On The Table

Dear Church--

Sorry for the late notice on our schedule this week. Our GNU Team (an open-source team devoted to Giving to Needs Unmet) has been working hard to coordinate an Information Exchange with our friends the Sudanese Lost Boys in Arlington. The planning has been a bit challenging as we try to coordinate their work and vacation schedules, but it seem like a plan is gelling.

So if you're ready to join in the adventure, we're going to be gathering tomorrow night (Sunday, July 29) at 5pm at Culpeper House (2428 S. Culpeper St Arlington, VA 22206). There, we'll meet with our new friends to enjoy some food, learn about Dinka culture, and share a bit of our knowledge of typing, basic computer skills, and use of email. If you can, please bring a computer to donate or to loan for the night. And if you don't have a machine to share, come anyway-- there are already several laptops which have been donated to the cause.

I hope to see you there. It promises to be a rewarding evening.

Mike (Stavlund)

I've recently had the pleasure of indulging in several conversations about our church with some new friends. Which is fun for me, but which must be challenging to them, since we're so peculiar in so many ways. Which usually leads me to invite them to just come and see for themselves, but which suggestion is perhaps the most challenging, since our schedule is probably the most idiosyncratic and (intentionally) confusing part of our culture. At the end of every month, we interrupt our weekly Worship Services to engage in Service Worship-- a chance to develop relationships outside of our church and to put into practice the hopes and dreams that we talk so much about.

On months like this one (where we have 5 Sundays), schedules get even more confusing. But the chances to get out of our normal routines and connect with others is all the more evident. Hope you can join us:

This weekend, we've got a two-pronged offering (though you can certainly do both!). Led by the Chief Camper himself, a bunch of folks will be heading two hours west for a little mountain getaway. Feel free to join them anytime between Friday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 24. Sam can get you the details, or you can contact us if you'd like to join in.

If you'd rather stay close to home, a bunch of us are gathering at Burke Lake on Saturday, July 21 for a good cause. We'll be walking and running in the 1-mile and 5-mile events that are being organized to raise money for children's cardiac research, and to support the families of these kids. If your funds are tight, please just come out anyway to lend your support (or contact us, and we'll find you a sponsor).

Next weekend, we'll be gathering with our friends at Culpeper House to meet up with some local Sudanese Lost Boys for an Information Exchange. We'll learn about Dinka culture and the harrowing lives they have lived, and we'll offer them some basic help with typing and use of email, etc.. The exact details are still being worked out, but please block out the evening of Sunday, July 29 for dinner and a chance to meet these amazing men (and plan to bring a laptop to donate or for training purposes, if you've got one).

Mike (Stavlund)

Labels: camping, service-worship

Summer is rolling right along, and so our Common Table becomes a bit more portable in the next few weeks:

This Sunday, Dee will be our provocateur as we continue in our series featuring short films and lively discussions. Join us at Jammin' Java at 10am, or at Chipotle--where The Lord's Supper is shared properly--afterward.

Next weekend, you've got an opportunity to get away, or to sweat, or both. Led by the Chief Camper himself, a bunch of folks will be heading a few hours west for a little getaway. Feel free to join them anytime between Friday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 24. Sam can get you the details (I've found it best to talk to him in person ;-), or you can contact us if you'd like to join in.

Or, if you prefer your outdoors in smaller doses, you're welcome to join the Chapmans and the Stavlunds at Burke Lake on Saturday, July 21 for a good cause. We'll be walking and running (and sweating!) in the 1-mile and 5-mile events that are being organized to raise money for children's cardiac research, and to support the families of these kids. Come walk, run, or just watch as we try to avoid any cardiac events, ourselves.

Keep cool,

Mike (Stavlund)

Labels: films, summer

Hi church,


Well, it's a holiday week, as you've no doubt noticed (happy birthday, USA, and I hope we 're all managing to enjoy some sun, food, family, friends, and fireworks). So there's not too much going on. But we do have a very special worship service planned for this Sunday morning (the 8th) at 10 AM at Jammin' Java.


It's "Bring Your Bunny to Church" week! Please bring a stuffed animal of some kind - a bunny would be perfect, but any stuffed animal would do, and ideally it would be one well-loved over years by you or some other adult. (It's fine to bring one well-loved by your child, but in that case it may, of course, have no choice but to spend the service in the child-care area.) Don't worry, we're not going to hurt them, though your relationship with the toy may not be quite the same following the service. :-D Yes, this has something to do with the film we're going to watch. (It's the second in our summer film series of services.)


Also, following the service, we're going to have a two-part congregational meeting. Immediately after the service, at Jammin' Java, the Leadership Team will talk a little bit about where we are with finances, and a plan we've been talking about for moving forward. Then we'll move to someone's home (location TBD) to further discuss the path forward.


Have a great week, everybody!


Peace,
Croghan

Labels: congregational meeting, films, summer