On The Table

UPDATE: There's no plan for tomorrow (Sunday), folks. To be honest, we're pooped! :-) The good news is that if you were around for the worship/music segments of TransFORM or the closing liturgy, you at least got a taste of Common Table. If you want to hang out tomorrow, email us at connect (at) commontable.org and we'll try to get together!

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Well, there's just one big thing coming up this week. It's: The TransFORM East Coast Gathering! The main conference is Friday and Saturday at Wesley Seminary in DC. It's about forming and nurturing missional communities, it's free, and it's being planned, organized, and populated by a number of Common Table folks, plus an amazing array of friends - both local and from far-flung places. You are more than welcome to attend - just RSVP and show up! It's free - it's awesome - don't miss it.

Then there's Sunday. We will not be at Jammin' Java this Sunday, because our hosts there have booked a private event. We anticipate that friends from the conference might want to hang out on Sunday. We don't know how many, or how that's going to shape up, so we're going to play it by ear. Among the options:

Our friends at Church in Bethesda are having a Sunday morning service at 11am. We might encourage folks (Commoners and conference attendees who want to get together) to attend that service and hang out afterward.

Or, we might decide to hang out elsewhere. We'll update this space if and when there's a plan.

And that's the story for this week. May our time together be blessed!

Peace,

Mike Croghan

As Eastertide continues, we're pleased to have Amy Moffitt lead us in an exploration of our risen Lord. Here's her invitation:

"Who do you say I am?" It's a totally different question now, 2000 years after Jesus asked His followers. Images of Jesus represent a brand... the Christian logo, customized to suit the tastes of the consumer. There's the Catholic Jesus, the Precious Moments Jesus, the African-American Jesus, Jesus come in judgement to kick your sinning ass, Jesus come in love to hug you and tell you everything's alright...
But who do YOU say He is? Because the truth is that not every Christian knows what they think of Jesus. You don't have to, right? You can participate in the rituals and follow the rules without ever answering this question.

This week we'll look at the many faces of Jesus through the Lectio Divina format, meditating on scriptures that portray different images of Jesus. If you have any images of Christ-- wether art, poetry, a book, some other sort of memento-- in your home, please bring them, especially if they are meaningful to you.

Sounds great, doesn't it? I hope to see you this Sunday at 10am at Jammin' Java as we experience it together.

We'd also like to remind you of the epic conference that's happening at the end of the month in DC. A bunch of us will be participating in the TransFORM East Coast Gathering from April 30th-May 2nd at Wesley Seminary. It's about forming and nurturing missional communities, and it's free! So consider joining us for that, too.

Mike Stavlund

As we continue through spring and Easter season, we thought it would be a good time for some joyful noise. So join us Sunday at 10am at Jammin' Java, when the musicians of our 9:30am Club will lead us in a simple, contemplative time of prayer and worshipful music.

That's it for this week, but it's probably a good time to mention the awesomely cool conference that's happening at the end of the month in DC. A bunch of us will be participating in the TransFORM East Coast Gathering from April 30th-May 2nd at Wesley Seminary. It's about forming and nurturing missional communities, and it's free! So consider joining us for that, too.

May this season bring new life!

Peace,

Mike Croghan

Welcome to the season of Easter! He is risen! The Lord is risen indeed - Alleluia!

We're going to start the season off right with the return of Lamb Center Karaoke! Our first party of 2010 is this coming Friday, April 9th, with setup starting at 6, pizza and singing at 6:30, and wrapping up at 8pm. It's at The Lamb Center, Fairfax County's only daytime homeless shelter, off Fairfax Circle and not far from the Vienna Metro. Come and bring your singing voice, or just your ears and eyes to perceive the Spirit at work and play in the whole motley crew of us.

Then, Tim Ramsey will lead an exploration of Flatland this coming Sunday at 10am at Jammin' Java. (If you don't know Tim, he's one of the folks who helped shape our community in its early years - and also one heck of a harmonica player.) Tim says: 'I have (pretentiously) titled our discussion "Theology in Flatland: A Dance in Many Dimensions". I am looking forward to a thought provoking time talking about geometry, dimensions, and God.' Me too! :-)

And that's it for this first week after Easter. May God bless us all during this beautiful season!

Peace,

Mike Croghan