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

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.

Fun with Redistribution

One of our Compassion Teams, the Free Baby (and kids) Goods eXchange or "BGX" Team held another profound time for redistribution last Saturday at Frankford & Norris.  Each month at one of our sites we begin with a base of Circle Thrift-donated items for youngsters.  Team members set the space with snacks and organize according to age and size.  Well over 100 people came through this time to bring stuff, take stuff, and make some friends.

Different kinds of people come together on these occasions and this time we had regular Circle Thrift customers, recent political refugees, people getting out of homelessness, Spanish-only speakers, people who showed up just to drive people home, expecting moms in crisis, neighbors, people looking for cute things for their infants, moms, dads, caregivers, and dozens of folks referred by our allied agencies.  To witness or be part of these events is joyful and rewarding.  We are grateful for all the donations - if you want to keep making these possible, you can make a donation to either Circle Thrift location.

Slaying dragons

On Monday, eighteen of us gathered at Frankford & Norris to try and do the impossible: slay dragons. We spent time identifying the dragons among us: education inequality, racism, poverty, drone warfare, environmental degradation, depression, anxiety, hate, fear and pondered how we could solve them. We spoke out our emotions and prayed for solutions. It was a time marked by passion, prayer, and persistence--using the Christian Community Development Association's three Rs: relocation, redistribution, reconciliation. Here's what Sarah Getz of BW reported on the event page on Facebook:

Some of my favorite thoughts from last night's Dragon Slayer's Gathering:

-- Be patient, it can take years to defeat these dragons.
-- You aren't alone. It takes a village to defeat a dragon.
-- Our Compassion Teams succeed when people team up and collaborate.
-- Don't let the dragons break you. You'll fight them better if you're healthy. 
-- Some days, biking through poverty is hard, but sometimes I'm singing with joy.
-- Little Dragons, like cleaning up a park, are easier to deal with. 
-- Bigger Dragons - like gun homicide, violence and abuse, poverty and broken school systems - take more time, people and resources. But hang in there. Change will come.
-- If you need it, take a break from the fight. Don't be afraid to rest or get help.
-- We can connect with established groups throughout the city who are already fighting, and add our voices to theirs.
-- Philly's Public Schools are in the long slow dance towards death. The battle will get harder before it gets easier.
-- We are worried about empty schools and buildings, but we are hopeful for new legislation regarding abandoned properties.
-- We get scared and discouraged sometimes, but its encouraging when we hear success stories of hope, reconciliation, and positive change.
-- Public Spaces are getting reclaimed. Many of us are networking to clean, to plant, to grow - helping to network with neighbors and make our neighborhoods safer.
-- Even small ways of sharing have great impacts over time.
-- Relocate. Reconcile. Redistribute.
-- Collaboration is counter-cultural... but it's the best way to make progress.

Wow... there was so much more, but my mind is racing. 
Anyone care to add more thoughts?

Imaginarium | The Bronx?

On Monday, 20 Circle of Hopers came to Broad & Washington to discuss the church planting efforts by the BIC for the Bronx. A lot of good discussion was had on what we as Circle of Hope can provide for those planning on doing the planting, including possible training and advising. One of the main drives of the discussion, however, was who would take the leading role and felt called to go there. This was pondered and prayed about. The hour-long discussion provoked a lot of good thoughts to take out into the community, and provided people a better sense of direction on the issue.

For more information visit here: http://bicbronxlove.wordpress.com/

Patrick Fire

St. Patrick was well known for lighting an Easter Fire that changed Irish history as he challenged the prevailing powers that be. Sounds like resisting and restoring to me! One of my favorite parts of this year's St. Patrick's Day was that it fell on Sunday and gave us an opportunity to to light our own fires. Three of our congregations did that literally, as their pics show. We ringed the region with defiant fires and I hope we made some of the powers that rule us really mad. Want more on Patrick? Check out our site: [link]

A Night of Art

On Saturday night, Broad and Washington hosted Brutus, Be The Death Of Me: A Night of Unorthodox Art, Music, and Dance, an art show for experimental, unorthodox, and alternative visual artists to display their work. In addition to the visuals, two bands played (The Big Ship and Carl Sagan and the War Over Humanity), and several displays of performance art were held. The show had over 100 people stop by to look, listen, watch and engage in Circle of Hope's passion for and support of the arts.





Reporting and Photo: Ben Rosenbach

Remembering Richard Twiss

I'm grateful for having known Richard.  Very few people have shaped me so significantly - especially in such a short amount of time.   While he was in Washington DC for the National Prayer Breakfast he got to visit the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building where he and a bunch of other activists from AIM (American Indian Movement) had taken over the building a few decades before.  After suffering a major heart attack Richard went on to the other side on February 9th.



It had been only a few weeks since we had hung out.  He and I stopped by my house to meet my family and my favorite local spots - Leotah's Place, Pizza Brain, and our space on Frankford Ave.  We had plans to be together the week after he died at and around the Justice Conference as well as in April and June this year.

After spending a week on the Rosebud Lakota Sioux Reservation together last summer, (if you want to check out the class I took for this year it's still happening!) Richard invited me to spend about a week at his house before bringing me along to the annual Mni Wiconi Wacipi Family Camp and Pow-wow where he introduced me to many inspiring people and deepening worship experiences.  If you didn't get to hear him speak in person, fortunately a lot of people made Youtube videos of his speeches and songs - here are some short ones.   Wiconi International, the ministry that he began with Katherine will continue and needs to despite severe financial hardship without Richard.  Here is more about what people around the world are trying to mobilize for the Twiss family.

Though many of us loved him and recognized his gifts in both the prophetic and in leadership globally and in the Portland area, Richard faced harsh critics from Christians (native and non-native) as well as other first nations people for his incarnational approach and teachings of the gospel taking root, growing, and flourishing  in people and cultures outside of European worldviews and paradigms.

Last weekend I participated in several mini memorials to Richard with a rich community of learners, leaders, relatives, and friends including the big one which lasted for about four hours or so.  I wept through the entire thing.  Thanks to my folks on the West Coast for your hospitality and for some on the east coast who made it possible for me to go.  Before we were all invited to join in the final dance (the snake dance aka transformation dance) two of our mutual friends ceremonially retired Richard's regalia.  A sense of finality washed over me.  In my grief, I moved towards the front to do what RT would have done - to go kick up some dust.

-from his obituary..."In the Lakota tradition, there is no word for goodbye. Instead, we say,
'Toksa ake (We’ll see you again), son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend!'"

Loving Our Schools

On Saturday, Circle of Hope leaders gathered with neighbors and friends at GW Childs Elementary to love on our schools and the children they serve.   We began with a Seminar where Shanee Garner, Policy Director for Public Citizens for Children and Youth,  led us to consider the state of education in the region and how we can advocate for change in our spheres of influence.  After the seminar over 50 people helped to spruce up the school with various projects like this beautiful tree mural.  They were led by Megan Rosenbach, leader of our compassion team that has 'adopted' the school, and the neighborhood association she founded to support it (Neighbors Investing in Child's Elementary).  City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, an alumni of GW Childs, was so impressed by the love being poured out on the neighborhood that he showed up to pitch in!

Land Bank bill introduced to City Council!

The Take Back Vacant Land team and nearly 50 other organizations have been lobbying City Council to introduce a "land bank bill that we can trust." That is to say, one that considers what communities want (green space, urban farms, affordable housing)! We want to use the city's vacant land for ethical revitalization.

A huge milestone occurred today when Councilwoman Mario Quinones-Sanchez introduced the bill, with much of our language, into City Council. Rachel Sensenig, from our team, was there! Here's what her assistant, Jennifer Kates, wrote to us:

Please pass on our thanks to CTBVL for all your work so far in shaping the bill so that it is informed by community representation and equity in development, and for building support and enthusiasm for these changes.  The new draft greatly reflects your contributions.

Jennifer Kates, Esq.Office of Councilwoman Sánchez
City Hall, Room 592
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Let's keep praying as we make more progress on this bill. Stay tuned for more information!

Cell leaders keep our blood flowing

Last Monday we spent a few hours together imagining a world in which alienated people could learn to love, even find healing from the broken relationships and trauma of their past. We were putting prospective cell leaders through our mini boot camp.

Integrating into the organism that is a cell group is finding a safe place to discover and exercise one's true self in relationship to Jesus and his people. Sometimes people who have grown accustomed to health don't realize how revolutionary our humble groups really are! As we were talking about them, we were inspired and were grateful all over again for how God has given us this wonderful way to be his people.

For us, there is really nothing more important than honored and nurturing people who dare to lead us in our microchurches and dare to catalyze the face-to-face movement of God's Spirit in our region.

Ambiguity: Jimmy Eat World Cover Show

This past Saturday, six Circle of Hopers came together to play the entirety of Jimmy Eat World's album Clarity as a fundraising event for our compassion teams. Greg Bolles opened with a six-song set of folk-rock numbers followed by Ambiguity, the Jimmy Eat World cover band that performed a terrific rendition of one of the band's classic albums and several from its follow-up Bleed American.

Altogether both bands played to a crowded room nearing 100 people at Broad and Dauphin's space in North Philly. $650 was raised for Circle of Hope's compassion teams, which consists of 18 teams including the Take Back Vacant Land Team, Heads Together Haiti, and the Debt Annihilation Team.

Thanks to everyone who came out to listen!



Photo: Megan Rosenbach

See with New Eyes

This past weekend four covenant members of Circle of Hope joined about thirty others at an anti-racism analysis training called "See With New Eyes" (formerly Damascus Road). The weekend was full of conversation, conflict, and healing—proof that the road to racial reconciliation still spans long into the distance before us. There is still much work to do, and trainings such as this one are an invaluable venue for people of all races to attend and engage in dialogue.  It is part of our mission together in Jesus.



Reported by: Sara Semborski.

The Imaginarium | Fun Solving

Twenty-two people got together on Monday night to explore and discuss ways of being creative and introducing fun experiences as a way of engaging and including the people around us. The Imaginarium hopes to help fulfill Goal #2 in our 2013 Map of letting people see Jesus where they live and being good story tellers by generating opportunities for our worship to be more public.

Following several group exercises, Joshua showed a video of an improv group that did a flash mob in NYC wherein hundreds of people froze in a public place for several minutes. With that spark of inspiration, the group held a discussion analyzing what fun consists of and a variety of ideas that would involve a large group action around Philadelphia.

Interested in joining? All our welcome and we need your ideas to make it happen.

The Imaginarium meets every third Monday of the month for 60 minutes (yes, it's timed), 7-8pm. You can join the Facebook page here as a way of continuing the dialogue when we're not in session.

New Staff Person | Luke Bartolomeo

We have just added a new person to our Circle of Hope staff!

Luke Bartolomeo has just joined us as our Network Communications Assistant. He will be assisting the pastors in various office roles, as well as managing a lot of what you see here on our website and in our social networking (Facebook/Twitter/etc). He will also be assisting the Church Planting Core in administration, reporting, and secretarial duties.

Luke is excited for the tasks ahead and is looking forward to adding fresh ideas in how we convey our mission and reach out to more of those around us.

Black History Oratorical Celebration at Childs

Circle of Hope was an "honored guest" at The Childs Elementary Black History Oratorical Celebration. Rachel Sensenig, our Administrative Pastor represented us. Megan Rosenbach was there, too, also representing Circle of Hope and our compassion team "For the Love of Childs" as well as the neighborhood group NICE (Neighbors Invested in Childs Elementary).   Rachel said, "I'm inspired by the kids and the staff.  It was also wonderful to bask in the great works of Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Margaret Walker, and others."

Lent begins

On Wednesday, we began the journey of Lent by wearing ashes on our foreheads (made from last year's Palm Sunday palm fronds). Network-wide nearly 300 of us gathered to being this season of solitude and silence, with fasting, prayer, and almsgiving on our hearts. Journey with us at our public meetings, cells, and even on our Daily Prayer blog.

Making a difference in Camden

Randy and Kathryn Ribay were featured in an Inquirer article on Camden on Sunday. They love Camden, Camden loves them, and so do we! [link]

Moving Toward Our Goals for 2013: Highlights from Rod's Blog

Jesus calls us to help bring the kingdom of God into the present, and that’s why we discern goals together for each new year.  We see how much our world needs it!  Rod White, pastor at Broad & Washington,  has been blogging about our goals---some of the specific ways we'd like to bring hope to the needs in and around us this year.  We're already moving, and here’s a chance to get deeper into the action:

1.  We want to connect with people in our region and learn from them.  Goal: Use our series of six Saturday seminars to feature facilitators from outside of our network who can open our minds and hearts and enrich our diversity.  Blog post:  Fomenting Diversity in the Age of Big Data

2.  People need to see Jesus where they live. We don’t want to hold back from telling the story.  Goal: Generate opportunities for our worship to be more public.  Blog post: Getting Out There in the Face of Fear

3.   We have a burgeoning group of children, tens, and expecting parents in a region full of people who need love, family, and community.  Goal: Develop the capacity and vision for our Network Children’s Team.  Blog post: Children Nurture Us, Too

4.   We want to be people who are known for bringing the hope and justice of Jesus to the streets.  Goal: Charge our Coordinating Groups to connect with people and partnerships who already bless our neighborhoods.  Blog post: Let the Lord Make Your Radical Steps Solid

5.   We have a wealth of resources (gifted people) who direct us to go deep with God.  We want to nurture them and develop more capacity to receive what we need.  Goal: Provide a roadmap for spiritual direction that helps people understand and exercise their options.  Blog post: Spiritual Midwives

100 Stories of Transformation!

Mission accomplished! As of today we have posted our 100th! story of transformation on the website!

(we were pretty excited in the office when we posted our 100th story. Matt Abraham, Rachel Sensenig and Howard Pinder)

As you probably know, one of our goals in our 2012 map was to collect 100 stories of transformation. Here is the goal from the Map:

NEED Our fractured region needs the power of the resurrection in a restored relationship with God. We want to offer the hope Jesus offers. We want to make known and celebrate the adventure of living out a manifest demonstration of life in Christ. 

GOAL Collect 100 stories of transformation to publish on the “Stories” section of website and re-verb the stories throughout our various publications.

Thanks to all the people who put themselves out there and shared their story. It is not easy to share our full selves in a culture that practices irony and sarcasm more than truth telling. Sharing our personal story of how God has transformed us might be the best way to show our faith and love in this era. I have a feeling there are more stories out there waiting to be collected. If you have one you can send it to rachel@circleofhope.net.