On The Table

Easter continues as we make our gradual return to (what is commonly referred to as) 'normalcy' at Common Table. This Sunday, we'll be back at Jammin' Java, finding our creative groove as we consider 'Spring' and Psalm 77. As you notice the fresh greenery all around, and as you experience the sustaining rains over the next few days, consider the new life that God is nurturing in you just now. Then bring those ideas to our communal encounter with this remarkable piece of Scripture.

In other news, a team of folks from inside and outside our church are announcing that we'll be returning to our tradition of hosting Karaoke at The Lamb Center again, beginning Thursday, May 7, from 6:30 to 8pm. These fun and transforming get-togethers will continue on the first Thursday of each month. And don't forget that we're welcome to join New Hope Church's movie nights there on the 3rd Friday of each month, too.

He is Risen,
Mike Stavlund

Labels: Easter, karaoke, lamb center, Psalms

Hi church!

I hope you're feeling God's blessings during this beautiful spring season. As the third Sunday of Easter approaches, remember: we are a people with every reason to hope for astonishing reversals and amazing grace.

And this Sunday, we'll return to a place where such things happen all the time: New Hope Fellowship, where Jen will be leading worship music Sunday at 10:50am. We'll probably continue joining New Hope on "last Sundays" as we further pursue our friendships there, so please join us for worship and a shared meal. Remember it's helpful to leave our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope meets.

Or, there's an alternate opportunity for a shared lunch and fellowship on Sunday. If you're one of those who is hooked into that leafy-green-logo-thing called "Emergent Village", you might be aware that there's a Big Meeting going on this weekend, right here in DC, to discern the future of that organization - or at least the beginning of a way forward for its leadership and structure. Some of the folks who will be here from out of town are interested in getting together with local DC folk, and to that end, we've got a private room reserved at Guapos in Bethesda for a 1pm lunch gathering this coming Sunday, the 26th. Everyone's invited, so please join us!

And that's all I've got. :-) I'll keep saying it until Pentecost: happy Easter!

Peace,
Mike Croghan

Labels: Easter, Emergent Village, New Hope

Labels: Easter

Hi church,

It's Holy Week. In this, the most sacred time of the Church year, we remember our Lord's last days on this earth. We recall his final acts and teachings. His sharing of bread and wine and the tender service of foot-washing. His betrayal, arrest, Passion, and death. And, on Easter Sunday, his Resurrection: death overcome, Love triumphant.

Just as we've journeyed through Lent together, we'll be sharing the celebration of Easter with our brothers and sisters at New Hope Fellowship, Sunday at 10:50am. You can join us for breakfast at 9am, and stay for a celebratory feast after the service. If you don't mind the short walk, we can relieve some parking burdens by leaving our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope meets.

But before that celebration, it would be good to spend some time walking through this last, dark week with Jesus. There are many ways to do that, including moving liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday in the area - please contact us and we can let you know of some.

One powerful way to encounter Holy Week would be to journey through the creative, participatory Stations of the Cross that have been crafted by folks at our sister congregation, Holy Grounds, on the lower level of Fairlington Presbyterian Church. Some Common Table folks also contributed to these stations, which have been designed to arrest, challenge, and even accuse the one who journeys through them, in a deeply personal way. They'll be available for pilgrimage at the following times:

Wednesday 3:30-4:30pm and 8:30-9:30pm
Thursday 6:30-7:30pm & 8:30-9:30pm
Friday 7-9pm
Saturday 10am-12pm

And that's all, for this holiest of weeks. May the remainder of your Lenten journey be transformative, and on Easter, may you share the joy of abundant life - sprung wondrously, gloriously, impossibly, from evil and death.

Peace,
Mike Croghan

Labels: Easter, Holy Week, lent, New Hope

Our Lenten experiment-- giving up church for Lent-- continues to be a stretching, rewarding, productive, and engaging time. We're developing some great relationships and thinking some new thoughts (some of which are posted at our Lenten blog), and moving quickly toward an Easter celebration with some people who know a thing or two about redemption and resurrection!

This week, we'll be watching the kids waving their palm fronds at New Hope Fellowship, as we remember Jesus' triumphal and tragic entry into Jerusalem to begin Holy Week. If you're able to join us, please remember that breakfast is available at 9am, but the worship service doesn't start until 10:50. If you don't mind the short walk, we can relieve some parking burdens by leaving our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope Fellowship meets. As always, lunch is a high point of the day, and is provided for everyone in attendance.

Hope you can make it!
Mike Stavlund

Labels: lent, New Hope