On The Table
The Weekly Announcement of Common Table ChurchThursday, August 20, 2009
August 17th through 23rd
Hi church,
Free weekend!!!!!!!!!
We were going to have a congregational meeting this Sunday, but it turns out that we're not, because hardly anyone can make it, what with school right around the corner, etc. And since it's the fourth Sunday of the month, we're not gathering for a worship service at Jammin' Java. So, it is indeed a free weekend around the Table, though I do have a couple of suggestions:
Friday evening is Movie Night at the Lamb Center, brought to you by Pastor Pat and our friends with New Hope Fellowship. Setup starts at 6, pizza at 6:30, movie at 7. It should be fun, and a good time to hang out with the good folks (many of whom are homeless; all of whom are rewarding to get to know) of the Lamb Center and New Hope.
Then on Sunday, since we're not officially doing anything, it might be worthwhile to attend another church service, either at New Hope, or with another community that's dear (or just interesting) to you. When we do come together for our next congregational meeting (stay tuned for rescheduled time and place) we'll be discussing what we're going to do now, together, as a church community - so if you do visit another community, you might think (and talk to the folks there) about what they do together. Food for thought. Just a suggestion.
And next weekend: Common Table Camping Trip!! We don't yet know where we're going. Story of our life. :-D
Peace,
Mike Croghan
Free weekend!!!!!!!!!
We were going to have a congregational meeting this Sunday, but it turns out that we're not, because hardly anyone can make it, what with school right around the corner, etc. And since it's the fourth Sunday of the month, we're not gathering for a worship service at Jammin' Java. So, it is indeed a free weekend around the Table, though I do have a couple of suggestions:
Friday evening is Movie Night at the Lamb Center, brought to you by Pastor Pat and our friends with New Hope Fellowship. Setup starts at 6, pizza at 6:30, movie at 7. It should be fun, and a good time to hang out with the good folks (many of whom are homeless; all of whom are rewarding to get to know) of the Lamb Center and New Hope.
Then on Sunday, since we're not officially doing anything, it might be worthwhile to attend another church service, either at New Hope, or with another community that's dear (or just interesting) to you. When we do come together for our next congregational meeting (stay tuned for rescheduled time and place) we'll be discussing what we're going to do now, together, as a church community - so if you do visit another community, you might think (and talk to the folks there) about what they do together. Food for thought. Just a suggestion.
And next weekend: Common Table Camping Trip!! We don't yet know where we're going. Story of our life. :-D
Peace,
Mike Croghan
Labels: camping, congregational meeting, lamb center, New Hope
Thursday, July 23, 2009
July 20th through 26th
Hi church,
This delightful summer stretches on, and now we've made it to the last weekend in July. Since this is a fourth Sunday, we won't be gathering for worship at Jammin' Java. Instead, we'll be joining our friends at New Hope Fellowship, worshiping at 10:50am and then, as always, sticking around (if we want) for the abundant lunch spread. This would be a particularly good week to join us for this service, and I'll give you three good reasons:
1) It's an opportunity to connect or reconnect with the folks at New Hope. If you've never been there, or if it's been a while, their legendary hospitality and is more then reason enough.
2) Our own Jen Way will be leading worship music once again, perhaps with some special guests!
3) Finally, New Hope will be hosting a particularly wet-behind-the-ears rookie guest preacher, and I have first-hand - even first-person - knowledge that he's pretty nervous about this, and could really use your moral support. And also your responsiveness when he tries to get a little interactive in his sermon. (Help!!) ;-)
And that's about it for this weekend, as far as I know. Next weekend: back at Jammin' Java for Lectiolabyrinphony! What the heck is that, you ask? ...See you next week!
Hoping your summer is blessed,
Mike Croghan
This delightful summer stretches on, and now we've made it to the last weekend in July. Since this is a fourth Sunday, we won't be gathering for worship at Jammin' Java. Instead, we'll be joining our friends at New Hope Fellowship, worshiping at 10:50am and then, as always, sticking around (if we want) for the abundant lunch spread. This would be a particularly good week to join us for this service, and I'll give you three good reasons:
1) It's an opportunity to connect or reconnect with the folks at New Hope. If you've never been there, or if it's been a while, their legendary hospitality and is more then reason enough.
2) Our own Jen Way will be leading worship music once again, perhaps with some special guests!
3) Finally, New Hope will be hosting a particularly wet-behind-the-ears rookie guest preacher, and I have first-hand - even first-person - knowledge that he's pretty nervous about this, and could really use your moral support. And also your responsiveness when he tries to get a little interactive in his sermon. (Help!!) ;-)
And that's about it for this weekend, as far as I know. Next weekend: back at Jammin' Java for Lectiolabyrinphony! What the heck is that, you ask? ...See you next week!
Hoping your summer is blessed,
Mike Croghan
Labels: New Hope
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
April 20th through 27th
Hi church!
I hope you're feeling God's blessings during this beautiful spring season. As the third Sunday of Easter approaches, remember: we are a people with every reason to hope for astonishing reversals and amazing grace.
And this Sunday, we'll return to a place where such things happen all the time: New Hope Fellowship, where Jen will be leading worship music Sunday at 10:50am. We'll probably continue joining New Hope on "last Sundays" as we further pursue our friendships there, so please join us for worship and a shared meal. Remember it's helpful to leave our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope meets.
Or, there's an alternate opportunity for a shared lunch and fellowship on Sunday. If you're one of those who is hooked into that leafy-green-logo-thing called "Emergent Village", you might be aware that there's a Big Meeting going on this weekend, right here in DC, to discern the future of that organization - or at least the beginning of a way forward for its leadership and structure. Some of the folks who will be here from out of town are interested in getting together with local DC folk, and to that end, we've got a private room reserved at Guapos in Bethesda for a 1pm lunch gathering this coming Sunday, the 26th. Everyone's invited, so please join us!
And that's all I've got. :-) I'll keep saying it until Pentecost: happy Easter!
Peace,
Mike Croghan
I hope you're feeling God's blessings during this beautiful spring season. As the third Sunday of Easter approaches, remember: we are a people with every reason to hope for astonishing reversals and amazing grace.
And this Sunday, we'll return to a place where such things happen all the time: New Hope Fellowship, where Jen will be leading worship music Sunday at 10:50am. We'll probably continue joining New Hope on "last Sundays" as we further pursue our friendships there, so please join us for worship and a shared meal. Remember it's helpful to leave our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope meets.
Or, there's an alternate opportunity for a shared lunch and fellowship on Sunday. If you're one of those who is hooked into that leafy-green-logo-thing called "Emergent Village", you might be aware that there's a Big Meeting going on this weekend, right here in DC, to discern the future of that organization - or at least the beginning of a way forward for its leadership and structure. Some of the folks who will be here from out of town are interested in getting together with local DC folk, and to that end, we've got a private room reserved at Guapos in Bethesda for a 1pm lunch gathering this coming Sunday, the 26th. Everyone's invited, so please join us!
And that's all I've got. :-) I'll keep saying it until Pentecost: happy Easter!
Peace,
Mike Croghan
Labels: Easter, Emergent Village, New Hope
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Holy Week 2009 (April 6th through 12th)
Hi church,
It's Holy Week. In this, the most sacred time of the Church year, we remember our Lord's last days on this earth. We recall his final acts and teachings. His sharing of bread and wine and the tender service of foot-washing. His betrayal, arrest, Passion, and death. And, on Easter Sunday, his Resurrection: death overcome, Love triumphant.
Just as we've journeyed through Lent together, we'll be sharing the celebration of Easter with our brothers and sisters at New Hope Fellowship, Sunday at 10:50am. You can join us for breakfast at 9am, and stay for a celebratory feast after the service. If you don't mind the short walk, we can relieve some parking burdens by leaving our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope meets.
But before that celebration, it would be good to spend some time walking through this last, dark week with Jesus. There are many ways to do that, including moving liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday in the area - please contact us and we can let you know of some.
One powerful way to encounter Holy Week would be to journey through the creative, participatory Stations of the Cross that have been crafted by folks at our sister congregation, Holy Grounds, on the lower level of Fairlington Presbyterian Church. Some Common Table folks also contributed to these stations, which have been designed to arrest, challenge, and even accuse the one who journeys through them, in a deeply personal way. They'll be available for pilgrimage at the following times:
Wednesday 3:30-4:30pm and 8:30-9:30pm
Thursday 6:30-7:30pm & 8:30-9:30pm
Friday 7-9pm
Saturday 10am-12pm
And that's all, for this holiest of weeks. May the remainder of your Lenten journey be transformative, and on Easter, may you share the joy of abundant life - sprung wondrously, gloriously, impossibly, from evil and death.
Peace,
Mike Croghan
It's Holy Week. In this, the most sacred time of the Church year, we remember our Lord's last days on this earth. We recall his final acts and teachings. His sharing of bread and wine and the tender service of foot-washing. His betrayal, arrest, Passion, and death. And, on Easter Sunday, his Resurrection: death overcome, Love triumphant.
Just as we've journeyed through Lent together, we'll be sharing the celebration of Easter with our brothers and sisters at New Hope Fellowship, Sunday at 10:50am. You can join us for breakfast at 9am, and stay for a celebratory feast after the service. If you don't mind the short walk, we can relieve some parking burdens by leaving our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope meets.
But before that celebration, it would be good to spend some time walking through this last, dark week with Jesus. There are many ways to do that, including moving liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday in the area - please contact us and we can let you know of some.
One powerful way to encounter Holy Week would be to journey through the creative, participatory Stations of the Cross that have been crafted by folks at our sister congregation, Holy Grounds, on the lower level of Fairlington Presbyterian Church. Some Common Table folks also contributed to these stations, which have been designed to arrest, challenge, and even accuse the one who journeys through them, in a deeply personal way. They'll be available for pilgrimage at the following times:
Wednesday 3:30-4:30pm and 8:30-9:30pm
Thursday 6:30-7:30pm & 8:30-9:30pm
Friday 7-9pm
Saturday 10am-12pm
And that's all, for this holiest of weeks. May the remainder of your Lenten journey be transformative, and on Easter, may you share the joy of abundant life - sprung wondrously, gloriously, impossibly, from evil and death.
Peace,
Mike Croghan
Labels: Easter, Holy Week, lent, New Hope
Thursday, April 2, 2009
March 30 through April 5
Our Lenten experiment-- giving up church for Lent-- continues to be a stretching, rewarding, productive, and engaging time. We're developing some great relationships and thinking some new thoughts (some of which are posted at our Lenten blog), and moving quickly toward an Easter celebration with some people who know a thing or two about redemption and resurrection!
This week, we'll be watching the kids waving their palm fronds at New Hope Fellowship, as we remember Jesus' triumphal and tragic entry into Jerusalem to begin Holy Week. If you're able to join us, please remember that breakfast is available at 9am, but the worship service doesn't start until 10:50. If you don't mind the short walk, we can relieve some parking burdens by leaving our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope Fellowship meets. As always, lunch is a high point of the day, and is provided for everyone in attendance.
Hope you can make it!
Mike Stavlund
This week, we'll be watching the kids waving their palm fronds at New Hope Fellowship, as we remember Jesus' triumphal and tragic entry into Jerusalem to begin Holy Week. If you're able to join us, please remember that breakfast is available at 9am, but the worship service doesn't start until 10:50. If you don't mind the short walk, we can relieve some parking burdens by leaving our cars at the ball fields just north of the community center where New Hope Fellowship meets. As always, lunch is a high point of the day, and is provided for everyone in attendance.
Hope you can make it!
Mike Stavlund
Friday, March 27, 2009
March 23rd through 29th
Hi church,
Sorry for the lateness of this update! We're in this unusual Lenten space of just "being" with another congregation, and not so much "doing" - so it's easy to lose track of regular admin stuff. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. ;-)
At the same time, it's hard to come up with new stuff to say, so I'm going to mostly quote from Mike's update last week:
And that's all I've got! Peace and blessings to you and yours this Lenten season!
Peace,
Mike Croghan
Sorry for the lateness of this update! We're in this unusual Lenten space of just "being" with another congregation, and not so much "doing" - so it's easy to lose track of regular admin stuff. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. ;-)
At the same time, it's hard to come up with new stuff to say, so I'm going to mostly quote from Mike's update last week:
Lent continues in an unusual and fruitful way for us this year, as we fold our normal tent at Jammin' Java and join our friends at New Hope Fellowship. What might have been a bit of an awkward arrangement has been wonderful and completely comfortable, thanks to the staggering hospitality and genuine friendship of the folks there. Even if you've never been to a 'normal' CT service, you should come on out to New Hope and feel the love.
To facilitate the sharing of our thoughts and experiences, we've started a group blog. Check it out, and if you want to find out how to contribute to it, contact us. We'd be grateful for your perspective.
The church service starts promptly at 10:50, and lunch is served afterward before we put everything away to clear out of the community center by 1pm.
Finally, parking at New Hope meets is very limited. So if we could park at the ballfields just north of there, that'd be swell.
And that's all I've got! Peace and blessings to you and yours this Lenten season!
Peace,
Mike Croghan
Friday, March 20, 2009
March 16 to 22
Dear Church--
Lent continues in an unusual and fruitful way for us this year, as we fold our normal tent at Jammin' Java and join our friends at New Hope Fellowship. What might have been a bit of an awkward arrangement has been wonderful and completely comfortable, thanks to the staggering hospitality and genuine friendship of the folks there. Even if you've never been to a 'normal' CT service, you should come on out to New Hope and feel the love.
To facilitate the sharing of our thoughts and experiences, we've started a group blog. Check it out, and if you want to find out how to contribute to it, contact us. We'd be grateful for your perspective.
The church service starts promptly at 10:50, and lunch is served afterward before we put everything away to clear out of the community center by 1pm.
Finally, parking at New Hope meets is very limited. So if we could park at the ballfields just north of there, that'd be swell.
Thanks,
Mike Stavlund
Lent continues in an unusual and fruitful way for us this year, as we fold our normal tent at Jammin' Java and join our friends at New Hope Fellowship. What might have been a bit of an awkward arrangement has been wonderful and completely comfortable, thanks to the staggering hospitality and genuine friendship of the folks there. Even if you've never been to a 'normal' CT service, you should come on out to New Hope and feel the love.
To facilitate the sharing of our thoughts and experiences, we've started a group blog. Check it out, and if you want to find out how to contribute to it, contact us. We'd be grateful for your perspective.
The church service starts promptly at 10:50, and lunch is served afterward before we put everything away to clear out of the community center by 1pm.
Finally, parking at New Hope meets is very limited. So if we could park at the ballfields just north of there, that'd be swell.
Thanks,
Mike Stavlund
Friday, March 13, 2009
March 9th through 15th
Hi church,
This Sunday, we'll continue the Lenten practice we're adopting this year: walking with another congregation, New Hope Fellowship, and "giving up church as we know it" in favor of serving and building friendships with the people of New Hope, many of whom are homeless. Last week, although their pastor was away leading a retreat and most of the folks who were there didn't expect a whole bunch of new people (including lots of kids!) to show up for worship, I heard story after story of how welcoming and hospitable the New Hope folks were. We're off to a good start, I think.
This Sunday, Pastor Pat is back, and she's asked us to help provide worship music. If you have musical talent and would like to help with that, let us know and we'll hook you up. We also might have the opportunity to do something for/with kids during worship. And we're always welcome to bring some food to share in the group meal that follows every worship service (but there's always abundance at New Hope, so there is no need to bring food - all are invited to partake).
By the way, we've started a group blog as a place to share about our experiences this Lent. Check it out, and if you want to find out how to contribute to it, contact us. We'd be grateful for your perspective.
Finally, here are two important things to know when joining us at New Hope (besides the location; we are not meeting at Jammin' Java):
Time. New Hope starts their service promptly at 10:50am. However, there's ample fellowship time both before and after the service; you're welcome to arrive early.
Parking. New Hope meets in a community center which has very limited parking. So if we could park at the ballfields just north of there, we won't cramp their style too much.
I think that's it! I hope you're finding time this Lenten season to allow God to shape you. If so, perhaps you could teach me how to do that? :-\
Peace,
Mike Croghan
This Sunday, we'll continue the Lenten practice we're adopting this year: walking with another congregation, New Hope Fellowship, and "giving up church as we know it" in favor of serving and building friendships with the people of New Hope, many of whom are homeless. Last week, although their pastor was away leading a retreat and most of the folks who were there didn't expect a whole bunch of new people (including lots of kids!) to show up for worship, I heard story after story of how welcoming and hospitable the New Hope folks were. We're off to a good start, I think.
This Sunday, Pastor Pat is back, and she's asked us to help provide worship music. If you have musical talent and would like to help with that, let us know and we'll hook you up. We also might have the opportunity to do something for/with kids during worship. And we're always welcome to bring some food to share in the group meal that follows every worship service (but there's always abundance at New Hope, so there is no need to bring food - all are invited to partake).
By the way, we've started a group blog as a place to share about our experiences this Lent. Check it out, and if you want to find out how to contribute to it, contact us. We'd be grateful for your perspective.
Finally, here are two important things to know when joining us at New Hope (besides the location; we are not meeting at Jammin' Java):
Time. New Hope starts their service promptly at 10:50am. However, there's ample fellowship time both before and after the service; you're welcome to arrive early.
Parking. New Hope meets in a community center which has very limited parking. So if we could park at the ballfields just north of there, we won't cramp their style too much.
I think that's it! I hope you're finding time this Lenten season to allow God to shape you. If so, perhaps you could teach me how to do that? :-\
Peace,
Mike Croghan
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