On The Table

Easter continues as we make our gradual return to (what is commonly referred to as) 'normalcy' at Common Table. This Sunday, we'll be back at Jammin' Java, finding our creative groove as we consider 'Spring' and Psalm 77. As you notice the fresh greenery all around, and as you experience the sustaining rains over the next few days, consider the new life that God is nurturing in you just now. Then bring those ideas to our communal encounter with this remarkable piece of Scripture.

In other news, a team of folks from inside and outside our church are announcing that we'll be returning to our tradition of hosting Karaoke at The Lamb Center again, beginning Thursday, May 7, from 6:30 to 8pm. These fun and transforming get-togethers will continue on the first Thursday of each month. And don't forget that we're welcome to join New Hope Church's movie nights there on the 3rd Friday of each month, too.

He is Risen,
Mike Stavlund

Labels: Easter, karaoke, lamb center, Psalms

Hey, everyone--

Hope you're all adjusting to this tricky week when many of us-- young and old!-- are returning to the classroom and switching to a different schedule. Fortunately, our schedule at church continues on with some continuity, as we keep up with our engagement with The Lamb Center, and as the overflow from our wonderful Psalm series continues into September:

Thursday evening, 6:30 - 8pm: Karaoke at The Lamb Center. Bring your singing voice (if you've got one), your kid (if you've got one), and your appetite for pizza (we know you've got one) to this great space to make friends and develop relationships.

Sunday morning, 10am: Vengeance in the Psalms. We'll be gathering at Jammin' Java at 10am to look at several Psalms which are in fact prayers for destruction of enemies. So bring a list of your enemies to church with you (if you cannot identify an enemy, one will be assigned to you ;-).

And looking ahead:

Next Sunday, September 14, we will be having another of our baptism services. At least two infants will be baptized, and if you're considering baptism for yourself (as an adult) or for a child, please let us know.

On November 8, several of us will be headed up to the Philly area to catch a one-day conference with Pete Rollins. So if you're interested in joining us, speak up. Or, if you're one of our wider readers who will be attending, we hope you'll say 'hello' (we'll be the manically social pack of people who may well be sleeping in a camper in the parking lot...).

November 21-23: Retreat!! The unique thing about our annual retreats is that they are actually low-key and relaxing. No conference folders, no Big Agenda, nothing much to do but hang out and eat. Of course, there are some nice hikes at Algonkian Park, and we'll have a cabin with a jacuzzi this year. All to say: Retreat = Retreat. And if you're reading this, you're welcome to join us.

Mike Stavlund

Labels: karaoke, lamb center, Psalms, retreat

Last weekend, I managed to indulge in both the camping trip and the pool party. Like a good father, I won't say which one I might have preferred, but I will say something noncommittal about the gorgeous weather in both the city and the country, and how fulfilling it was to just hang out with my CT peeps. If you weren't able to make it out to one or the other, I hope you at least had a nice reminder of the great importance of doing nothing.

This weekend, we're back to doing something:

On Thursday night from 6:30-8pm, we'll be piling into The Lamb Center for pizza, snacks, and Karaoke. Our energetic leader Martha is back from the beach, and says that the folks at TLC have been buzzing all week in anticipation!

This Sunday morning, we'll return to our regularly scheduled Psalm series at 10am at Jammin' Java. Stacy will be taking us on an inspiring journey to the heart of Psalm 66, and engaging us in a discussion around this audacious Psalm.

As the final weekend of the month, next weekend is our regular time to leave the comforts of Java and do a service project. It's also the anniversary of our church, which is a traditional time to eat outdoors and walk a labyrinth. So stay tuned to see if we can squeeze all of that into one (long) weekend, or if we'll need to stretch things out a bit.

Mike Stavlund

Labels: karaoke, labyrinth, lamb center, Psalms, service-worship

Hi church,

So this weekend's going to be an atypical one for us. (I think the last "typical" one was some time in late 2005, so hopefully this will not throw you off too much.)

First and foremost: we will NOT be gathering for worship at Jammin' Java this Sunday. If you go there anyway, please say hi to the staff, buy a tasty beverage, and sit down, relax, and enjoy it. Maybe pray a bit if you're so moved. If more than one person does this, then you've made the first sentence of this paragraph false. But in a good way. :-)

The "official" Common Table options for this weekend are twofold:

1) The third (?) annual Common Table Camping Trip will be hangin' from the trees Thursday the 14th through Sunday the 17th at Trout Pond Recreation Area in West Virginia - only about two hours from NoVA. Here are directions (scroll down to "Trout Pond"), and your best bet for finding us when you get there (where cell phones do not work) will be to look for the Croghan/Driskell station wagon (a blue Saturn with way too many bumper stickers). They have swimming and boating and hiking, it's a beautiful place amidst God's creation, and we'll just be having more fun than would be legal to have in suburbia. So come join us!

2) The other option will be a relaxed time of worship and fellowship at the Stavlunds' place, by the pool! Come at 10am Sunday for coffee, when Liz will lead us in a short look at a Psalm, and we'll do some swimming and lounging and then we'll grill up some food for lunch. Bring something to share, and something for the grill (there is a large refrigerator available, and the Stavs will provide beverages). Come to 3254 Valley Lane, Falls Church, VA 22044, and feel free to park in the driveway. Don't forget your bathing suit and towel. In case of inclement weather, we'll gather under the roof and watch it rain. In any event, we'll be having precisely as much fun as is legal in suburbia. :-)

Down the road, mark these dates: we will be gathering at Jammin' Java on the 4th Sunday in August (the 24th) for another in our current series on the Psalms, and our GNU Team will be leading us in a Service-worship project on the 5th Sunday, the 31st - but that's also Labor Day weekend and our church anniversary weekend, so keep your eye out for an announcement regarding our anniversary labyrinth service and celebration.

And that's it, I think. Hope you can join us for some relaxed enjoyment of God's gifts in creation and in one another this weekend!

Peace,
Mike Croghan

Labels: camping, Psalms

Hey, Church--

Granted, August snuck up on us. And yes, Target is stocking school clothes and safety scissors aplenty. But Summer isn't over yet! We've got a few chances to squeeze a little more pleasure out of the season.

Karaoke is back, baby! Join our Lamb Center friends at 6:30 this Thursday for pizza, soft drinks, friendship, and klinky midi files set to random landscape backgrounds. It's a great time to laugh and connect and see God at work.

This Sunday, Amy and Pete and I will be doing our best to put the Psalms back to music, as we explore this ancient hymnal in our next installment of the Summer Psalm Series. Bring your singing voice, and a toe to tap, and maybe even a little passion, if you've got it. 10am, at Jammin' Java.

Next weekend, a bunch of CT folks will be driving on curvy roads two hours west to the cool mountains of West Virginia for several days of camping at Trout Pond. Several of us went last year and enjoyed two lakes, several hiking trails, and real bathrooms and hot showers, along with campfires and quiet and stars and coffee and food and all of the other pleasures that go along with camping. If you can make it any time between Thursday evening and Sunday, let us know so that we can save a spot for you.

Those of us who will be missing the camping trip have yet to decide if we'll muster around a more conventional worship service at Jammin' Java, or if we'll follow the leisurely example of the campers and plan to spend Sunday morning gathered around a swimming pool or some other venue of relaxation. Either way, we'll have an update and directions in this space next week.

Hope to see you soon,
Mike Stavlund

Labels: camping, karaoke, lamb center, Psalms

Hi church,

We have a trio of events on the table this week, spanning the gamut from high-spirited revival to nuts-and-bolts practicality to prayerful contemplation. It's all right here, bothers and sisters, so first, pack up the babies and grab the old ladies, 'cause it's:

The Church Basement Roadshow: A Rollin' Gospel Revival, rolling into town Thursday night starting at 7pm sharp. The group will be performing at the Kay Spiritual Life Center on the campus of American University (on the east side of campus off of Massachusetts Avenue and Nebraska Avenue). Just look for the round building with the gold flame coming out the top. Free parking is available in the Nebraska Avenue lot of AU: drive past the AU and turn onto New Mexico Avenue, left into the lot, and then drive to the far end of the lot to be nearest the Kay Center. (Or you can take the metro to Tenleytown and ride the AU shuttle over to campus.)

Then, Friday evening we'll have the fourth in our currently-planned cycle of four congregational meetings. This one's about every community's favorite subject: church finances! But if that's not enough to lure you, then you need to know that our hosts for the evening will be the Amazing Maisels: Kate, Matt, Lizzy, and introducing the newest, adorablest Maisel: Madeline Claire (but you may call her Maddie)!

And finally, Sunday morning, please join us as we continue our series of perspectives on the Psalms with a look at the Daily Office (aka Canonical Hours, Divine Hours, Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours), an ancient method of praying with the Psalms that goes back at least to St. Benedict and the origins of Christian monasticism. Come help us explore how "communication with God takes place in the meditative silence and listening which surrounds the words" of the Psalms, and let's wonder together how this kind of prayer can become a connection to God in our everyday lives - the "daily office" (so to speak) of our workplace, or our home, classroom, etc.

And that's all the news for now. Hope you get the chance to join us in hootin'/hollerin'/praisin', number-crunchin' & baby-adorin', and/or contemplatin' this week!

Peace,
Mike Croghan

Labels: congregational meeting, Maisel, Psalms, Road Show

This Friday night, we'll be convening our second of three discernment meetings. Last week, we had a great and encouraging conversation about integrating kids into our gatherings. Next Friday, we'll look at our community budget (i.e., giving and spending). And right in between, we'll be talking about how we approach and accomplish our weekly times of worship - this Friday night at 7pm at Martha and Jay's place (at 10780 Crest Street, Fairfax 22030). If you care about CT and can make it, please join us for any or all of these times of discernment in community (or, if you can't make it, please let us know your thoughts on these topics).

On Saturday evening, we'll be getting together for a very relational Service Worship project. At last month's S-W project, we were able to do some freezer cooking for Neishia and her boys (Xander and Nicholas) who lost their husband and dad in May. Our very own Jackie has been talking with Neishia in the last month or so to try to help her make some major decisions about childcare, work, and the possibility of moving to Florida to be nearer to her mother. After meeting with Jackie on Monday, Neishia was able to establish that she'd really like to stay in the area and keep life as consistent for the boys as possible right now. So we'd really love for her to meet all of us and have the opportunity to connect with people in the area, as she does not have other family here and seems to be longing for community.

In order to have some relaxed time with Neishia and her boys, Mike and Tina have kindly offered to host us at their house (13337 Feldman Place, Herndon, VA) where we'll have a good old fashioned summer BBQ and time to get to know Neishia and the boys. The idea is to give Neishia a bit of adult contact and at the same time give the boys a night out. The boys have been asking to go see the movie, Space Chimps, (which is playing at Worldgate Theatre, around the corner from Mike and Tina's house, at 7:10 pm). So we'll gather for dinner at 5:30 and then the boys (ages 6 and 8) and some other brave volunteers will peel off to go to the movie.

Please let Jackie know if you are planning to come so that she will know how much hamburger and hot dogs to get, and please bring a side and/or drink of your choosing with you as well. (If you don't have Jackie's contact info, give us a shout and we'll hook you up.)

Down the Road:
Next Sunday, August 3, Mighty Mike Croghan will be looking at an ancient use of the Psalms in Christian spirituality: The Daily Office, aka the Liturgy of the Hours, is a method of praying with the Psalms that goes back at least to St. Benedict and the beginnings of Christian monasticism.

And after that, on August 10, The Amazin' Amy Moffitt will be putting the Psalms back to music!

Hope to see you this weekend,
Mike Stavlund

P. S. Still rollin', right around the bend: Thursday night!

Labels: congregational meeting, Psalms, service-worship

Hi church,

Wow - lots to report this week! So I'll try to be brief. (Stop snickering. I am capable of brevity. With God's help.)

First: this Thursday night, we have two (2) awesome options for song and fellowship! First, it's Karaoke night with homeless guests and volunteers of all ages at The Lamb Center (6:30 to 8pm)! Come out for an evening of fun, pizza, mutual blessing, and song.

For song of a more rarefied caliber (but sacrificing the chance to rub elbows with our Lamb Center friends), the other option for Thursday evening is to join the awesome Amy and the singular Cindi for their final scheduled gig performing their own original music at Bangkok Blues in Falls Church. They're on from 7 to 7:30, but we should plan to stay for yummy Thai food and a variety of great acts, all part of the Songwriters' Association of Washington.

Moving on to Friday, we'll be gathering at Tina's and my place (13337 Feldman Place, Herndon, VA) at 7pm for the first of three follow-up meetings to our congregational meeting this past Friday evening. That gathering was vibrant with the conversation of a deckful of engaged and jovial Commoners sharing hearts, minds, and cold beverages - and we identified three major, interconnected areas in the life of our community where we are clearly sensing that some change is necessary:

1) How we integrate our kids into our community,
2) How we approach and accomplish Sunday morning worship, and
3) How we approach our community budget (i.e., giving and spending).

So we agreed to have, at least initially, three follow-up meetings on Friday evenings to continue conversation and discernment on these three topics. This coming Friday (the 18th): Kids. The Friday after that (the 25th): Sunday mornings. The Friday after that (the 1st): Money. If you care about CT and can make it, please join us for any or all of these times of discernment in community. This week's meeting at our place might be held down by the playground - an appropriate location for discernment about (and with) the littlest Commoners.

Then on Saturday, there's a good-looking event on Jubilee Economics coming to the Servant Leadership School of Church of the Saviour. A few CT folks are going, and several of us will be talking about our relational redistribution network (The GNU Team) in the afternoon there. Come on out, if you're interested and available.

Also on Saturday (afternoon/evening), at the Tennysons have invited us over for beer and barbecue! (And also to help move Ken's siblings' stuff from their place into a U-Haul.)

Last, but not least, please join us on Sunday at 10am at Jammin' Java, when we'll be continuing our Summer Psalms series. Our very own ErinPoetChica will lead us as we look at and experience that elusive and evocative form of discourse known as poetry - a form that encompasses every Psalm in the Bible, not to mention the Song of Songs, the works of T.S. Eliot, and those of the Bobs: Dylan and Marley.

And that's it! If you're at a loss for something to do this week, don't blame us. :-)

Peace,
Mike Croghan

P. S. Still rollin', July 31.

Labels: Amy, jubilee, karaoke, lamb center, poetry, Psalms, Tennysons

Dear Church:

This Friday night we'll be gathering at the Doans' place for a congregational meeting-- a chance to stoke our collective imagination about our hopes and dreams for Common Table, and to begin to think about how we can work together to bring these visions to fruition. We'll be out on the (new!) deck from 7 to 9:30. Anyone who cares about Common Table is welcome at the table!

Then on Sunday at 10am at Jammin' Java, we'll be continuing our Summer Psalm series with a look a Psalm 40 and Psalm 130, as we take some time (and some more time ;-) to consider the idea of 'waiting'. None of us much like it, but all of us need to do it, all the time and for all kinds of outcomes (or things that might never come). Why is it such an intractable part of life, and how can we do it more peacefully and profitably? What do we learn about God in this process? What do the Psalms tell us about waiting?

Also, there's a good-looking event on Jubilee Economics coming to the Servant Leadership School of Church of the Saviour. A few CT folks are going, and several of us will be talking about our relational redistribution network (The GNU Team) in the afternoon there. Come on out, if you're interested and available.

Hope to see you soon,
Mike Stavlund

PS. It's rollin' through our town, July 31.

Labels: congregational meeting, jubilee, Psalms