DC Cohort will meet December 11th at Front Page

Hi!! Have you eaten all the Thanksgiving turkey and now gearing up for Christmas cookies? Take a break from holiday bingeing; Come on down and share a pint and a burger with the cohort on the 11th of December. We will start talking about what part the cohort will want to play in Brian McLaren's book tour, Everything Must Change, when it comes through town in March. Cohorts all across the country are starting to join forces and enjoy community together. Let's talk about what that would look like for us!

For more info about the Brian's new book go to http://deepshift.org/site/ . Tour info is also available at this sight.

The Cohort will meet December 11, 2007 at 7pm

Front Page Restaurant at the Dupont Circle Metro

Questions? Drop me a line!

Blessings, Sara

ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu

DC Cohort to Gather November 13th

Hey gang, We will gather at the Front Page for a smorgasbord of topics. Some of us have received an advance copy of John Franke's new book Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth which we'll discuss (at least as far as we've read!).

Also on our minds is the Soularize 2007 event that just took place in Bermuda. This may have been the last one - we are sad to say. Come here about the events and how to hear the discussions that took place via podcast.

Also on our minds is neo-monastism. We have several communities around the DC area that we interact with. This is a topic of special interest for this cohort.

Join us to talk about one or all of these topics on:

November 13th, 2007

at 7:00pm

The Front Page Resturant

Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

Metro accessible - across the street from Dupont Circle Metro!

Questions? Let me know --

Sara

October 9, 2007 - Next cohort gathering at the Front Page

Wow! Last month we had a surprise guest. Brian McLaren join us to hear his lovely wife Grace talk about their trip this past May to Africa. It was very interesting to hear that many of the African church leaders are struggling with many of the same congregational issue we do in the west. Grace shared an incredible story about a woman she met while she was there and encouraged us to help those with the abundance we are blessed with. We thank Grace and Brian for joining us last month.

The next cohort gathering will take place Tuesday October 9 at 7pm at the Front Page at Dupont Ciricle. Several of the dc cohort crew will make the pilgramage to Santa Fe, New Mexico the week before for the annual emergent gathering. Come hear their experiences and share a meal.

The Front Page at Dupont Circle 7pm October 9th. They are directly across the street from the Dupont Circle Metro.

See you there!

Grace McLaren will talk about her trip to Amahoro

Join the DC Cohort in welcoming Grace McLaren as our speaker Tuesday September 11, 2007. Grace will talk to us about her trip to Amahoro Africa this past spring with Brian and other emerging leaders. This promises to be an eye opening evening. We will meet at the Front Page in Dupont Ciricle. Details are in the post below.

Call with questions 202-885-8688 or ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu

Blessings,

Sara

September 11, 2007 gathering at the Front Page

Hey all, We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the September 11 gathering at the Front Page at 7pm. This is our new location and seemed to work pretty well last time. We are moving the gathering to the second Tuesday of the month to accomodate yours truly who will be in class on Mondays during the fall - Thanks everyone!!





The reservation will either be under "DC Cohort" or my name, "Sara Sheppard" - try both. I know we had one person who couldn't find us last time and we apologise for that mix up. I'm working on a speaker and will let you know when I know as those plans fall into place.





There are couple events coming up from emergantvillage this fall. One is the annual gathering in New Mexico October 2 - 5th. There are at least 3 of us from the cohort who will attend so hope to have you join us and hang out in Sante Fe.




Also, Scot McKnight is hosting Emergence 2007 in Austin, TX October 19 - 20, 2007. This will be a weekend of conversation with the likes of Dan Kimball, Doug Pagitt and others. go to the Emergentvillage home page for information on both these events.

The Front Page
1333 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Take the red line to Dupont Circle and walk across the street. 7pm.

Call me with questions - 202-885-8688

Blessings,

Sara

Next gathering July 16, 2007 - NEW PLACE!

Hi all, We are changing our venue and head'n into the city to Dupont Circle and the Front Page. The Front Page is a Washington DC institution and is on the red line at Dupont Circle. Use the south exit and walk across the street.



We are also meeting ONE WEEK later than usual - - Monday July 16th at 7pm. We hope those of you who could not make it to Bethesda will join us since we'll be across the street (literally) from the metro stop. No more schlepping 4 or 5 blocks or running the risk of a parking ticket - we are making it easy for you to be a part of this conversation.



Speaking of conversation, come and join us, share your thoughts on the emerging church, let us know what's happening in your churches, learn from each other about what's happening in the DC scene, enjoy a brew and berger. It doesn't get much better than this!

Monday July 16, 2007 - -7pm

See ya at the The Front Page

1333 New Hampshire Avenue, NW

Washington, DC

DC Cohort Schedule - May and June, 2007 - Big doings!

Church for the Rest of Us: A Gathering to Envision, Encourage, & Energize Renewing Mainline Congregations. Thursday May 10 - Saturday May 12, 2007 at the Washington National Cathedral.

Come join us at the Washington National Cathedral to reflect on the direction of the church. Share in creating a time of holy space in worship, music, meals and prayer. Explore key areas including worship, hospitality, discernment, tradition, justice, formation and beauty, drawn from Diana Butler Bass' latest book Christianity for the Rest of Us.

Speakers include: Howard Anderson, Diana Butler Bass, Marcus Borg, Tony Jones, Michael Battle and Samuel T. Lloyd. Theology Pub with Tony Jones and Steve Pankey. For more information go to http://www.cathedralcollege.org


Our next DC Cohort meeting will be Monday evening May 14th. We will have a conversation surrounding the recent Emergant Theological/Philosophical gathering in Philadelphia. Several of our own attended this meeting and hopefully they will share what they heard, learned and gleaned from the gathering.





June 11th will bring us Wes White, an American theologican who lives in Glasgow, Scotland and is spearheading the TREK (Theological Resoursing for an Emerging Kultur) across Europe. We are grateful that Wes was able to stay an extra day on his journey across the pond to spend an evening with us. TREK springs from the concept of sharing around the local table and in healthy mission.

White writes, "TREK is premised on the conviction that there is good and bad theology, and that the distance between the two is best measured by mission. Furthermore, we, the TREK Team, beleive that good theology includes facts (history, geography, personages, events, ect.) , but so much more. Healthy theology fancies the narrative, the nuance, the give and take, the mystery, the passion, and the imagination. In short, it personifies the freedom that inheres in God himself who is realationship in community (trinity) and who, in love (1John 4:8) invites the whole of creation into the ever expanding community of himself (mission)".


Please join us for a lively convesation this night.

More information about TREK can be found here http://www.localtable.org





We can be found at the Harp and Fiddle, 4844 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814


on the 2nd Monday of the month in the back room at 7pm.





All are Welcome!

Mark Scandrette, author of Soul Grifitti, will be our speaker April 9th

We have a really exciting speaker on Monday April 9, 2007 7pm - - Mark Scandrette, author of the newly published Soul Grafitti: Making a Life in the Way of Jesus. Mark is the executive director and cofounder of ReIMAGINE, and a senior fellow with Emergent. He has contributed and authored several books including An Emergent Manifesto of Hope (due out April 1), The Relevant Church: A Vision for Communities of Faith and Community of Kindness. Mark has also been a pastor, a lecturer for the U.S. center for world Missions, a retreat leader and a life coach and spiritual director.

On April 9th, Mark will be with us to talk about has recent book, Soul Graffiti. This book explores the message of Jesus as an invitation to embrace life as a sacred journey, learning to collaborate with our Maker's intentions to bring healing and greater wholeness to our world. Through stories and reflections, Soul Grafitti addresses the questions, What was the essential message of Jesus and how can we inhabit that message as a way of life? What if everything matters? Soul Graffiti is an invitation to explore the life and teachings of Jesus as a pattern for pursueing a spiritual path that is fueled by compassion, creativity, community and connection. http://www.markscandrette.com/

The DC Cohort welcomes Mark Scandrette. Please join us!

Monday April 9, 2007

7pm - 9pm

The Harp and Fiddle

4844 Cordell Avenue

Bethesda, MD 20814

http://flanagansharpandfiddle.com

The Harp and Fiddle is within walking distance from the Bethesda Metro (red line) Exit the metro on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue. walk down Old Georgetown Road 1 block and turn right on Woodmont Avenue. Walk several blocks to cordell Avenue, turn left. The Harp and fiddle should be right there.

Blessings,

Sara

Homeless Church Ministry in DC

Join us Monday, March 12th at the Harp and Fiddle as we welcome Brian Lehman, founder of the Church of the Homeless in DC. Brian, an attorney turned pastor, began to fellowship and attend bible studies at the National Community Church along side the homeless of Washington, DC. He soon realized that many of the homeless needed more than an occasional hand-out, they needed a place to live out their faith. He learned from the men and women he fellowshiped with that the homeless often feel unwelcome at area churches. To fill this need, he created Church of the Homeless, a new church plant, to minister to their spiritual needs. They now meet regularly at Union Station.

Brian Lehman has been shaped by the writings of radical Christians such as Shane Clayborne and the inspirational preaching and writings of Mark Batterson at National Community Church. Brian will join us to tell his story, how he learned of this need, and how he answered God's call to serve the homeless. (www.churchofthehomeless.org).

Monday March 12th at 7pm

Flanegan's Harp and Fiddle

4844 Cordell Avenue

Bethesda, MD 20814

We'll be in the back room.

Hope to see you there,

Sara

Special Invitation to the Dominican House of Studies this Sunday Feb 18

Greetings! We have received an invitation from Karen Sloan, a Presbyterian minister from New Haven, CT who is interested in exploring 'new/old' monastic connections to visit the Dominican House of Studies Sunday afternoon Feb 18th. Karen visited the Dominicans with Brian McLaren this past October, has written an article about them published in Relevant magazine and is now making a return visit to DC. The Dominicans are, as she put's it, "Emergent-minded", and eager to share their tradition.

The schedule for Sunday is:
3:30 - 4:00pm Gathering and Tour of the House of Studies
4:00 - 5:30pm Presentation, Conversation, Q&A, about Dominican Life
5:40 - 6:00pm Evening Prayer with the Dominicans in their Chapel

If possible, Karen requests an RSVP to flirtingwithmonasticism@gmail.com so they will know how many to expect.

The address is:

Dominican House of Studies
487 Michigan Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20017-1585
http://www/dhs.edu/about/directionsandmap.aspx

If you have time before hand, the Basilica of the National Shrine is across the street. Not only is this a beautiful sancutary, but there are a couple of book stores worth browsing. This sounds like an exciting opportunity! The link to the Dominican House of Studies website is http://www.dhs.edu

Hope to see you there. Let me know if you have any questions!

Blessings,

Sara

Atlanta Mainline cohort follow-on

Hi all - hope some of you are down in beautiful Atlanta at the Mainline-Emerging cohort meeting. I know one of our own is there, Steve Pankey and he has graciously offered to lead the next cohort meeting 7pm on March 12, 2007 at the Harp and Fiddle in Bethesda. I'm looking forward hearing what's happening in the mainline meets emerging world and I hope you all are too. For questions and inquiries, please contact Sara Sheppard at ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu.

Blessings