Check out this community in PA -
The Simple Way
http://www.thesimpleway.org/index2.html
A lot of folks have asked about some of the structures and rhythms that allow us to function as a community. Over the past 10 years, we’ve learned a lot and made plenty of mistakes, and we have now created a little packet to help new folks adjust to life here on Potter Street, sort of decoding some of our common life and expectations. We often liken these structures to the trellis of a garden. You want enough structure to provide stability, so that your tomatoes don’t flop around on the ground and rot. But if you have too much structure it can have the opposite effect, and can suffocate the plants from being free to grow. So this works for us, along with our foundations and functionality. We offer it, not necessarily as something to emulate or copy, but as a resource to look at as you discover what works for your community.
Our Commitments
Our Foundation and Functionality
Our Mission is:
"To Love God. To Love people. To Follow Jesus."
We're giving that our best shot.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Way
Although life is no longer centered around the C2C ride - I used a picture of the bay off of Atlantic Highlands, NJ for my profile. It's where Dave & I went last year after I returned.
It's hard to believe so many months have passed since that major event and yet it is beginning to fade into the recesses of memory. However, the purpose of the ride exists as real as it ever did responding to the the reality of poverty, the prevalence of injustice, the continuation of a world/creation suffering in spite of an abundance of resources - mental, physical & economic. However, these things are not being used wisely and suffering continues.
I just heard Shane Claiborne again this past Tuesday night. I first heard him last summer when he spoke at the C2C Michigan Rally - one of many service highlighting our efforts and bringing us into communities to share worship & hear the message of how we are all called to respond to the needs of the world by LIVING the gospel, not just preaching or listening to it.
And now, I am once again challenged to respond but am not sure how to do this. While events like the C2C ride have a place and can continue to be a means for responding the ills of this world - it's not something that I at least can live off of - or expect to continue doing. How can I respond now, in the place that God has called me to live, in a way that is effective, meaningful and faithful. I am not sure what is in store for me as I try to respond to this continuing challenge. But I don't believe I am called to respond alone - on my own. I have gifts and graces that are meant to encourage others as we all work together. Yet, I can't just go and live in Philly or elsewhere just because like minded people happen to be there. I am w/Dave and don't see that changing - nor do I want it to. But we aren't living in urban America & rural America also faces suffering and hopelessness. And is also called to discipleship - whatever that looks like in our context. While creation may have "started" in a Garden & may "end" as a City - that isn't where we live. And it can't be all one or the other - can it?
Anyway - I should be writing my sermon. I have the information and the time, but I am filled with excitement & frustration that this drive that is within me has no outlet at least at the moment.
If I had the resources now however, I would buy the farm or some other land, establish a healing center and set it up so that people in need of healing could come and till the soil and plant the seeds and feed the animals and reconnect with creation in a way that so many in the past have found to be healing. But I want it to be a place that people w/out a huge income can come to. For clergy and military personnel and hurting people and even the rejected animals. I want to live THE WAY where we are - NOW!!
It's hard to believe so many months have passed since that major event and yet it is beginning to fade into the recesses of memory. However, the purpose of the ride exists as real as it ever did responding to the the reality of poverty, the prevalence of injustice, the continuation of a world/creation suffering in spite of an abundance of resources - mental, physical & economic. However, these things are not being used wisely and suffering continues.
I just heard Shane Claiborne again this past Tuesday night. I first heard him last summer when he spoke at the C2C Michigan Rally - one of many service highlighting our efforts and bringing us into communities to share worship & hear the message of how we are all called to respond to the needs of the world by LIVING the gospel, not just preaching or listening to it.
And now, I am once again challenged to respond but am not sure how to do this. While events like the C2C ride have a place and can continue to be a means for responding the ills of this world - it's not something that I at least can live off of - or expect to continue doing. How can I respond now, in the place that God has called me to live, in a way that is effective, meaningful and faithful. I am not sure what is in store for me as I try to respond to this continuing challenge. But I don't believe I am called to respond alone - on my own. I have gifts and graces that are meant to encourage others as we all work together. Yet, I can't just go and live in Philly or elsewhere just because like minded people happen to be there. I am w/Dave and don't see that changing - nor do I want it to. But we aren't living in urban America & rural America also faces suffering and hopelessness. And is also called to discipleship - whatever that looks like in our context. While creation may have "started" in a Garden & may "end" as a City - that isn't where we live. And it can't be all one or the other - can it?
Anyway - I should be writing my sermon. I have the information and the time, but I am filled with excitement & frustration that this drive that is within me has no outlet at least at the moment.
If I had the resources now however, I would buy the farm or some other land, establish a healing center and set it up so that people in need of healing could come and till the soil and plant the seeds and feed the animals and reconnect with creation in a way that so many in the past have found to be healing. But I want it to be a place that people w/out a huge income can come to. For clergy and military personnel and hurting people and even the rejected animals. I want to live THE WAY where we are - NOW!!
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