Radical Living NYC!, an intentional community in Bed-Sty Brooklyn, has generously offered to
host our evening with Dave Andrews.
Jason Storbakken, one of the founders of Radical Living, says: "Join Radical Living for an evening with author, musician and fellow communitarian, Dave Andrews, as he shares stories, insight and wisdom from more than thirty years of living in Christian community in India,
Afghanistan and Australia."
Directions: Take the G train to Myrtle-Willoughby, cross the street and walk three blocks down Marcy Avenue. At 622 Marcy Ave. (at the corner of Hart Street), enter the gate and walk up the stairs. The door should be open. If not, ring the buzzer.
People are welcome to bring a dish/refreshments, but the main dish will be provided.
Facebook Event
Dave Andrews' Website
"It's natural to think of Dave Andrews as a prophet: (with) his fiery passion, his concern for justice, (and) the way his life speaks even more eloquently than his words’" Brian McLaren
"I like to think of Dave Andrews as a... weirdy, beardy, proverbially wise-old, kind-old, be-slippered, fire-sided, snoozy, fearless, story-telling, grand-fatherly, rugged, tribal-leader." Martin Wroe - Greenbelt
We look forward to seeing you there! Bowie
Monday, March 09, 2009
Friday, April 04, 2008
Emergent Hybrid Synergy: The Rise of the -Mergents
| Emergent Hybrid Synergy: The Rise of the -Mergents | |
** This Emergent/C newsletter was sent out last Friday, March 28 by Emergent Village **
We're not sure how it started to happen exactly, but people from many different streams of Christianity started finding some inspiration, hope, and community through Emergent Village-and then they started to find each other. Well, it's grown dramatically over the past couple years, thanks in large part to the Internet. We're thrilled about this, as people explore how the emergent experiment might take hold in the Petri dish of their own traditions/denominations.
All of this has resulted in a number of hybrid groups:
- Luthermergent (Lutheran) - possibly the earliest hybrid group to form; the official name of this group is the "Emerging Leaders Network," but don't let the name fool you, they're Lutherans
- Methomergent (Methodist) - probably the second oldest group; Jay Voorhees, pastor of Antioch UMC in Nashville was perhaps one of the first, most visible Methomergent voices
- Presbymergent (Presbyterian) - this group started with Karen Sloan and Adam Walker Cleaveland and has now grown to "a full-fledged community of several hundred ministers, lay-persons, writers, evangelists, youth directors, web-developers, theologians, seminarians, artist-musicians, and more."
- Reformergent (Reformed) - this group is somewhat different from the others because it's "interested in the interaction between Reformed theology and the emerging church movement." Chris Case is the main man "minding the (occasional) gap."
- Submergent (Anabaptist) - this group has a growing list of conspirators, but Mark Van Steenwyk is one of the most prolific
- Anglimergent (Anglican/Episcopal) - this is "a generous and generative friendship among diverse Anglicans, engaging emerging church and mission"; it is fast approaching 400 members with the "urban abbess" herself, Karen Ward, at the helm (in North America, and Ian Mobsby is the man in the UK and Europe)
- Convergent (Quaker) - this network includes people from the North America, the UK, and Australia who are trying to "discuss the radical changes within our culture, how that's affecting our tradition, and how we can follow God's mission in the world given our postmodern world."
- AGmergent (Assemblies of God/Pentecostal) - this is probably one of the newest groups to form; founder John O'Hara has described it as "a meaningful conversation about what it means to live out our faith in Christ, as Pentecostal believers, in relationship with each other and the greater Body of Christ."
Other groups probably exist, and we'd love to know about them. If you're part of an Emergent hybrid group, please email us and let us know about it. We'd love to help others connect with you.
Emergent Village is "a growing, generative friendship among missional Christians seeking to love our world in the Spirit of Jesus Christ"-and we realize that missional Christians exist in every stream of the Church. To put it another way (as our website states), Emergent is just one "node in the web of the emerging church," and it's deeply gratifying to help facilitate these kinds of connections between people emerging from within these various streams. So give us a shout, if/when you start a new network, and we'll be glad to help spread the word.
| Quick Links... | |
Monday, December 10, 2007
No Cohort in December - Help us Rethink & Renew
Hello.
We are canceling the December cohort.
We feel the cohort has reached the end of it's first wave or you might say, first era...we'd love your help in imagining where it will go next...
When the cohort started, emergent ideas were still incubating in NYC and soon many of them were born into real life...many of the people who became friends through the cohort are now super busy running what they've started...but now many more new things, and new leaders are emerging - note the NYC Faith & Justice group announcement below.
But still, if you are like me, you spend a lot of time explaining to new people just what this emerging church thing is, and so we are still in the early days of the emerging church and there is much room for many more expressions and new ideas - and thus a place where people can come together to talk about them and urge one another forward.
Please comment below with your thoughts or ideas about the future of the cohort, what you would like to see, what you would be willing to do, or contact Jeff and Bowie by email.
We'll be seeing you in some way in 2008!
We are canceling the December cohort.
We feel the cohort has reached the end of it's first wave or you might say, first era...we'd love your help in imagining where it will go next...
When the cohort started, emergent ideas were still incubating in NYC and soon many of them were born into real life...many of the people who became friends through the cohort are now super busy running what they've started...but now many more new things, and new leaders are emerging - note the NYC Faith & Justice group announcement below.
But still, if you are like me, you spend a lot of time explaining to new people just what this emerging church thing is, and so we are still in the early days of the emerging church and there is much room for many more expressions and new ideas - and thus a place where people can come together to talk about them and urge one another forward.
Please comment below with your thoughts or ideas about the future of the cohort, what you would like to see, what you would be willing to do, or contact Jeff and Bowie by email.
We'll be seeing you in some way in 2008!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Shane Claiborne w/ NY Faith & Justice, SUNDAY
New York Faith & Justice Presents...
SUNDAY December 2, 2007: The Bridge AND Christianity and Transformational Development!
1) The Bridge has MOVED to 5pm service at All Angels Church, All Angels Church (251 W. 80th Street & Broadway. The first 30 RSVPS for the Bridge (at 5pm) will be receiving vouchers for the Community Meal after the service. RSVP to pheltzel@nyfaithjustice.org ASAP.
2) After The Bridge, Join us for Shalom, Reconciliation and Non-Violence: Extremists for Love - All Angels Church (251 W. 80th Street & Broadway) 7.30 - 9.30pm
Speaker: Shane Claiborne, prominent Christian activist and bestselling author of ‘The Irresistible Revolution’
Love wins. Death dies. Amid the hells of war and poverty, Shane will share about the triumph of love and scandalous grace amid war zones and ghettoes. Building upon the wisdom of Christian radicals throughout history, we will consider how to live our faith in ways that prophetically interrupt the destructive patterns of our world.
NOTE: For others attending the Bridge, we encourage you to catch dinner in the neighborhood and come back @ 7:30pm to hear from Shane Claiborne.
Please RSVP to suzana.s.andrade@gmail.com for Shalom, Reconciliation and Non-Violence: Extremists for LoveSunday, November 25, 2007
Rising from The Ashes: Rethinking Church by NYC's Becky Garrison
Rising from The Ashes: Rethinking Church is available in at many Barnes & Noble bookstores, select Episcopal and other church bookstores and Amazon.com (US and UK).
The NYC church leaders interviewed for this book:
Elise Brown, Advent Lutheran/Common Ground (http://www.myspace.com/advent_commonground )
Isaac Everett (www.isaaceverett.com)
Jahneen Otis (http://www.jahneen.com>
Rev. Kevin Bean/Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey, St. Bart's Church (http://www.stbarts.org)
Nancy Hannah, Calvary/St. George's Episcopal Church (http://stgeorgesnyc.dioceseny.org )
Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam, Episcopal Diocese of New York
The NYC church leaders interviewed for this book:
Elise Brown, Advent Lutheran/Common Ground (http://www.myspace.com/advent
Isaac Everett (www.isaaceverett.com)
Jahneen Otis (http://www.jahneen.com>
Rev. Kevin Bean/Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey, St. Bart's Church (http://www.stbarts.org)
Nancy Hannah, Calvary/St. George's Episcopal Church (http://stgeorgesnyc.dioceseny
Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam, Episcopal Diocese of New York
Marilyn Haskel, St. Paul's Chapel (http://www.trinitywallstreet.org )
Also, the Latino Leadership Circle is listed in the resource guide (http://latinoleadershipcircle.typepad.com )
If anyone would like to check out any of these leader's services, email Becky Garrison (bgthedoor@aol.com) and we'll arrange a time to get together.
* Press Release *
NEW YORK (September 7, 2007) – Author Becky Garrison describes her new book, Rising from the Ashes: Rethinking Church (Seabury), as a “salon where voices come to the table” to discuss ways to reach those for whom church is not in their vocabulary.
The alternative worship/emerging church movement has been underway in various incarnations throughout the UK for more than twenty years, and has impacted the U.S. evangelical community since the 1990s. However, these influences are just now beginning to emerge within the mainline liturgical churches. What impact do these new ways of worshiping God have on the contemporary mainline church?
Rising from the Ashes engages these questions through interwoven oral history-style interviews with people working with mainline churches who at the forefront of exploring what it means to “be” the Church in the 21st century. Several worship leaders who do not self-identify with the emerging church movement are also included.
The diverse array of voices range from High Church Celtic Christians to Evangelical Anglicans, as well as a few spiritual souls who consider themselves to be post-church. The contributors to this book include: Diana Butler Bass, Jonny Baker, Kester Brewin (Signs of Emergence), Shane Claiborne, Brian McLaren, Peter Rollins, Phyllis Tickle, Karen Ward (Church of the Apostles, Seattle), and NT Wright.
About the Author: Becky Garrison's first book Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church: (Jossey Bass, April 2006) received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Her book The New Atheist Crusaders and their Unholy Grail will be released by Thomas Nelson in January 2008. She began writing for The Wittenburg Door in 1994 and currently serves as Senior Contributing Editor. Her additional writing credits include work for The Ooze, God’s Politics blog, Christian Retailing, Prism, Stackpole Books, Bibal Press, Episcopal Life, and The Living Church.
Also, the Latino Leadership Circle is listed in the resource guide (http://latinoleadershipcircle
If anyone would like to check out any of these leader's services, email Becky Garrison (bgthedoor@aol.com) and we'll arrange a time to get together.
* Press Release *
RISING FROM THE AHES: RETHINKING CHURCH TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT
EMERGING WORSHIP FOCUSING ON MAINLINE LITERGICAL CHURCHES
This First American Look at the Subject Features Contributions
from Many Leading Thinkers on the Topic
EMERGING WORSHIP FOCUSING ON MAINLINE LITERGICAL CHURCHES
This First American Look at the Subject Features Contributions
from Many Leading Thinkers on the Topic
NEW YORK (September 7, 2007) – Author Becky Garrison describes her new book, Rising from the Ashes: Rethinking Church (Seabury), as a “salon where voices come to the table” to discuss ways to reach those for whom church is not in their vocabulary.
The alternative worship/emerging church movement has been underway in various incarnations throughout the UK for more than twenty years, and has impacted the U.S. evangelical community since the 1990s. However, these influences are just now beginning to emerge within the mainline liturgical churches. What impact do these new ways of worshiping God have on the contemporary mainline church?
Rising from the Ashes engages these questions through interwoven oral history-style interviews with people working with mainline churches who at the forefront of exploring what it means to “be” the Church in the 21st century. Several worship leaders who do not self-identify with the emerging church movement are also included.
The diverse array of voices range from High Church Celtic Christians to Evangelical Anglicans, as well as a few spiritual souls who consider themselves to be post-church. The contributors to this book include: Diana Butler Bass, Jonny Baker, Kester Brewin (Signs of Emergence), Shane Claiborne, Brian McLaren, Peter Rollins, Phyllis Tickle, Karen Ward (Church of the Apostles, Seattle), and NT Wright.
About the Author: Becky Garrison's first book Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church: (Jossey Bass, April 2006) received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Her book The New Atheist Crusaders and their Unholy Grail will be released by Thomas Nelson in January 2008. She began writing for The Wittenburg Door in 1994 and currently serves as Senior Contributing Editor. Her additional writing credits include work for The Ooze, God’s Politics blog, Christian Retailing, Prism, Stackpole Books, Bibal Press, Episcopal Life, and The Living Church.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Cohort Tuesday - We don't need to read it!
We are going to discuss a book we haven't even read!
The Cohort this Tuesday will discuss Pete Rollins book, How (not) To Speak of God - and most of us haven't even read it! What you say?? That's right, we have been having book discussions on well known emergent books by reading reviews and short excerpts - are we academically challenged? No, just super busy and we recognize all of you are too, so we're making it easy. After one of the dialogs, you might find that you can't wait to read the book, or that you got enough and you can budget that precious time for another book.
I would say this has been the book that has been the most talked about and created the most excitement in emerging church circles in the last few years. It is a true work of new emerging theology. Brian Mclaren wrote the forward and gushed in his praise for it. I am hearing it's ideas seeping about in emerging conversations, and feeling it affecting my thinking regularly in some areas, or beginning a process of challenging me and making me think in others - and I haven't even read the book! I've read so many brief reviews or heard people talking about it that I've kind of gleaned some of it's main ideas - you know a book is good when that happens.
But you are all just as busy or more than me, so you also may have not read it - so below are a few reviews to link to, but especially an excerpt from the publisher.
Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 6:30pm
Origins Church Office
581 9th Ave #3B (corner of 42nd and 9th Ave.)
above the papaya dog.
Enter next to the hotdog place on 9th ave.
look for the ORIGINS poster in the door and buzz number 3B...
Reviews:
The best I think is to read this excerpt of the book: http://site.paracletepress.com/samples/exc-hownot_a01.pdf
Here's a good blog review, you have to link to his five posts on the book - so I won't reprint them all in this email.
http://ifgodislove.blogspot.com/2007/01/reading-how-not-to-speak-of-god.html
Here's a short one, not very comprehensive:
http://www.bethquick.com/2006/11/review-how-not-to-speak-of-god-by.html
Here's the link to the Next-Wave Ezine review:
http://www.the-next-wave-ezine.info/issue97/index.cfm?id=20&ref=ARTICLES_REVIEWS_307
--
The Cohort Team
The Cohort this Tuesday will discuss Pete Rollins book, How (not) To Speak of God - and most of us haven't even read it! What you say?? That's right, we have been having book discussions on well known emergent books by reading reviews and short excerpts - are we academically challenged? No, just super busy and we recognize all of you are too, so we're making it easy. After one of the dialogs, you might find that you can't wait to read the book, or that you got enough and you can budget that precious time for another book.
I would say this has been the book that has been the most talked about and created the most excitement in emerging church circles in the last few years. It is a true work of new emerging theology. Brian Mclaren wrote the forward and gushed in his praise for it. I am hearing it's ideas seeping about in emerging conversations, and feeling it affecting my thinking regularly in some areas, or beginning a process of challenging me and making me think in others - and I haven't even read the book! I've read so many brief reviews or heard people talking about it that I've kind of gleaned some of it's main ideas - you know a book is good when that happens.
But you are all just as busy or more than me, so you also may have not read it - so below are a few reviews to link to, but especially an excerpt from the publisher.
Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 6:30pm
Origins Church Office
581 9th Ave #3B (corner of 42nd and 9th Ave.)
above the papaya dog.
Enter next to the hotdog place on 9th ave.
look for the ORIGINS poster in the door and buzz number 3B...
Reviews:
The best I think is to read this excerpt of the book: http://site.paracletepress.com/samples/exc-hownot_a01.pdf
Here's a good blog review, you have to link to his five posts on the book - so I won't reprint them all in this email.
http://ifgodislove.blogspot
Here's a short one, not very comprehensive:
http://www.bethquick.com/2006
Here's the link to the Next-Wave Ezine review:
http://www.the-next-wave-ezine
--
The Cohort Team
Thursday, October 11, 2007
John Bell @ Advent Lutheran, Thurs OCT 18th
John Bell, a member of the Iona Community, is giving a worship workshop at Advent Lutheran (Broadway and 93rd Street) on October 18th at 7pm in the Sanctuary. I spoke with Pastor Elise Brown and she would like to extend a warm invitation to anyone who would like to attend this evening.
Here's how he describes himself in the Greenbelt bulletin. I heard him talk and hung out a bit with the folks at Iona when I went to Greenbelt UK this summer to speak - I was blown away.
Passing this info. along in case you can make it. Highly recommended.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Oct 9th - Signs of Emergence - book (& book review) discussion
Our next second Tuesday Cohort is coming up on October 9th.
This month, we’ll be discussing Kester Brewin’s book, Signs of Emergence: A Vision for Church That Is Always Organic/Networked/Decentralized/Bottom-Up/Communal/Flexible/Always Evolving – via some online reviews that will give you a good sense of the book (see links below). If you've read the book, bring it along (!) and it’s a fast read for those of you who might want to see how far you can get by next Tuesday ;-)
A main theme of the book is urban ministry, apt for those of us living in the NYC metro area. Kester is from London, and part of our discussion may look at “emerging” ideas jumping across the (big Atlantic) pond.
The best two online reviews I found...
Signs was published by “emersion”, an Emergent Village imprint of Baker Books, in July 2007. It was previously published in the UK as The Complex Christ in 2004.
As usual, we’ll be meeting at 6:30 pm at the Origins Office, 581 9th Ave #3B @ 42nd St.
Look forward to seeing you there!
The Cohort Team
This month, we’ll be discussing Kester Brewin’s book, Signs of Emergence: A Vision for Church That Is Always Organic/Networked/Decentralized/Bottom-Up/Communal/Flexible/Always Evolving – via some online reviews that will give you a good sense of the book (see links below). If you've read the book, bring it along (!) and it’s a fast read for those of you who might want to see how far you can get by next Tuesday ;-)
A main theme of the book is urban ministry, apt for those of us living in the NYC metro area. Kester is from London, and part of our discussion may look at “emerging” ideas jumping across the (big Atlantic) pond.
The best two online reviews I found...
- The first review by Ryan Bolger, co-author of Emerging Churches, is a succinct, well-written, 2-pager.
- The second review by Jordon Cooper, is about 6 pages, two-thirds chucky block-quotes right out of the book. This blog review suffers from lack of a copy editor (some typos, etc), but is well structured and gives a very good and enthusiastic sense of the book’s message.
- A short interview with Kester on The Ooze, by Becky Garrison
- Bowie’s four favorite Brewin quotes, on www.Transmissioning.org
Signs was published by “emersion”, an Emergent Village imprint of Baker Books, in July 2007. It was previously published in the UK as The Complex Christ in 2004.
As usual, we’ll be meeting at 6:30 pm at the Origins Office, 581 9th Ave #3B @ 42nd St.
Look forward to seeing you there!
The Cohort Team
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Brian McLaren on Staten Island, Oct 3rd
The Everything Must Change National Book Tour begins...
Brian McLaren
Book signing Event (Discussion, Q&A, signing)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2007 – NEW YORK, NY
7:00 p.m. ET
7:00 p.m. ET
Barnes & Noble
2245 Richmond Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10314
Friday, September 07, 2007
Fall Cohorts begin Tuesday
Welcome to the new year! Along with the rest of NYC coming back to life for the fall season, the cohort is beginning it's new year.
The Big Change - Meeting on Tuesdays now!
(the second Tuesday of the month)
This Tuesday, Sept. 11th at 6:30pm
Origins Church Office
581 9th Ave #3B (corner of 42nd and 9th Ave.)
above the papaya dog.
Enter next to the hotdog place on 9th ave.
look for the ORIGINS poster in the door and buzz number 3B...
We had a great time in late August with Tony Jones and we look forward to your input on new discussion topics or books to read or things to do together for the fall.
We took a poll, we had two discussions and we voted to change to the second Tuesday of the month - sorry to those who can't make it that night, but we're excited about some who couldn't make it this whole last year that will be able to now.
Why don't you bring some food on Tuesday, Sept. 11th to the first gathering and some drinks and maybe one go-getter will even bring ice!
The Big Change - Meeting on Tuesdays now!
(the second Tuesday of the month)
This Tuesday, Sept. 11th at 6:30pm
Origins Church Office
581 9th Ave #3B (corner of 42nd and 9th Ave.)
above the papaya dog.
Enter next to the hotdog place on 9th ave.
look for the ORIGINS poster in the door and buzz number 3B...
We had a great time in late August with Tony Jones and we look forward to your input on new discussion topics or books to read or things to do together for the fall.
We took a poll, we had two discussions and we voted to change to the second Tuesday of the month - sorry to those who can't make it that night, but we're excited about some who couldn't make it this whole last year that will be able to now.
Why don't you bring some food on Tuesday, Sept. 11th to the first gathering and some drinks and maybe one go-getter will even bring ice!
If you've been thinking of coming, but haven't gotten around to it, or if you came once and have been wondering if it's something you should do once a month, let me give you a small inspiration...
...The cohort is about friendship.
It's not often that we have a chance to gather with such likeminded people, who've all experienced the joys and agonies of Christian leadership and who have incredible hopes for the future and enjoy talking about them with passion and intelligence.
Our world is in the throes of incredible change - the church is poised to undergo a major reformation that will enable her to be an instrument in God's hand to fulfill his plans to love the people of the earth in the yet understood future.
We need to be with one another to hear one another, and the Lord within one another to be able to respond to his leading in days where "the norm" is out the window.
Come and be together in an environment of people listening to the new wind God is allowing to mysteriously move amongst us.....
...The cohort is about friendship.
It's not often that we have a chance to gather with such likeminded people, who've all experienced the joys and agonies of Christian leadership and who have incredible hopes for the future and enjoy talking about them with passion and intelligence.
Our world is in the throes of incredible change - the church is poised to undergo a major reformation that will enable her to be an instrument in God's hand to fulfill his plans to love the people of the earth in the yet understood future.
We need to be with one another to hear one another, and the Lord within one another to be able to respond to his leading in days where "the norm" is out the window.
Come and be together in an environment of people listening to the new wind God is allowing to mysteriously move amongst us.....
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
SPECIAL COHORT with Tony Jones, Aug 23
Come join us for a special NYC Cohort Conversation with Tony Jones, National Coordinator of Emergent Village and editor of An Emergent Manifesto of Hope.
TOMORROW night, Thursday, August 23rd from 7-9 pm.
TOMORROW night, Thursday, August 23rd from 7-9 pm.
We'll be gathering at Stone Creek Bar & Lounge
* 140 East 27th Street between Third Avenue and Lexington
Meet Tony on YouTube (he's the guy on the left)
Check out Tony's Bio - from www.emergentvillage.com
As the national coordinator of Emergent Village, Tony connects people within the network, helps to organize events and initiatives, and is responsible for things like maintaining this website. Tony is in the process of getting a Ph.D. in practical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Previously, he was the Minister to Youth & Young Adults at the Colonial Church of Edina in Minnesota, the church where he grew up. Educated at Dartmouth College and Fuller Seminary, Tony is the author of Postmodern Youth Ministry (YS/Zondervan, 2001), Soul Shaper (YS/Zondervan, 2003), Read, Think, Pray, Live (NavPress, 2003) Pray (NavPress, 2003), The Sacred Way (Zondervan, 2005), and the editor of several books. Tony serves on several boards, and he is a regular columnist in The Journal of Student Ministries. Tony lives in Minnesota with his wife, Julie, and their three young children.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
NEED SPACE FOR TONY JONES MEETING
Any Ideas??
Thursday, August 23rd at 6:30pm
(comment below and we'll get it)
Thursday, August 23rd at 6:30pm
(comment below and we'll get it)
Saturday, August 04, 2007
August Special Cohort w/ Tony Jones
*****UPDATE: Can't meet at normal space - any ideas for alternate space??******
Hey everyone. Because August is such a strange month in NYC, we've been wondering if we should take the month off, but then a wonderful opportunity came up - Tony Jones is in town on August 23rd (Thurs.) and so he is going to spend the evening with us.
If you don't know, Tony is the national coordinator of emergent village and speaks all over the world to groups large and small about what's happening in emergent land.
We haven't confirmed whether we will stay in the regular space or go somewhere else, so stay tuned for an email on that - and of course no regular cohort on the second monday of August.
Come with questions for Tony and let me know if there's anything you'd like him to cover and we'll let him know ahead of time. It's going to be a great night.
Then it will only be a few weeks until we start the new year of cohorts on the second Monday of September - come out this year and make friendships with people that will walk alongside you as you endeavor to do new things in the Kingdom. Consider cementing the second Monday of each month into your calendar this year.
So many things are happening this year that you will enjoy being a part of. Bowie is helping organize the big "Greenbelt" style festival that EV is working on along with a few other groups. I am going to be participating all over the country in Brian McLaren's eleven city, "Everything Must Change" tour (more on that exciting development soon). Samir has finally arrived and is preparing to launch Faith House. Sean Callaghan and family are ready to go and are just awaiting visa's to move here and plant in Tribeca. Jose Humphreys of Latino Leadership Circle is planting MetroHope in Harlem and Belinda is on his team (and I am in talks with them about being involved:)
Doing new things is hard. I can't stress enough how helpful it has been for all of us who are regulars to build the friendships we have in the cohort. Don't fight your fights alone, don't try to come up with all those new ideas alone - come join our happy family one night a month.
Hey everyone. Because August is such a strange month in NYC, we've been wondering if we should take the month off, but then a wonderful opportunity came up - Tony Jones is in town on August 23rd (Thurs.) and so he is going to spend the evening with us.
If you don't know, Tony is the national coordinator of emergent village and speaks all over the world to groups large and small about what's happening in emergent land.
We haven't confirmed whether we will stay in the regular space or go somewhere else, so stay tuned for an email on that - and of course no regular cohort on the second monday of August.
Come with questions for Tony and let me know if there's anything you'd like him to cover and we'll let him know ahead of time. It's going to be a great night.
Then it will only be a few weeks until we start the new year of cohorts on the second Monday of September - come out this year and make friendships with people that will walk alongside you as you endeavor to do new things in the Kingdom. Consider cementing the second Monday of each month into your calendar this year.
So many things are happening this year that you will enjoy being a part of. Bowie is helping organize the big "Greenbelt" style festival that EV is working on along with a few other groups. I am going to be participating all over the country in Brian McLaren's eleven city, "Everything Must Change" tour (more on that exciting development soon). Samir has finally arrived and is preparing to launch Faith House. Sean Callaghan and family are ready to go and are just awaiting visa's to move here and plant in Tribeca. Jose Humphreys of Latino Leadership Circle is planting MetroHope in Harlem and Belinda is on his team (and I am in talks with them about being involved:)
Doing new things is hard. I can't stress enough how helpful it has been for all of us who are regulars to build the friendships we have in the cohort. Don't fight your fights alone, don't try to come up with all those new ideas alone - come join our happy family one night a month.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
July Cohort!
It's cohort time!
This month the cohort gets hit by the shockwave called Samir! Faith House is the new church that is emerging that Samir and his family are starting here in NYC. We've been praying for them and eagerly anticipating their arrival and now they are finally here. Come welcome this national emergent leader to our local fold.
If it's your first time, we gather monthly to build friendships and talk about all things emerging.
Jeff is back from his month in Argentina where a simple vacation became meeting after meeting with emergent hungry pastors and seminary leaders - all of it leading to the formation of a new emergent network in that country. What a wonderful miracle, come hear about it.
See the post below and continue to pray for Shane Clairborne and his community.
Also pray for Sean Callaghan and family, the other long awaited addition to the cohort that are stuck in South Africa waiting for their visa's to be granted. We eagerly anticipate them and their new work in Tribeca.
Also, a brief mention to whet your appetite, in the fall, a musical group which is nationally beloved by emergent village folks, The Cobalt Season is coming to NYC and we are looking for ways to combine their visit with a cohort gathering and any other creative ideas we could do together. More info soon.
This month the cohort gets hit by the shockwave called Samir! Faith House is the new church that is emerging that Samir and his family are starting here in NYC. We've been praying for them and eagerly anticipating their arrival and now they are finally here. Come welcome this national emergent leader to our local fold.
If it's your first time, we gather monthly to build friendships and talk about all things emerging.
Jeff is back from his month in Argentina where a simple vacation became meeting after meeting with emergent hungry pastors and seminary leaders - all of it leading to the formation of a new emergent network in that country. What a wonderful miracle, come hear about it.
See the post below and continue to pray for Shane Clairborne and his community.
Also pray for Sean Callaghan and family, the other long awaited addition to the cohort that are stuck in South Africa waiting for their visa's to be granted. We eagerly anticipate them and their new work in Tribeca.
Also, a brief mention to whet your appetite, in the fall, a musical group which is nationally beloved by emergent village folks, The Cobalt Season is coming to NYC and we are looking for ways to combine their visit with a cohort gathering and any other creative ideas we could do together. More info soon.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Fire at Simple Way: Please Pray and Donate
Official Fire Update from The Simple Way in Philly, PA
This morning, a 7-alarm fire consumed an abandoned warehouse in our Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia. The Simple Way Community Center at 3200 Potter Street was destroyed as well as at least eight of our neighbors' homes. Over 100 people were evacuated from their homes, and 400 families are currently without power. Despite this developing tragedy, we are incredibly thankful to share that all of our community members and every one of our neighbors is safely out of harm's way.
This fire will forever change the fabric of our community. Eight families are currently homeless, and in many cases have lost their vehicles as well as their homes. One of our neighbors, the Mahaias Family, lost their three cars as well as the equipment one family member uses for her massage therapy business. Teenager Brian Mahaias is devastated not because he has lost his belongings, but because he fears that this fire will force him to move away from this neighborhood that is his family as well as his home.
The Simple Way has lost a community center that was home to our Yes! And… afterschool program, community arts center, and Cottage Printworks t-shirt micro-business as well as to two of our community members. Community members Shane Claiborne and Jesce Walz have lost all of their belongings, Yes!And…'s after school studio and library were ruined, and community member Justin Donner's Cottage Printworks equipment and t-shirts were destroyed.
We are thankful that we are able to help each other during this time of need, and we will continue to keep your informed about today's events.
We have established funds to support the families who have lost their homes, the Yes! And… afterschool program, and the Simple Way community.
A fund to support the families has been established through a partner organization, EAPE. Tax-deductible donations can be made at https://www.tonycampolo.org/donate.php#ssl. Please make sure to put "Kensington Families Fund" in the memo section.
Donations to the Rebuilding Fund can be made via PayPal to contribute@awip.us.
-The Simple Way Community
Friday, June 08, 2007
Worship Tricks!
Hello cohort -
For June and July we're trying some "workshop" cohorts, instead of our regular topical discussions.
We had planned to do a "Music Monday" in June, but a couple of the musicians who regularly attend cohort will be out of town, so we're moving that to July. Let us know if you want to play!
THIS MONDAY we'll be doing "Worship Tricks" inspired by Johnny Baker's list. Isaac and I will be bringing "Communion By Numbers" kits from our Easter at Avalon Service, and I was wondering if any of you have a 10-15 minute worship component that you could bring in to do with the group, followed by some discussion, brainstorming, etc.
An innovative approach to prayer, to confession, to reading scripture, whatever... The only limitations I can think of are that it should take less than 20 minutes (tops!) and should be something that anyone who shows up can participate in.
We may also end up sharing stories about interesting worship approaches we've experienced and maybe even trying some worship approaches extemporaneously...
Hope to see you there!
For June and July we're trying some "workshop" cohorts, instead of our regular topical discussions.
We had planned to do a "Music Monday" in June, but a couple of the musicians who regularly attend cohort will be out of town, so we're moving that to July. Let us know if you want to play!
THIS MONDAY we'll be doing "Worship Tricks" inspired by Johnny Baker's list. Isaac and I will be bringing "Communion By Numbers" kits from our Easter at Avalon Service, and I was wondering if any of you have a 10-15 minute worship component that you could bring in to do with the group, followed by some discussion, brainstorming, etc.
An innovative approach to prayer, to confession, to reading scripture, whatever... The only limitations I can think of are that it should take less than 20 minutes (tops!) and should be something that anyone who shows up can participate in.
We may also end up sharing stories about interesting worship approaches we've experienced and maybe even trying some worship approaches extemporaneously...
Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
JUNE – Mobsby on the 7th & Music Cohort on 11th
MON, June 11 –
Since it's summer, let's kick back, chill, and listen to tunes from our Cohort community! Cohort-connected musicians will have about 10 minutes to play a couple of original songs (live or recorded) and share a little about how their music creation jives with their emerging understandings of worship.
So far I've spoken with Christy Merry, Nate Jackson, and Isaac Everett about playing... but, I'm sure there are more of you out there – and perhaps some of you work with a musician – who would like to play!
Please email back and I'll happily add folks to our roster. There will hopefully be a guitar, keyboard, and stereo for those who don't want to lug instruments (but please let us know ahead of time if you'll have equipt needs). Also, please select pieces on the criteria that they have been – or could be – used in a worship setting.
As usual, we'll meet @ 6:30pm in the Origins Church Office 581 9th Ave #3B (corner of 42nd and 9th) above the papaya dog.
THURS, June 7th –
Come hear an amazing and long-time Emerging leader in the UK, Ian Mobsby, talk about "Trinitarian Mysticism and Mission" at Trinity Wall Street. Just how can Rublev's Icon and a Trinitarian ecclesiology enable us to be emerging, experimental, and do mission?
Ian is a founding member of Moot, an emerging church community in London, UK and has been doing emerging church stuff in the UK for the last 14 years, is sweet, and totally rad (Bowie and Isaac from Transmission adore him!). Also, here's an interview between Johnny Baker and Ian about his new book.
blessings, Bowie
PS Please email the blog or cohortnyc@gmail.com if you have events you'd like announced.
PPS Samir Selmanovik, who is moving to NYC this June to start Faith House, is wondering about health insurance for Church Planters. Anyone have any ideas?
Since it's summer, let's kick back, chill, and listen to tunes from our Cohort community! Cohort-connected musicians will have about 10 minutes to play a couple of original songs (live or recorded) and share a little about how their music creation jives with their emerging understandings of worship.
So far I've spoken with Christy Merry, Nate Jackson, and Isaac Everett about playing... but, I'm sure there are more of you out there – and perhaps some of you work with a musician – who would like to play!
Please email back and I'll happily add folks to our roster. There will hopefully be a guitar, keyboard, and stereo for those who don't want to lug instruments (but please let us know ahead of time if you'll have equipt needs). Also, please select pieces on the criteria that they have been – or could be – used in a worship setting.
As usual, we'll meet @ 6:30pm in the Origins Church Office 581 9th Ave #3B (corner of 42nd and 9th) above the papaya dog.
THURS, June 7th –
Come hear an amazing and long-time Emerging leader in the UK, Ian Mobsby, talk about "Trinitarian Mysticism and Mission" at Trinity Wall Street. Just how can Rublev's Icon and a Trinitarian ecclesiology enable us to be emerging, experimental, and do mission?
Ian is a founding member of Moot, an emerging church community in London, UK and has been doing emerging church stuff in the UK for the last 14 years, is sweet, and totally rad (Bowie and Isaac from Transmission adore him!). Also, here's an interview between Johnny Baker and Ian about his new book.
- Refreshments and fellowship begin at 6:30 pm; the workshop begins at 7 pm – FREE
- To sign up, please email Ali Lutz at alutz@trinitywallstreet.org or call 212-602-0800.
- Sponsored by the 20s30s fellowship group at Trinity-St Paul's, and open to all.
blessings, Bowie
PS Please email the blog or cohortnyc@gmail.com if you have events you'd like announced.
PPS Samir Selmanovik, who is moving to NYC this June to start Faith House, is wondering about health insurance for Church Planters. Anyone have any ideas?
Sunday, May 13, 2007
New Sanctuary Movement Launches + Argentina
The relationship between the Latino Leadership Circle and the NYC Emergent Cohort continues to grow and this week after a few months of hard work, Jeff and Belinda helped launch the New Sanctuary Movement - churches offering hope and sanctuary to wonderful people in danger of being separated from their families by aggressive deportations.
There are just so many verses about welcoming the stranger, offering them hospitality and making them one of your own. Plus all we know of how God sees humans and not borders - and when one group of people has many they are called to share with those that have want. The inequity of our current world economy where a past history of colonialism and a current reality of the richer countries continuing to get richer often at the direct exploitation of the poorer countries must lead Christians to stand up and call out for justice. Let justice flow like rivers, and our God will be happy. But when he looks down upon our selfish inequities it breaks his heart.
Doing this work - a thing which is very new to me, and doesn't seem on the surface as "spiritual" as other things I've done - has really opened me up to a new understanding of God. I have sensed his pleasure in my actions - his smile as he sees me, his child, working for what he so desires. It has been deeply spiritual.
Now I am about to leave for one month living in a rented apartment in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I've always wanted to go there and a window has opened for me, so I'm off. If you know of any church or emergent connections in Buenos Aires I'd love to get together with some folks down there. jkursonis@yahoo.com
Enjoy the cohort on Monday!
Blessings, Jeff
There are just so many verses about welcoming the stranger, offering them hospitality and making them one of your own. Plus all we know of how God sees humans and not borders - and when one group of people has many they are called to share with those that have want. The inequity of our current world economy where a past history of colonialism and a current reality of the richer countries continuing to get richer often at the direct exploitation of the poorer countries must lead Christians to stand up and call out for justice. Let justice flow like rivers, and our God will be happy. But when he looks down upon our selfish inequities it breaks his heart.
Doing this work - a thing which is very new to me, and doesn't seem on the surface as "spiritual" as other things I've done - has really opened me up to a new understanding of God. I have sensed his pleasure in my actions - his smile as he sees me, his child, working for what he so desires. It has been deeply spiritual.
Now I am about to leave for one month living in a rented apartment in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I've always wanted to go there and a window has opened for me, so I'm off. If you know of any church or emergent connections in Buenos Aires I'd love to get together with some folks down there. jkursonis@yahoo.com
Enjoy the cohort on Monday!
Blessings, Jeff
Friday, April 20, 2007
Trinity Wall Street's Emerging Events
How Radical is Your Welcome?
Saturday, April 28th, 10 am to 3 pm – $10 includes lunch
74 Trinity Place, 2nd floor
What, exactly, does it mean to be welcoming? The Rev. Stephanie Spellers, author of Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other and The Spirit of Transformation, leads a one-day workshop on "radical welcome." She'll introduce concepts that help lead communities through fear and beyond mere diversity to truly welcome the gifts and power of marginalized groups. And if that's not radical, what is? Register by contacting the Congregation Office at 212-602-0800 or email Ali Lutz at alutz@trinitywallstreet.org.
Stephanie is also the pastor for The Crossing, an emerging church worship community, in Boston MA. and she rocks.
Heads Up!
Ian Mobsby – an evening at Trinity Wall Street talking about how Rublev's Icon and a Trinitarian ecclesiology can enable us to be experimental and do mission.
Thursday, June 7th, evening (details to follow) – FREE
Ian is a founding member of Moot, an emerging church community in London, UK and has been doing emerging church stuff in the UK for the last 14 years, is sweet, and totally rad. You can also read this interview between Johnny Baker and Ian about his new book.
p.s. Please email the blog or cohortnyc@gmail.com if you have events you'd like announced.
Saturday, April 28th, 10 am to 3 pm – $10 includes lunch
74 Trinity Place, 2nd floor
What, exactly, does it mean to be welcoming? The Rev. Stephanie Spellers, author of Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other and The Spirit of Transformation, leads a one-day workshop on "radical welcome." She'll introduce concepts that help lead communities through fear and beyond mere diversity to truly welcome the gifts and power of marginalized groups. And if that's not radical, what is? Register by contacting the Congregation Office at 212-602-0800 or email Ali Lutz at alutz@trinitywallstreet.org.
Stephanie is also the pastor for The Crossing, an emerging church worship community, in Boston MA. and she rocks.
Heads Up!
Ian Mobsby – an evening at Trinity Wall Street talking about how Rublev's Icon and a Trinitarian ecclesiology can enable us to be experimental and do mission.
Thursday, June 7th, evening (details to follow) – FREE
Ian is a founding member of Moot, an emerging church community in London, UK and has been doing emerging church stuff in the UK for the last 14 years, is sweet, and totally rad. You can also read this interview between Johnny Baker and Ian about his new book.
p.s. Please email the blog or cohortnyc@gmail.com if you have events you'd like announced.
Friday, April 13, 2007
LLC Films Start! + Cohort News
We just got the info and the much awaited premiere of the Latino Leadership Circle's film series.
They'll be at the American Bible Society just north of Columbus Circle on Broadway.
The first one, Dying To Live will be Tues, Jan. 24th at 6:00pm with a panel discussion afterwards - they're free but you have to link to their website and register.
"Dying to Live" is a profound look at the human face of the immigrant. It explores who these people are, why they leave their homes and what they face in their journey. Drawing on the insights of Pulitzer Prize winning photographers, theologians, Church and congressional leaders, activists, musicians and the immigrants themselves, this film exposes the places of conflict, pain and hope along the US-Mexico border. It is a reflection on the human struggle for a more dignified life and the search to find God in the midst of that struggle.
*********More Cohort News*************
Please pray for Elise who is in the midwest recovering from some pretty serious eye surgery. She developed a problem while at her sister's wedding and has had to stay out there for the treatment and recovery.
Transmission is the new press darling with multiple coverage of their amazingly creative and provocative and inclusive Easter gathering at Avalon (formerly Limelight, formerly Episcopal church). Monday at the post-Easter cohort we heard the full story, and you can link to their website/blog (link is on the side panel) to hear about it yourself - my favorite quote from the Metro paper - "We're not really pastors, we're more like producer's".
The New Sanctuary Movement - with an innocent little invite to join other religious leaders to talk about immigration issues in our country, Belinda placed me in front of a vortex which has sucked me into a very exciting new journey that is launching nationally in the coming days - we have to be a little hush hush publicly right now, but feel free to contact me if you want to know more about how you can really be involved in helping some people that really need it - a wonderful opportunity for your congregation to be on the cutting edge of a vital national issue. Seriously, the media coverage on this is going to be huge. I was just on a conference call with incredibly savvy national religious leaders and serious national media consultants planning the launch.
Jeff on behalf of the Cohort Team
They'll be at the American Bible Society just north of Columbus Circle on Broadway.
The first one, Dying To Live will be Tues, Jan. 24th at 6:00pm with a panel discussion afterwards - they're free but you have to link to their website and register.
"Dying to Live" is a profound look at the human face of the immigrant. It explores who these people are, why they leave their homes and what they face in their journey. Drawing on the insights of Pulitzer Prize winning photographers, theologians, Church and congressional leaders, activists, musicians and the immigrants themselves, this film exposes the places of conflict, pain and hope along the US-Mexico border. It is a reflection on the human struggle for a more dignified life and the search to find God in the midst of that struggle.
*********More Cohort News*************
Please pray for Elise who is in the midwest recovering from some pretty serious eye surgery. She developed a problem while at her sister's wedding and has had to stay out there for the treatment and recovery.
Transmission is the new press darling with multiple coverage of their amazingly creative and provocative and inclusive Easter gathering at Avalon (formerly Limelight, formerly Episcopal church). Monday at the post-Easter cohort we heard the full story, and you can link to their website/blog (link is on the side panel) to hear about it yourself - my favorite quote from the Metro paper - "We're not really pastors, we're more like producer's".
The New Sanctuary Movement - with an innocent little invite to join other religious leaders to talk about immigration issues in our country, Belinda placed me in front of a vortex which has sucked me into a very exciting new journey that is launching nationally in the coming days - we have to be a little hush hush publicly right now, but feel free to contact me if you want to know more about how you can really be involved in helping some people that really need it - a wonderful opportunity for your congregation to be on the cutting edge of a vital national issue. Seriously, the media coverage on this is going to be huge. I was just on a conference call with incredibly savvy national religious leaders and serious national media consultants planning the launch.
Jeff on behalf of the Cohort Team
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