happenings....

Wednesday, Feb. 25th ~ Lectio Divina ~ @ St. Marks ~ 10 a.m.

If you have never experienced lectio, consider taking 40 mintues of your day to focus on the biblical text with a group of people who are following Jesus.

It's not a difficult practice; it won't make you uncomfortable. Our time together will simply center you on the biblical text.

~ When you arrive at the gate, push the speaker button and let the receptionist know that you are with the emergent west michigan people. She'll gladly let you into the parking lot.

St. Marks is located at 134 Division Ave N, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. You should join us; it is one of the oldest public buildings in Grand Rapids, and it is absolutely beautiful.

___________________________________________________________________


Tapestry would like to invite you to a gathering of people who desire to be agents of change in the Kingdom of God in their community.

Explore creative ways to engage our neighbors in relationships of mutuality towards a common vision for transformation. Join fellow Jesus followers as we learn new tools to discover God's heart for our community and to realize a vision for "God's kingdom come, God's will be done, in cities everywhere as it is in heaven."

Hear stories and learn about ways that we can inspire, connect, and mobilize people towards personal and community transformation. This will be lead by leaders of an organization called Kingdom Causes based out of the Long Beach, California, that has been helping the surrounding communities be transformed for the past 5 years. See more info about Kingdom Causes. When: Sunday, March 1, 2009 from 2-5PM Where: The Youngberg Auditorium at Hackley Hospital (1700 Clinton St, Muskegon, MI 49442) Please RSVP via reply to this email or to Carlos Avrard: (231) 728-3117; email: carlos@communityencompass.orgIf you have any questions, please contact me at ericvandb@gmail.com or (517) 204-8952.Peace, Eric

________________________________________________________________

Wine tasting & fundraising event! Yes.
The best of two great things. A number of us involved with e.w.m. are also involved with a local non-profit - Kenya Matters. We want you to join us on Friday night, March 20th for a great night of wine tasting, learning more about Kenya Matters, and a bit of fundraising. Please join us!

To learn more and to purchase tickets, please see
http://KenyaMatters.blogspot.com


Some of those involved with Kenya Matters include Jason & Dana Anderson, Kurt & Lori Wilson, Emily Jung, Mike Gannon, Joel McClure...

________________________________________________________________


... Encouraging you to join the 'emergent west michigan' facebook group...

* Since facebook is an amazingly efficient means of transmitting information and invitations, join those of us who have already migrated to the facebook page.

click here to find us on facebook

Conversation Wednesday - Feb. 11 @ 10:30 a.m.

Join us Wednesday, Feb. 11 f or our monthly 'Conversation.'
1o:30 a.m. @ the Urban Mill on Michigan Avenue, Grand Rapids

~ Lori Wilson will be leading our conversation this month ~

To get a start on the topic:

I just returned from 2½ weeks in the United Kingdom, joining the Calvin College interim class “Pubs, Clubs, and Post-Christian Faith Communities”. It was fantastic to once again engage with, and learn from, communities of faith living and working in a very different context. It was fantastic, too, to return to Grand Rapids, to continue the work of God’s kingdom in our own context.

Two themes that cropped up frequently in our conversations were those of formation and transformation. I came home anxious to discuss these ideas (and especially their implementation) with Grand Rapids folks, so let’s center our conversation next Wed. morning around these questions:

· What are your experiences of transformation and formation?
· What are the differences between these two things? The similiarities?
· What does it mean to be formed, and transformed, in the context of God’s kingdom?
· How do we intentionally pursue formation and transformation?

I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Finally, you can also find short clips of our trip at http://www.youtube.com/calvinaltworship (“recent activity” are this year’s films; the rest are from Interim ’08).

Lori