Potato Drop at Wesley Seminary March 26th

Hi! Plumbline, the social justice group on campus, is planning a potato drop at Wesley Theological Seminary on March 26th. I hear that they are expecting 45000 lbs of loose potatos to be dropped to be bagged up by great volunteers like you. Never seen Mt. Potato before?? Now's your chance!

Time: 9:30am until we finish
Where: 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC
Who: YOU! and the Wesley Theological Seminary community
When: Wednesday, March 26th - there is a slight chance that this won't happen due to a potato shortage - I will post some if that's the case.

Questions?? Give me a jingle - 202-885-8688

Blessings!!

Sara

March 11, 2008 Paul Nixon to visit us

Greetings! This is an exciting weekend in DC - full of terrific actitivites including the Deep Shift conference. For a detail of the events this weekend, see the previous post.

On Tuesday night we will meet at the Front Page in Dupont Circle to debreif about the weekend and to hear from Paul Nixon, pastor and church planter. Hope you can join us and help us to welcome any new cohorters that may join us as a result of the Deep Shift experience.

7pm at the Front Page
Dupont Circle Metro stop

Blessings,

Sara

Deep Shift, Christian Witness for Peace and the DC Cohort

Folks, The weekend of March 7-8, 2008 is a busy one for emergentizers like us. Please see the fab info put together by our own Mike Stavlund. Thanks Mike!! The cohort will meet next on Tuesday March 11 at the Front Page at Dupont Circle 7pm. We will unpack the weekend's events. Come see us at Deep Shift. You'll find me at the cohort information table. Blessings! Sara and Jason

In a few weeks, there will be a fascinating and multi-faceted weekend in Washington, DC, which may be of interest to those engaged with Emergent Village:

March 7, noon. A worship service in conjunction with Christian Peace Witness for Iraq at the historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. A group of friends of emergent, including Brian McLaren and The Cobalt Season, have been collaborating on a service to lament the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq. This will be a unique event: less a shaking of our collective fist at the Powers that Be, and more an appeal for imagination and determination in the pursuit of the way of peace, both for ourselves and our leaders.

If you can make it, please join us afterward for the walk to the Capitol, where we will assemble at 2:30pm with other groups from various faith backgrounds to bear witness to our governmental leaders about the ongoing devastation of ourselves and our 'enemies'. This will culminate with representatives from our interfaith group meeting with the offices of Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to deliver our appeal to support the troops, to end the war, and to stop torture.

March 7-8. A similar (though much broader) conversation will be happening at Brian McLaren's Everything Must Change/DeepShift conference outside DC in Vienna, Virginia. Brian and other artists will be exploring the ideas presented in his new and thought-provoking book of the same title. If you've even perused this book, then you know that this event promises to be an amazing invitation to creativity and Kingdom vision.

March 8, 7:30pm. A coffee house event with Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, also at NY Ave. Presbyterian Church. The Cobalt Season will be performing, along with David LaMotte and several other artists.

March 9, 10am. Since The Cobalt Season is in town, noted emergent church The Common Table will be hosting them for their morning worship service, also in Vienna, Virginia.

I hope to see you at one or more of these events!

Mike Stavlund

CANCELLED: February 12 - Paul Nixon from Epicenter will Speak

Folks, due to the weather we are canceling this gathering. We'd rather you be safe that ice skating in your cars on the way home. Paul will join us next month, March 11th and we will discuss the Deep Shift event the weekend before. Stay Safe!! Sara and Jason


Hey, Good News! I have received confirmation that Paul Nixon from Epicenter Charge will be our speaker at the next cohort meeting. Paul is currently in the process of planting multiple locations of his congregation across Northern Virginia. Come and hear his story, what his vision is and how things are going so far. http://www.epicenterdc.com/





We will meet at the Front Page at Dupont Circle at 7pm.





ALSO: Don't forget that Brian McLaren will be in town for the Deep Shift Tour March 7th and 8th at the Vienna Presbyterian Church. Please e-mail me if you are able to volunteer and let em know what you would be willing to do (book table, kitchen, general helper). One of the foci of this conference will be on the cohorts; how they are formed, what we do, recruiting, etc. So, come on out and support your favorite cohort group! Registration and info can be found here -http://deepshift.org/site/





COMING THIS SUMMER: There are two other speaking tours swinging through town we want to let you know about.





Shane Claibourne will come through June 27th - location TBD (but I'm working on it!) to promote his new title; Jesus For President. This promised to be an interesting, interactive event. http://www.jesusforpresident.org/





Tony Jones and Friends will be through July 31 at American University's Kay Spiritual Life Center for the Basement Tour aka the RV Tour. Tony Jones will be available to sign his newest title, The New Christians: Dispacthes from the Emergent Frontier. Details are still being worked out, but we will post them as they become available. http://tonyj.net/ To my knowledge there is no specific tour info on-line yet - watch this space!





Let us know if you have any questions.





Peace, Sara and Jason

Happy New Year!!

Hi Cohorters! We are gathering Tuesday January 8th at the Front Page in Dupont Circle at 7pm. I am hoping to have a surprise speaker join us, but in the event that doesn't materialize, we will talk about what we are reading, doing, preaching - ya 'know - the usual. :)

Thanks to Mike Croghan, we now have a Face Page presence. We'd love to have you join the group and continue to grow in the virtual realm.

Also to add to your calendars; Brian McLaren will be in town promoting his newest book, Everything Must Change March 7th and 8th. The conference will take place in VA. For more info, go to http://deepshift.org/site/ . The DC Cohort and other area groups will have chance to help out with the conference. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know. As part of the cohort you will be eligible for a discounted registration rate, and free stuff. (aka books - who doesn't like free books!) Let me know (Sara) so I can provide the registration code to you.

Hope to see you on the 8th at 7pm.

Blessings!

Sara and Jason

Front Page Restaurant

Dupont Metro Station

7pm

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

Next meeting January 15th, 2007

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!! Our next meeting will be in '07 on January 15th at the Harp and Fiddle in Bethesda. We look forward see everyone there. The peace of Christ be with you during this holiday season.

Sara

Harp and Fiddle December 11, 2006

Hi all! Our next gathering will be at the Harp and Fiddle in Bethesda on December 11 at 7 pm. They have a sweet little back room that has served us well and may become our regular space. Come on out for a little Advent cheer and conversation. I am working on a speaker, but if anyone has a burning topic they would like to discuss drop me an e-mail.

Other tentative dates to put on your calenders are January 15, February 12 and March 12. We will meet from 7 pm - 9 pm each time.

Blessings!!

Sara

Brian McLaren, Pete Rollins and Phyllis Tickle Panel for November

Thanks to Nadia at Illif for setting up a terrific panel for us in November. We will meet Sunday November 19th - during the AAR meetings - to engage Brian McLaren, Pete Rollins and Phyllis Tickle. Keelan Downton has agreed to be the host for this DC Cohort event.

We will meet at the Capitol City Brewing Company from 7pm - 9pm (1100 New York Avenue, NW, WDC 202-628-2222) at 11th and H street. They are one block north of Metro Center.

Brian McLaren is author of many titles on the emerging movement and one of the co-founders of Emergent Village. He is also the founding pastor for Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville, MD. Brian is currently traveling the world speaking on many emerging topics. For his schedule, go to http://www.brianmclaren.net/

Pete Rollins is the founder and co-ordinator of Ikon (a community which describes itself as iconic, apocalyptic, heretical, emerging and failing) as well as being a writer and freelance lecturer in Philosophy. Check out his blog at http://www.ignite.cd/blogs/Pete/

Phyllis Tickle, for many years Contributing Editor in Religion to Publishers Weekly, the international journal of the book industry, is frequently quoted in sources like USA Today, Christian Science Monitor, NY Times, PBS, NPR, The Hallmark Channel, etc., Tickle is an authority on religion in America and a much sought after lecturer on the subject. For additional information and to view her recent publications go to http://www.phyllistickle.com/

We are looking forward to this event and hope to see you all there. Let me know if there are questions. Blessings,

Sara

Tonight October 16th

Greetings - We are meeting tonight, however our speaker has the flu, so we'll engage her another time. BUT! Still come. We have dessert and coffee and good conversation happen' here. See you at 7pm at Wesley. Call me with questions 202-885-8688.

Sara