Clean water

January 4, 2009 // No Comments »

I was thinking about what Scott said at the end of the service tonight about the clean water shortage. A couple years ago, I had seen an idea where churches would send water bottles home with families for them to fill with change. At the end of the year, the church made one large contribution to an organization like BloodWaterMission, or something similar.

It’s an easy way for everyone in the church to get involved. Just thought I would throw it out there.

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John the Baptist - Jordan River

December 21, 2008 // 1 Comment »

I have been reading a book called “Things Hidden; Scripture as Spirituality” by Richard Rohr and ran across something that I found interesting in relation to our conversation last week at the Gathering.  Rohr expresses how the big plot of the Bible (of our life with God) is union with Him.  He says there are three indicators or bookmarks to look for in relation to this plot.  They are the symbols of water, blood and bread.  Blood symbolizes the transformative experience each of us must go through (this is always an experience of suffering).  Bread symbolizes the ongoing strength and intimacy available to us from God through our spiritual journey with him (makes one think about the important role that communion plays in ‘feeding’ and nurturing us). 

Finally, the author introduces the symbol of water.  Water symbolizes God’s constant and gracious invitation to union; His constant pursuit of us.  Someone brought up last Sunday night how it was interesting that John the Baptist built the Jordan River into his baptismal initiation rite.  Rohr suggests that an invitation to be baptized in water was an invitation from a gracious God inviting them into a loving, intimate relationship.  Rohr says, “Water is almost always an invitation to that first, subtle religious experience, when the desire just laps up against you and your mind and heart are opened for the first time.  It’s the first gnawing, inviting sense that there’s something more.  It’s the momentary recognition that the inside of things is even bigger than the outside….it is experienced as an allowing and enjoying, never a producing or attainment.” 

Just thought this was interesting and wanted to share it…

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Saint Nicholas Day

December 7, 2008 // No Comments »

Tonight, as we gathered, we brought cookies (the recipe was posted earlier) . . . we wrapped them up and included the message below - and walked them around the neighborhood, dropping them at doors.  

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Stories of Waiting

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I was so excited to hear that we would be taking some over the coming weeks to interact with some of the biblical stories of waiting.  I hope you will take some time over the coming weeks to interact with these stories, discovering how they intersect with your own life and experiences of waiting.  I wanted to create a place on the blog where we can share how God is speaking to us personally as we interact with these stories.

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support convergence

November 3, 2008 // No Comments »

our presence in our shared neighborhood, the plaza district, extends further than our coming together for the gathering.  much of the work we are doing/presence we are having is in supporting the arts, music, and community care = the convergence collective.

please plan on playing a personal role in making convergence great!

www.convergenceokc.org

get the word out about:

NOV 14 - 7pm “COLD IS HELL“ 
featuring: WES WILSON * JAIME COCHRAN *JON JOYCE * KARA WYNN

nov 22 - threads coats

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community is . . . (wholeness)

November 2, 2008 // No Comments »

Tonight we spoke of Community is . . .

God’s vehicle to create wholeness within us.  I even said that we really know (not just knowledge, but experience) nothing of God without the context of others (or community).

&

Community is God’s sign to the world of His fulfillment for humanity, and all of creation.  My concern here, with language like, “Sign” was that we might fall back into thinking that mostly our life is built up to be a display.  Display often giving us a sense of facade—what’s on the outside (read: mask) of wholeness rather than true transformation within us.  So–we read several quotes to speak to the real depth at which God works in the church–can work—rather than the sloganeering we are tempted to do on God’s behalf.

Wholeness then—is the growing result of life WITH GOD (not for God).  Wholeness–true wholeness, then pours out the presence of God into our world.

ANY THOUGHTS?

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community is what we ARE - not - what we say about it…

October 14, 2008 // 3 Comments »

it’s definitely not what we say about community or Christ following as a shared people—but the way in which we follow, the way in which we ARE community.

i was struck by this post by William Cavanaugh (thanks Paul Baird, for sending it my way) 

People are usually converted to a new way of living by getting to know people who live that way and thus being able to see themselves living that way too. This is the way God’s revolution works. The church is meant to be that community of people who make salvation visible for the rest of the world. Salvation is not a property of isolated individuals, but is only made visible in mutual love.

read entire post here

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alt.origins (genesis)

October 13, 2008 // 1 Comment »

We are a community (the church) who is brought together around ‘energizing memories’ and ‘radical hopes’–it changes the way we see all of life.   How are you going to continue to “carry” the Genesis narrative with you?  You can continue to add thoughts here.

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