tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300034792024-03-12T18:20:52.161-07:00Greenhouse Downtown MontrealJared Sieberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01044370187855072017noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-32858598594090572682008-11-25T06:33:00.000-08:002008-11-25T06:34:24.200-08:00Let's do another Greenhouse. Thursday 27 noon. Hurley's 1225 Crescent, Montreal<br />If you want to continue after Christmas one of you will need to organize it. (there isn't any wifi at the beach I'll be hanging out on) We can talk about this on Thursday.<br /><br />Our gatherings this fall have been very encouraging. We need each other.<br /><br />Hope to see you on Thursday at Hurley's...<br />more info? brazzeals @ gmailUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-6865716883142669982008-10-01T13:02:00.001-07:002008-10-01T13:05:12.260-07:00OctoberOur last encounter was excellent - 2 newbies, great discussion. Our next meeting will be Thursday, October 16, again at Hurley's on rue Crescent.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />David<br />more info?<br />email me at info @ curieux . caUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-60040328791706365162008-09-08T10:17:00.000-07:002008-09-08T10:23:31.056-07:00September GreenhouseIt’s time to kick start the old <a href="http://greenhousedowntownmontreal.blogspot.com/">Greenhouse</a> meeting again. For the newbies on our list, it’s a monthly gathering that supports and encourages church planters and church planting especially that’s a bit alternative or experimental. It was birthed partly out of the <a href="http://www.resonate.ca/greenhouse/index.htm">www.resonate.ca</a> website and partly out of our own need for friendship and encouragement.<br /><br />We’ll meet again at <a href="http://www.hurleysirishpub.com/">Hurley’s</a> (1225 rue Crescent) on September 24 at high noon. Some of us eat lunch but you don’t have to.<br /><br />We’ll catch up on what’s been happening all summer as well as discuss this blog post from Michael Spenser, <a href="http://www.internetmonk.com/">the Internet Monk.</a> <br /><br />It’s entitled <a href="http://www.internetmonk.com/articles/U/urgency.html">Wretched Urgency</a> It’s an old post but it has been one of his most read ever. Give it a read…do you agree or disagree? Does he take it too far? What would this do to our present ideas and methods on missions and evangelism?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-33682454238960268182008-05-11T12:01:00.000-07:002008-05-11T12:03:00.727-07:00May 21 Hurley'sThis is 10 day advance notice...incredible huh? So, we're talking not this Wednesday but next Wednesday May 21st at Hurley's (1225 rue Cresent Montreal) around 12pm. See you there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-79168853825643337802008-04-19T15:14:00.000-07:002008-04-19T15:15:49.950-07:00April 23 - Hurley'sWe invite you to our gathering at Hurley's Pub...no real agenda, just passionate conversation about living out our faith and creating new ways help people become followers of Jesus here in Montreal.<br /><br />April 23 noon Hurley's Pub 1225 Crescent Street Montreal<br /><br />"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." Einstein<br /><br />I'll bring some more of Einstein's quotes that connect with what were are about.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-36678326936789168032008-03-13T07:25:00.000-07:002008-03-13T07:27:03.727-07:00March 19 @ Hurley'sWe'll meet again this month at Hurley's 1225 Crescent Street, Montreal around 12:00 noon. I hope to see you there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-30020053717502195452008-02-16T06:40:00.001-08:002008-02-16T06:40:53.854-08:00Montreal Greenhouse @ Hurleys Feb 21<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN-US">The <a href="http://www.resonate.ca/greenhouse/index.htm">Montreal Greenhouse</a> is gathering again at <a href="http://www.hurleysirishpub.com/">HURLEY’S PUB</a> (1225 CRESCENT STREET) @ 12h </span><st1:time minute="0" hour="12"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN-US">noon</span></st1:time><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: windowtext;" lang="EN-US"> on Thursday afternoon Feb 21. There’s no agenda, just hanging out and catching up on what’s been going on with everybody. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-7732671542447665042007-04-09T19:28:00.000-07:002008-12-09T02:21:16.650-08:00The Skinny in the Greenhouse<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzBBY4K_TG-fx19LkmThCjW-cYL92cv6T1uhwKc99h2_N6C1eDWK_PyLygqOu038SzesMqhLqhbCKwyXaHEBHFTGVPfwklCKpgTDw95Kx5juW0gV0qiOuXU5WJp-_-ov3g09I/s1600-h/andrewsmall-tm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzBBY4K_TG-fx19LkmThCjW-cYL92cv6T1uhwKc99h2_N6C1eDWK_PyLygqOu038SzesMqhLqhbCKwyXaHEBHFTGVPfwklCKpgTDw95Kx5juW0gV0qiOuXU5WJp-_-ov3g09I/s320/andrewsmall-tm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051621951235691202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, April 21</span>, we have the incredible privilege of hanging out with Andrew Jones, the <a href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/">TallSkinnyKiwi</a> over at Ben and Benoit's apartment on MacDonald in N.D.G It will start about <span style="font-weight: bold;">2pm</span>. If you need directions <a href="mailto:brazzeals@sympatico.ca">email me.</a><br /><br />Andrew is a New Zealander who lives with his family on the Orkney Islands off the northern coast of Scotland. He travels extensively especially in Europe where he encourages churches among emerging cultures. He has been blogging his adventures since 1998 at <a href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/">www.tallskinnykiwi.com</a> on the topics of God, spirituality, new media and new expressions of church.<br /><br />You can also hear more from Andrew on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday and Sunday nites 7-9pm</span> at the Undercroft of the Christ Church Cathedral - entrance is in the Cathedral shopping area - corner of University and Ste-Catherine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-21423550338706725152007-03-22T13:41:00.000-07:002007-03-22T13:46:23.198-07:00Greenhouse w/ Jeff Pratt of Axiom<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="">1)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-US">The <a href="http://greenhousedowntownmontreal.blogspot.com/">Greenhouse Montreal</a> will have a special meeting <b style="">Wednesday nite, March 28</b> (</span><st1:time minute="0" hour="19"><span style="" lang="EN-US">7-10pm</span></st1:time><span style="" lang="EN-US">) in order to connect with Jeff Pratt. Jeff works with <a href="http://www.ywamaxiom.com/">AXIOM</a> in New Haven, Conn. The meeting will take place at Ben and Benoit’s place in NDG. </span><span style="" lang="EN-CA"></span><span style="" lang="EN-US"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><span style="">2)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-CA">Put on your calendar <b style="">April 21-23</b>. The <a href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/">Tall Skinny Kiwi</a> will be in town. The Greenhouse will be invited to hang with Andrew on Saturday afternoon and Monday evening, among several other times. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><span style="">3)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-CA">Christian Direction </span><span style="" lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.directionconnexion.ca/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=63&extmode=view&extid=131">Colloquium<span style="" lang="EN-CA"> on The Emerging Church</span></a></span><span style="" lang="EN-CA"> - </span><span style="" lang="EN-US">Friday, March 30 (in English): </span><st1:time minute="0" hour="9"><span style="" lang="EN-US">9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.</span></st1:time><span style="" lang="EN-US"><br /><br />The place can hold 30 seats. The fee is $ 25, including tea, coffee, lunch and a copy of the new book An Emerging Theology for the Emerging Church of R. Anderson (IVPress, 2007). The colloquium will be held at ETEM 4824, chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, Suite 301 Montréal (Metro Côte-des-Neiges, Bus 165 south or Metro Guy and Bus 165 north). Call <a href="http://www.direction.ca/">CDI</a> to sign up. </span><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><span style="">4)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-US">Did you miss George’s interview with Tony Campolo on the Hour? <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1401">You can see it here</a>. It is a MUST SEE VIDEO!</span><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><o:p> </o:p></span><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><span style="">5)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-CA">Can you host</span><span style="" lang="EN-US"> some pilgrims</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10;"> </span><span style="" lang="EN-US">for the Taizé Montreal weekend, April 27-29?</span><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p>Accommodation can be very simple. Participants aged 17 to 35 years old will bring sleeping bags and sleeping pads to sleep on the floor. The only meals eaten with host families will be breakfast daily and lunch on Sunday, April 29th. Saturday morning, they will leave their host families around <st1:time minute="0" hour="8">8 a.m.</st1:time> for morning prayer at Saint-Alphonse church (Crémazie metro station), and will not return until <st1:time minute="30" hour="22">10:30 p.m.</st1:time> after evening prayer. On Sunday, they will leave with their belongings after lunch.</span><span style="" lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10;">If you cannot provide accommodation for the entire weekend, it is also possible to receive pilgrims for the Sunday lunch only.</span><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10;"><a href="http://www.comnet.ca/%7Ecdjeunes/TaizeMontreal2007/en/taize">http://www.comnet.ca/~cdjeunes/TaizeMontreal2007/en/taize</a> - info about the event<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10;"><a href="http://www.comnet.ca/%7Ecdjeunes/TaizeMontreal2007/en/host">http://www.comnet.ca/~cdjeunes/TaizeMontreal2007/en/host</a> - signup to host someone<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://curieux.typepad.com/curieux/2007/02/taiz_montral.html"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size:10;">http://curieux.typepad.com/curieux/2007/02/taiz_montral.html</span></a><span style="" lang="PT-BR"> - </span><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size:10;">video<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.curieux.ca/">David Brazzeal</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN-CA">Kim Reid</span><span style="" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1879363757563899592007-03-17T08:06:00.000-07:002007-03-17T08:08:51.090-07:00Monday night March 19, 7-10pm<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p>The next </span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">Greenhouse</span></span></st1:PersonName><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"> is <b style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday night March 19, 7-10pm </span></b>at<b style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Duane and Miriam’s house - </span></b>contact info [at] curieux.ca for directions</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p>Our last gathering was excellent…a variety of experienced church planters and some exploring the horizon…according to <a href="http://www.resonate.ca/greenhouse/siebert.htm">Jared</a>, just what the greenhouse is suppose to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p>This time we’ll take a look at a couple of <span class="SpellE">blog</span> posts by <a href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/">Andrew Jones</a>. Since he’s coming for a visit in April (20-22) it will be a good way to get to know him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">So before you come take a look at these <span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">two recent posts</span></span>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"><a href="http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2006/10/tiny_is_the_new.html">Tiny is the New Small</a> </span></span></b><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span><span class="GramE">and<span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2006/10/massive_is_the_.html">Massive is the New Big</a></span></b> <span style=""> </span>from <a href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/">www.tallskinnykiwi.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" lang="EN-US">If you don’t know what the heck the greenhouse is <a href="http://www.resonate.ca/greenhouse/index.htm">click here</a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#ff6600;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" lang="EN-US">ALSO<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <ul style="" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">Wednesday evening - March 28, Jeff Pratt</span></span></b><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"> of <a href="http://www.ywamaxiom.com/">Axiom</a> in </span></span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">New Haven</span></span></st1:City><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">, </span></span><st1:state><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">Connecticut</span></span></st1:State></st1:place><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"> will meet with our </span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">Greenhouse</span></span></st1:PersonName><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">. Stay tuned for more details.<o:p></o:p></span></span> </li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">March 30 – April 1</span></span></b><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"> @ YWAM-Dunham <a href="http://curieux.typepad.com/curieux/2007/02/the_thin_place.html">The Thin Place</a> – a meditative retreat. Contact <a href="mailto:lieu.etroit@gmail.com">lieu.etroit@gmail.com</a> or 514.847.0497<o:p></o:p></span></span> </li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-29198916514471594392007-02-27T07:43:00.000-08:002008-12-09T02:21:16.796-08:00The Thin Place<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhWcJfr_4nsY8GewNrmgIuygS7YcazV0q5m6epSktUs95O_5BWwOTkZUORcSJqOThYLgKOFOycb8D_gvQ4gO4NevqBMPdIpI_JEhbpjoySBQpHRcDIXsj_t44AIqVpnMoOOVv/s1600-h/ThinPlacePub+English.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhWcJfr_4nsY8GewNrmgIuygS7YcazV0q5m6epSktUs95O_5BWwOTkZUORcSJqOThYLgKOFOycb8D_gvQ4gO4NevqBMPdIpI_JEhbpjoySBQpHRcDIXsj_t44AIqVpnMoOOVv/s400/ThinPlacePub+English.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036240683617774098" border="0" /></a><span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I want to invite you to a very special and unusual retreat.The Thin Place is organized by YWAM Quebec and Curieux and Impact Churches in Montreal. Jeff Pratt is the founder of YWAM AXIOM in New Haven (Yale U) and is well connected to the emerging church movement in the US and the UK. As a young Mormon priest, it was his encounter with the cross that brought him to Jesus and, since then, to Christian ministry. On the eve of Easter, we'll focus on the relevence of the cross as the heart of the gospel, even in our post-Christian and postmodern culture.</span> <p><span>Pierre LeBel</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-9051123060497890132007-02-14T17:23:00.000-08:002007-02-14T17:24:00.950-08:00Next Greenhouse......March 19th.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-50471452113989344492007-02-14T17:21:00.000-08:002007-02-14T17:22:08.776-08:00McLaren on the kingdom of God<center><br /><object width="320" height="284"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://portal.vpod.tv/artszone/30275/flash/videoPlayer"> </param><br /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"> </param><br /><embed src="http://portal.vpod.tv/artszone/30275/flash/videoPlayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="284" allowfullscreen="true"> </embed><br /></object><br /></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-18801700258242136182007-02-08T20:29:00.000-08:002007-02-08T20:27:39.608-08:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">Our next Greenhouse meeting will be <b style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday night, Feb 12, </span></b></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:time minute="0" hour="19"><b style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-US">7-10pm</span></b></st1:time></span><span style=";font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" > at Dave and Sanan <span class="SpellE">Brazzeal’s</span> house.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">As you may know the Greenhouse is an encouragement / learning group for those interested in alternative church planting. We’re part of a group of other <a href="http://www.resonate.ca/greenhouse/index.htm">Greenhouses</a> spreading across </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="" lang="EN-US">Canada</span></st1:place></st1:country-region></span><span style=";font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" >.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">To stimulate our discussion, we’ll take a look at this article by Scott McKnight: <b style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Five Steams of the Emerging Church</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html/" target="_blank"><span style="" lang="EN-US">http://www.christianitytoday<wbr>.com/ct/2007/february/11.35<wbr>.html/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">If you need further info or directions…just call David or Sanan at 514.931.3925<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">Hope you can make it,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">David Brazzeal<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US">Kim Reid<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1169216301524204582007-01-19T06:17:00.000-08:002007-01-19T06:18:21.530-08:00Coffeeshop Discipleship<span class="arttitle" style="font-weight: bold;">Coffeeshop Connections</span><br /><span class="artdeck">What one pastor is learning, as a part-time barista, about relationship and discipleship.</span><br /><span class="artbyline">by David Swanson</span><br /><br /><p class="arttext"><b>I</b> didn't intend to be a once-a-week barista at our local coffeeshop. It happened like this.</p> <p class="arttext">One morning my wife was going into the local coffeeshop to interview for a very part-time job to help cover the cost of her return to college. Just before she walked out the door, without much forethought, I asked her to see if the owner would let me work one night a week with her. We were both surprised when he seemed to think this would be a good idea.</p> <p class="arttext">Surprised, because I'd never met the owner, didn't drink coffee, and couldn't tell the difference between a latte and a cappuccino if its frothy mug was staring me in the face.</p> <p class="arttext">Not surprisingly, after working there three years, I've learned a lot about coffee.</p> <p class="arttext">Somewhat surprising are the connections I've observed between the coffeeshop and the local church where I'm a pastor.</p> <p class="arttext"><span class="arthead2">Spontaneity</span><br />Our church is a highly structured and very busy suburban environment where spontaneous interaction with friends rarely happens. Just getting together with some folks is an exercise in long-range planning!</p> <p class="arttext">At the coffeeshop, however, I can count on bumping into someone who will be up for some conversation. It could be the Russian immigrant who is finishing up his computer science degree. Or the stay-at-home dad looking for some adult contact. Or a college student happy to be off-campus.</p> <p class="arttext">Our church offers a lot of really good things for its members. But as the church grows, it's hard to maintain the spontaneity that characterizes smaller churches (and coffeeshops).</p> <p class="arttext">If we believe the church community is the sum of its people, and if we believe that relationships are not something that can be programmed, then we do well to consider how to create margins in church life for spontaneous relational moments, similar to those that attract people to the coffeeshop.</p> <p class="arttext"><span class="arthead2">Eclectic People</span><br />Not only don't I know who I'll bump into at the coffeeshop, chances are, they won't look like me. While many churches tend to attract people who are similar, the coffeeshop doesn't have a target demographic. You don't even have to like coffee; we welcome tea and smoothie people too!</p> <p class="arttext">One night while working a couple months ago, I introduced one of our regulars to a friend from church. For the next two hours these new friends, one a twenty-something artist and the other a single mom of two college-age kids, sat at a table listening to each other's stories.</p> <p class="arttext">Where else do soccer moms mingle with Goth kids dressed for the Friday night show? Or young, upwardly mobile commuters interact with a homeless man? Or a local pastor (me) interact regularly with <i>anyone</i> outside the church?</p> <p class="arttext"><span class="arthead2">Space</span><br />The building at our church has been planned efficiently. After all, we want to be good stewards of our space. There are a couple of name-brand coffeeshops in our town that seem to have similar thinking: you enter, you find yourself in line, your order your beverage, and you head out the door. It's in and out.</p> <p class="arttext">Our little independent coffeeshop does things differently. Frankly, we're not efficient. We talk to our customers too much; catching up since we last saw each other. We serve our coffee in mugs (unless they ask for it "to go"), which seems to keep folks around longer.</p> <p class="arttext">And worst of all, we've cluttered the shop with comfortable sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables. It's hard to get out. It suggests customers are supposed to linger, talk, rest.</p> <p class="arttext">Our church activity centers around our once-a-week worship gatherings. A lot of great stuff happens on Sunday mornings that has been planned in advance. But there's one time, a no-man's-land, that I always look forward to for its very lack of planning. It's the time before, between, and after our services. This is the time when stories are told. When friends are introduced to new friends. When the visitor is invited to connect.</p> <p class="arttext">This is when we learn of the single mom who needs her roof repaired; or our homeless friend who needs a ride to the doctor this week; or that the church softball team is looking for a couple more players.</p> <p class="arttext">You can't plan this stuff. But I wonder, like the coffeeshop, can you make space for it? Or does the church become an in-and-out kind of place?</p> <p class="arttext"><span class="arthead2">Experiment in Coffeeshop Discipleship</span><br />I was telling a friend at church about my desire to have a place to experiment with what I was observing at the coffeeshop. I wondered what would happen if we created an environment where folks could learn about the way of Jesus in a space that expected spontaneous relationships between eclectic people.</p> <p class="arttext">This was partially motivated out of a desire to invite others into the kingdom of God, but also to fill my own longing for this type of coffeeshop discipleship.</p> <p class="arttext">My friend liked the idea and volunteered a large office over an industrial building he owns. Within a month a few of us transformed that dingy office into what now looks like either a small coffeeshop or large living room. We call it "the loft."</p> <p class="arttext">On Sunday evenings you can find 15-20 of us gathering for coffee and conversation about what it means to follow Jesus.</p> <p class="arttext">People who hear about our Sunday evening conversations often ask me if it's "working." While I understand the question, there is no quick way to answer. If there is time, I might talk about our regulars.</p> <p class="arttext">Sherry is a Jesus follower who works as a stage manager in a theater in Chicago. The loft is a place where she can come and refresh.</p> <p class="arttext">Thomas is a guy we met at the coffeeshop. An artist and deep-thinking Jesus follower, he was looking for a place where his contributions would be valued.</p> <p class="arttext">Zeb grew up in a Buddhist home and now is part owner in a rapidly expanding business. I'm not sure where he'd place himself spiritually, but he's a regular on Sunday nights.</p> <p class="arttext">Laurie is a single mom who recently has been bringing her pregnant, soon-to-be-single-mother neighbor.</p> <p class="arttext">Dave grew up in a churched home before he walked away from the faith to see if he would "notice any difference." One of our most faithful participants, Dave is quick with a smile and an invitation to go rock climbing.</p> <p class="arttext">While I'd like to think these folks are coming for our stimulating conversations about following Jesus, I realize that is only part of it. I know this because they show up early, grab one of our second-hand mugs for some coffee and settle into a couch to catch up with someone they haven't seen in a week. I know this because after we've wrapped up our discussion for the evening, the conversations continue.</p> <p class="arttext">After a year and a half, our experiment is suggesting that much of the spiritual movement in people's lives is due to the space created for significant relational contact within an eclectic group of people.</p> <p class="arttext">Now I don't think our church is going to replace our sanctuary chairs with couches anytime soon. But then, that's not the point. Maybe the point is to create the type of environment that invites the Jesus-follower and the skeptic into conversation; the homeless and the CEO into relationship; the pastor and his neighbor into life together.</p> <p class="arttext">Maybe we have something to learn from the coffeeshop.</p> <p class="artbio">David Swanson serves as a pastor at Parkview Community Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and as a barista at La Spiaza.</p><span class="artcopy">Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/<i>Leadership</i> Journal.<br /><a class="artcopy" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/features/info.html#permission">Click here</a> for reprint information on<i>Leadership</i> Journal.</span><br /><span class="artdate">Fall 2006,</span> <span class="artvol">Vol. XXVII,</span> <span class="artnum">No. 4,</span> <span class="artpage">Page 95</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1169216232026835982007-01-19T06:12:00.000-08:002007-01-19T06:17:12.036-08:00Next Couple of MeetingsKim and Dave pulled out their agendas at Hurley's and came up with the following dates for the next Greenhouse Meetings<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">February 12, </span>Monday night 7-10pm<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">April 9, </span>Monday night 7-10pmUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1168611700937944942007-01-12T06:06:00.000-08:002007-01-12T06:27:19.060-08:00Next Meeting<span style="font-family:verdana;">Kim and Dave will be meeting at Hurley's to come up with the next meeting time. Does Monday night at my place still work for everybody?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Here's some other dates to be aware of:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">March 30 - April 1 Meditative Retreat with </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://curieux.ca">Curieux</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.emergemontreal.com">Emerge</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> & </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://montreal.jemquebec.ca/1_accueil_home/ang_accueil.htm">YWAM</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> in Dunham, led by Jeff Pratt from Connecticut; more details to come.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">April 20 - 24 - Visit from </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com">Andrew Jones</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">???</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">April 27-29 - International </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.taize.fr/en_article3607.html">Taize weekend in Montreal</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> led by leaders from Taize, France.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1163167749330184172006-11-10T06:07:00.000-08:002006-11-10T06:09:09.336-08:00Next Meeting Nov. 20The next meeting of the Greenhouse - Downtown Montreal will be November 20 at David and Sanan's house. Contact info [at] curieux [dot] ca for directions.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1162389980237095972006-11-01T06:01:00.000-08:002006-11-01T06:28:42.240-08:00Meet Shane Claiborne<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QPANKUHabx4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QPANKUHabx4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />I'm reading Shane Claiborne's book<b class="sans"> <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Irresistible-Revolution-Living-Ordinary-Radical/dp/0310266300/sr=1-1/qid=1162389804/ref=sr_1_1/701-1979291-1882719?ie=UTF8&s=books">The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical</a> </b>. It is one of those books that I don't want to finish. This guy, Shane, is inspiring me (along with several friends who have read it) to take seriously the words of Jesus and "stop complaining about the church we don't like and start living like the church we dream of." This 50 minute of Shane will give you an idea of some of his adventures as he radically follows Jesus: living an being arrested w/ homeless in Philly, visiting "Momma T." in Calcutta, visiting Bagdad during the war.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1161948973546807282006-10-27T04:34:00.000-07:002006-10-27T04:36:53.053-07:00Have you ever had one of these moments?<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aK-DrM1hSBM"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aK-DrM1hSBM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1161948452613066002006-10-27T04:20:00.000-07:002006-10-27T05:51:16.796-07:00On-line stuff<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >I recently ran across some pretty good online resources. I thought I would pass them on. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:place><st1:placename><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US"><br />Simple</span></span></b></st1:placename><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US"> </span></span></b><st1:placetype><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" lang="EN-US">Church </span></span></b></st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.dawnministries.org/globalministries/northamerica/simplechurch.htm">http://www.dawnministries.org/globalministries/northamerica/simplechurch.htm</a></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">This website is part of the D.A.W.N movement (Disciple <span class="GramE">A</span> Whole Nation). It does a good job at explaining this idea and giving you links to explore it further. In some ways it is the same as house church with a different name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">Houses That Change <span class="GramE">The</span> World: Towards a Re-Incarnation of Church</span></span></b><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.dawnministries.org/downloads/download_files/houses_that_change_the_world.pdf">http://www.dawnministries.org/downloads/download_files/houses_that_change_the_world.pdf</a></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">This is Wolfgang Simpson's great book about house churches and it is ALL on-line. For free!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">Jesus Has Left the Building</span></span></b><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.harveststone.com/">http://www.harveststone.com/</a></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">Here you can read the intro and first chapter of a brand new book by Paul <span class="SpellE">Viera</span>. I love the title!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">Church Planting Movements</span></span></b><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Courier New;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.imb.org/CPM/default.htm">http://www.imb.org/CPM/default.htm</a></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">This is a short book written my missionary strategist, David Garrison. It is the basis of the <span class="SpellE">IMB’s (the org I work with)</span> missionary strategy around the world. It is also growing in influence in many other circles.</span></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Emerging Church: Future or Fad</span><br /><a href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/tallskinnykiwi/FutureorFad-A%20look%20at%20the%20Emerging%20Church%20Movement%20by%20Scot%20McKnight.pdf">http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/tallskinnykiwi/FutureorFad-A%20look%20at%20the%20Emerging%20Church%20Movement%20by%20Scot%20McKnight.pdf</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">This is a 7 page article by Scott McKnight.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" lang="EN-US">and then...<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" >Café Théo</span></span></b><br /><a href="http://www.cafetheo.ca"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="" lang="FR-CA">http://www.cafetheo.ca</span></span></span></a></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial;">This is a website associated with a group that I'm starting with French leaders to discuss better ways to reach les Québécois. Take a look at the article by J-S Morin – <a href="http://www.mbconf.ca/lelien/06-07/renouveau-2.fr.html">Houston, Nous avons un problème</a></span><a href="http://www.mbconf.ca/lelien/06-07/renouveau-2.fr.html">!</a> <span style=""> </span>Join us some Monday morning.<o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:100%;">David<br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1161292046054529192006-10-19T14:04:00.000-07:002006-10-19T14:08:52.250-07:00Tiny is the New Small<h3>Here's a good post from Andrew Jones - www.tallskinnykiwi.com<br /></h3> <p><img src="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/tallskinnykiwi/images.jpeg" alt="Images" align="left" border="1" height="150" hspace="4" vspace="0" width="116" /> Church for some of us happens in TINY increments, TINY spaces and sometimes with TINY amounts of people. It happens many times a week and many times a day when the various aggregations of God's people come together around coffee or taking care of business or helping someone and especially at mealtimes. It happens more often in my kitchen than in my study. Our "oikos", or extended family, changes daily depending on who is eating with us or staying with us that day, but it is still a tiny cellular unit that finds variety and visibility only when connected to other oikoses like it. Then it is seen as an integral part of the church in our city. . . .ok . . . town. </p> It is not always tiny - sometimes it is HUGE .....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com/tallskinnykiwi/2006/10/tiny_is_the_new.html">Read the rest of the post here.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1161291549764997422006-10-19T13:25:00.001-07:002006-10-19T14:03:06.136-07:00Next Meeting Nov-20The next meeting of the Greenhouse Montreal will be <span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday November 20 7-10</span> pm at David B's house. Write <a href="mailto:info@curieux.ca">to me</a> for directions. There is no hockey game or concert at the Bell Centre so parking should not be a problem.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some Good sites:</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Canadian</span><br /><a href="http://www.resonate.ca">http://www.resonate.ca</a><br /><a href="http://www.emergent.ca">http://www.emergent.ca</a><br /><a href="http://www.jordoncooper.com/">http://www.jordoncooper.com/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">USA</span><br /><a href="http://www.emergentvillage.com">http://www.emergentvillage.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.theooze.com">http://www.theooze.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.internetmonk.com/index.php">http://www.internetmonk.com/index.php</a><br /><a href="http://www.urbanonramps.com/">http://www.urbanonramps.com/</a><br /><a href="http://pagitt.typepad.com/pagittblog/"></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Europe</span><br /><a href="http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com">http://www.tallskinnykiwi.com</a><br /><a href="http://thecomplexchrist.typepad.com/">http://thecomplexchrist.typepad.com/</a><br /><a href="http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/">http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1158788061366717592006-09-20T14:32:00.000-07:002006-09-20T14:34:55.193-07:00Podcasts from Cultivate - The Learning PartyHere's the <a href="http://www.cultivategathering.com/podcasts.html">link for the podcasts</a> from <a href="http://www.cultivategathering.com/">Cultivate - The Learning Party</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30003479.post-1158773023507785512006-09-20T10:21:00.000-07:002006-09-20T10:28:03.340-07:00For Real This Time...Monday Oct 2<p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:navy;">Salut everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;"><o:p> </o:p>The next meeting of our Greenhouse will be <b style="">Monday night, October 2 (</b></span><st1:time minute="0" hour="19"><b style=""><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;">7-10pm</span></b></st1:time><b style=""><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;">)</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;"> at our house (chez<span style=""> </span>Brazzeal) on rue Victor Hugo. Send me an email at info @ curieux.ca for directions<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;">Jared Sibert will be with us as well. If you don't know Jared yet, he's a great guy and has been instrumental in getting these <a href="http://www.resonate.ca/greenhouse/">Greenhouses sprouting up in other Canadian cities</a>.</span><span lang="EN-US"> <span style="color:navy;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:10;color:navy;" lang="EN-US" ><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;">Hey, be in prayer for Kim and his family: His father-in-law is in the hospital with terminal cancer. The radiation treatments have wiped out his immune system leaving him very susceptible to viruses.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;"><o:p></o:p>There are some good audio files on the <a href="http://www.resonate.ca/">www.resonate.ca</a> website <a href="http://www.resonate.ca/audio/">click here</a> to find them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;"><o:p></o:p>I hope you can make in on the 2<sup>nd</sup>,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:navy;"><o:p></o:p>Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:navy;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:verdana;" >David</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0