On The Table
The Weekly Announcement of Common Table ChurchWednesday, September 19, 2007
September 17th through 23rd
Hi church,
Then, on Sunday morning at 10am, we'll come together at Jammin' Java for the second service in this series. We'll experience worshipful chant and contemplative prayer together, and discuss how values such as Christian unity, commitment to community, and radical hospitality combined to form the Taize Community in Burgundy, France, which has become a magnet for spiritually hungry young people in post-Christian Europe.
Have a great week!
Mike (Croghan)
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Sept. 3rd through 9th
Hi church,
This Sunday morning (10am), we'll be celebrating the baptism of two members of our community at Mike and Stacy Stavlund's place in Falls Church. (Parking is very limited, so if you could park on Sleepy Hollow and walk the last block, we'd appreciate it.) Mike S.'s words from last week express beautifully the meaning of this sacrament for us: "We'll be coming around Lucretia and Alyssa as they celebrate the new life they have been given, and to pledge ourselves to them as they continue to live after Jesus." In that spirit of baptism as a communal commitment, the service will include a time for open sharing of our prayers, love, and support for Alyssa and Lucretia, so if you have a prayer, poem, or other expression that you'd like to share, please bring it. And if you're still considering being baptized yourself, it's not to late - let us know right away!
Also, this Saturday afternoon (the 8th) at 3pm, the Design Team will be meeting to plan our services for October and beyond, when we'll be looking at how Christian communities take very different forms based on the people they seek to serve, the cultural context, and the gifts and passions of the community members. Everyone is welcome to contribute to the planning, even if you've never been a part of Design Team before, and you can participate in whatever way works for you, whether it be just helping us brainstorm, or taking a role in a single service or in the whole series. Location is TBD - look for an update on the core list. Also, a bunch of us might go watch people pull airplanes around on ropes before the meeting. So that should be fun.
Have a great week - welcome back to the school year, if that's an important thing in your life. If it isn't, welcome to another week just like last week. :-) Hope it's blessed.
Peace,
Mike Croghan
This Sunday morning (10am), we'll be celebrating the baptism of two members of our community at Mike and Stacy Stavlund's place in Falls Church. (Parking is very limited, so if you could park on Sleepy Hollow and walk the last block, we'd appreciate it.) Mike S.'s words from last week express beautifully the meaning of this sacrament for us: "We'll be coming around Lucretia and Alyssa as they celebrate the new life they have been given, and to pledge ourselves to them as they continue to live after Jesus." In that spirit of baptism as a communal commitment, the service will include a time for open sharing of our prayers, love, and support for Alyssa and Lucretia, so if you have a prayer, poem, or other expression that you'd like to share, please bring it. And if you're still considering being baptized yourself, it's not to late - let us know right away!
Also, this Saturday afternoon (the 8th) at 3pm, the Design Team will be meeting to plan our services for October and beyond, when we'll be looking at how Christian communities take very different forms based on the people they seek to serve, the cultural context, and the gifts and passions of the community members. Everyone is welcome to contribute to the planning, even if you've never been a part of Design Team before, and you can participate in whatever way works for you, whether it be just helping us brainstorm, or taking a role in a single service or in the whole series. Location is TBD - look for an update on the core list. Also, a bunch of us might go watch people pull airplanes around on ropes before the meeting. So that should be fun.
Have a great week - welcome back to the school year, if that's an important thing in your life. If it isn't, welcome to another week just like last week. :-) Hope it's blessed.
Peace,
Mike Croghan
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
August 6 through 12
Hi church,
I hope you're enjoying the dog days of summer. I consulted my dog, who said it's way too hot, and it's not her fault or that of her species. Well, sorry I brought it up, then.
Anyway...we've got a few things goin' on this week, despite the heat.
On Thursday, August 9th, at 7pm, the Design Team will be meeting at Mike Croghan and Tina Driskell's house to plan the fall series of worship services. (Who is the Design Team? If you'd like to help plan our fall services, then you are. You can participate at any level that works for you, so come on by. We'll order some pizza for those who prefer not to eat before they arrive, but we'll try to start working early so we can go home early too.) This fall, we're going to be exploring how Christian communities take on very different forms depending on the cultural context in which they arise. If you have suggestions for communities worldwide on which we might focus, please send them to the Design Team email list.
Then, speaking of Mike and Tina's house, everybody's invited to a housewarming party at our new place starting at 6pm on Saturday the 11th. Please don't bring gifts - we don't need more stuff, and we feel pretty strongly that it's friends and neighbors that warm a house. You can bring a side, salad, or dessert, if you want to, but that's entirely optional. We'll be providing grilled meats and veggie-meats, and a variety of beverages and finger foods. Also, Paolo's rockin' karaoke mic will be there to make stars of us all. Hope to see you there!
Alas, our HOA's draconian parking policies will compel us to send you home by 10pm Saturday night, in plenty of time to get a good night's rest before our worship service at 10am Sunday morning at Jammin' Java. Continuing our summer film series, P3T3 will lead us in reflecting on a film segment about a "cargo cult" on a Pacific island in the mid-20th century - and what their religious expressions might have in common with ours.
Have fun beating the heat!
Peace,
Croghan
Labels: DT4.0, films, housewarming, summer
Monday, May 7, 2007
May 7 through 13
Blooms: a visual picture of beauty and emergence and hope. Jackie and Mike got this short series off to great start this week with their thoughts about kids, flowers, spiders and the weak and pervasive forces of God. This Sunday, in his Common Table debut, Ken will be leading us as we consider the relationship between flowers and fruit, in the physical world and spiritual one. As usual, we'll meet at Jammin Java at 10:00 AM.
Following the service, and after we grab something to eat, the Design Team will be meeting to brainstorm and plan for our June and July services. We'll gather at the Croghan/Driskell home around 1:00 and plan to wrap up by 3:30. This is our chance to collectively explore our upcoming services -- to inspire and be inspired by one another -- so if you have been thinking about getting more involved in Sunday mornings but didn't know how, definitely plan to join us!
And speaking of the Croghan/Driskells, we have several events on the horizon related to Mike and/or Tina. First, after a several week process of nomination and confirmation by our congregation, we are excited to welcome Mike as the newest member of our Leadership Team. We plan to take a few minutes during the service this week to commission and pray for the team, so plan to join us for that. Second, in anticipation of their upcoming move to Herndon, Mike and Tina are hosting a "Come get our stuff" event this Saturday afternoon. They have lots of books, tools and household items to give away, so plan to swing by on Saturday and see what treasures you can find. Finally, Mike and Tina are looking for help during their actual move on May 26th - mark your calendars now and start looking forward to a steak reward!
Enjoy the rest of your week,
Deanna
Following the service, and after we grab something to eat, the Design Team will be meeting to brainstorm and plan for our June and July services. We'll gather at the Croghan/Driskell home around 1:00 and plan to wrap up by 3:30. This is our chance to collectively explore our upcoming services -- to inspire and be inspired by one another -- so if you have been thinking about getting more involved in Sunday mornings but didn't know how, definitely plan to join us!
And speaking of the Croghan/Driskells, we have several events on the horizon related to Mike and/or Tina. First, after a several week process of nomination and confirmation by our congregation, we are excited to welcome Mike as the newest member of our Leadership Team. We plan to take a few minutes during the service this week to commission and pray for the team, so plan to join us for that. Second, in anticipation of their upcoming move to Herndon, Mike and Tina are hosting a "Come get our stuff" event this Saturday afternoon. They have lots of books, tools and household items to give away, so plan to swing by on Saturday and see what treasures you can find. Finally, Mike and Tina are looking for help during their actual move on May 26th - mark your calendars now and start looking forward to a steak reward!
Enjoy the rest of your week,
Deanna
Labels: Blooms, DT4.0, Leadership Team
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
April 30 through May 6
Hey, Church--
The Design Team, who do their best to lead us toward an experience of God most Sunday mornings, are having a couple of upcoming meetings.
This Thursday at 7pm, they'll be meeting at Liz's home to work on some short-term planning for May services.
Next Sunday afternoon, May 13, they'll be gathering with a wider group of people to do some long-range, creative brainstorming about ideas for the summer ('fire' in June, and 'short films' to follow). Keep an eye out for more details on this meeting, and please plan to join us-- absolutely everyone is welcome and encouraged to come!
This Sunday, May 6, we'll be gathering at Jammin Java to kick off our 'Blooms' series, as we consider the power and weakness, and the hope and heartbreak, found in simple flowers. Jackie and I have been collaborating on this project, and I'm really excited about it.
Hope to see you soon,
Mike
P.S. By 'most Sunday mornings', I mean to say that we don't meet for worship at Jammin' Java each and every week, not that Design Teamers are selective or in any way lax about their intention or execution of leading us toward an experience of God each and every opportunity they get. ;-)
The Design Team, who do their best to lead us toward an experience of God most Sunday mornings, are having a couple of upcoming meetings.
This Thursday at 7pm, they'll be meeting at Liz's home to work on some short-term planning for May services.
Next Sunday afternoon, May 13, they'll be gathering with a wider group of people to do some long-range, creative brainstorming about ideas for the summer ('fire' in June, and 'short films' to follow). Keep an eye out for more details on this meeting, and please plan to join us-- absolutely everyone is welcome and encouraged to come!
This Sunday, May 6, we'll be gathering at Jammin Java to kick off our 'Blooms' series, as we consider the power and weakness, and the hope and heartbreak, found in simple flowers. Jackie and I have been collaborating on this project, and I'm really excited about it.
Hope to see you soon,
Mike
P.S. By 'most Sunday mornings', I mean to say that we don't meet for worship at Jammin' Java each and every week, not that Design Teamers are selective or in any way lax about their intention or execution of leading us toward an experience of God each and every opportunity they get. ;-)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
April 23 through 29
Hello, church,
Just a few notes to keep you posted on the comings and goings at Common Table:
Service Worship. The old carpet is gone and behold, the new floor has come at the Chapman's house. Many thanks to all who offered their hard work and good humor to the flooring project, and special thanks to Becky and Ryan for their warm hospitality and first-class food and beverage. Once the dust finally settles, we expect that Ryan's sinuses will be much more comfortable now.
Design Team Planning. Tomorrow night, we're launching DT 4.0, which is similar to Web 2.0, except twice as good. The Design Team, who plan our Sunday morning meetings, will be looking to include your thoughts, ideas, inspiration, and art in the upcoming series. So come on out for a fun and creative night:
THIS Thursday evening, 26 April,
7 PM,
at the Bulanow Estate:
1001 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
Seder Supper on Sunday Evening. This ancient Passover celebration is everything it should be: sober, reflective, joyful, and hopeful. I've been to several, and have always appreciated its beautiful holism (it engages and honors all of our senses) and its radical inclusiveness (this meal is designed to involve everyone, most especially children!). We'll be having this extended dinner from 5 to 8pm at The Fairfax Railroad Museum (site of our famous Christmas Chili Cook-Off).
May Flowers, and corn salsa. Though we've stirred up the schedule and will not be meeting at Jammin' Java again this week, we'll return there next week (May 6) to begin a Springy experience of the Blooms series, and a much, much anticipated return to Chipotle (it's been so long, I think I'll need help ordering!).
Mike
Just a few notes to keep you posted on the comings and goings at Common Table:
Service Worship. The old carpet is gone and behold, the new floor has come at the Chapman's house. Many thanks to all who offered their hard work and good humor to the flooring project, and special thanks to Becky and Ryan for their warm hospitality and first-class food and beverage. Once the dust finally settles, we expect that Ryan's sinuses will be much more comfortable now.
Design Team Planning. Tomorrow night, we're launching DT 4.0, which is similar to Web 2.0, except twice as good. The Design Team, who plan our Sunday morning meetings, will be looking to include your thoughts, ideas, inspiration, and art in the upcoming series. So come on out for a fun and creative night:
THIS Thursday evening, 26 April,
7 PM,
at the Bulanow Estate:
1001 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
Seder Supper on Sunday Evening. This ancient Passover celebration is everything it should be: sober, reflective, joyful, and hopeful. I've been to several, and have always appreciated its beautiful holism (it engages and honors all of our senses) and its radical inclusiveness (this meal is designed to involve everyone, most especially children!). We'll be having this extended dinner from 5 to 8pm at The Fairfax Railroad Museum (site of our famous Christmas Chili Cook-Off).
May Flowers, and corn salsa. Though we've stirred up the schedule and will not be meeting at Jammin' Java again this week, we'll return there next week (May 6) to begin a Springy experience of the Blooms series, and a much, much anticipated return to Chipotle (it's been so long, I think I'll need help ordering!).
Mike
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