Monday, December 07, 2009

December 2009


Advent Blessings! We have a slight change to this month's gathering. We will get together Tuesday December 15th instead of the usual 2nd Tuesday of the month. We will resume the regular schedule January 12, 2010


Join Us!! December 15th at the Front Page Restaurant at Dupont Circle at 7:30pm. We will have an "open mic night" so bring your ideas, theological quandries and such to the table. We'd also love to hear how you are celebrating Advent and what the new year might have in store for your communities.


So... until then - Feliz Navidad! See you next week at the Page.



Blessings,


Sara and Jason

Friday, November 06, 2009

C21 - Come hear about it November 10!

Hello again - the DC cohort will gather next on November 10 at 7:30pm the Front Page Restaurant at Dupont Circle. The topic will be C21 - we have several from our group who attended and will give us the low down on the goings on there. From what I've heard it was an awe-inspiring event so you don't want to miss this!

Also, I want to let you know about the launch of a new network; transFORM : a missional community formation network. Check out the website - this network is hopeing to inspire and support folks who are / have planted new communities. The network will launch officially with an event at Wesley Theological Seminary April 30-May 1 at the East Coast Regional Gathering. Details on that event coming soon.

Hope we will see you at the Page on Tuesday - 7:30pm (NOTE NEW TIME)

peace and grace,

Sara and Jason

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Next Cohort Gathering Tuesday October 13, 2009:: So much to talk about!

Fall greetings! We have had quite a few weeks and it ain't over yet. Several of us journeyed to the Chicago area to sit at the feet of Jurgen Moltmann, author of many great books on systematic theology and brillant theologian. The Emerging Conversation was wonderful and we (speaking for myself) came back renewed and full. In two weeks another group of us will pilgrimage to Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis, MN to experience Christianity 21. If you can go and haven't made plans yet, you should try to do this.

Our gathering on the 13th will be a debrief of these two events. I hope you can join us. Please drop me an e-mail so I'll be able to get the proper size table. ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu

The Front Page Restaurant
DuPont Circle
7pm

Peace and grace,

Sara and Jason

Thursday, August 06, 2009

DC Cohort gathering Tuesday August 11, 2009 at the Page


Summer Greetings!! We will meet in August on the 11th at the Front Page in Dupont Circle. Come share the fellowship and bring whatever is on your heart and we will address, question, deconstruct and reconstruct those thoughts, issues, or doctrines.

ALSO:
There are several gatherings coming up that we want you to know about.


Ideacamp - August 28-29, 2009
Mt. Olivet UMC, Arlington ,VA www.theideacamp.com
Focus for this event in issue of compassion and justice.


Emergant Conversation with Jurgen Moltmann - September 9-11, 2009

Chicago, IL Contact jopaproductions.com to register and for more information.
(Several of us from the DC Cohort wil be there - join us!)


Christianity 21 - 21 voices, 21 ideas, 21 minutes each

Good Samaritan UMC, Edina, MN http://www.good.com/

Contact jopa productions to register and for more information.
If you will be able to join us on Tuesday the 11th at the Front Page, please drop me a line.
Thanks!
Sara and Jason

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

The Parables of Peter Rollins - Join Us Tuesday July 14


Have you heard?? Pete Rollin's book of parables is out - finally!! The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales. This night we will be led by Mike Stavlund in a discussion of several of the parables -he and Jason will select them and copies of the selected ones will be provided - or feel free to bring the book with you.

Join us Tuesday July 14th at 7pm at the Front page to read, discuss and respond to these "new impossible tales" from Pete Rollins.
Let us know if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!


The Front Page is across the street from the Dupont Circle Metro station (and the Krispy Creme store... yummmmm).


blessings,


Sara and Jason

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Re-Imaging Re-Duex : Join Us June 9th at the Front Page


Greetings one and all. Hope you had as glorious a Pentecost Sunday as I did.

We will gather this coming Tuesday June 9th at the Front Page for a debreif on the re-imagining meeting for Emergent that happen here in DC the last week of April. Mike Stavlund will lead us on this journey.

So meet us at the Front Page at 7pm on Tuesday June 9th for burgers and beer and some good conversation (and a pretty neat community I might add).

The Front Page is located directly across from the Dupont Circle metro stop.

Kindly drop me a line and let me know you are coming so I can get a big enough table. ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu

Thanks muchly.

peace,

Sara and Jason

Thursday, May 07, 2009

As the Village Turns... or something like that - Tuesday May 12


As many of you know, Emergent Village has been in a place of discernment over the last 6 or so months. A group of emerging leaders met here in DC a couple weeks ago to discuss, discern, dream and try to make sense out things. Our own Mike Stavlund was among the organizers.


On Tuesday May 12 we will gather at the Front Page in Dupont Circle to continue the current conversation and to hear about the conversation that took place a few weeks ago. This is a dynamic time in the life and times of the Emergent Village and like a village, each of us as a part to play in its future.


Amy Moffitt will be with us to debrief on the gathering that took place in April. You can read more about Emergent Village here.
Please join us!


Tuesday May 12 at 7pm at the Front Page in Dupont Circle.


Also - it would be great if you could let me know if you plan on coming so I can make sure to have a big enough table. Many thanks! ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu


peace and grace,


Sara

Friday, April 24, 2009

Post Emergent gathering Sunday lunch

Most of you likely know about the Emergent gathering that is happening this Saturday to determine the future greatness of Emergent. But maybe you don't know about the post-gathering-fiesta at Guapos in Bethesda on Sunday (4/26) at 1pm. Many folks from the gathering will be there to connect, relax, and let us know what strategy Emergent has decided for taking over the world! We wouldn't want the DC Cohort to miss out on that so consider yourself invited!

RSVP to jason, jason@collegeparkchurchplant.com.

grace,
j

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

April 14th Gathering being led by Kate Murray

So what exactly happened on the cross? What happened on Good Friday? On Easter Sunday?
Some say Jesus took our place, paid the price, and redeemed us in the eyes of an angry God. Others say he cured humanity of a great illness, the sickness of sin. Still others aren't sure.

Join us April 14th at the Front Page at 7pm as we discuss one of the most debated and discussed topics in Christianity - what happened on the cross and the various atonement theories. What’s helpful for understanding Jesus’ death and resurrection and what isn’t so helpful, possibly even detrimental to our faith.

Thanks to Kate Murray for leading the discussion this month. If you have a topic, book idea, burning question or even something slightly heretical that you'd like to take the lead on, let us know.

The Front Page
at Dupont Circle metro
7pm

See you there!

Jason and Sara

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

March 10 - Creeds; What are they good for?


Ever wonder why we have creeds, what purpose they play and why they haven't been updated in a while?? Join the DC Cohort Tuesday March 10 at the Front Page in Dupont Circle as we look at the internal and external meanings of the creeds and if they still have use in today's church. Are there other dogmas or tools out there we could use instead? Ryan Page will lead us in the discussion.


The Front Page Restuarant

at Dupont Circle

7pm

Tuesday March 10


See you there!



Sara and Jason

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Next Gathering February 10

Hey gang - two things : 1) We will gather Tuesday Feb 10 at 7pm at the Front Page. 2) The suggestion was made last time that we find some space to do other things as a community than just have dinner once a month and talk to each other. We are planning a joint Ash Wednesday Service (location TBD) and hopefully this will be discussed along with the topic below on the 10th. Also we kicked around serving at a homeless shelter, or other equally wonderful ways to help those who have less. If you have suggestions on ways to do this, please send them my way ssheppard@wesleyseminary.edu and I'll compile them and send them on to Todd. We are also thinking about a picnic this summer in Rock Creek Park - maybe something that could include everyone from Restless Church??

So for Tuesday : The buzz on the cohort leader email has been about the tension between staying connected to a “traditional” church while also experimenting with Emergent. We are wondering how you all would respond to this question. To that point, I am including one of the latest posts for your reflection:

"Everyone's points have been helpful and very contextual (I've been burned before too)!

I'd say two interpenetrating principles lead me on this one:
A. Invention requires an artificial sense of objectivity- so to leave a community, self-differentiate, and then to focus on an alternative shaped community is crucial to any new vision being born.
B. But to love the greater whole requires an artificial sense of subjectivity- to belong to the church's destined transformation: In this case we are better for seeing ourselves as part of a larger whole, and not "othering" all the other/prior/disproven forms.

So as a presbyterian I'm better for to (B) acknowledging that we're part of larger arch of history, bigger than the "protestant reformation- with our solas, points, or marks of the true church". And as an emergent (B) I'm better for acknowledging that the $30k that is coming into our budget from the PC(USA) this year is material connection to all those old ladies in the presbyterian pews-- proof that we are more connected than I'd often assume. Yet as an emergent (A) I have to let go of Presbyterian forms and cliques long enought to be open to embracing what is taking shape organically in my neighborhood. And as a presbyterian (A) my healthiest posture includes calling all of my practices/confessions into question toward what they are being re-formed into.

At the edge/end of certitude lies this challenge: "hold to forms/particularities loosely without letting go of the poetics of the particular".

(You might also note that I use "artificial sense"- I think that the subjective/objective divide is a construct, but unavoidable. So it befits the church to use these categories in a more intentional, imagaintive, de/constructive way, instead of a place of pride/martyrdom/vigilantyism. The "remnant" language, the "protestant reformation" language, the "true church" language- they all require objective or subjective certainty- and they all fade in the face of new-creation-repentance-spirit-death-birth...)


All that said, I think... too many people stay at a particular church because of a narrow view of kingdom loyalty, and too many leave because of a shallow view of participation. Leave, stay, go start, quit... but do it all as a step into kingdom imagination, into deep practice. Anything you run from will end up sneaking into your next place on the coattails of your ideals."

So give this some thought. See you on the 10th!

Sara and Jason

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

January 13: Emerging Church 101

Ever wonder what this thing called The Emerging Church is?? Who's doing it and what they are doing?? Join us on Tuesday night January 13 at 7pm to hear more. Jason Mack will give a basic description of the emerging church movement and then we'll entertain any questions and try to debunk the myths.

We meet at the Front Page resturant at Dupont Circle directly across from the metro.

so - - see you at 7pm at the Front Page Tuesday January 13th.


(The weather peeps are calling for some "wintery weather " Tuesday so check back here before you come. If we need to postpone I'll post it here)

Peace and Grace,

Sara and Jason