Reuben Flack is our Hero!!!!
The Building: Part II
Thanks to all who came by to see the building last night! The leaders have come to a tentative decision to proceed with an offer; however, we will wait until Sunday to make a final decision once we’ve heard from the community.
The donor and the Barnabas representative, Kurt Knoll, are both excited about this building. They see it as a space that will facilitate our vision & practice of ministry without becoming the main point.
I, personally, am excited about this space and the opportunities that it will afford us. Initially, we will need to focus all of our collective energies on the basic priorities of moving, doing an initial revamp of the sanctuary, and creating temporary spaces (both outside and in) for the children. This will likely include painting the sanctuary, pulling out pews, bringing in couches and tables, setting up a sound system, changing light fixtures, fencing in a childsafe area outside, opening an interior door between the main building and the classroom wing, and getting the heater up and running.
After this initial phase, we will hold a Drumming Circle similar to the one we used to prepare for last year’s big banquet: we’ll break down the building and its different missions into categories and invite everyone to join groups to envision and work on sections of the space. Each group will have its own budget and will be headed up by a Village leader. Rod and Eric will oversee the groups. Possible groups will be:
-rework the sanctuary
-remodel the classroom & large meeting room area (most of these walls can be removed and re-placed) to include a café, art studio, offices and classrooms that best utilize the space
-expand and remodel the kitchen
-landscape and build gardens
-paint the exterior of the building
-design and create outdoor space and playground for children
-organize parking and resurface the parking area, complete with basketball hoops.
If we decide to buy this building, we will also be asking the Village community to come and canvas the immediate neighborhood. We’ll want to let people know who we are and what our plan is for parking, invite them to come, and let them know we are open to hearing about any problems that arise. Tom & Keith will probably head this up.
Let me give you some ideas about what I see happening in this space in the future. I see us throwing block parties for the neighborhood; offering tutoring to children from the two schools near the building; and providing a community garden, a play area for children from the neighborhood, art classes, and spaces for non-profit community groups to meet. I see us hosting basketball games, barbeques, art shows, concerts, and date nights for local parents where we would provide programs for their children while they go out. I see us acquiring a coffee roaster and running a small café. I see space for a counseling office/prayer chapel, and offices for the pastors and the administrative work of the Village. This place has the potential to take everything we’re already doing to the next level and to begin the foundations of some of our dreams.
The Groups
If you didn't catch last week's e-mail, below is a description of all the groups. Sign-ups will be available at Vespers for the next two weeks. If you consider yourself a member of the Village or someone who primarily belongs to this community, I would like to encourage you as your pastor to participate in one or two of the groups offered. Also take note that the description of Julie & Keith's group has been added.
Married Couples Group
The purpose of this group is to line our marriages up with the Kingdom of God as described in Scripture through the provision of a place for accountability, learning, and relationship development. We will cover a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to) sexuality, finances, submission, loving your wife, marital roles, conflict, decision making, and parenting. This group will include opportunities for individual couples to process their issues and struggles as well as teaching and whole-group interaction. It will be led by Eric & Sue Cepin and Aaron & Kim Cromer and will meet twice a month.
DINNERS FOR SIX
To promote the best in community we are going to have regularly scheduled DINNERS FOR SIX where we will have host homes that will plan dinner menus for six to eight people. We can either sign up as hosts or as guests. As a guest, you will be assigned a particular place to go and have the opportunity to bring something-salad, dessert, drinks-and you also will be encouraged to bring guests who are not currently part of the Village. As a host you will plan the menu and assign the things you would like others to bring. The evening will be primarily social and conversational and a great place to include friends and newcomers who are just getting to know the Village. The Village places a high value on eating together and we are simply trying to be more intentional and inclusive as we invite people to eat together. It will also be a great opportunity to meet and eat with people whom you do not know well or who aren't necessarily included in your normal social circles. While we are calling them DINNERS FOR SIX, we intend to be a bit flexible on that and especially so if, as a guest, you would like to invite those you work with or with whom you interact in other settings. So, clean your house, dig out your recipe box, invite your friends and eat together. It should be great fun!
Men's Smackdown
Once a month, the men of the Village will meet to eat and collectively smack each other into Christlikeness. Led by Aaron Cromer.
Women's Group
This will be led by Kim Cromer and is still in development. It will most likely include opportunities for accountability, community, and dealing with issues pertaining to womanhood. It will meet twice a month on weeks alternate from the Married Couples Group and is open to both married and single women. a note from Kim: Beautiful. Free, Mature, Open...embracing the delight God has in us! Uncovering our identities and living more consistently in them! This is what the women's group will encourage. What lies, wounds and strategies are we living out of that hold us back from offering from our hearts and participating in God's movement? How are you expressing your femininity and gifting? Come to a supportive and challenging environment where you will learn tools that will help you move towards God and others! Let's jump emotional cliffs together!!!! Your fear is welcome!
Women's Intro to Bible Study
We will learn the basics of studying a book of the Bible by identifying themes, key verses, descriptions of God, word studies, etc. in Ephesians and applying these concepts to our lives. This group will also include opportunities for the confession of sin and prayer, and for Bible memorization. Susan Cepin and Hannah Yeakley will lead the group on a weekly basis.
Pilgrim Groups
Pilgrim Groups consist of a trio or guad of men. Pilgrim Groups meet together to talk about spiritual disciplines, sexuality, and read scripture. Lead by Ryan Moore and others.
Solitudinus Profundus
have you ever been mellow...have you ever tried...to find the comfort from insiiiiide?
you probably never found it, cuz that ain't where it's at. it's out there, somewhere, on a mountaintop or under a rock ledge, waiting for you to find it. i can help.
i call it mountain solitude, but i'm not the first. it is a tradition from the ancient early days of village lore, now resurrected in this time of want. as before, those of us with deep need or deep desire or deep conviction come together at casa de seneca one sunday per month in the early morning hours (8.00a) and sojourn together to some mountaintop or rock ledge in these sonoran environs. at our destination, we sit and pray for a short time, then disperse among the pinions to find our own quiet corner of the universe to sit, relax, read, write, pray, listen, be. do this and be changed, if you dare.
first journey is set for sunday, january 18, 2009. departing seneca house @ 8a. be early.
Living Out Theology
Keith and Julie will be hosting an open group on the 3rd Wednesdays at 7p. We'll be offering a short teaching on different ideas with an emphasis on what it means to live these out in our community and in the world. Afterward we'll have a time of discussion and maybe some coffee/tea and dessert. Although some may commit to be regulars of this group, we will be open to anyone who wants to be a part of the discussion. This would be a good group to come to if you want to understand more of what the Village believes. Friends who aren't Christ followers, but would like to wrestle with these subjects are welcome as well. We'll probably start by considering our beliefs about sin and repentance and bearing the image of God. In the not-to-distant future, we'll have the topics laid out, so people can decide if there's a certain subject they want to consider.
Daniel & Erin: The Pre-Wedding Celebration! (Mexican Style)
Don’t forget, we are all gathering at the Cromer house on Saturday evening (January 3) at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of our good friends. Many of you signed up to bring food, but others of you who I know are coming have signed up for nothing. So please bring your favorite dish. Below, please find a list of those who are signed up & what they are bringing. See you Saturday! If you are wondering why we are having this party, it is because Daniel & Erin are unable to invite all of us to their wedding; they wanted, however, to celebrate with all the Villagers, as their relationship has grown up in the context of our community.
List of Those Sign-up
Salsa: Collleen, Lori
Chips: Emily Bertelsen, Cheryl
Enchiladas: Rod and Kathy
Tacos: Ron W.
Burritos: Sue and Eric
Drinks: The McCulleys
Fruit: Lewises
Zucchini Green Beans: Bonnilla
Salad Ryan Moore and Hoover Family
The Building
After a lot of searching in Tucson over the past year and much discussion between Rod and I and others, we have found a building that meets many of the basic needs of our community: parking, large meeting space, multiple classrooms, kitchen facilities, and room for kids to run safely and play. This building isn’t new to our search; in fact, we’ve been looking at it off and on for the past 2 years (two years ago we asked them to give it to us for free!). Recently, the building came up for sale. The asking price is $475,000. The people in charge of the place are willing to work with buyers, so any loan would not need to be carried by a bank. This Wednesday night (January 7), you will have the opportunity to walk through the building between 6:30 and 8:30. We’d like you to come on the early side, so that the elders can meet there from 7:30-8:30. But if you have to come on the later side, that’s fine too. The building is located at 1926 N. Cloverland Ave., just north of Pima between Craycroft and Rosemont. I’m very excited about this space for a variety of reasons: it is a roomy 5,600 square feet; much of it has been recently remodeled – it has a new roof and new coolers, and it doesn’t require a lot of upgrades (only cosmetic changes to fit our very eclectic Village nature); everything inside comes with the building; we could move in before February if we decide to buy it soon; and it has handicap-accessible bathrooms, a “cry room” for nursing mothers & their babies, and multiple rooms that can be used as offices, art studios, nursery, classrooms, and other fun stuff. Please pray your way over on Wednesday and see the space.
We have recently been playing with the posting of videos of our sermons. I am looking for someone who is willing to run our small but handy little “Flip” camera during Vespers each week. The process is simple: 1) turn on the camera 2) press record 3) make sure you are filming the pastor’s face, not his belly 4) move camera to follow antsy pastor around as he preaches 5) at end of sermon, press stop. If you are interested in helping with this task, please e-mail me at hedge61@hotmail.com.
Pray for Lea while she’s in India teaching young kids to swim! |
