with various provocative speakers from Circle of Hope, were also small group discussions and spiritual listening pairs. The topics ranged from not being in control of our lives to the inevitability of death and how this affects one's life now and how they act. There was also emphasis on Jesus' calling to be on a journey with him, one that teaches and molds men into something that transcends common stereotypes and cultural expectations. The retreat also served as a form of initiation, something that Rohr in his book states is strongly lacking in Western culture, an induction into solidifying one's identity in Jesus and relying on his wisdom throughout one's life.

The Imaginarium | Byte-sized Gospel?

On Monday night, about 30 people came out to the Imaginarium to discuss the role social media plays in individual lives and as a body of people, and how it is that we should use this tremendous and influential medium to reach out to those around us. The group went through a series of questions meant to challenge Circle of Hope's thinking on social media, as well as thinking of ways of using it to be able to resist and restore, and spread buzz about what Circle of Hope and our surrounding communities are doing for the city.


(On a side note: If you have twitter and want to spread word on things being done related to our community make sure to include #circleofhope as a tag in your tweet, as well as including hashtags not related to us but are part of the greater community of Philadelphia [i.e. #Philly, #Philadelphia, #Kensington, etc.]--that way people can see and come join!)

Free Baby & Kids Goods Exchange

This past Saturday was the Free Baby & Kids Goods Exchange at our Broad & Dauphin congregation. Moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers all came out and swapped clothing, toys, and other necessities for their smaller loved ones. The previous night was a smooth set-up thanks to the help of several Circle of Hope volunteers. Some of the clothing also came from Circle Thrift which provided an extra boost in the number of items people could choose from.

Interested in the Free Baby & Kids Goods Exchange? Go here!

Covenant Meeting

On Monday, some people met at Frankford and Norris to explore God's covenant with us and ours with each other. It was a good time to consider how and why someone might want to be included in the local and global redemption project that we're part of in the metro. We prayed in hope that God keeps bringing us together in love and expanding the good work we can do together.

Creating a Missional Culture

On Saturday, numerous Circle of Hope attenders came together at our Marlton & Crescent congregation to discuss the art of creating a missional culture. Several people got up to speak and helped the group to develop a variety of ideas on the state of present culture and ways in which it spreads and operates. As a primary contributor, Nate Hulfish shared the key components of what creates a culture, from things such as language and narrative to rituals and institutions, and led the attenders in studying these components in smaller, deeper discussions. The training helped to formulate ways of bringing new dynamics to cells, as well as freshening Circle of Hope's perspective of culture and how to be an influential voice within it.  

Love Park

Up to 50 people gathered in the rain and cold on Monday to come hear our two-hour reading of the first 21 chapters of Luke. A rotation of readers kept us going with intermittent breaks for Joshua Grace to lead us in a call-and-response of "Restore Us with Your Power and Grace." It was a night of contemplation on the gospel and prayerful worship for our city.