Upcoming gatherings to start '07!

Conversation Wednesday - february 14 @ 10:30 a.m.

With a new year upon us, we are hoping to encourage you forward. For the next couple of months we will be looking at N.T. Wright's 'Simply Christian.'

This is a means for us to together evaluate our lives in light of the kingdom message of Jesus. Our gatherings will allow for those of you who have read the particular section to lead us in conversation. We also want to allow engagement for those who have not had the opportunity to read the material.

I encourage you to engage in this discipline with us for the next couple of months. Order the book at Amazon or elsewhere and begin reading. Show up for 90 minutes of good coffee and conversation with the hope that the message of Jesus has the potential to bring God's goodness to broken places and people within our lives.

For our conversation in February --> We will be looking at the first section of 'Simply Christian.'

place:
the bite
151 Ottawa Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 451-8000

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Emerging Women Midwest Gathering
Beyond the Castle Walls—Re-Imagining the Kingdom
March 16-18, 2007
Stronghold Conference Center
Oregon, IL

Emerging Women are gathering again this March in a castle retreat center outside of Chicago to "Re-imagine the Kingdom." This gathering is open to women of all ages and cultures, ministers and lay-persons , from all denominations, and at all points on their journey s of faith. You are invited to a weekend of reflection and worship, theology and praxis, teaching and learning, and (of course) friendship, food, and fun.

We will explore the stories of women who re-imagined the kingdom by challenging the dominant assumptions of their cultures in order to serve God. We will re-imagine our worship as we explore our spiritual voices and how we connect with God. We will examine how the church is being re-imagined in our emerging, postmodern world. Our time there together will refresh us and give us a vision (a new imagining) for our spiritual lives as we serve in God's Kingdom.

We invite you to add your voice to the conversation. We expect to learn from and encourage each other – through our stories, our knowledge, our questions, and our passions. This is a gathering of community and its outcomes will rest on what the community has brought to it.
The Emerging Women Midwest Gathering will be held March 16-18 (Friday evening til noon Sunday) at the Stronghold Conference Center (http://www.strongholdcenter.org/) in Oregon, IL. Oregon is in NW Illinois, about two hours from Chicago. Limited airport runs from the Chicago area airports (Rockford, O'Hare, and Midway) will be provided.

We will be staying in dormitory-style housing in a modern-day castle. The cost for the gathering is $140, which includes the registration costs, 2 nights lodging, 4 meals, and snacks. There are a very limited number of private rooms and family accommodations available (at extra cost), so please contact us as soon as possible if you require either. Some scholarships and student rates are also available and you are also invited to help contribute to the scholarship fund. Visit www.emergingwomen.us to register.

We hope to see you at the castle. Help us out by spreading the word and let others know about this gathering. If you would like a file of the event brochure to print out for your church, school, or group please let us know.