Taking the lead from the stories of Abraham and Rahab, our dialogue this week took a very practical turn as we spent time verbalizing, speculating and dreaming about the future of theStory. We talked about risk, obedience and friendship with God as it pertains to working with him, hand in hand, for the redemption of our world. Included in the discussion was an update around the question of permanent public space for 2007.

For those who call theStory home, would you prayerfully consider all we talked a about on Sunday and ask God, "Where do I fit, and what part can I play?"

 

James 1 was where we began the discussion this week. We talked about and shared different snapshots of our personal storylines...the highs, the lows...the grit. From there, we discussed ideas of orthodoxy (right thinking) and orthopraxy (right practice) and how they are truly inseparable if one is to live a life of obedience to Jesus. For theStory, we filter all this through the value of Justice where faith exists both as a matter of the mind and of the hand.

Here are some quotes that helped drive the discussion:

"[The end] concludes the successive events of the text (if it is a narrative), and, with the overall organization, ensures that the events recorded are not haphazardly connected moments in time, but become precise periods as part of a larger temporal pattern: the sense of story is working towards an ending turns mere chronos (the ‘tick tock' of the clock) into moments of kairos, points of time filled with significance of being part of a larger fulfillment." (Dominion & Dynasty, Dempster)

"Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?" (James 2:19-20)

"Christians at times are like vampires: They only want Jesus for his blood."(Dallas Willard)

 

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This past week we landed in John 17 where Jesus offers a prayer on behalf of believers to his Father. In addition, we looked at Eugene Peterson's idea of the Replacement Trinity (Needs/Wants/Feelings) in contrast to a sound understanding and allegiance to the Holy Trinity. This was our starting point to a healthy mindset from which we approach the idea, and our value, of Justice. From there we talked about dying to ourselves and being change agents in our culture, working alongside with God for the redemption of our city and our world.

Here are some notable quotes we used in our discussion:

"Dreams, by definition, are supposed to be unique and imaginative. Yet the bulk of the population is dreaming the same dream. It's a dream of wealth, power, fame, plenty of sex and exciting recreational opportunities. What does it mean when a whole culture dreams the same dreams?" (Kalle Lasn - Culture Jam)

"Who am I? I am the one who is liked, praised, admired, disliked, hated, or despised. Whether I am a pianist, a businessman, or a minister, what matters is how I am perceived by my world. If being busy is a good thing, then I must be busy. If having money is a sign of real freedom, then I must claim my money. If knowing people proves my importance, I will have to make the necessary contacts. The compulsion manifests itself in the lurking fear of failing and the steady urge to prevent this by gathering more of the same - more work, more money, more friends."(Henri Nouwen - The Way of the Heart)

"The stories in the Torah tell not only of what happened long ago but also of what happens in each generation. The stories happen over and over again in the life of each person. They are true, not because they happened, but because they happen. The Garden of Eden is our world, and we are Adam and Eve. When God says, "Take care of the garden and protect it," God says to us, "Take care of your world and protect it."
(Rabbi Lawrence Kushner - Jewish Spirituality)

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This past Sunday we met for the first time outside of a living room. Meeting at the Annex provided us with the opportunity to further explore and express who we are and where we're headed as a community.

We took our cue from the chuch in Colosse as we wrapped up our Hospitality series. Reflecting the image of Christ and essentialy the image of the Father (no matter how strange or subversive to the culture in which we live) is the rhythm by which we, as a community, characterize our actions and ideals.

Sunday, November 5, 2006 - "Who's Shaping Who?"

This month we'll be exploring the value of Justice. The new short film is up on the site as is the monthly calendar and readings. Check it all out.

Read: John 17

Think: In an age mesmerized by mass production, carbon copies, knock-offs and fakes, anything that stands outside of the norm is either shunned or stirs up fear. But what if these roles were reversed? What if, in turn, we were afraid of the mindless norm and the oppression of homogeneity? What if ideas like change, help, and redemption didn't need celebrities to bring them into vogue? Could we remember to truly live these ideals without having to be reminded?

Pray: Ask God to be able to see others and our world as He does.

Live: "Christian social ethics should not begin with attempts to develop strategies to make the world more 'just,' but with the formation of a society shaped and informed by the truthful character of God we find revealed in the stories of Israel and Jesus. (Stanley Hauwerwas, Community of Character)

NEWS

*Barry and Natalie welcomed Parker Nixon Mielke to the world on November 1. Congratulations! We've arranged meals until Monday to help them out during this busy time and are looking for a few more to get them through next week. Can you help? If so, email Nathan at nathan@thestory.ca.

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Sunday, October 29 @ 11:11am - "Weird"

This week marks our first gathering in a larger space - a bigger living room if you will - at The Annex, 234 Maxwell St. across from the skate park. Don't forget our time change (11:11am start) and day light savings (clocks roll back an hour). Also, because of the earlier start, we're going to end with the potluck instead of starting with it as we usually do. For kids this week, Beth Tosh has volunteered to do a lesson - it'll be great! Questions? Call Joe at 381.6998.

Read: Colossians 1; Titus 2:11-14

Think: What separates the ordinary from the extraordinary, the normal from the abnormal, the expected form the unexpected? As disciples of Jesus, what truly makes us different from the world that we live in?

Pray: Ask God that theStory become a community that is open to the opportunities that He provides both individually and corporately. Pray for discernment, wisdom and a Christlike mindset.

Live: "The church calls our attention to the divine events that underlie all of history and which allow us to make sense of our story." H. Nouwen

 

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This past Sunday we continued to expand on the idea (and value) of Hospitality by taking stab at the biblical understanding of evangelism. We talked about the idea that by invinting people into our homes, we're essentially inviting them into our lives, and that this becomes the space (both spiritually and physically) where people become intimately exposed to Jesus. Further, this open door into our lives will also lead to a doorway into the church community. From there, we came to the conclusion that evangelism is not a task that is started and completed, but rather a natural outflow of our lives, that 'as we live' all along the way disicples are being made.

Sunday, October 22 @ 11:30am - "Evangelism Re-Imagined"

Read: 1 Peter 4

Think: We're very intentional about being safe. Especially for parents, one always tries to think 2 or 3 steps ahead of a child to see what they could get into to avoid any potential danger. But what if as Christians, we were intentional about placing ourselves in 'dangerous' places? Places so far from our comfort zones that we'd totally have to depend on God and our church communities to exist? Further still, what would evangelism look, taste and smell like in these dangerous places?

Pray: Ask God for the opportunity to implicate ourselves and the gospel in the 'real stuff of life'. That our primary concern wouldn't be safety, but instead living and telling the story of Jesus.

Live: "In an era when many of us feel that time is our scarcest resource, hospitality falters. ... 'In a fast-food culture,' a wise Benedictine monk observes, 'you have to remind yourself that some things cannot be done quickly. Hospitality takes time.'"
Dorothy C. Bass, Receiving the Day

NEWS

*Next Sunday, October 29, 2006 we'll be meeting at the Annex (234 Maxwell Street) at 11:11am. We'll have a little more space to breath, so you're welcome to invite a friend if the opportunity presents itself. We'll still be having a potluck lunch, so remember to bring that good stuff that you always bring!

*To support theStory financially, the offering tin will be on the piano as it is every week. If you'd like to write a cheque, make it out to "New Horizons Community Church" with "theStory" marked in the memo box. All giving is tax receitable and offering envelopes are provided. For those who are interested in direct debit, we need a minimum 15 people to set up the program. If you're interested, talk to Joe.

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Last Sunday was more practical in nature as we discussed our thoughts around physical meeting space, finances as well as ideas, hopes and dreams around the future. Perhaps in other settings a conversation like this would've been considered dirty talk, but that wasn't the case for theStory. It was understood and agreed upon that there is a business skeleton supporting the life of any healthy church, and for us, the same rules apply. In addition, while understanding the necessity of the business structure we are also committed to ensuring that the business functions never supercede the spiritual functions or the values we hold to.

Also of note, on October 29, we will not be meeting at Central United as previously announced. Instead, we'll be meeting at the Annex drop-in center at 234 Maxwell Street at 11:11am.

Sunday, October 15 @ 11:30am - "Community Redefined"

Read: Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-36; Philippians 2:1-18

Think: A better title for this week would have been 'community re-imagined'. Taking the lead from the early church and contextualizing what it means to follow Jesus in community in the present will take some re-imagining rather than re-defining. In this process we have some housekeeping items that we want to clarify and open for discussion. We'll be looking at our relationship with the Free Methodist Church of Canada (check here and here for more info); We'll be looking at a proposed budget for 2007 (a copy of the budget has been added to the bottom of this email); Lastly, some clarity on what the future of theStory may look like. Your voice and your ears are important! Make sure you're a part of things this week!

Pray: Ask God to give clear direction and that the right people would be inspired to step up and take ownership of theStory, as we venture together to become and remain and healthy community of faith.

Live: "We don't accomplish anything in this world alone...and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something." (Richard John Neuhaus)

NEWS

*Did you miss the gathering this past Sunday? Read about it here.

*We've added a new section to www.thestory.ca titled Friends. Check it out.

*To support theStory financially, the offering tin will be on the piano as it is every week. If you'd like to write a cheque, make it out to "New Horizons Community Church" with "theStory" marked in the memo box. All giving is tax receitable and offering envelopes are provided. For those who are interested in direct debit, we need a minimum 15 people to set up the program. If you're interested, talk to Joe.

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