Mar 2008
NOT April Fools!
26/03/08 10:13
Hello Fellow U of A Christ-Followers!
Well... Spring is definitely feeling like it's on our doorstep, which means that it's getting warmer, and exams are coming! But hey... - before we get too focused on that, don't forget that it means SUMMER is right around the corner too! Woohoo! This will be a crazy, sweet Summer... - gathering momentum for the public opening of the U of A Church Plant in the Fall, expecting the arrival of "Baby G"... - what's coming up for you this Summer??
With the coming of Spring we also have our next church gathering on campus! Our next gathering is this TUESDAY April 1st at 7:00 p.m. (and NO - I'm not pulling an "April Fools" on you!!), in the Biological Sciences Lounge - Room CW422 in the Biological Sciences Building (http://www.campusmap.ualberta.ca/index.cfm?campus=1§or=2&feature=8).
Once again, we met in this room last time (Tuesday March 18), and it is a tricky room to find. Please RSVP to me by sending me an e-mail (see sidebar) so that we know who to expect and keep an eye out for you! I have included 'detailed' instructions to the room below.
Now here's what's on tap for our next stimulating, exciting gathering!
Tuesday April 1st: "Go With The Wind (Supernatural Church)"
Welcome & Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments
Thematic Cultural Connection: Movie Clip
Intro to the Theme and Conversation: "Go With The Wind (Supernatural Church)" (Acts 2)
U of A Community Highlight...
Break for more 'Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments'
News & Announcements:
Had a Birthday, Graduation, Engagement, or Something else exciting happen? Let us know!!
ECO province-wide young adults prayer gathering March 28 & 29 - check out www.ecoya.ca (I will be there, and some time will be spent
praying for campus ministry)
Special: U of A Church Community Name Discussion... - come prepared with some suggestions for what we should call this campus church
community!!
"Your Chapter": Personal Testimonies from the Week
Engaging Sermonette on "Go With The Wind (Supernatural Church)"
Community Conversation (everyone gets to 'talk back'!) - This week's questions:
1) How have you (if you have) experienced the Holy Spirit in your life?
2) Can the church, especially in Canada, exist and grow without the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit? Why?
Musical Worship & Response Time
Benediction and more 'Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments'
I'm excited! See you all soon!
Matty
Directions to the Biological Sciences Lounge:
If you are driving, you will want to bring some change and park along Saskatchewan Drive by one of the parking meters (you should only need two hours of parking max). Biological Sciences is the big brick building right on Saskatchewan Drive.
Once you get into the building, go to the "Centre Wing" (that's what "CW" stands for), and take the elevator (or the stairs!) up to the 4th floor. Once you're on the fourth floor, wander around until you find a room that has tables and chairs setup like a cafe, and has big windows with a nice view of the river valley (it's not too hard to find). The Lounge is close to the Biological Sciences Main Office.
If you have any troubles finding the place - CALL ME on my cell at 264-6498. I will keep my cellphone on for the first bit of our gathering.
Well... Spring is definitely feeling like it's on our doorstep, which means that it's getting warmer, and exams are coming! But hey... - before we get too focused on that, don't forget that it means SUMMER is right around the corner too! Woohoo! This will be a crazy, sweet Summer... - gathering momentum for the public opening of the U of A Church Plant in the Fall, expecting the arrival of "Baby G"... - what's coming up for you this Summer??
With the coming of Spring we also have our next church gathering on campus! Our next gathering is this TUESDAY April 1st at 7:00 p.m. (and NO - I'm not pulling an "April Fools" on you!!), in the Biological Sciences Lounge - Room CW422 in the Biological Sciences Building (http://www.campusmap.ualberta.ca/index.cfm?campus=1§or=2&feature=8).
Once again, we met in this room last time (Tuesday March 18), and it is a tricky room to find. Please RSVP to me by sending me an e-mail (see sidebar) so that we know who to expect and keep an eye out for you! I have included 'detailed' instructions to the room below.
Now here's what's on tap for our next stimulating, exciting gathering!
Tuesday April 1st: "Go With The Wind (Supernatural Church)"
Welcome & Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments
Thematic Cultural Connection: Movie Clip
Intro to the Theme and Conversation: "Go With The Wind (Supernatural Church)" (Acts 2)
U of A Community Highlight...
Break for more 'Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments'
News & Announcements:
Had a Birthday, Graduation, Engagement, or Something else exciting happen? Let us know!!
ECO province-wide young adults prayer gathering March 28 & 29 - check out www.ecoya.ca (I will be there, and some time will be spent
praying for campus ministry)
Special: U of A Church Community Name Discussion... - come prepared with some suggestions for what we should call this campus church
community!!
"Your Chapter": Personal Testimonies from the Week
Engaging Sermonette on "Go With The Wind (Supernatural Church)"
Community Conversation (everyone gets to 'talk back'!) - This week's questions:
1) How have you (if you have) experienced the Holy Spirit in your life?
2) Can the church, especially in Canada, exist and grow without the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit? Why?
Musical Worship & Response Time
Benediction and more 'Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments'
I'm excited! See you all soon!
Matty
Directions to the Biological Sciences Lounge:
If you are driving, you will want to bring some change and park along Saskatchewan Drive by one of the parking meters (you should only need two hours of parking max). Biological Sciences is the big brick building right on Saskatchewan Drive.
Once you get into the building, go to the "Centre Wing" (that's what "CW" stands for), and take the elevator (or the stairs!) up to the 4th floor. Once you're on the fourth floor, wander around until you find a room that has tables and chairs setup like a cafe, and has big windows with a nice view of the river valley (it's not too hard to find). The Lounge is close to the Biological Sciences Main Office.
If you have any troubles finding the place - CALL ME on my cell at 264-6498. I will keep my cellphone on for the first bit of our gathering.
|
Next "EPIC" Gathering
14/03/08 12:53
Well, it's that wonderful time when we get to meet
again! Our next gathering is this
TUESDAY March
18th at 7:00 p.m., at a
NEW LOCATION. Get ready for
this one - it's a bit of a tricky one to find (but
the room has a nice view!).
We will be meeting in the Biological Sciences Lounge - Room CW422 in the Biological Sciences Building (http://www.campusmap.ualberta.ca/index.cfm?campus=1§or=2&feature=8).
If you are driving, you will want to bring some change and park along Saskatchewan Drive by one of the parking meters (you should only need two hours of parking max). Biological Sciences is the big brick building right on Saskatchewan Drive.
Once you get into the building, go to the "Centre Wing" (that's what "CW" stands for), and take the elevator (or the stairs!) up to the 4th floor. Once you're on the fourth floor, wander around until you find a room that has tables and chairs setup like a cafe, and has big windows with a nice view of the river valley (it's not too hard to find). The Lounge is close to the Biological Sciences Main Office.
It would be helpful if everyone sends me an RSVP e-mail (see link on side panel) to let me know if they're coming, so that we can expect you and know if you're lost or not!
Alright, now that we have all of those details in place, let me tell you what's on tap for our next "EPIC" gathering:
Tuesday March 18th: "The Epic 'Failure'?"
Welcome & Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments
Thematic Cultural Connection: Movie Clip
Intro to the Theme and Conversation: "The Epic 'Failure'?"
U of A Community Highlight: Have you checked out any groups at the U of A since our last gathering? If so, let us know what you found!!
Break for more 'Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments'
News & Announcements: Had a Birthday, Graduation, Engagement, or Something else exciting happen? Let us know!!
Special: U of A Church Community Name Discussion... - what do you think of calling our community U of A "EPIC"? Do you have other suggestions? Let's talk!
"Your Chapter": Personal Testimonies from the Week
Engaging Sermonette on "The Epic 'Failure'?"
Community Conversation (everyone gets to 'talk back'!) - This week's questions:
1) How do you define “success” or “failure” in your own life?
2) What determines the “success” or “failure” of a community / movement like the church? How do you measure it?
Musical Worship & Response Time
Benediction and more 'Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments'
Can't wait to see ya'll again!!
Matty
We will be meeting in the Biological Sciences Lounge - Room CW422 in the Biological Sciences Building (http://www.campusmap.ualberta.ca/index.cfm?campus=1§or=2&feature=8).
If you are driving, you will want to bring some change and park along Saskatchewan Drive by one of the parking meters (you should only need two hours of parking max). Biological Sciences is the big brick building right on Saskatchewan Drive.
Once you get into the building, go to the "Centre Wing" (that's what "CW" stands for), and take the elevator (or the stairs!) up to the 4th floor. Once you're on the fourth floor, wander around until you find a room that has tables and chairs setup like a cafe, and has big windows with a nice view of the river valley (it's not too hard to find). The Lounge is close to the Biological Sciences Main Office.
It would be helpful if everyone sends me an RSVP e-mail (see link on side panel) to let me know if they're coming, so that we can expect you and know if you're lost or not!
Alright, now that we have all of those details in place, let me tell you what's on tap for our next "EPIC" gathering:
Tuesday March 18th: "The Epic 'Failure'?"
Welcome & Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments
Thematic Cultural Connection: Movie Clip
Intro to the Theme and Conversation: "The Epic 'Failure'?"
U of A Community Highlight: Have you checked out any groups at the U of A since our last gathering? If so, let us know what you found!!
Break for more 'Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments'
News & Announcements: Had a Birthday, Graduation, Engagement, or Something else exciting happen? Let us know!!
Special: U of A Church Community Name Discussion... - what do you think of calling our community U of A "EPIC"? Do you have other suggestions? Let's talk!
"Your Chapter": Personal Testimonies from the Week
Engaging Sermonette on "The Epic 'Failure'?"
Community Conversation (everyone gets to 'talk back'!) - This week's questions:
1) How do you define “success” or “failure” in your own life?
2) What determines the “success” or “failure” of a community / movement like the church? How do you measure it?
Musical Worship & Response Time
Benediction and more 'Simple-Socially-Enhancing-Refreshments'
Can't wait to see ya'll again!!
Matty
The EPIC Church!
10/03/08 09:30
Check out the following words by N. T. Wright:
"...Most of the Bible does not consist of rules and regulations—lists of commands to be obeyed. Nor does it consist of creeds—lists of things to be believed. And often, when there ARE lists of rules or of creedal statements, they seem to be somewhat incidental to the purpose of the writing…”
“…much of what we call the Bible—the Old and New Testaments—is not a rule book; it is narrative."
“…God has given us so much story, so much narrative in scripture. Story authority, as Jesus knew only too well, is the authority that really works. Throw a rule book at people’s head, or offer them a list of doctrines, and they can duck or avoid it, or simply disagree and go away. Tell them a story, though, and you invite them to come into a different world; you invite them to share a world-view or better still a ‘God-view’… Stories determine how [people] experience God, and the world, and themselves, and others. Great revolutionary movements have told stories about the past and present and future. They have invited people to see themselves in that light, and people’s lives have been changed. If that happens at a merely human level, how much more when it is God himself, the creator, breathing through his word.”
“Scripture is… the book through which the Spirit assures us that we are his people and through which he sends us out into the world to tell the Jesus story, that is, the Israel story which has become the Jesus story which together is God’s story for the [whole] world. It is the story [that] confirms the fact that God… redeemed the world in Jesus Christ. It is the story [that] breaks open all other world-views and, by so doing, invites men and women, young and old, to see this story as their story. In other words, as we let the Bible be the Bible, God works through us-and it-to do what he intends to do in and for the church and the world.”
(Originally published in Vox Evangelica, 1991, 21, 7–32. Viewed on-line at: http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Bible_Authoritative.htm)
Maybe one of the major barriers to Christianity in North America is the way in which Christians have often viewed the Bible: as a "rulebook" or as a "textbook." When we focus primarily on a rulebook, the Christian faith becomes a very "you're-in-or-you're-out" exclusive kind of group. When we focus on Scripture as a textbook, Christianity sometimes tries to use the Bible to prove that it is right about things that it is not the primary source of answers for (e.g. the Bible is not primarily a book on science!).
I believe that the U of A needs to see a humble, Christ-following community that is living a godly, principled life in the context of the Grand Story. More than anything, the Bible seems to exist to give us the foundation for the Grand Story of all time: the Story of God, humanity, and the universe. Every part of creation, and every human being, is not just a mere "actor" in that Story... - we are all real-life characters.
In light of the fact that we are all a part of this story, as Christ-followers on campus, let's journey with people and invite them to share our view, rather than dictating or debating with them. Almost everyone loves a good "epic" movie, novel, or story of some sort. Let's be an "Epic Church" that calls people to be the character they were created to be in this "Epic of all Epics": The Story of God, humanity, and the universe.
"...Most of the Bible does not consist of rules and regulations—lists of commands to be obeyed. Nor does it consist of creeds—lists of things to be believed. And often, when there ARE lists of rules or of creedal statements, they seem to be somewhat incidental to the purpose of the writing…”
“…much of what we call the Bible—the Old and New Testaments—is not a rule book; it is narrative."
“…God has given us so much story, so much narrative in scripture. Story authority, as Jesus knew only too well, is the authority that really works. Throw a rule book at people’s head, or offer them a list of doctrines, and they can duck or avoid it, or simply disagree and go away. Tell them a story, though, and you invite them to come into a different world; you invite them to share a world-view or better still a ‘God-view’… Stories determine how [people] experience God, and the world, and themselves, and others. Great revolutionary movements have told stories about the past and present and future. They have invited people to see themselves in that light, and people’s lives have been changed. If that happens at a merely human level, how much more when it is God himself, the creator, breathing through his word.”
“Scripture is… the book through which the Spirit assures us that we are his people and through which he sends us out into the world to tell the Jesus story, that is, the Israel story which has become the Jesus story which together is God’s story for the [whole] world. It is the story [that] confirms the fact that God… redeemed the world in Jesus Christ. It is the story [that] breaks open all other world-views and, by so doing, invites men and women, young and old, to see this story as their story. In other words, as we let the Bible be the Bible, God works through us-and it-to do what he intends to do in and for the church and the world.”
(Originally published in Vox Evangelica, 1991, 21, 7–32. Viewed on-line at: http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Bible_Authoritative.htm)
Maybe one of the major barriers to Christianity in North America is the way in which Christians have often viewed the Bible: as a "rulebook" or as a "textbook." When we focus primarily on a rulebook, the Christian faith becomes a very "you're-in-or-you're-out" exclusive kind of group. When we focus on Scripture as a textbook, Christianity sometimes tries to use the Bible to prove that it is right about things that it is not the primary source of answers for (e.g. the Bible is not primarily a book on science!).
I believe that the U of A needs to see a humble, Christ-following community that is living a godly, principled life in the context of the Grand Story. More than anything, the Bible seems to exist to give us the foundation for the Grand Story of all time: the Story of God, humanity, and the universe. Every part of creation, and every human being, is not just a mere "actor" in that Story... - we are all real-life characters.
In light of the fact that we are all a part of this story, as Christ-followers on campus, let's journey with people and invite them to share our view, rather than dictating or debating with them. Almost everyone loves a good "epic" movie, novel, or story of some sort. Let's be an "Epic Church" that calls people to be the character they were created to be in this "Epic of all Epics": The Story of God, humanity, and the universe.
