September 25th, 2010: Mosaic Gathering
This is the first of its kind in Calgary, a gathering of organic, missional, and house churches who are coming together to worship together. This is a yearly event that we're trying out. Come out and see the faces of people who are on a similar journey of engaging God's redemptive plan in our communities!

September 29th, 2010: Info Session
Another first of its kind, an information night for everyone curious to learn more about three networks: Calgary Church, The House, and King's Bridge. We're going to gather in the evening and share a little bit about our communities and how you might be a good fit to connect in. Evening will begin at 6PM at will take place in the basement of the House Coffee Sanctuary.

This month also marks the launch of three new small groups with Calgary Church. Get connected and see if you're a good fit for Calgary Church.

All events take place at the House Coffee Sanctuary on Kensington Road and 10st unless otherwise indicated.

July 21, 2010 - Free Community Chili 6PM
At the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Center

July 28, 2010 - BBQ at the House 6:15PM
Bring something to chomp on, we're having a BBQ in the alley at the House.

August 4, 2010 - Converge Worship Service 6PM start with potluck
This evening will pick up from last month's theme on God's rescue plan and will include our role as participants in a redemption dream.

August 18, 2010 - Free Community Chili 6PM
At the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Center

September 1, 2010 - Converge Worship Service 6PM start with potluck

September 11, 2010 - The Feast - Location TBD
This evening will be a gathering of various missional/organic/house churches from Calgary and area. It's the first of its kind and we're excited to be able to participate. The evening will include a time for fellowship over a potluck meal and then a worship time will take place after.

There are always informal gatherings and small groups that meet as well, but you have to connect in to learn more about those :D.

Here's what I mean.

As with most everything we have to observe a spectrum to describe the situation.

On one hand there are the stories about foreign missionaries who made their starving target mission field sing and dance for hours on end before allowing them to have the free food being served. People have dropped dead from this empty attempt of religious piety.

Then you have some people who say it's worthless as Christians to, for example, build a clean water well in a poverty stricken village if you don't share the 'living water of the Gospel', and said village isn't subsequently converted (reformed position).

Then you have the opposite end of the spectrum where people say the Gospel is about engaging in justice and we can measure our success in engagement by simply measuring how many 'wrongs we right' and that's it.

So what is the right balance of Justice and Gospel?

I think there's an important mix to be had.

I do'nt think it's prudent to do justice just for the sake of justice and attach it to the mandate of the church. There's nothing wrong with doing justice without any strings attached, but if that's your only church/community response then you've missed a fuller picture.

I also think it's heinous to withhold justice if you aren't assured conversions.

I've been reading a new book by Len Sweet and Frank Viola called 'Jesus Manifesto'. The title pretty sums up the book which doesn't reveal too many surprises to me, but it did bring up a good point on justice.

...When we reach out to the poor and the sick, we are not doing so because of some principle of justice, or some theology of poverty and sickness, or some political platform or legislation, or some responsible way of dealing with surplus wealth. We do so for 3 reasons

1. The deepest hungers of the human heart are for forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

2. We are reaching out to Jesus Himself ("I was sick and you visited Me"). In the poor and the sick, it is Christ whom we attend and feed and love. Followers of Jesus exist for others, not for themselves.

3. The life of Christ within us compels us to reach out to such. The Galilean prophet who healed the sick and care for the poor continues His ministry in through us today.

pg. 108, Jesus Manifesto

IT's really easy to start a club around social justice things because everyone loves to make a difference. From a Christian perspective there's more to be had.

This is not to suggest a church or Christians cannot join an organization that doesn't have the same ideals or attempt to supplant existing organizations from what they do best. Rather, it's the impetus for Christians to actually mobilize into response, the reason to get involved.

Cheque writing and feeling bad about yourself as your become aware of the plight of humanity in your community and abroad is one thing. Doing something about it because we follow a God who has a dream of reconciliation that lasts for eternity is quite another.

With Micah 6:8 remember to DO justice and to love mercy.

There is a balance between local, national, and global mission. It's all part of the same mission, God participates in all three, and so should the local church community.

I asked the question, "how is Calgary Church participating in the overall picture of mission?" We do local well, and we're doing it better (as more people adopt mission in their neighborhoods), and we participate with other communities who share similar values. But what about nationally and globally?

Nationally we aren't doing anything, but we could search for some form of intentional connection.

While there is no official position with Calgary Church, some of us participate with various organizations. One such global organization is developed through the Regen Community Development Foundation.

I'm big on building into leaders. We believe change is enacted through leaders. When it comes to a place globally, in this case Boma, Congo, we value community development over, say, just sending cash for tools or goats (or something like that).

FACTEB is a seminary that builds into leaders that will transfer their skills and message into the entire nation of Africa. It's not just local, leaders from FACTEB will emerge in the places they originated--all across the continent.

It's just one way to engage in the global mission by sharing resources and cash. If you'd like more information on FACTEB and their leader's development scholarship get in touch with me.

June 2nd - Converge Worship evening (Kensington).

A Pentecost theme (with open ended worship and prayer) for our monthly gathering in Kensington. We combine with The House (in the basement of The House on 10st), and King's Bridge for the service. Potluck begins at 6PM and service around 6:30.

June 16th - Kensington/Sunnyside Chili Night

An evening to get to know your neighbours in Kensington. If you're from the community come out to the Hillhurst Sunnyside community center at 6PM for free chili!

Our small groups meet throughout the week and throughout the city. Contact us for more details on how to get connected.

I've blogged about the anti-abortionists a few times before. They were back last month at the U of C for their once a semester feeble attempt to horrify people into becoming pro-life. You'll remember some of them were actually arrested back in November (2008) over their row with university administration.

You have to feel for the U of C students that take part in this propaganda machine. The American Christian-right fuel the morality debate and abortion is at the top of the 'no-no' list. The students caught in the cross-fire may be kicked out of school (2010 update) or worst, receive a criminal record. That's tough when one backs something that's so ineffective.

I for one welcome the dialogue and even cringe at the censorship especially when it happens in a pro-conversation place like the University campus. But from a pure communication perspective, this is a perfect example of fundamentalist Christians taking things way too far and using completely ineffective methods to get their baffling message across. The signs just don't work (unless you're trying to make people very angry).

Let me reiterate: THE MESSAGE IS TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE. Not only that, it has likely permanently hindered any future interaction regular students will have with any Christians in the future.

Have you noticed? The signs are barbaric, the violence rivals premodern times, it propagates a message of hatred, and totally alienates a generation of women that have had an abortion or who know someone who has (which is many more than we'd like to think).

Now before I'm lynched note I'm not condoning abortion. I've never met a single person who's had an abortion and does not bear some form of personal scar. But the last thing I'm going to do is fight to rescind abortion laws or compare women to Hitler.

If that was the Christian message then I suppose I would fight to lobby, but it's not. Rather the Christian message is one of love, justice, hope, joy, and life. All of that has been lost by a group hoping to terrorize and intimidate women. Sounds very anti-Christian, almost viscous....

I assume the organization, and the U of C students convinced to participate within, will be back next semester.

If they do, I want to ask, "please don't". Please don't for a variety of reasons, many already mentioned here, countless more I can think of.

What about you? Agree or disagree? Add your thoughts to the list below.

-Ro

May 5th - Converge Worship evening (Kensington).
An Ascension theme (with personal stories shared by members) will take place for our monthly gathering in Kensington. We combine with The House (in the basement of The House on 10st), and King's Bridge for the service. Potluck begins at 6PM and service around 6:45.

May 11th - Film Night (with Marda Loop Justice Film Festival) - 7PM
The film shown will be Consuming Kids screened at the River Park Church (3818- 14A St. SW, Calgary). This is a free event open to the public.

May 12th - Justice Group (@the House Coffee Sanctuary)
Those interested in a new justice initiative spearheaded by Calgary Church seeking to connect people into ACTION with respect to engaging social injustices around out city will gather here.

May 16th - Calgary Church - South Gathering
Our monthly worship/gathering for the South Calgary network. Location and time TBA.

May 19th - Kensington/Sunnyside Chili Night
An evening to get to know your neighbours in Kensington. If you're from the community come out to the Hillhurst Sunnyside community center at 6PM for free chili!

May 26th - Justice Group (@the House Coffee Sanctuary)
Those interested in a new justice initiative spearheaded by Calgary Church seeking to connect people into ACTION with respect to engaging social injustices around out city will gather here.