Monday, April 16, 2012

Summer 2012 "True Self/False Self"

"Search for my Self" by Alfred Gockel.

This Seasons Theme is:"True Self/False Self"


Based on (verses, story, quote, etc.): Romans 7: “I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.  Instead, I do what I hate.... In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

Music & Tech
PM Plan Goal: To create a safe space where our community can use music as one way of worshiping God together.
  • Find ways to collaborate with the community in the music making process.
  • Create a sound that allows the community to be a part of the choir.
  • Create a set that is well organized and easy to engage in.
  • Make sure all understand the language we are using (other cultures and "christianese").
This Season’s Music Project: Communicate and collaborate with all members of your design team to create a collective plan for this season, and especially look to our Solidarity Prayer Team to make sure you are learning about what they are doing. "Steal" at least 2 songs from another congregation, and re-do at least 2 songs (that are not yours) from the past 6 months over the course of this season. Here is who you can email for more information (they know that you may be contacting them):
MC
BW
Ben White                           benjamin.p.white@gmail.com
Angie Petersen                angpete57@hotmail.com
Ben Rosenbach                 ben@benrosenbach.com
Israel Petersen                 israelpeterson@gmail.com
Rod White                           rod@circleofhope.net
19G
Kristen Rashid kristenrashid@gmail.com
 
James Porter  porterja@sas.upenn.edu 
Adam Fussaro adamfussaro@yahoo.com 
Justin Hollinger justinhollinger@gmail.com
  
This Season's Music Process (when, who & how): 
  • July 1st John L. & Danny G. "_______"-new song by Jonny S.
  • July 8th DJ- Wonderful*   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seQljY_oXMI
  • July 15th Dave P. -"We'll find peace and Quiet in your love"
  • July 22nd John L. & Danny G. - "What height, depth, power"
  • July 29th Cameron & Dave -"O Nash" (sung in Russian, connections to SP that night)
  • Aug 5th DJ - "Ever since my sin"
  • Aug.12th John L. & Danny G. "______" song by Justin H.
  • Aug. 19th Cameron & Dave -"Holy Spirit We Are Open"
  • Aug. 26th DJ "Saramaccaner" -connections to SP about Suriname
  • Sept. 2nd John L. & Danny G. "_______" 
  • Sept. 9th Cameron & Dave "Keep Me"
Arts 
PM Plan Goal: To create a safe space for our community to use art as one way of worshiping God together.
  • Find ways to collaborate with the community in the art making process.
  • Even if individuals choose to not be a part of the art making process, they should still feel it's presence in some way.  
  • Provide materials, designate a space and give simple and clear directions on how to engage in the art making process.
This Season’s Art Project:  Communicate and collaborate with all members of  your design team to create a collective plan for this season. Especially look to our Solidarity Prayer Team to see if you can make any connections, and maybe take a peek at Marlton and Crescents PM blog, and see if you can "steal" any ideas from them for this coming season.

Email Bryce directly if you would like more information.
brycehewlett@gmail.com

This Season's Art Process (when, who & how): Click HERE for full document. 

This season we are exploring our true selves and our false selves.  These are big existential concepts that can get extremely cloudy and difficult to navigate, but, at the core, we need to hold on the the fact that God loves us.  God loves all of us regardless of how many times we buy into the falsehoods the world whispers into our ears. God loves us regardless of how many promises we make and break to Her. God loves us no matter how many times we run away from Him.

In our humanity we are slaves to sin.  We don’t understand ourselves because of the struggle between what we want to do and what we actually do.  Paul speaks to this in Romans 7: “I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.  Instead, I do what I hate.... In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

Through this framework we are exploring our perceptions of self this season.  We are not alone.  The Spirit dwells in our hearts and our sisters and brothers are dealing with the same skewed perceptions of self.  Instead of embracing the self-imposed exile of manufactured shame and guilt we are trying to embrace the liberation provided through Christ.

Here are some of the things we’re working on for the next couple of weeks:

    • July 1st: Tiffani/Emily Strips of white paper and black sharpee.  Two tables with the things we want to do (True self) and the things we don’t want to do (False Self) - congregation goes up and writes on the strips leaving them on the table to be used for the next week
    • July 8th: Rob/Jess B. Paper Mache strips to wire framed headbase. Rob will get Meg to help him prep the wire before hand and add a layer or two of blank paper strips
    • July 15th: Amanda/Kristen Color tissue paper paper mached over the black and white strips so they come through. The idea being that God sees us in various colors and complexities while we see ourselves in black/white; true/false; right/wrong.  God sees us and loves us regardless.
    • July 22nd: Tiffani/Emily Litergial reflection written to reflect on how God sees us and using the paper mache mask as a prompt
    • August 5th: Rob/Jess B. Glass panes with foil
    • August 12th: Amanda/Kristen Remove foil
    • August 19th: Tiffani/Emily Break Glass!

  • August 19th - Rob and Jes - Large roll of brown paper.  Warm watered-down acrylic paints.  Cover the whole paper with the warm colors. At moments our relationship with God is passionate and on fire.  Think of the last time you were in that place and use the warm colors to paint the paper.
  • August 26th: Amanda/Kristen Flip the warm color paper over and paint with cool watered-down acrylic paints.  Cover the whole paper with cool colors.  Reference the previous week's warm colors.  At times our relationships with God feel distant or cold.  Regardless of how we feel God stays consistent.  The warms and the cool colors are placed on the same paper - which represents God.
  • September 2nd: Tiffany/Emily The art directors cut the paper into large strips before the PM. The congregation connects the strips as circular loops into a massive paper-chain.  We each are made whole in God (individual circle); we are connected to each other in God (two links connected); we make a community of Christ-followers (large chain).  There are waaaay too many bottles of glue in the supply closet.  Use the glue to connect the strips to make the chain.
* September 9th: Rob/Jes B. The art directors hang the paper-chain over from the ceiling creating an enormous circle paper-chain.  The ADs lead a reflection and prayer on being connected and supporting each other in our identity as God’s beloved.

Solidarity Prayer
PM Plan Goal: Solidarity is worship, teaching, prayer, and opportunity for action.  We remember the suffering and rejoice with good works. We think God moves when we ask and may use us as part of the solution.
  • To be informed, and to inform others about what is going on in this day and age, and to use prayer as one way of remaining connected with our brothers and sisters around the world.
  • Here is a simple Solidarity Prayer format:
    • Hi my name is ____and I am here to tell you about_____.
    • Create 3-5 sentences to explain who we are praying for.
    • Create 3-5 sentences to explain why we are praying for them.                                                    
    • Create 3-5 sentences explaining how we can be more involved. 
    • Offer 2-4 visual aides (slides, maps, props, etc.)

    Finish with “Please rise with me now and hold hands as I pray” or “Please rise and join me in saying this prayer together (show slide of pre-scripted prayer)”.
This season’s solidarity prayer project is:  Communicate and collaborate with all members of your design team to create a collective plan for this season. The rest of the design team will be looking to you as their driving force. Lets celebrate the good things that God is doing around the world. Use the same world map image and add a red line connecting each place you take us to week to week. Lets try and make it all the way around the world! Talk to the PM coordinators from other congregations to see if they have any suggestions on who we should be praying for.
Bryce Hewlett brycehewlett@gmail.com,
Justin Hollinger justinhollinger@gmail.com,
Rod White rod@circleofhope.net

Solidarity Prayer process is (when, who & how): Countries/States to choose from:
Cambodia- Jess M, Pacific islands, Eastern Europe, Alaska, Any U.S. States with Native American reservations, Papua New Guinea, Scandinavia, Hawaii, Russia, New Zealand-Maori's-Jess M
Sri Lanka, Suriname-Jess M, Indonesia

  • July 1st: Mike C. - Indonesia                         
  • July 8th: Craig - Alaska
  • July 15th: Jess M.- Cambodia
  • July 22nd: Craig - Russia
  • July 29th:  Rachael K-Easter Europe
  • August 5th: Jess M- Maori
  • August 12th: Mariko Snook - Papua New Guinea
  • August 19th:  Rachael K-Native American Reservations (specific one TBD)
  • August 26th: Jess M-Suriname
  • Sept 2nd:  Mariko Snook - Sri Lanka
  • Sept 9th:  Mike C. -Pakistan

Monday, March 5, 2012

Season of Pentecost 2012 "Spiritual Reproduction"

 

This Seasons Theme is: Spiritual Reproduction

Based on (verses, story, quote, etc.):___________

Outline for PM Plan:
Gathering song -Music leader w/team
Welcome-Coordinator
Where have you seen God Stories -Coordinator (without singing interludes). 
Pray-Coordinator
Pass the Peace-Coordinator
Re-gather with 1st half of an up beat song -Music Leader & Team
How and why we worship-Music leader (if you chose to have quiet music going, instruct the team to play in a way that allows you to not need to play an instrument while you speak)
2nd half of up beat song- Music Leader & Team
Art Direction -Art Director
Rest of music set & art making (remember to consider the flow of the music and how it impacts people getting up an down)
Pray-Music Leader
Talk -Speaker of the night
Talk back-Speaker and Community
Vision-Coordinator
Solidarity Prayer- SP Team
Go in Peace -SP Team


Music & Tech
PM Plan Goal: To create a safe space where our community can use music as one way of worshiping God together.
  • Find ways to collaborate with the community in the music making process.
  • Create a sound that allows the community to be a part of the choir.
  • Create a set that is well organized and easy to engage in.
  • Make sure all understand the language we are using (other cultures and "christianese").
This Season’s Music Project: Find peppy gospel tunes that were written after the 1950's, or create one in that style. Remember to pick songs that are not declarative. This means that we find songs that sing to God, and not just about God or to each other.

This Season's Music Process (when, who & how):
April 15th Carl "Set Me Free"

April 22nd Greg "So Many Falling By The Wayside."
April 29th John L. "Lift Him up"
May 6th Carl "Victory"
May 13th Greg (Joshua's last PM) "How I Got Over" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRVzOV5ZaLs&feature=related)
May 20th John L. "Everything"

May 27th Carl (Pentecost) "Rain on Us"
June 3rd DJ "In the Morning When the Trumpet Sounds"

June 10th Jamie G. You've got the Love  by The Souce (also recently done by Florence and the Machine)
June 17th Carl keep me  (*see re-write lyrics below)
*In such a lost, in such a lost
 such a lost world, such a lost world
it's hard to see, it's hard to see see how we can do right as your people, as your people So much trouble, So much trouble on every side, on every saide
seems so easy, seems so easy

so easy, to give up the fight

Lord I need you to keep me
Lord I need you to keep meKeep Me (x4)
In this heart of mine, In this heart of mine
I love you Lord, I love you Lord
and my soul, and my soul
it longs for you, it longs for you
but we're living, but we're living
in such dark days, in such dark days
and I struggle, and i struggle


June 24th DJ (Last Day of Covenant) Wonderful*   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seQljY_oXMI

Other suggested songs:
You Are My Everything By Fred Hammond
High and Lifted Up You Are 
You've got the Love  by The Souce (also recently done by Florence and the Machine)
How I got over by Mahalia Jackson (currently slow and somewhat declarative, but easy to change)
Stand by Me by the Staple Singers


Arts 
PM Plan Goal: To create a safe space for our community to use art as one way of worshiping God together.
  • Find ways to collaborate with the community in the art making process.
  • Even if individuals choose to not be a part of the art making process, they should still feel it's presence in some way.  
  • Provide materials, designate a space and give simple and clear directions on how to engage in the art making process.
This Season’s Art Project:  Create a process where each week the art is recycled from the previous week and turned into something new.
(Example: Community creates images on card stock, images are turned into stencils, stencils are printed on large paper, paper is cut into strips, strips become collage, collage becomes paper mache and turned into sculpture, sculpture is cut up and turned into vessels, vessels are used to hold candles, wax is used to create relief sculpture, etc.)


This Season's Art Process (when, who & how): DUE MONDAY MARCH 26th
Click HERE for Art Direction Script. 

Pentecost –made up, added to, sent off
April 15th – Rob – made up – Using cardboard for prints – draw with glue. Week to dry – 2 each
Every week grab up something you didn’t do. Get out of comfort zone.
April 22nd – Amanda – add to it- dip it into (sponge) put paint on glue to print (cardstock)
Hang up extra art
April 29th – Tiffany – add to it – add colors to images – colored pencils
Hang up extra art
May 6th – Rob – send off – write into, personalize and give to someone

May 13th – Amanda (Joshua’s last PM) – made up – terracotta – red clay (earth tones) – creating vessels/tiles – coils – little pinch pots
May 20th – Tiffany – add to – Carve out -fired by Lauren’s kiln
May 27th – Rob (Pentecost) – Send off - tealights – celebration – receive light

June 3rd – Amanda – made up –flame-colored banners - pour wax –tie dye – colors, shapes,Yellow, red, orange
June 10th – Tiffany – add to banner
June 17th – Rob – add to banner
June 24th – Amanda (last day of covenant) – take away – go home – possibly add purple at the end.


Solidarity Prayer
PM Plan Goal: Solidarity is worship, teaching, prayer, and opportunity for action. We remember the suffering and rejoice with good works. We think God moves when we ask and may use us as part of the solution.
  • To be informed, and to inform others about what is going on in this day and age, and to use prayer as one way of remaining connected with our brothers and sisters around the world.
  • Here is a simple Solidarity Prayer format:
    • Hi my name is ____and I am here to tell you about_____.
    • Create 3-5 sentences to explain who we are praying for.
    • Create 3-5 sentences to explain why we are praying for them.                                                    
    • Create 3-5 sentences explaining how we can be more involved. 
    • Offer 2-4 visual aides (slides, maps, props, etc.)

    Finish with “Please rise with me now and hold hands as I pray” or “Please rise and join me in saying this prayer together (show slide of pre-scripted prayer)”.
This season’s solidarity prayer project is:  Connect with articles from MCC's website or from "A Common Place". Email the author of the article directly to get more information and making a more personal connection and then add something that will help our community connect and remember to pray throughout the week (ie. a recipe from that country, fabric that is made there that we see in our clothes, etc).

Solidarity Prayer process is (when, who & how): DUE MONDAY MARCH 26th


Solidarity Prayer Dates for next season:
April 15th  Day of Prayer & Action in Colombia http://washington.mcc.org/days - _______?
April 22nd - Holistic Education for Child Laborers - Jess
April 29th - MilitarismDj
May 6th - Water  & MCC's engagement with the Ecumenical Water Networks - Vanessa
May 13th (Mother's Day) - Joshua's Sabbatical - Mariko
May 20th -  Afghan & Iraq Vets - Jim
May 27th (Pentecost) - MCC and the Environment - DJ
June 10th -  MCC's response to the crisis in the Middle East. Mike
June 17th - (Father's Day) MCC's Global Family and how they help the fatherlessVanessa
June 24th (Last Day of SP team Covenant) - Ration Meals/Canadian Food Bank - Mariko

Monday, February 27, 2012

Design Team Summit (February 2012)

About 20 Design Team members came out from our network for this quarters summit. After checking in on our 2012 PM Plan, we broke up into small groups to discuss more specific topics team to team.
In our music workshop, Rod led a discussion on what we consider to be a declarative song. He chose specific songs for us to compare and we took turns offering alternative language and even whole verses to make adaptations.
Mike Stichter led the network technician directors in a time of sharing resources and new skills.
Scott had a dialogue with our art directors about why and how we lead our community through the art making process as one way of worshiping God.  
After our workshops we came back as a large group and continued to share online resources so that we can better stay connected site to site, and more organized season to season.
Carl and Joshua closed us out by teaching 2 new songs. One in Latin called "Yo te Busco" and one written by Jonny S. called "Lord Hear Our Prayer". You can find them on the COH music table.
All around a great time!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Holy Week 2012 "Sabbath: The Culture of Generosity"

Holy Week 2012 – Sabbath: the culture of generosity

THEME: Jesus' journey through his last week is our own journey from darkness to light, despair to hope.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:5-8

TEMPLATE

I hope we can all follow a general format.

I've marked out how long I think each segment is in order to give an idea of what might be the ratio in each evening.

15 minutes Centering

Suggested element for centerings:
Centering prayer. Silence. Meditation, etc.
Song(s)
Litany   
Silence activity

Intro the theme again. Use our theme scripture (Titus 3:5-8) and talk about tonight’s “need for redemption/rebirth" and why you set your hope on Jesus.

Give a brief recap of the previous evening.

Introduction to your particular evening.

********

(The following 40-minute section is the heart of what you are doing and may not be two distinct time slots.)

15 minutes The journey of Jesus' last days (in Mark)

Tell the story that is your scripture.
Speak it/show it/act it out. Your choice.

********

20 minutes how we can relate to this part of the journey

*********

5 minutes Closing

Prayer/Blessing/Pass the peace

Could close again with the song response.


ASSIGNMENTS (should you be so kind as to accept one)

You are given great leeway on this. We will not have a meeting to plan your evening – you make your own team. We do not have any art or music direction, to provide, yet. I (Joshua) will help you in any way I can.

April 1 – Palm Sunday, 5 and 7 Entry to Jerusalem

    Mark 11:1-11
    Joshua with the Mike/Greg/Amanda team

April 2 – Monday, 7:00   Teaching in the Temple

    Mark 11:12-12:44
    Lauren with Rob/Lattanzio

April 3 – Tuesday, 7:00 The End of the Age

   Mark 13:1-37
   Tiffany & Joshua

April 4 – Wednesday, 7:00 At Bethany

    Mark 14:1-11
  Martha with Eric

April 5 – Maundy Thursday, 7:00 The Lord’s Supper (footwashing)

    Mark 14:12-42
   Vanessa and friends from her cell

April 6 – Good Friday – Stations of the Cross/Vigil  noon-3   The Crucifixion

    Mark 15, etc
    Stations of the Cross – Joshua
    Vigil – ??

April 7 -- Holy Saturday -- in the grave
    Monthly Training at MC
    Topic: Sabbath
   
April 24 – Easter Sunday  

    Mark 16:1-8 -- Pastors and Team
    6am  Network on Lemon Hill

    Easter Feast 6pm
  Mark 16:9-20
    Joshua, Dane/John L./Tiffani w/team