The Village
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Lunch with the Pastors
We had a great time with people this Monday. Hailey, Lea, Layne, Colleen, Ron W., Roman, and Corey all showed up to eat Greek food & hang out with me and Rod. The majority of our conversation this week revolved around stories of how our parents disciplined us, and other stories about our
experiences with trains, planes, salad dressing, and automobiles.
A short coffee shop review:
Coffee's On - located at
2502 N Campbell Ave
ice coffee - o.k.
environment - not good
internet - free
owners - funny as all get out :>)
noise levels - low
air conditioned - yes
overheard - one pool guy to the other - "this is the best coffee shop ever!!"
On Mission
Eric's conversations around mission have had a huge impact on me. I've had a passion for missional living for a long time and left my previous business career out of a deep desire to create spaces and communities where people could hear about this God who loves me and who has given me life itself. I realize that since I've had trouble with my neck, but even before that, I have thought mostly of what I can't
do as opposed to what I can do. To realize that Paul got beaten five times to near death--Romans had figured out that 40 lashes killed the average Joe so they limited you to 39--got me to thinking about my own light and momentary troubles. My neck and shoulder don't hurt any less, but somehow concentrating on the beauty of the ressurection and its implication for me has lifted a burden and freed me to walk more into my personal mission. In talking to some of you about your mission, I realize that we often think about what restricts us rather than how free we are to act. I'd love to hear more about your mission. If you want to talk, I'd invite you to think first of all about the resurrection and that, if it is true for you that live or die you belong to Jesus, then what are you willing to risk for him.
Then let's think about your gifts and talents and what you bring to the advancement of the Kingdom.
Pastor Rod
The Name Party
After reading the Namingblog(I enjoyed it and thought it demonstrates our willingness to dialogue about our doubts and struggles with raising money) on Villagersonline.com, I got to thinking about raising money and talking to people about what we're doing at the Village. I have often struggled with the concept of talking to my extended community (old friends, old church members, friends of my parents, relatives) about what the Village is doing and asking them to support us financially. Having grown up in the church, I spent a lot of time listening to people ask for money to go on mission trips, build buildings, help starving kids in Africa, help college leaders on campuses, etc. I disliked most of these talks, because I just felt guilty that I couldn't help. Or I feared disappointing the person who was asking: maybe they would never look at me the same. Maybe something horrible would happen because I didn't help. So it's odd to me, seven years into the life of the Village, to find myself in conversations which revolve around asking people for money. Rod and I specifically planted the church with the thought that we wouldn't be a community that was always asking for money. This is why we always say, when passing the offering basket around, "If you're visiting us, we're just glad to have you - you don't have to give anything." In thinking about all of this, realize that part of my hesitation is timidity, but most of it is my lack of confidence about what God is doing at the Village. Asking people to support it means that I would have to risk the possibility that He isn't doing anything, and that what our Village longs to do, be & have is not important to Him. In reality, I do believe that God is doing something amazing here. So I have changed my mind and have become very excited to talk to people about the Village, as well as our need for a building. I would like to clarify a few things about the current fundraising process at the Village:
First, the names that are being collected are for the purpose of forming a large database so that we have a way to keep track of thank you notes, receipts, etc. and neither duplicate nor omit correspondence. The Village will not be sending these people support letters! You will send support
letters to your own people, with help from the Village. A committee has already met and put together a support letter. This letter will come in 2 forms: an electronic form which you can edit and personalize, then mail, hand, or drop from military aircraft in the general direction of your friends; and a hard copy of the committee-generated letter which you can send with no modification other than an address & signature and any optional handwritten information you wish to include. If you managed to read this far, let me quickly tell you why we're having a Naming Party on August 4 (6pm - Potluck at the Seneca House.) The Village always does things best in community. So I thought we'd all get together to brainstorm, build the database, and distribute support letters to people who want to start getting them out. I really hope to see you there.
Pastor Eric
Yard Sale
I had a ball accepting the proceeds of the yard sale from the kids Sunday night! What a joy to see them dancing with joy. When you see them, remind them how proud you are of them. Thanks Emily and Susan for thinking it all up and especially to the kids for making it all work. Thanks also to others who helped make it happen through donations and purchases and the little things we never see.
Pastor Eric |
