Here are some opportunities for April:

April 12:  Kids Create @ Alternatives for Battered Women.  6:30-8:30pm.  Assist children ages 4-12 with crafts and games during their evening play time.

April 14:  Bag & deliver groceries for Southeast Ecumenical Ministries.  10-11:30am.  I’ve contacted the coordinator to get more info on this one.

April 19:  Kids Cafe @ Cameron Community Ministries.  4:30-5:30pm.  Serve children a nutritious, well balanced dinner.

April 21:  Earth Day - Genesee Valley Park Clean-up.  9am-Noon.  Help clear debris and beautify the Erie Canal Path.

April 24:  Kitchen Fun @ Red Cross.  5:30-7:30pm.  Help prepare meals for the Meals on Wheels program as well as other various kitchen tasks.

April 26:  Help out @ Foodlink.  5:30-7:30pm.  Help inspect, sort and repackage tons of donated food.

April 26:  Kids Create @ Alternatives for Battered Women.  6:30-8:30pm.  Assist children ages 4-12 with crafts and games during their evening play time.

All of these opportunities are posted at [url=http://www.rochestercares.org]http://www.rochestercares.org[/url].  Check out this great site for more details or contact info!

Please, add on!

There was a great article in the Democrat & Chronicle this past weekend on faith in action.  Check it out at:  http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070408/NEWS01/704080338

This will be an informal discussion group that gives us a chance to try our hand at learning some of the ancient practices of the Christian faith. Each week we’ll read about and practice a different spiritual discipline, and we’ll meet to talk about our experiences: what was challenging, what was helpful, what we learned, etc.

We’ll meet weekly on Thursday nights from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

We’ll use Tony Jones’s book The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices For Everyday Life as a guide. I think you’ll really like this book; it is quite accessible. (It’s also a different book than we’ve used in the past, so if you’ve already done the spiritual disciplines course, you can do it again and it should still be fresh!) It’s fairly inexpensive, but we do have a few staff-owned copies if people need to borrow one. It would be good to obtain a copy and begin reading. You can get it at Amazon, CBD, Half.com, AbeBooks.com or wherever you like to go for books.

We still need a place to meet. Is there anyone who is both interested in trying the spiritual practices and able to host a weekly meeting? There will be no cooking involved; all you need to do is clear a place for us to sit and chat.

More details will follow, but post here or if you’re interested!

Scott

Was it harder or easier than you expected?

If you did a traditional food fast, how did it go? Did you find it revealed another craving in your life?

If you did a “non-traditional” fast from something other than food, what was it? How did it affect your day?

Or, if you just want to read an interesting article I happened upon this morning, check out Scot McKnight’s thoughts on fasting.

1.) Who’s interested in such a discussion?
2.) When would be a good time?
3.) How long would this gathering be (an afternoon, a day, a weekend)?
4.) What would you like to see included?

I’ll put together (with your help of course) a reading list for the discussion once I get a feel for the level of interest.  I look forward to hearing from you.

- Brian

I’m currently preparing for the next term of our Journey Together membership course. I’m posting here for two reasons:

1. If you want to be involved and have not yet e-mailed me regarding your evening availability, please let me know ASAP. All I need is to know you are interested and when you can’t participate.

2. I am looking for one or more people who are interested in helping me teach the course the next time it happens. (It will happen at least once more in 2007 after this one.) And if you’re going to help teach the next one, you should sit in on this one!

Contact me either via or with a reply to this topic. Thanks!

We had great discussion at dinner last night.  It’s great to see so many people embracing this value that is often forgotten in the “traditional church.” It’s pretty evident that each of us are already involved (or at least passionate about) some great causes.  If you were there Sunday night, could you post some info about the organization that you are involved with, just to give us a starting point?  I heard some great ideas, but was too busy eating choc. pudding to take notes… LOL

Mine was: Community Lutheran Church on Joseph Ave.  Deconess Maggie Harris provides summer & after-school programs, food, and household goods to inner-city families.  Also conducts a community VBS each year among other things.  She is always looking for volunteers to come and help with the programs, or provide maintenance to the building (very old building, always somthing to be done).