- We will not meet on the 27th of November.

- We will meet on December 4th in the church parking lot and carpool over to Center of Praise in midtown Sacramento (23rd. & Capital) and attend one of their Sunday services. Kent will email the details to us before Dec. 4th. (If you haven't attended one of Bishop Parnell Lovelace's services you are in for a treat!)

- Our December 11th. meeting will be at 5:30pm (not at 12:15 as stated in last week's recap). Folks want more time to consider all of our options with regards to meeting times. We want to try to accommodate a majority of the MC members schedules and preferences. So. . . please give some consideration to meeting after the eleven o'clock service, or meeting in the evening, or alternating the first Sunday early, the third Sunday later, or perhaps meeting early during the winter and later in the summer. Anyhow, give it some thought so we can discuss it some more and come up with a plan for the future.

T.J.

- No T. J. Community Pot Luck in December.

- Give some consideration to joining the "Prayer Walk" each Monday at 11:15am (meet in front of the school).

- Continue to pray for close friends at the margins and ask God for a vision of how we can form meaningful friendships with the T.J. families.

Prayer Request:

- Pray for Julie's health. Feel better soon!

- Pray for Theresa's son and grandson.

- Pray for Dan (school, stress, friendships,future) and the young 5th. grader in need of a good male role model.

- Pray for Mac's back and Carolyn's compassion as she cares for Mac.

- Pray for the Hooey family and the young children they may be gaining

Meeting Recap Oct 24

Here are the tidbits captured at this evenings Missional Community gathering.

With regards to the November Theodore Judah Community Pot Luck ~ Tim will explore approximately 30 optional meeting dates since there is no school on Friday, November 11 in observation of Veterans Day. He will contact the school and let us know what he comes up with. Several options discussed were: Nov. 18th, Nov. 10th, Nov. 11th.......if he has no luck in selecting a date there will be no T.J. pot luck for the month of November.

With regards to the December Theodore Judah Community Pot Luck ~ Tim will explore optional meeting dates since the cafeteria where we normally hold the pot luck is being used for another purpose on December 9th. As in the first item, Tim will contact the school and get back to us with a date for December.

There are still many opportunities for us to make friends with a Spanish speaking parent at Theodore Judah. Contact Kara Espinoza at karaespinoza@comcast.net if you would like to get involved in any way.

Read Chapter four in Friendship at the Margins for our next M.C. Meeting, November 6 (note: no meeting on Halloween Eve).

Please remember the following in your prayers in the next few weeks: Paul who applied for a part time teaching position, Kent who is speaking at a church staff retreat in Pismo Beach, and Blanche Sprentz BAM (bears and mentors) program that is scheduled to begin October 26.

And finally, if you get the opportunity to call Mac Mr. Cupcake during the next few weeks he would really appreciate it!

Meeting Recap Oct 2

With regards to the Theodore Judah Potluck, Friday, October 14:

1. Don't forget it's at 5:30pm (you may remember it was at 5:00pm last school year, but it's bumped back a half hour now).
2. Next week, at our regular MC Potluck/Meeting we'll sign-up to bring food and drinks to the TJ Potluck, decide who's on set-up, clean-up, etc. So far ~ Emily, Diane and Kent plan on being at T.J. between 4:30pm and 5:00pm to set-up.
3. We are still looking for a few folks to step up and join the Joint Games Committee. Come on you know you want to do it! It will be a great opportunity to make new friends.
4. Lakeside's 18 to 24 group may also be joining us.
5. Judy's son, Erik will be attending to help bridge the gap between our Spanish speaking and English speaking friends. Muchas Gracias Erik!

Speaking of Potlucks:
There won't be any food at our October 16 MC Meeting. And our meeting (for that day only) will be at 6:00pm rather then 5:30pm. We are meeting a half hour later to allow for time to eat elsewhere from 5:30 to 6:00. But Tim said, you can feel free to eat after the meeting if you like. All this talk of food is really making me hungry....I think I'll go make a roast beef sandwich.

Book Study:
We had a great discussion on Chapter One from Friendship at the Margins; and a Family Feud Type discussion on friendships in general (that's the white-board picture I was referring to earlier).
Please read Chapter Two for next week and be prepared to discuss reconnecting righteousness and justice through friendships. (I hope we play another game!)
Memory Verse: Work on memorizing II Peter 1: 3- 11.

Prayer Request:

1. Please remember to pray for Brian, Andrew and Samuel Whitney and all of Jennifer's close friends who are grieving her passing. Pray for our whole church family who is heavy hearted over the loss of Jen, Hugh and Tarrah.
2. Also pray for the two young men and their families that are faced with the loss of life and perhaps incarceration and also pray for our community in general and the Power House families.

Meeting Recap Aug 21, 2011

What a wonderful evening we had. Many thanks to Salwa for her willingness to share her heart and what God is doing at Theodore Judah and what's to come.

Here are a few noteworthy items including assignments from tonight's meeting:

-Friday, September 9, there is a Spirit Picnic at Theodore Judah (there will not be a community pot luck that night). Tim will find out more about the "volunteer opportunities" we can sign up for. When he let's us know the opportunities that are available for us to plug into; we will need to respond with an email stating where we will serve.

-Speaking of RSVPing....Theresa needs us to RSVP by Saturday, August 27, if we are planning on attending the Missional Community Party by the Lake in Rancho Marietta Sunday August 28, beginning at 3:00pm and going until ??. Theresa will send us her address and directions about entrance into the gates, etc. in a separate email.

-Tim will find out, in advance, the various activities that are being planned at T.J. for the coming year so that we can get them on our calendars. This should help facilitate our involvement.

-Do you love to plan activities and games? Would you like to be a part of a joint game team with folks from T.J. and plan fun activities for kids and maybe adults at our Community Pot Luck Dinners? Please let Tim know via email.-

-Are you free on Monday mornings at 11:15am to do a prayer walk at T.J. drop-in's welcome.

-Our next book discussion will be Friendship at the Margins by Heuertz and Pohl. We should commit to getting the book and reading Chapter 1 by our next regular meeting, September 18.

-October14, is the next Community Pot Luck at T.J. it will include BAM (Bears and Mentors), JUMP and STAR kids from T.J. and Blanche Sprentz (BS), mark your calendar and please plan on attending.

Please remember the following in your prayers this week:

-Carolyn and Mac's search for a home

-Carolyn's meeting this Friday and all of the teachers and kids returning to school (home schoolers included)

-Shannon's long hours at work and a successful cut-over to a new system

-T.J. and the other kids from other campus's merging into a successful program

-The Mead family and our church family as we grieve Terrah's passing

-Julie Feld and her son and their transition into a new home

July 31 Meeting Recap

First off, we welcomed a new member to our group, Julie Feld. (It was fun to get to know you a bit ~looking forward to more time together.)

Second we have a few Theodore Judah Updates:

1. A Jump orientation is scheduled for August 25, more details to follow. All interested MCer's should attend.

2. Tuesday, August 30 is the first JUMP meeting with our mentees.

3. The second Friday in September, (9/9/2011) will be our first Theodore Judah Community Pot Luck. Please make this a non-negoitable event each month.

Third item was to plan alternate meeting locations rather then the church. David vetoed meeting at Kelly's new home in Shingle Springs...maybe later. Theresa will see about reserving a lakeside cabana at Rancho Marietta for a future meeting in August or early September. So it looks like we are back at the church for our next meeting which is scheduled for Sunday, August 7 at 5:30pm.

Fourth, does anyone have any suggestions for our next book? Kent picked this gem, if we don't come up with something he'll choose another.

Our fifth tidbit is a reminder to think about where you would like to see our group grow, move, develop or change. Tim mentioned you may feel the group is right on task and you are happy as a clam. And that would be wonderful, we don't have to change at all...or all that much...he just wants to get a feel on how we feel things are going.

All the above "touchie feelie stuff" brings me to the next point ~ Read, or re-read Chapter Eight for next week's discussion on sexuality and spirituality.

Please remember the following in your prayers:

-Kelly's family

-Carolyn's upcoming school year, her new students and her new workload/subjects. Pray specifically, this Friday at 11:00am for her meeting

-Susan's mom Bernice who is recovering from back surgery, her on-going physical therapy and adjustment to the new environment.

-The Reed family, and Hugh's homecoming.

July 24 Meeting Recap

Here are the assignments/homework/prayer request for the week of July 24th - 30th as discussed in our Missional Community Group this evening.

1. Mark your calendar and plan on attending the next Theodore Judah Community Pot Luck ~ Friday, September 9, 2011. Note: there will not be a T.J. Pot Luck in August. Folks who attended the last pot luck said they just keep getting better and better ~ yeah! We are building community! Praise God!
2. Remember to sign up and help out with the Theodore Judah Fundraiser, Saturday August 13, 2011.
3. Think about (and be prepared to share) your vision for our group? To help, Tim suggested we ponder the following questions.....Is the group meeting your expectations? Would you like to see us move in one direction or another? Pray for God's guidance.
4. Regarding Chapter Seven in Untamed, answer the following...."Can I understand my true identity if I am not in community with others?" Perhaps another way to pose the question would be..."How do my relationship's in community affect my understanding of my true identity in Christ?" Read Chapter 8 for next week.
5. It was unanimous ~ we all really enjoyed meeting at the Hooey's home and want to keep the momentum going. So next week, July 31, at 5:30pm. we will meet at my house 169 Briggs Ranch Drive, Folsom. If we know in advance that we will have quite a few kids in attendance, the kids and the child care providers can meet across the street at the Hooeys. As we RSVP and sign up for the pot luck we'll work out the child care needs.
6. Please remember the following in your prayers: Sue's mom, Bernice who is having back surgery at UCD on Tuesday. Also pray for her follow-up care. Pray for our groups vision, may we be in tune to God's calling. Pray for the individuals we have come to know and love through our intentional community (both within and outside our group).

Untamed Chapter 6

I am pretty bummed we didn't get to talk through the second half of Chapter 6 together, though it may be for the best.

Please share your thoughts on the following passage from page 169:

Janet Fishburn, mentioned above, in her book "Confronting the Idolatry of Family: A New Vision for the Household of God", rightly asserts,

"Where a domesticated piety dominates, or where the concerns of the nuclear family becomes the focus of a church, the conservation of middle-class ideals can blind both leadres and people to the prominent concern for social justice found in the Bible.  And even when leaders are committed to seeking social jsutice, they have not been able to sustain a legitimate critique of poverty and injustice in America because the family ideals of the American Dream continue to be linked to democratic values and economic stability... Uncritical loyalty to "the family pew" makes it very difficult to see or comprehend the plight of the poor and the homeless and the oppression of minority persons, as anything but their own fault."

She then goes on to say that it requires courage for any pastor of a mainstream congregation to preach prophetically.  "To ask middle-class Americans to see American culture as Jesus would see it is to ask them to vote against their own privileged position in society."

Family Success

Thanks for the fun discussion last night.  I'm looking forward to talking more about Chapter 6 in a couple weeks.  There is some provoking stuff in the rest of the chapter.  If you haven't had a chance to read through it, I recommend it.

As a way to get our thoughts moving before the next time we meet....

There are some thoughts in the chapter about family, and what we desire for our children.  Here is the question I would love to see your response to:

What makes a "succesful" family?

Spiritual Disciplines- Losing Control

I read an interesting article (link at the bottom of this post) today (thanks Kent) that made me think about our conversation last night about the disciplines.  Some good food for thought from Dallas Willard and Eugene Peterson....

Willard offers this theological definition of the term “spiritual disciplines”: “Doing what we can do with our body, mind, spirit, to receive from God power or ability to do what we cannot do by human effort.” Peterson offers a different slant, less focused on activities that we do or perform: “There’s a certain learned passivity about the spiritual life that is hard to program and hard to make popular. People who give leadership in spiritual direction, the good ones, that’s basically what they’re doing: they’re trying to train us and teach us how not to be in control of our lives; to enter into what God is doing already.”

I love what Peterson says.  The purpose of the disciplines is to lose control...or, to put it in a more pretty tone, to give up control.

Shalom,

Tim

http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/a-conversation-with-dallas-willard-richard-foster-eugene-peterson-and-james-houston-on-the-ressourcement-movement-in-evaneglical-spirituality/

Untamed- Chapter 5

Page 156, "We found that one trick of being an open-set missional church is getting over our need to control people and processes, and to instead open the way for people to meet with Jesus in the community... Practically, it means that our function is to introduce others to a right understanding of God.... our job is to free people, not bind them up with religious complexities."

Two questions:

1.  Is it healthy to have expectations in a relationship?


2.  What is dangerous about placing expectations on other people?

Fair Trade Websites

These are some of the Fair Trade Websites I frequent:

https://www.globalgirlfriend.com/gifts/site.do?siteId=344

http://www.greatergood.com/

http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1&link=ctg_ths_home_from_ggc_home_sitenav

I love the above site - I've signed up for daily reminders to click. Check it out. And, if you purchase anything from their site contributions of food, help, etc. are made. They sell fair trade items.

April 17 Meeting Recap

Here are the assignments, homework and tidbits picked up at tonight's meeting:

1. Emily and Tim Hooey volunteered to be the Keeper of Theodore Judah Dinner Stuff.
2. Carolyn Miller did in fact volunteer to be our Recycling Coordinator ~ thank you Carolyn.
3. May 1st. is our next Serve at OHC event.  Theresa will coordinate our work project.  We are hoping for a BIG outside job.  Eat before you come, because there will not be any food here.  Let's all show up at 5:30pm expecting to work (except Kent who is planning on goofing off all night).
4. Again we talked about the opportunity for an ESL (English as a Second Language) class at Theodore Judah School.  I didn't hear a direct assignment for anyone...but I'm guessing Tim Hooey will bring this up with Principal Peterson and get back to us with any news on the subject.
5. Tim will also check on the date for our next T.J.C. D.  (Theodore Judah Community Dinner).  He will also get the 411 on the "talent show."  Kent and Lyric are penciled in for Johnny Cash's version of "Ring of Fire" with Netty doing  Social Distortion type back-up singing!
6. No one jumped at the chance to help out with Theodore Judah's Community Garden so Tim will continue to bring this up week after week until someone throws in the shovel.
7. Tim also asked for feedback from the group on the idea of us having a T.J.C.D. in June and July.  Everyone liked the idea and suggested meeting at the Folsom City Park (near the zoo) or at the school.  Tim will talk to Principal Peterson and get back to us.
8. Kent suggested we all enter into this Holy Week as much as we can.
9. Homework:  read and be ready to discuss Chapter 5 in Untamed.  Our next meeting (aside from the Serve at OHC event) is May 22.  Kent is still looking for that jello mold with fruit floating in it....
10. Please remember David and Kelly in your prayers, and Emily and her fellow missionaries in Trinidad, and the homeless teens and others they encounter in their daily struggles.

Jello of the Week

April 17, 2011
Made by Randy and Gaelyn Keith

April 10 Meeting Recap

Four assignments were recorded at tonight's gathering:

1. Someone (probably NOT Netty) MUST make and bring jello to each dinner we share.
2. A new position was created, "Recycling Coordinator." Any volunteers? As much as Diane would love to have this job, she can't, really, don't let her do it.
3. On the topic of recycling.... we should recycle at our T.J. Community Dinners (except for Diane). To the same point, the Hooey's will bring the Oak Hill's lemon aid and water containers to the next (and last for this school year) T.J. Community Dinner.
4. Please remember Shannon in your prayers, along with Alisa the young girl from Power House, and all of the Theodore Judah kids and families, as well as kids in our families, community and around the world. Amen!
5. Homework ~ read Chapter 4 in Untamed by hirsch & hirsh.

March 27 meeting recap

Mac and Carolyn will fill in for Paul as the Set-Up Team Coordinator next week. They may be assigned to the team permanently, depending on how well they do.

Linda Harden, was assigned as the "Temporary Liaison" to Theresa DeLeon OHC Service Coordinator. As such, she will contact Theresa and let her know that the group would like some outside jobs if possible for our next Service at OHC Project. Linda may also need to work with Theresa to set up the next service project if Theresa is attending the women's retreat and may not be available to set up like she did for our last project. (Which by the way, we all thought she did a fantastic job ~ Thank you Theresa!)

After several attempts at setting the date for our next Service at OHC Project....I think we agreed on May 1, 2011 (note: about half the group may be attending the OHC Women's Retreat and may not be available to serve)

Homework ~ read or re-read chapter 3 from "Untamed - Reactivating a Missional Form of Discipleship" and be prepared to discuss it next week.

More Homework ~ Keep working on a written rule of life, we will try to discuss these next week.

Throughout the week, please remember the following people in your prayers: David and his mom Vickie, Ann's sister, Midge, Paul's high school teacher Carol and her 3 grand daughters, Joe's former student Lilly and her mom and uncle.

April 3 Meeting recap

Dearest Missional Community (charismatically inclined conservative evangelicals) Group

What a wonderful gathering ~ Amen!

Here are the assignments as recorded by the dancing Keeper of Assignments, ect.

1. Betsy will send the new folks email to Shannon, the Distribution List Keeper. done
2. Kent will send the weekly agenda to me to distribute with the assignments. (so folks who didn't make the meeting can see what they missed) :) done
3. Emily will post this email or the contents and attachments to the blog. She also wants to think about this a bit....(I got the impression that this idea is somewhat "old fashioned" and not really what a blog is all about)
4. Kent will be signing pomegranates at a Book Party, May 15? I don't make these up ~ I just report 'em.
5. Kelly will (tell) ask David if they can host our meeting, Memorial Day weekend, May 29. Kent volunteered their home as an alternative...as did the Hooey's who volunteered my home as a third alternate.
6. Theresa will coordinate our May 1, Service at OHC event.
7. Tim will be sending out an email to the group with all the details for our next Theodore Judah Community dinner, this Friday, April 8. Tim, don't forget to include the school's address and attach the T.J. Workday flyer to your email. thanks
8. Diane volunteered to be in charge of decorations for the T.J.C dinner. (see item 7 above)
9. Robert will bring his helium tank and any other interesting items he thinks we'll enjoy to the T.J.C. dinner. (Even I'm scared about this one..)
10. Homework: Read Chapter 4 of Untamed.
11. More Homework: Be open to the Spirit of God this week ~ loose control and feel the burn!
12. Please remember the following in your prayers: David's mom, Vickie and David and Kelly; Emily's Trinidad Missions Trip; Joe & Ann's family friends; Theodore Judah's Community Dinner.

Dance if you feel like dancing ~ Betsy

Untamed- Chapter 1

There were some wonderful thoughts shared tonight about worms and our image of God. Please feel free to share more by commenting here or creating a post of your own!!

Theo Judah After School Program

If you are interested in helping with the after school program from 3-4 any day Monday-Thursday you will need a TB test and to fill out the volunteer application. We will hopefully have the applications at the meeting on Feb 13. Other wise it can be emailed if you contact Emily Hooey

emhooey@gmail.com after Feb 13.

Mac Miller's Mother's Funeral Services

I'm not sure if everyone knows that Mac Miller's mother passed away last week so thought I would post it here.

I spoke with Carolyn Miller this morning and asked if there was anything we could do to support them through this time. She said they didn't need food and all of the arrangements have been taken care of. She thought that being present at the funeral service would be a great support for Mac. So, here's the information for the services:

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m., in the Historic Chapel at Federated Church located at 1031 Thompson Way in Placerville. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (alzfdn.org).

Baby Shower

Seevito is a woman who's children go to Theodore Judah and the family is in need of various items for the newest addition to their family, a baby girl, due Feb 9.

Feb 1: I dropped of the gifts to Seevito this evening. It was great to meet her and her 2 daughters, though her husband was at work. They were all very grateful for your generosity. Thanks!

Feb 9:

Salwa got a message from Seevito that baby Sophia was born on 2/6. Sophia is unable to move one of her arms. She said the doctors are saying it's temporary, but she is very concerned - they are keeping her in the hospital until Friday for this issue, as well as monitoring Sophia's low blood sugar, which was also an issue. Sveevito mentioned she's had trouble sleeping due to worry. Salwa has felt led to go visit her this evening, if they have visiting hours, and pray with her and pray over Sophia for healing.

I hope all of us will be praying for Sophia, Seevito, and the family.

Welcome to the Blog!

Welcome to the blog, a place to share your thoughts, process, encourage, laugh, and check in with one another.  Though staring at a computer is no substitute for friendship or community, this can be a place to enhance our relationships.
If you are interested in posting, send an e-mail to Tim Hooey and let him know.