Around Our Network / August 28, 2014

What’s been happening among us? August 28, 2014

 

We trained Network PM Leaders @ MC

The new PM Plan 2014 was unveiled. Even more important, the living “plan” known as the PM Teams got together to think and share. Every quarter this year we have become a more cohesive and loving team across the network.

Broad and Washington got a “spruce up”

Some creative and hardworking people got the BW space ready for newcomers.

Broad & Dauphin got cleaned and a facelift

It can be hard to have an HQ in a temporary rental, but we are committed to making it work. We had an organization day and new lighting to welcome all the new people showing up!

Artists finally started contacting MC after a lot of prayer

We were wondering when people would begin discover our artist studios. Maybe our interesting rental space idea will catch on! Everyone is encouraged to “like” the Facebook page and spread the word.

We started praying in relation to this conviction: 

“Jesus is best revealed incarnationally.” cohdailyprayer2014.wordpress.com.

The Children’s Team leaders from across the Network met!

They are doing their part to fulfill our Map. That’s the third meeting this year. They meet for development, encouragement, and community.

Our blogs were great places for thinking and encouragement

Did you see Rod’s post of Michiko’s revelation? Ben wrote all about puppies and togetherness. Jonny offered his reactions to Christian rock.

Another new video:

Someone Asked: "How can the body serve and be served by somebody who is sick?"

We worshiped God, told the truth and made new friends at our PMs

At the Broad & Washington meetings -- Togetherness. Boundaries. A new prayer corner in the middle of Circle Thrift stuff.

At the Frankford & Norris meetings -- Dawn Smelser & Jonny Szczesniak centered us on Psalm 46, praying about young black kids on bicycles and getting us to worship using a new song and open hands. We had a lively discussion around the Circle of Hope conviction “We must be doers of the Word.”

At the Marlton & Crescent meeting -- It was Monopoly money and the economics of God’s Kingdom in focus. Scott Sorrentino helped us invest in each other by “putting money” on the fertile soil we see in other people. Nate and the team helped us explore God’s abundance as we let go of our shame and received God’s peace. Rob Lairmore, Britani Nestel, Adam Nicely, and Donna Schmidt formed a panel that talked about sharing and spending and how to keep Jesus at the center. They talked about debt, sharing money with the church, radical trust, and having a plan. We were convinced that there’s more than enough to go around and to give out of the place of plenty. They were inspiring!

At the Broad & Dauphin meetings -- Movement. God is moving among us. We wondered if we could cause him to move through prayer too. We agreed we could and we might have through our discipline and prayer. We had a fun time “moving” with blown straws too.

Around Our Network / August 20, 2014

What’s been happening among us? August 20, 2014

Our PMs were times of worship, inclusion, and love.

At Broad & Washington -- It was a wonderful new night beginning our new season focused on “togetherness.” Many people said that it seemed like the Holy Spirit was moving many of us -- maybe it reached a peak with the shouts of “the Lord is my light and my salvation!” There were puppies here and there too. After the 7pm, quite a few men joined together for their BW men’s PM.

At Frankford & Norris -- Vanessa & Greg’s team used Psalm 42 to set the tone for the evening - including a brand new song! We considered our thirst for renewal, righteousness, and justice - and turned to Jesus at communion stations in response. Considering one of our Convictions That Drive US, Joshua got a lively discussion through We are meant to go deep with God. We prayed with our hands up about Michael Brown and racialized violence against black men.

At Marlton & Crescent -- The PM was engaging and expansive. New friends connected and the folks who were there made the meeting meaningful. We journeyed together as we worshiped and pondered the plight of migrant children and people who are being trafficked (specifically in the sex trade). Kat Bursky drew on her wealth of education and experience to give us the facts about sex trafficking in NJ and we all talked together about how to get Jesus into the mix. Rob Lairmore was particularly brilliant as he helped us pray for wholeness as we sang “Make Us Whole.”

At Broad & Dauphin -- The Body of Christ: diverse across the world and across time. We concluded our season being with the transnational body. Sarah led us as we observed a variety of liquids mixed together to create a beautiful harmon. For the first time ever, we had an Ask Me Anything panel discussion! Jonny, Tricia, and Sara were up. We are gearing up for something new, and I think our new folks really felt loved and included. 

The pastors kept experimenting with the videocast, this time: “Does God have a perfect match for me?”

Episode 6 is out! We’re trying to answer the questions that are out there. How are we doing? Do you have a question that you’d like us to answer? This week’s question is: “Does God have a perfect match for me?” See what you think, add to the conversation. Find it on our YouTube channel, here.

We met to imagine peace-making.

The topic of the Imaginarium this week was the “Ironic ‘Coercion of Being a Peace Church.” Strong stances about peace can seem coercive. What do we do? We went on to hone our peacemaking skills on the sizzling topics of the day: Ferguson, Gaza, Shalom House’s closing, and Iraq. We came away with practical ideas of what to do in Iraq and new thoughts and relationships.  

We used our "rolling Council" to approve a building purchase to expand Circle Thrift

Circle Thrift had a surprising opportunity to purchase a small building right next to their building on Frankford Ave. The owners wanted quick work and there was competition for the parcel. Martha Grace rushed us through the process and succeeded in getting the deal. We are in the “due diligence” period now before the process is officially concluded. We are weighing loan possibilities between the Brethren in Christ Foundation and Everence. This decision lept through our process: idea--team--Core Team/pastors--Leadership Team/Council. But we’re all catching up and agreed that the building will bring in even more money and opportunity to our already successful enterprise.

A new compassion team formed, the Development Without Displacement team

On the heels of the success of Take Back Vacant Land is a new interfaith and inter-organizational coalition that is forming around the complicated question of gentrification. Can development happen without displacing people? Or are we doomed to develop our neighborhoods with appropriate amenities and force long-term residents out? The Development Without Displacement team plans to advocate for positive legislation that allows for honest development.

We continued to journey with Robert Mulholland

The newest "voice" at Circle of Hope Daily Prayer is working with Mulholland’s book Invitation to a Journey. You can join in at cohdailyprayer2014.wordpress.com. On our blog celebrating the transhistorical body, we celebrated Nicholas Black Elk.

Joe Hunter is a recent addition to the Church Planting Core Team

Jeremy Avellino’s Cell is multiplying

We will have the Jeremy/Lauren Snow Cell and the Kent Ellingson/Mike Master Cell!

Our blogs were great places of sharing and thinking...

Rod wrote about the power of peacemaking; favorite line: “I think we can risk walking in love with people whether we agree with them or even understand them.” Jonny followed up on the Theology of Influence, the U.S.’s bombing of Iraq, and how deeply he was affected by Robin Williams’ death.

Around Our Network / August 13, 2014

 

What’s been happening among us? August 13, 2014

WIND took over our Network as we asked “Why PMs?”

At Broad & Washington -- Candace led us through stories of hope! Quadruplets in war-torn Gaza was a highlight. Forrest and Kirby led us through a set that brought our Audio Art records to life! Jonny offered his take on the Wind Day topic: public meetings--their purpose is celebration, evangelism, exhortation, encouragement, and maybe most of all, transcendence.

At Frankford & Norris -- Julius & Dan got us to consider the dangerous journey many people-- especially minors--take across the US Southern border into el Norte in both a journey around the space during worship and a prayer for their safety, as well as sane & humane immigration reform. We had the treat of Nate Hulfish with us to inspire us around how the public meetings help us rely on prayer, engage us in God’s reconciliation project, and give Holy Spirit opportunity to grow us in fruitful ways. Listen to FN’s public meeting here.

At Marlton & Crescent -- Our team of art directors connected us to the Living Water as they helped us explore reconciliation with God (and the gifts we receive when our spiritual waters seem murky), reconciliation with each other (and Detroit’s public water shutoffs and its effect on the poor), and reconciliation with the environment (and Toledo’s toxic water problem, not to mention fracking in our own backyard). We were led in communion as we connected to the River of Life. Joshua got us to consider how Jesus touches us at the Public Meetings, making a well of living water that others are looking for.

At Broad & Dauphin -- Ubuntu was the spirit of the evening. We are still wearing our gifts. The discussion was lively, as “wind day” encouraged us to look at the basics of why we have PMs. Even though our format was a bit different, and Rod is not there too much, the newcomers who were with us fit in pretty well. Listen to BD’s public meeting here.

Want to get in on the metaphor and where it might take you? Check out “Wind” on The Way of Jesus website.

The pastors kept experimenting with the videocast, this time: Someone Asked: "Why are we so Jesus-y?”

Episode #5 is out! We’re trying to answer the questions that are out there. How are we doing? Do you have a question that you’d like us to answer? This week’s question is: “Why are we so Jesus-y?” See what you think, add to the conversation. Find it on our YouTube channel, here.

We considered the theology of influence: are you worthy of influence?

In a direct response to our map, we hosted the third Doing Theology time. This time BW was filled with people discussing New Thought and how we might influence someone antagonistic toward Christian mission. Key phrases people were pondering: "be all things to all people", "people are experiencing a lot of isolation", "we already have places (like the BGX, recovery groups and Game Night) where unconnected people gather" -- if you have a contact deficit, try Philly Jesus in the Metro.


The cell leaders and friends got trained on testing the age of their cells.

Is your cell too old? Jonny led us to answer this question, in what ended up being a fruitful and practical time for teaching. Joshua offered a book review of Confessions of a Beginning Theologian by Elaine Fraser.

We were invited into a journey with Robert Mulholland.

The newest "voice" at Circle of Hope Daily Prayer is working with Mulholland’s book Invitation to a Journey. You can join in at cohdailyprayer2014.wordpress.com. On our blog celebrating the Transhistorical body, we celebrated Clare of Assisi.

Our blogs were great places of sharing and thinking...

Rod elaborated on PDA as publish worship. Jonny wrote about being the church, how technology manages to connect without community, and isolate without solitude, and also how Wes Anderson has mastered the power of aesthetic. Ben offered his thoughts on his Facebookless summer.