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 / July 30, 2014

 

What’s been happening among us? July 30, 2014  

 

We worshiped God and made new friends at our PMs

At Broad & Washington -- We’re considering our Second Acts. How is the Spirit moving us into what’s next? What old ways of being and behaviors are we leaving behind? Dan McGowan and his team reminded us to hold on to each other as we hold on to our Heavenly Friend, using 90s hits, Puritan classics, and Circle of Hope originals. Rod encouraged us to stride right into our second act with Mary Magdalene whose story has been much maligned by history (particularly the patriarchy). She is the apostle to the apostles and to us. Listen to BW’s public meeting here.

At Frankford & Norris -- Stephen began the night getting us to sit with the section of Psalm 16 that Peter proclaimed to the crowds in Acts 2. We pondered the wildflowers, microbes, and weeds as we worshiped together. Jonny led a team that revamped an older tune, and got us praying with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Gaza. We talked through our conviction “We are called out to be a living organism, building community together through love." Listen to FN’s public meeting here.

At Marlton & Crescent -- Rob got us engaged with a full and creative team (Jamie Wasson joined for the first time and was awesome!). Jen helped us pray for suffering children in Gaza by reflecting on Handala and asking us to draw children as an act of prayer. CJ Reynolds spoke, the first time he’s done so in his 15 years as a part of Circle of Hope! On the 12th anniversary of his covenant with Circle of Hope, he spoke about Covenanting and Spiritual Growth. He told us how his commitment to covenant (and the covenant’s commitment to him) has carried him through some recent turmoil and he did a masterful job of storytelling (and healing).

At Broad & Dauphin -- We were wrestling with being grounded with God and being doubtful in the worship that Andrew Yang and his team led us in. We oscillated between songs of both “flavors,” and it was distinct and notable. Sarah Good helped us consider the saints from Down Under, in Australia and Oceania. Jonny answered, “What do I do when my faith doesn’t make sense?” Listen to BD’s public meeting here.

The pastors kept experimenting with the videocast, this time: “Someone Asked: Do I have to make peace to follow Jesus?”

It’s been three weeks now! What do you think of the videocast? Will you post your pastor with your thoughts? This week’s question is: "Do I have to make peace to follow Jesus?" Find it on our YouTube channel, here.

We shared in the struggle against evil when we gathered for baptisms and our Love Feast!

Our quarterly Love Feast is a great time for celebration, solidarity, and worship. Marlton and Crescent hosted us this past Saturday and we welcomed sixteen new covenant members and baptized six others! Awesome. 

We kept praying with Jesus in the Epistles

For the next few weeks the "voice" at Circle of Hope Daily Prayer will lead us to see Jesus in each of the New Testament letters, one a day. How about considering a summer season of study and prayer? cohdailyprayer2014.wordpress.com. On our blog Celebrating the Transhistorical Body, we didn't have a new post - but perhaps it's a good time to look back at the past few weeks. 

The Audio Art Team released Patiently Impatient in print!

Our second full-length album of original and transcultural worship music is finally in print! Get the CDs at the PM spaces. 

Rachel, Jen, and Jonathan’s Coordinating Groups met

Our monthly cell leaders gather in their Coordinating Groups (they are like cells for cell leaders) to pray, share, and strategize together. They are special times that add to the many disciplines of our leaders. Three groups met this week.

Broad & Dauphin hosted an About Circle of Hope dinner!

Lots of people gathered at Sarah Good’s house to learn about Circle of Hope. Our Network is fascinating and we have a great story to share. It was all accentuated by Sarah’s miso, carrot, and ginger soup. 

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

Rod offered his thoughts on the lack of difference between private and public--one of the many gems to come out of his doctoral studies. Jonny protested essentializing the Brethren in Christ’s core values and shared why not all violence is equal, specifically in Palestine.

Around Our Network / July 23, 2014

 

 

What’s been happening in the Network? July 23, 2014

We worshiped God and made new friends at our Public Meetings

At Broad & Washington -- Moses Ashaba taught us a song in his Ugandan dialect that means "Jesus gives rest” and Jerome Stafford gave us inspiration from Paul’s missionary adventures. Katniss Everdeen reminded us that sharing your heart can be costly, and we prayed for brothers and sisters in Detroit who are without water. Listen to BW’s public meeting here.

At Frankford & Norris -- Greg & Vanessa got us into Psalm 19 in great ways - both a new song (totally excellent) and composing some of our own Psalms in the same form. We spent a lot of time in prayer - both personal and all together. Gerald got us to pray for literacy in Haiti (where he did a lot of work on this issue before fleeing to Phila) and Vanessa led us to pray for his political asylum next Wed - which could reunite him with his wife and sons. We also explored our conviction “We expect people to express their gifts, talents, art, and worship” - including stories and key insights. Listen to FN’s public meeting here.

At Marlton & Crescent -- The Design Team literally had us bringing grace and experience into an unknown situation in order to make goodness out of what we’ve been given. We worshiped through conversation and cake baking (without recipes)! Such an inspiring time (and some of the cakes were amazing)! The whole night was a risk and Nate led us to think about risk, spiritual growth, and the factors that make it possible: the use of memory, the experience of community, and the exercise of perseverance.

At Broad & Dauphin -- Nate Wissler brought Bruce Springsteen to our PMs as we worshiped with North American Christians. It was fun! We thought about Christians across the nation and region, and considered how to include the best parts of their worship into our public meeting. “Should I vote?” was the FAQ we were working with and what followed was a stimulating discussion. Listen to BD’s public meeting here.

The pastors tried made a fun second videocast, “Someone Asked: Is it OK to not like Paul?”

Everyone has a lot of good questions! The pastors are always in conversation about theology, sociology, politics, science, psychology, and a host of other things. So they want to engage others in some good thinking and teaching to help people grow and to stimulate our mission. Maybe you’ll find their responses to “Is it OK to not like Paul?” interesting. It is homemade, just like Circle of Hope. Find it on our YouTube channel, here.

Over 40 of us gathered as the Council at the Imaginarium

Broad & Dauphin hosted this month’s Leadership Team meeting and Imaginarium. The Imaginarium is our monthly gathering of the Council and this month we gathered to discuss our Map and Budget. We brainstormed new ideas and awarded some great people for their work in helping us along down our paths. Rachel Sensenig for her cell multiplication, Andrew Yang for his PM leadership, Kate Nicely for her work as the MC Children Team leader, Jess Mints for communicating about compassion, and Art Bucher for sharing his wisdom as we think about theology this year.

We started praying with Jesus in the Epistles

For the next few weeks the "voice" at Circle of Hope Daily Prayer will lead us to see Jesus in each of the New Testament letters, one a day. How about considering a summer season of study and prayer? cohdailyprayer2014.wordpress.com. On our blog celebrating the transhistorical body, we didn't have a new post - but perhaps it's a good time to look back at the past few weeks.

Broad & Dauphin hosted a Baby Goods Exchange

A remarkable display of our generosity is always the result of our BGX. Saturday’s at BD was no exception. Dozens of people shared together. A beautiful sight.

Rachel, Ben, Nate, and Jonny studied BIC History in Exton

As part of their credentialing and licensing, several of our pastors traveled to Exton this week to study about BIC History and Values. We engaged in stimulating discussions about the Love Feast, peacemaking, and our history of mission.

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

Rod wrote why we cannot care about Palestine. Jonny offered a review of Justin Lee’s Torn, and his thoughts on Louie C.K. and how he used reconciliation as entertainment.

The Audio Art Team has been preparing for this weekend

Our second full-length album of original and transcultural worship music is finally in print! We will have cds (with booklets) at all the sites this weekend, for a donation of your choosing.

Kate & Matt Abraham got dozens of people together to yard sale

The first annual Kensington Community Yard Sale (#kenzoyardsale) got people from Circle of Hope and tons of neighbors to collaborate on a summertime purge. It was a great way to connect, redistribute stuff, and share some money.

Jerry and the Circle of Peacemakers have been in action

As the world watches the conflict escalating in Gaza, our [peace] listserv has been active and our team prepares for the next installment of our film series about Palestine coming up next Tues, 7pm at FN when we’ll watch Waltz with Bashir. Our call to make peace gets louder.

Check it out and all their other social media connections:
Blog: http://www.circleofpeacemakers.com/.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/circlepeaceteam.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/circleofpeacemakers

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.