The Ecclesia Network

a missional church network

Ecclesia News

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Update from Crossroads Church in Odenton, MD

Preaching and teaching at Crossroads Church in Odenton, Maryland is a big part of the process of us helping our people understand God’s grace to us and how living on mission is a natural response to that grace. Almost all of the teaching times at Crossroads end with the exhortation to go out and “live and reveal the kingdom of God this week” and our people are beginning to get it and are enjoying living that out!

Besides preaching and teaching about what it means for us to be a missional people, Crossroads is offering a variety of opportunities for our people to get outside the church walls and practice actually doing missions. We know that people tend to get better at doing what is modeled for them and what they have a chance to practice, so we organize a monthly local mission activity in our community, doing things like serving at a homeless shelter, helping Habitat for Humanity build a home, or providing the music for an outreach activity at a local park. This way, our folks actually get to practice missions, and as they participate we encourage them to begin to listen to God and let him show them their own personal mission field.

We also offer a variety of other mission opportunities outside of our immediate community, like a trip to New Orleans to help rebuild after hurricane Katrina, a summer trip to Mexico to join with a Mexican church in spreading the story of God’s love, and other opportunities in the U.S. and overseas. We’re really not doing anything special, just what God’s people are supposed to be doing, but we sure are having fun doing it!

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Church Updates – Oct. 08

We’re excited to pride some updates, news on some of the newer churches in Ecclesia…

All Souls Community
All Souls is very much in its infant stage. We are taking things slow, hoping to ask good questions and begin good friendships that will allow us to form an indigenous community that takes pleasure in God by enjoying authentic relationships and working toward Charlottesville’s true good. We have had a couple locals join us, and we are still waiting for several members of our initial community to move. This city has captured our heart. A week or two ago, my wife Miska said, “It feels like we were made for this place.” At several moments, it has seemed obvious that God has gone before us, giving us favor. Personally, we are in need of finding spiritual rhythms, and of course, we are prayerfully hoping toward connecting with that small number of new friends who want to share Jesus-life with us here. We see God at work, and we want to pay attention to what he has for us.

East End Ecclesia
We are currently in the process of raising financial support and preparing to move to Pittsburgh on Nov,22 2008. Upon arrival to Pittsburgh we will begin the process of building a core team through outreach, service, and evangelism. Along with growing the core team we will also begin weekly meetings to develop those on the team by sharing the vision, mission, values, and core doctrinal beliefs that will shape East End Ecclesia. We will also be working on establishing multiple mission opportunities that will be offered during the upcoming summer.

Renew Community
The Renew Community is a newly forming faith community for skeptics and dreamers in Lansdale, PA. We are currently meeting as a launch team to pray, plan and prepare for the future direction and mission of our community. Renew has recently launched their website and is in the process of launching their house churches.

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2009 Annual Conference – Crafting Missional Expressions of Church

Date: March 4-6, 2009

Crafting fresh expressions of church that arise from incarnational mission is the overall emphasis for our third annual national gathering in Washington, DC. We all believe in it—and we are all wrestling with how to do it—so let’s wrestle together.

We will be joined by: theologian, Dr. Darrell Guder from Princeton Seminary, missiologist Dr. Eddie Gibbs, church-planting director Mike Breen, and pastor Jon Tyson.

We will also hear from one another, as fellow practitioners sharing the journey of ministry in this new world. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the Ecclesia Network and its future.

This gathering is open to all, and as always, will be intentionally limited in number, so register quickly.

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West Coast Regional Gathering: Oct 23-24

Mark Your Calendars!
Thursday October 23, 5:00 pm – Friday October 24, 9:00pm
More information will be coming soon, yet we wanted to give you a foretaste of this exciting event so you would make room on your calendars!

Theme

The Integrated Journey: the upward, inward and outward spiritual journey.

Scheduled Facilitators

Wil Hernandez
Will regularly teaches on the spirituality of Henri Nouwen at Fuller Theological Seminary, Haggard Graduate School of Theology (Azusa Pacific University) and at the Center for Religion and Spirituality (Loyola Marymount University). Wil is the author of Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality of Imperfection (Paulist Press, 2006) and Henri Nouwen and Soul Care: A Ministry of Integration (Paulist Press, 2008).

Keith Matthews
Keith Matthews serves as an associate professor and directs the Field Education and Master of Arts in Ministry Management Programs at the Haggard Graduate School of Theology, and also is an as an adjunct faculty member at Fuller Seminary in the Doctor of Ministry program. Keith has served in pastoral leadership at several churches, including a role as lead pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville, Maryland. He is also an accomplished author, having written Dallas Willard’s Study Guide to The Divine Conspiracy, 2001; and “How Is It With Your Soul?”, in Sojourner’s Magazine, 2003, which details his interviews with Richard Foster and Dallas Willard regarding Renovare, Inc. Matthews latest writing projects include two Christian inspirational books.

Gathering Summary:

This is a time to connect with other pastors, staff and leaders to have some meaningful interaction with one another about our spiritual journeys – the upward, inward and outward elements. Some of our time will be focused and guided; other parts will be more spontaneous and experiential. Some of our discussions and exercises will take place at the Fountain Room in Hollywood, other times will take place as some interesting sites in the Los Angeles area.

Cost:

TBA (Expect $10-25, depending on what is included.)

Tentative Schedule:

(schedule and themes are subject to change)

Thursday Evening:The Upward Journey (TBA)

Friday Morning: Nouwen’s Spiritual Journey (Wil Hernandez)
This session tackles the inward, outward, and upward thrust of Nouwen’s spiritual journey, which unravels the very texture and shape of all our journeying realities. Specifically, it underscores the highly integrative way Nouwen embodied his own spirituality, resulting in his equally integrated approach to ministry.

Friday Afternoon: The Inward Journey (Keith Matthews)

Friday Evening: The Outward Journey (TBA)

Out of Town Guests

Members of various churches in LA are willing to host you so that you can save on costs. If you prefer to get a hotel, try and find something close to The Fountain Room at 4903 Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028.

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Missional in Suburbia Seminar

On August 8-9, 2008, The Well, in partnership with the Ecclesia Network and C4ML at Biblical Seminary, will be hosting a one-day conference with Al Hsu, author of The Suburban Christian around the topic of Suburbia and the mission of the Church.

Event Summary
“God always shows up in the most God-forsaken places.” – Alan Roxburgh

In some ways, it doesn’t get any more God-forsaken than suburban America. This seminar will take a look at two important topics: Suburbia and the Church. For some people, there is a sentiment that its impossible to really be the church in the ‘burbs. But for others, we believe that this is the place that God has called us. If we are going to stay, we need to ask what it means to “be the church” in a culture that is defined by comfort, consumerism, isolation, wealth, strip malls and hidden poverty.

This one day seminar will focus on the development and culture of suburbia and the opportunities and challenges that this context presents the Church. We are honored to have Al Hsu, author of The Suburban Christian, lead the discussion along with some other local pastors and thinkers.

This one day conference is open to all and will be helpful for pastors, lay leaders and members of congregations. Our goal is to have some substantial discussion around practical issues that relate to the everyday practice of the Church and the Christian life.

More info and registration here:
http://church.thewellpa.com/news/missional-in-suburbia-seminar/

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Practicing the Gospel: An Ecclesia National Gathering

Tuesday, February 12th – Thursday, February 14th

“Living the good news we believe through our local congregations” will be the overall emphasis for our second annual national gathering in Washington DC.

How does the gospel inform our life, speech, church structures, practices and other various and sundry areas of individual and congregational life?

Two practitioners, Alan Hirsch, author of The Shaping of Things to Come and The Forgotten Ways, as well as David Fitch, pastor at Life on the Vine in Chicago, author of The Great Giveaway, and professor at Northern Seminary will be joining us.

We will also hear from fellow practitioners and have the opportunity to both give and receive guidance on various issues our churches are facing. As always, there will be an opportunity to learn more about the Ecclesia Network and what is ahead for us in the future.

This gathering is open to all and as always, will be intentionally limited in number, so register quickly. (And don’t worry – we will be done in time for just about everyone to get home for Valentine’s day, especially thanks to the time delay in flying east to west).