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.
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.
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