Friday, July 31st
PGE PARK Cost: $7.50 (hot dogs and ice cream are only $1.00)
All ages and all family members are invited. You can download a flyer of this blog
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Newsletter Article for CONNECTIONS
“We are not meant simply to invite people into our homes, but also to invite them into our lives.” Lauren Winner (Mudhouse Sabbath)
Last weekend, I invited a few youth leaders and their families to my home for a good old spring barbecue. The weather was not stellar and my allergies were on full throttle, but it was still a wonderful time of sharing our lives together. As I write this, I am planning another dinner for a former student of mine who is coming to our over tonight. There is something to be said about inviting someone to your home. It takes on greater meaning when you invite someone to share a meal with you. In the high school group we try to share a meal together once a month. It is not only an invitation for the youth to come eat at my home, but it is also an invitation for them to play an important part in the life of my family. Food changes everything. It is the difference between having a meeting and having lunch. It is the difference between gaining access to facts and gaining access to the stories of others. Starbucks has developed a whole store layout that feeds our need to be in community, sharing a portion of our lives together. When two parties sit down together and face each other during a meal, everything seems to change
In Jewish culture, to invite someone over for coffee or a meal is an invitation that says, “I want to include you in my life.” Stories throughout the Old Testament reflect a nation who welcomed in the stranger. From Abraham welcoming angels, to Rahab welcoming in spies, God has called his people to extend an invitation to those we may not be familiar with. In his last day before facing the death, even Jesus has a meal with his disciples. This event is a perfect demonstration of the meal we share in Communion, as we remember the love and sacrifice of Christ Jesus.
It seems to make sense that we all should be opening our home for others to share, yet in our fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants world it is easier said than done. Church on Sunday can be a difficult place to engage in this kind of community. We tend to walk in and out of worship with a little engagement in the Narthex. It makes one miss a good old fashioned church potluck. The church potluck, back in the day used to be where people learned each other stories. I believe we have lost the benefits of these meals brought to the community.
One of my goals this year is to invite eight “unknown” people or families to my home for a meal. This is not necessarily limited to families from our church. This also does not mean that I will stop inviting friends and family to my home. How about you? Have you thought about getting to know your neighbors better? Are there people in our church community that you have yet to even meet? I urge you to join me and take the “dinner at my home” challenge. This is great time to invite people in for a meal, when in turn, invites them into your lives.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Pictures from Bullwinkles Last Weekend
Here are some great pictures from our trip last weekend. We had 12 4th-8th graders attend.
Created with flickr slideshow.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Bullwinkles Trip Next Sunday
Just a reminder: Next Sunday is the Bullwinkles' Trip for 4th-8th graders. We will meet at Oak Hills Church at 3pm and we will return at 7pm. The whole thing, including dinner only costs $10!!! Contact Curtis at the church if you need more information.
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