EDIT: LOCATION CHANGE!!! [SEE BELOW]
Hello everyone,
Our next cohort meeting is just a little over a week away. We’ll be meeting next Friday, August 8th, 7pm, this time at Panera Bread on Howe Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls (689 Howe Avenue, 330-928-0112). Here is a map:
As for a discussion topic, I’d like to suggest the following. Our group is made up of “emerging/ent” Christians, former Christians, and perhaps others who are interested in the emergent conversation. We come from different backgrounds with a wide array of experiences, but what seems to draw us together is this sense that “business as usual” in the church just isn’t working- or at least it doesn’t work for us. Perhaps this is going back to basics for some of us but I’d like to pause and ask why that might be the case. What is it about Christianity as we find it practiced by middle-class, mostly young-ish white people (since that’s more or less who we are- with a “wink wink, nudge nudge” to some of you- and you know who you are) that we find disturbing, unsettling, etc.? Some of you know my story (and some of you know it all too well, I know), but I ask the question because it’s one I’m having to almost constantly ask myself these days, in part because of my tremendous struggle to find a faith community in northeast Ohio that I can commit to, let alone tolerate (with one notable exception). Naturally, it’s not that there aren’t any Christians around here who are trying to follow Jesus; in fact, there are some groups who are doing some really great stuff. However, my experience here in the past three years has consistently been that just when I think I’ve found a congregation/community that seems to share my values and outlook, I discover something huge that prevents me from really wanting to be a part of them. I can talk about “my issues” next Friday (only the relevant ones, of course), but I suspect that some or all of you might have something to say about this too; so I thought it might be good for us to talk about it.
As always, if this particular conversation loses steam or others want to talk about something else, we can try that too.
See you then!
5 responses so far ↓
Jeff Greathouse // July 31, 2008 at 2:40 pm |
With tit being that far north, I will not be able to attend this month. It will be a 2 hour drive and I just can’t do that for the meeting.
HOWEVER, I will be back at my home base in September and will look forward to meeting with everyone then —- the summr schedule for me is always out-of-whack.
Have a great meeting.
Jeff // August 2, 2008 at 3:04 am |
I wish I could be there, but I’ll be at my in-laws’ that night. Sounds like a great topic.
Ryan // August 3, 2008 at 1:51 am |
Hello! Hmm, where to begin. Ok, I have become highly interested in the emergent/ing church and I happened to have found you guys in my area, since I actually live in Cuyahoga Falls, and am interested in meeting up with you all. Would it be cool if I possibly crashed your meeting this Friday? I seem to have had very similar experiences with church as what I gleaned here from this post and have dived into the book, The New Christians, by Tony Jones, which perhaps some of you are familiar with. Anyway, its good to know that more and more like minded people are staring to congregate (LOL) even in smaller suburbs/cities. Hopefully I will see you all on the 8th and perhaps share some of my frustrations and experiences. If I do make it, what should I look for?
Thanks and God Bless,
Ryan
Robert Buck // August 4, 2008 at 4:28 pm |
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for getting in touch with us! Of course anyone is always welcome to come to the meetings, and we’re excited that you might be joining us. I look forward to hearing a bit of your story and I’m sure that as you hear some of our stories, there will likely be much that we have in common and that we can learn from one another. As for what to look for, Reggie’s is a smaller restaurant and we’ll probably be one of the only larger groups. Several of us happen to have shaved heads, if that helps, but I’ll let the hostess know that if anyone comes in asking about Emergent, s/he should send them back to us. I look forward to meeting you, and if you happen to have any other questions in the meantime, feel free to email me at robfredbuck@gmail.com. See you Friday!
jaredcoleman // August 7, 2008 at 5:14 pm |
Hello, everyone!
We found out the Reggie’s closes early and therefore won’t work for us, so the location has changed to the Panera Bread on Howe Avenue. I’ve updated the main post to show the information and map of the new location. See you tomorrow night!
Jared