Here's what's happening with Calgary Church this month of November.
November 11th: Because it's Remembrance Day we don't have our normal booking for a small groups evening at the community center. As a result, we're going to use The House Coffee Sanctuary (126 10 Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V3) as our space for the evening.
This evening is a bit different than normal, because of the change in venue we thought we'd have folks to connect over a coffee or a movie. In the basement of the house we'll be playing the movie Up!. Adults and kids alike can watch the movie, or if one prefers, you can grab a coffee from upstairs and hang out there. The evening begins at 6PM and if you decide to come we'll be doing snack foods so bring a munchable.
I was reading a blog post from a Canadian in BC on his observations regarding the close of modernity in our Canadian culture. He was lamenting about a young local church leader who was caught in clutches of 'the old-system' thus making his voice all the more meaningless in an ever changing culture around him, of course unbeknown to him (the leader).
Whether it be issues of doctrine or theology, or just some assumptions on the 'way things should be', there appears to be a growing disconnect between church culture and regular culture. Should there be a divide? Is it necessary to maintain a degree of mutual exclusivity with church culture in order to preserve belief/faith? Are there a better ways than the current, "convince someone they're sinners and lead them to Jesus," mentality? Is there more to faith than the same fluffy or boring sermon coupled with bad music or a lifeless liturgical tradition? Or are there other ways to approach faith so it translates into a contemporary vernacular?
To break it down without the big words: I'm curious to know if the way church is 'done' today must necessarily remain contentious and backwards to a growing majority of people who are not a part of one.
The Renov8 Church Planting Congress is coming to Calgary from the 17th to the 20th. We're gearing up for the arrival of some of the countries brightest missional / church planting thinkers and leaders.
It appears the congress has left evenings free, so if you're schedule is not booked up, Calgary Church plans on reserving space in downtown Calgary to continue the discussion. Mind as well make the most of your time here.
This event is open to anybody and everybody who wants to dialogue, share stories, muse, etc., with like minded missional thinkers.
Location has not yet been determined but will likely be in the Kensington area of town. Would anybody be interested?
If churches operated in the world of ice cream they wouldn't even be vanilla because even that has taste. Before you think I'm advocating for a better product of church--something that fits my palate (chocolate mint please)--let me state that I'm not looking for more something that looks or sounds more 'relevant' to me. I don't want to consume the latest fad of church because ultimately that's not going to help me pursue my spiritual quest.
The last time I went to an average church service I was so bored that I vowed never to go back. That's a big deal coming from someone who used to do the church thing, sometimes twice, sometimes three times a week. Part of the reason why I I lost interest in the typical church scene was because something inside of me was certain there was more to faith and spirituality then the same 5 point 45 minute sermon, the same labored music, the same announcements, the same prayers for healed body parts.
It probably boiled down to the fact I got tired of sitting in a chair for 75 minutes on a Sunday doing nothing.
Dave Fitch is one of the reigning theologians in the missional dialogue. I have his first book and will get his second, in fact I use the first one as part of a training/discipleship/development book for leaders in our church. He also blogs regularly and I want to use verbatim his contribution to the top ten things anyone who wants to join a missional church should NOT EXPECT.
If you're curious to know more about us then here are some elements which you will not find. It's not a bad thing, it's just not our posture and we don't find it necessary in order to fully translate the gospel message of redemption into our city. Continue reading »
Rob from King's Bridge put together a video for an upcoming conference (congress) called Renov8 being held in Calgary in November. This is a brief six minute vid with a few voices talking about our thoughts about community and church.
This video is quite similar to the one from last week.
For the foreseeable future the main gatherings of Calgary Church will follow the following schedule.
First Wednesday of Each Month
Converge: Bring a potluck item and then participate in a larger-group Christian worship and spiritual exploration event that converges out of the various small groups that meet on the fourth Wednesdays. Every Wednesday starts with a shared meal at 6pm and is followed by:
Second Wednesday of Each Month
Currently no event. Followed by:
Third Wednesday of Each Month
Kensington Community Chili Meals: An open invitation to the entire surrounding community is given to come out, eat, meet neighbours and converse over a bowl of chili.
Fourth Wednesday of Each Month
Groups: Following a potluck meal, a variety of spiritually-minded groups meet for discussion, study or other activities. Each group is a little different, and all are open to anyone who wants to check them out.
Every Wednesday's gathering is at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre (1320 5 Avenue NW).
Rob from King's Bridge put together a video asking the question around Kensington, "What is Church". It's a nice cross section of perspectives in the video that should open the eyes of those who think they have all the 'church answers'.
What are your thoughts? What does it mean to be a church? Do you need certain things to be a 'church'? Or can anybody just gather and call themselves 'church'?
I got something pretty ridiculous in the mail. I thought mailings were so 1980's but apparently some folks still try their darnedest to attract bodies to events using snail mail. Check out the front image of what arrived.
It's not too often you find America's right wing fundamentalist agenda seep over into Canada, but in conservative Calgary it's sort of inevitable. In October the 'Prophecy Code' will be in Calgary at the Big Four building for a two day affair. My first thoughts are, "wow the Big Four? how will they fill that place?". My second thought was, "man, I hope they don't fill that place."
I want tread lightly in this post, anytime one comments on other Christian movements they open themselves up to a lot of strife. However, when organizations come into my city with a certain message that reflects a small contingent of overall Christian history, it's worth posting in my mind.
Apart from that, here are some additional thoughts on this whole 'prophecy code' and comments on the overall perspective they and others represent. Continue reading »
