On The Table
The Weekly Announcement of Common Table ChurchThursday, March 18, 2010
March 15th through 21st
Hi church,
This weekend, we'll be gathering once again at 10am on Sunday at Jammin' Java. We will be reflecting on the Desert Fathers' tradition of self-imposed exile into the desert. Come prepared for an experiential service where we will invite each other to slow down and enter the desert together.
After the service, we'll repeat our Lenten practice from two weeks ago: we'll put the money that we'd normally spend at Chipotle in the Chipotle tip jar, and share a simple picnic lunch (please pack a sandwich or the like) in the park/playground across the street.
This is the last "regular" Sunday of Lent - the week after will be Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Look for details next week on our plans for Palm Sunday (including a simple service and an afternoon congregational meeting following up on our Next Steps process), and note that we won't be at Java in two weeks for Easter - instead, we're doing our first-ever Triduum Retreat in West Virginia.
And after that - Easter Season, the return of Lamb Center karaoke, and many joyous things.
But for now, may your Lenten journey be a fruitful one.
Peace,
Mike Crtoghan
Thursday, November 20, 2008
November 17th through 23rd
GONE RETREATIN'
This weekend is our church retreat! We'll be kickin' back, fellowshippin', and (for the bold) braving the outdoor hot tub. You're still invited! Let us know if you want to come!
(Please note: This means we will not be gathering at Jammin' Java on Sunday morning.)
But first - don't miss our LAST karaoke night for this year at the Lamb Center on Thursday, November 20th! We need to take a break until spring, because area churches will begin hosting homeless folks to protect them from the cold winter weather. So bring your best voice and your clearest eyes to see God at work, from 6:30 to 8pm.
And that's it! See you in the jacuzzi!
Peace,
Mike Croghan
Labels: karaoke, lamb center, retreat
Friday, November 14, 2008
November 10 through 16
This Sunday morning, 10am at Jammin' Java, we'll be treated to the unveiling of a new initiative at Common Table: The All Ages Service! (We'll be having one approximately every other month.) A crack team have been collaborating to bring a full-featured worship experience that will be accessible to all ages. They've been a little secretive regarding details, but we have reason to believe we'll see some fresh liturgy and hand-crafted visuals and stories and an engaging project to enact, plus a whole lot more. So bring your kids and/or your own inner child and let's see what we can learn and create together.
Next Thursday (November 20), we will be gathering at the Lamb Center for the LAST karaoke night of this year, as area churches will begin hosting homeless folks to protect them from the cold winter weather. So bring your best voice and your clearest eyes to see God at work, from 6:30 to 8pm.
Finally, we will NOT be meeting at Jammin' Java next Sunday, as the 2008 Common Table retreat will be held November 21st-23rd. You're invited! If you wanna come, let us know, pronto!
See you soon,
Mike Stavlund
Next Thursday (November 20), we will be gathering at the Lamb Center for the LAST karaoke night of this year, as area churches will begin hosting homeless folks to protect them from the cold winter weather. So bring your best voice and your clearest eyes to see God at work, from 6:30 to 8pm.
Finally, we will NOT be meeting at Jammin' Java next Sunday, as the 2008 Common Table retreat will be held November 21st-23rd. You're invited! If you wanna come, let us know, pronto!
See you soon,
Mike Stavlund
Labels: all ages, karaoke, lamb center, retreat
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
September 1 through 7
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
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
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
November 12 through 18
Dear Church--
Once again, in our semi-regular way, we're going off the grid over the next couple of weeks, to keep our life together non-routinized, and to focus on relationships within our body and service to our neighbor.
This weekend, November 16-18, we'll be away at our annual retreat, and so not meeting at Jammin' Java. But we won't be far, so if you're in the area, please stop by Algonkian Park in Sterling, VA to hang out in one of the cottages. We'll be there from Friday evening until 11am on Sunday, eating and walking and sleeping and staring at the Potomac and doing life together. It'd be great to have you join us.
Due to the upcoming holiday weekend, we've moved up our regular service-worship project to this Friday night, when we'll be assembling some yummy Thanksgiving food baskets (thoughtfully delivered in multi-functional laundry baskets!) for some local families. We may also make a couple of extra pies for our own consumption (call it quality control!).
Tonight (Wednesday the 14th), a bunch of us will be gathering at The Lamb Center, a daytime gathering point for the homeless and those in transition. Martha and Jay are rallying folks to bring a fun night of Karaoke for our friends there between 6:30 and 8pm, and your voice is needed! Plenty of parking is available at the Asian market a couple of doors down, or across the street at The Home Depot. It's the next best thing to American Idol, and you just might spot Jesus there.
Okay, I need to get back to serenading my daughter with my set list for tonight, and with excitedly plotting our menu for a couple of meals this weekend. Hope you're doing the same...
Mike Stavlund
Once again, in our semi-regular way, we're going off the grid over the next couple of weeks, to keep our life together non-routinized, and to focus on relationships within our body and service to our neighbor.
This weekend, November 16-18, we'll be away at our annual retreat, and so not meeting at Jammin' Java. But we won't be far, so if you're in the area, please stop by Algonkian Park in Sterling, VA to hang out in one of the cottages. We'll be there from Friday evening until 11am on Sunday, eating and walking and sleeping and staring at the Potomac and doing life together. It'd be great to have you join us.
Due to the upcoming holiday weekend, we've moved up our regular service-worship project to this Friday night, when we'll be assembling some yummy Thanksgiving food baskets (thoughtfully delivered in multi-functional laundry baskets!) for some local families. We may also make a couple of extra pies for our own consumption (call it quality control!).
Tonight (Wednesday the 14th), a bunch of us will be gathering at The Lamb Center, a daytime gathering point for the homeless and those in transition. Martha and Jay are rallying folks to bring a fun night of Karaoke for our friends there between 6:30 and 8pm, and your voice is needed! Plenty of parking is available at the Asian market a couple of doors down, or across the street at The Home Depot. It's the next best thing to American Idol, and you just might spot Jesus there.
Okay, I need to get back to serenading my daughter with my set list for tonight, and with excitedly plotting our menu for a couple of meals this weekend. Hope you're doing the same...
Mike Stavlund
Labels: Jesus, lamb center, retreat, service-worship
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
November 5 through 11
Dear Church:
I hope you can join us this Sunday, as we conclude our series on 'Context and Community' by looking at L'Arche (French for 'The Ark'), a network of communities which serve adults with developmental disabilities. One of the many things to learn from and love about them is their upside-down structure: the disabled adults are called 'Core Members', and those who serve them are called 'Assistants'. And though they have much success at helping their Core Members find a fuller life, what they seem to spend much more time talking about is how transformative the experience is for those who come to 'help'.
We're especially honored to be joined by Jen's friend, Mandy, who is an Assistant at L'Arche of DC. She'll be sharing about her experience there over the past two years.
I hope you can join us this Sunday, as we conclude our series on 'Context and Community' by looking at L'Arche (French for 'The Ark'), a network of communities which serve adults with developmental disabilities. One of the many things to learn from and love about them is their upside-down structure: the disabled adults are called 'Core Members', and those who serve them are called 'Assistants'. And though they have much success at helping their Core Members find a fuller life, what they seem to spend much more time talking about is how transformative the experience is for those who come to 'help'.
We're especially honored to be joined by Jen's friend, Mandy, who is an Assistant at L'Arche of DC. She'll be sharing about her experience there over the past two years.
For your own chance at upside-down living, come out next Wednesday the 14th, to join the mighty Martha (and the team she and several other Commoners lead) for the second ever Karaoke Night at The Lamb Center (Fairfax county's only daytime homeless shelter), from 6:30 - 8pm. Last month's event was full of song, joy, and the presence of Christ, as Lamb Center clients and teen and adult volunteers alike got in touch with their inner ham. Don't miss it!
Next weekend, we're off to our church retreat. There's still room, especially if you're one of the readers of this email who has yet to join us in actual, physical time and space--it'd be a great time to get to know us, and vice versa. Please make out a check for $50 per person (kids are free) to the church, and prepare to be dazzled by my Swedish pancakes ;-).
Stavlund
(that's Swedish for ski-bush)
Next weekend, we're off to our church retreat. There's still room, especially if you're one of the readers of this email who has yet to join us in actual, physical time and space--it'd be a great time to get to know us, and vice versa. Please make out a check for $50 per person (kids are free) to the church, and prepare to be dazzled by my Swedish pancakes ;-).
Stavlund
(that's Swedish for ski-bush)
Labels: context, karaoke, lamb center, retreat
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