NO CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING; CAROLING 4:30pm; XMAS EVE 7pm

Reminder: we are NOT meeting this Sunday morning, but instead singing Christmas Carols outside at 2nd/Bell, 4:30pm Sunday afternoon/evening. Warm beverages and snacks at Bedlam provided by Metropolitan Improvement District/Downtown Seattle Association. Why? Because they appreciate groups who try to bring neighbors together and activate public spaces. Thanks!

THEN, Christmas Eve, Tuesday night, we come together at New Horizons at 7pm. Are you bringing a costume? Talk to Alicia - she just bought a bunch of fabric and has some ideas.

BINGO BEATS BACK BLUES

Gingerbread Man smiles. A mix of Belltowners, espresso, live music, donated prizes, snacks, and bingo, all combined to beat back the blues. For a pilot event, this first Holiday Blues & Bingo launched well at Street Bean Espresso. This was a true collaboration between church and community, and drew a diverse group from the neighborhood. A crowd of about thirty to forty people came together, including seniors, little kids, neighbors from Bakhita Gardens, surrounding condos, and members from the two cosponsoring organizations, Belltown Community Council and Emmaus Road Church. A review from some of the women from Bakhita Gardens spoke highly of the event, and a request to repeat. Another individual shared how he heard of the event at 3rd/Cedar, and experienced some healing as he greeted friends and neighbors in the same place he had been violently attacked outside a year ago. One of the seniors from Simons Senior Apartments recognized us, and thanked us for cleaning his oven a couple years ago. Kudos to Bingo Master Keith Kentop and his Belltown Bingettes, who kept the matches rolling and the prizes flowing. Compliments to the Belltown Bingo Blues Band - Mark Nelson and Mark Wolford, plus Pastor Sax. Thanks Emmaus Road: Suellen, Likkel, Mullenix, and Rosnick families, Addis', Davey Dave, Matthew Rock, JP, Elizabeth C, and Ayres, for joining the event, and for donating snacks, prizes and $ toward Emmaus Road's portion of sponsorship (hope I did not leave anyone out)! More pix on Emmaus Road's Facebook page.

HOLIDAY BLUES & BINGO DECEMBER 17th 6PM STREET BEAN

Why is Gingerbread Man sad? He suffers from Holiday Blues; he is not the only one. He need not suffer alone! Holiday Blues & Bingo comes to Belltown tomorrow, Tuesday, December 17th. From 6-9pm at Street Bean Espresso, there will be music (not the major key festive songs we hear enough of around town), snacks, beverages, BINGO, and prizes. A barrista will be working late to sell espressos (Street Bean is a non-profit; your caffeine $ go to a good cause). Belltown’s own Keith 'Mr. Belltown' Kentop will be our Bingo Caller! Event co-sponsored by Emmaus Road Church and the Belltown Community Council.

Here are ways to participate:

• Come and play bingo!
• Donate $25; cash or check to Emmaus Road Church (write "bingo" on check); ten donors would cover entire cost of Street Bean rental.
• Bring snacks, and/or beverages to share.
• Donate a prize - practical, nutritious, or delicious.
• Setup.
• Greet.
• Cleanup/takedown.

MISSIONAL PUB: EVANGELISM BEYOND SUNDAY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21st

Two and a half years ago, Emmaus Road considered nine specific areas of ministry we wanted to develop. We called these nine ministry areas "Roots and Branches"; we envisioned growing deeper and stretching farther (find details on this post).

One of these "branches" was EVANGELISM BEYOND SUNDAY. Another included the idea of becoming ROOTED AND LINKED; sharing ministry with other churches/groups.

Here we are, two and half years later. We are more rooted and linked, in Belltown and across Seattle with Cluster and Kingdom Enterprise Zone partnerships.

But we need to talk about evangelism. Many of us do not like that word.

And we need to talk about evangelism, with others who share our context of Seattle, 2013.

I am excited to announce a new discussion space - a "link" - through which we can probe ministry issues: MISSIONAL PUB.

This Thursday, November 21st, join a handful of Christ followers from partner churches and ministries, as we share stories and probe the essence of the Good News, and how it is shared (or not) among us, our neighbors, and family - beyond Sunday (because that is when we are with our neighbors and family). This first Missional Pub is being hosted at the Blue Star Café and Pub in Wallingford. No entry fee. Food and beverages are optional and on your own. Other details on FB here. 

NOTE: Thursday night will be a "pilot" event; we will be taking notes on the location, format, etc., and will be hosting more events like this. Topics may stretch out over several events, or we may find we have spent enough time in one session and are ready to move on to something else the next time.

URBAN CAROLING; BELL STREET DECEMBER 22nd

Following tradition, we host our annual Christmas Eve gathering on Tuesday, December 24th (of course). BUT, the Sunday prior to that, the 22nd, we suspend gathering at 10:30am. Instead, we can assemble outside that evening, at Second Ave and Bell Street, to become urban Christmas Carolers! Why Second/Bell? Because this block is the first of several to open along the new Bell Street Park Boulevard, and it needs healthy neighborhood activity to establish it as a welcome and inviting space. Not only would this be fun, it would be helpful. It is also a great opportunity to share with neighbors and friends. Invite anyone interested to join us! More details to follow.

HOLIDAY BLUES & BINGO DECEMBER 17th

For many people, Thanksgiving and Christmas are tough times. Holiday Blues are real. We who belong to the Church often imagine that if people came to us, to be cheered by Advent Candles, Christmas Carols, and the preaching of the Gospel in Christ's Nativity, those with the blues would be much better off. But most people stay away; they know better. An hour with Christian strangers, pretending to be joyful, all going home to their families and cozy homes, will not conquer loneliness. 

Beyond Sunday, though, and outside the space of worship, there are alternatives for treating the blues. Envision live music, free food/beverages, bingo, prizes, and a crowd that includes people from the towers, and people from the streets. Somewhere in the neighborhood, on neutral territory, people can connect; strangers will become neighbors.  We can be part of this.  As Church Beyond Sunday, Emmaus Road has the opportunity to co-host a Holiday Blues and Bingo event, Tuesday evening, December 17th. This is for old and young, for church, community, and neighbors. A collaborative team of people across Belltown are signing up to participate. This could be the beginning of something beautiful.

NEW HORIZONS FOOD GROUP, NOVEMBER 2013

LAST NIGHT, some of us enjoyed grilled cheese, tomato soup, salad, and fellowship between New Horizons and Emmaus Road. People, do not miss your opportunity to experience this. Invite friends! 

Props to Stina for buying food and managing an efficient 2.5 hrs of service.

Food Group Gals

Food Group Guys

NOTES FROM MISSIONAL CAFE

Having recently returned from an inspiring event in Denver, Missional Café, here are a few quotations from various ministry leaders I captured:

"It's easy to gather a crowd; that's not the same as making disciples."

"Go & Seek" works with "Come & See"; Missional and Attractional mode are not mutually exclusive.

A pastor from a Christian Reformed mega-church shared that 80% of their youth who graduate from high school in any given year leave their congregation. They don't see the point.

"I am baptized!" A powerful realization, when you stop to think about it.

"Missional Leader: one with eyes, ears, and a heart, for those who are not yet at the Banquet Table."

NEXT BIG THING? SMALL CHURCHES

"With the rise of the Millennial generation and the coming of what looks like a long economic downturn, thinkers in the field of church planning are beginning to write about the future of the local church and what it will soon look like. There’s not agreement on all predictions, but one thing has common agreement: the day of the mega-church model as the predominate driving force among church growth experts has passed."




Read more from an article posted on network, and whether or not you agree with the three reasons cited by a retired pastor.

ROOTED & LINKED: REAL STORIES

Back in 2011, you may remember hearing about Emmaus Road being "rooted and linked." There was a video produced by Parish Collective. What does this mean for Emmaus Road?  It means having a connection to our neighborhood of gathering, Belltown, being rooted in some of our denominational history and practices, being rooted in our own congregational habits and rhythms, and most importantly, being rooted in community, through the particular relationships we share in ministry together, rooted in this body of Christ. Being linked means having meaningful connections with partners: sister congregations, para-church ministries, community groups, agencies, and neighbors. Some of these links are within Belltown, some are across the city, region, or even the globe (our sister Asabe; our missionary friends in Tibet).

Some of Emmaus Road's links are with the Seattle Cluster, a group of Christian Reformed Church and Reformed Church of America congregations and ministries around Seattle. Churches and missions among these "sister" denominations are linking more and more in regions across North America, sharing resources and joining in multiplication efforts. In Seattle, stories of collaboration from the Seattle Cluster are being shared through a news letter. If you have not already, read this brief post about a collaboration including Emmaus Road back in July; a more recent post tells the story of leaders from two CRC congregations in Crown Hill and Greenwood, collaborating to launch a preschool from one of the churches. Check out the link here and scroll down to read about P.A.T.H.

INTRODUCING INTERN MATTHEW ROCK

Hailing from just outside Houston, TX, Matthew Rock is beginning his third year of the Master of Divinity program at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. The third year of his MDiv degree focuses on practical learning and gaining more clarity regarding one's calling as a pastor, and this is part of what he hopes to receive during his internship with Emmaus Road. He is 26 years old, graduated from Texas A&M University in 2009, and moved up to Seattle two years ago to attend The Seattle School. Derek Webb, mewithoutYou, and Guy Clark are among his favorite music artists, and Cormac McCarthy and David Foster Wallace his favorite authors. He loves the sun, hot summers, good Tex-Mex and brisket, and is obviously confused about why he lives in Seattle.

ROOT OF PRAYER - WISDOM FROM A CHILD

"God loves me. And when I pray to God he likes it because he likes me talking to him." - Elliott

This is the root of prayer: God begins. He loves us...first. God actually delights in, smiles upon, enjoys, and desires our attentive expression.  However you want to echo or summarize Jesus' and the Prophets' teaching to express it, a little boy named Elliott found a simple, clear, and....cute..... way to communicate it.

Check out this short film featuring testimony from Elliott, which includes a version of the ancient Celtic Encircling Prayer. As Psalm 8:2 tells us, we can stand to hear wisdom from a child.

Thanks Jessie E. for passing this along!

SMALL CHURCHES BEST MAKE BIG LEADERS

This past Sunday, the gathered of Emmaus Road prayed for all of our first time and returning students, including children and adults going to school; we also prayed for our church's teachers.  When I asked all these people to come up front, I was struck with the crowd of potential Christian leaders we have in our midst.  It reminds of something I read recently, having shared it in a recent eWeekly. Check out  Next World Leaders in Your Small Church? on our denomination's Network Blog.  Comparing and contrasting the experience of growing up in a large church versus a small church, findings suggest that the larger church cultivates more spectators. In a smaller church, all people, including the young, are more apt to participate, learn to lead, develop ministry skills, etc.  Small churches can make a big impact for the Kingdom!

NEW HORIZONS - NEW WEBSITE

If you haven't read up on New Horizons lately, check out their new website. It articulates and visually demonstates the who, what, how, and why of this ministry. See nhmin.org

STREET BEAN ESPRESSO: BRIDGING BELLTOWN'S TOWER AND STREETS

Check out the article on myBelltown.com...

PASTOR LIKKEL ON BELLTOWN BLOG

After the March 9 Asset Based Community Development training event, a few neighbors and business people from Belltown decided to come together and launch myBelltown.com, a "community managed news blog." Pastor Likkel was invited to be a regular contributor, to write about non-profits, social service agencies, volunteering, and spirituality and religion in Belltown. The first entry, announcing New Horizons Ministries' WALK event, can be viewed on myBelltown here. Got suggestions for future posts about Belltown? Let Pastor Likkel know.

MARINERS GAME - DADS & DUDES JUNE 25th

Dads, Dudes, come one, come all!!  Come cheer on the Hometown 9 as they attempt to exact some revenge from the Pittsburgh Pirates on behalf of the Seahawks for the theft of Super Bowl 40!  Tickets are $14.02 each.  Please let Pastor Eric or Josh Gillanders know as soon as you can if you plan on going.  Plan is to buy the tickets by Friday, June 21st.

Josh plans to buy the tickets in sections 190, 191, 192, or 193 and asks you reimburse him the night of the game.  These are the bleacher seats underneath the scoreboard.  

Let's plan to meet outside the northwest corner of the stadium near the bronze glove at 6:45 so we have time to find our seats and get some food before first pitch at 7:10.  Josh will be there until 7 or so, so if you're running late, no worries!

FREE MUSIC, FOOD - the WALK, SATURDAY JUNE 8

Join the party; register, raise funds, walk for homeless youth, and support New Horizons. Volunteer to help with food, set up, take down, or just show up to boost morale. Emmaus Road musicians, including Dr. Tek & the Preach'r, will be providing the sonic backdrop.

DADS & DUDES - POKER/GAME NIGHT, THURSDAY MAY 16, 7:30pm

We'll be at the Greenwood shared church office space (also temporary home of Greenbean Coffeehouse), 8515 Greenwood Ave N, next to Razzi's Pizza.

WHY DAD'n'DUDES?

Because we need to….

• get to know each other beyond Sunday
• have fun, enjoy fellowship, share life
• enjoy victuals and potations in moderation
• feel free to invite friends to events beyond Sunday

Yes, this is very short notice, mainly because our eWeekly technology was temporarily disabled, AND because scheduling between the three planners was tricky! Never-the-less, we are moving ahead:

• poker/game night tomorrow May 16th 7:30pm
• Mariners, Tuesday June 11
• poker/game night, Thursday July 18
• August - something
• September - something
• etc.

Some Saturday or Sunday afternoon hikes (e.g. Mt. Si), could also be scheduled soon; suggestions?

COLOR RUN - PATIENCE PARKING

Those unique paint racers will be running through Belltown tomorrow, right down Cedar Street alongside New Horizons! Be patient as you look for parking. Find a map of the race course here...

GROUNDWORKS PLAN APRIL 28, 2013

We have childcare!
We have BINGO!
We have three toilets to clean!
And we have other stuff to do!

SCHEDULE

• 10:15AM arrive at New Horizons, enjoy coffee, food 
• 10:30AM  briefing; prayer
• 10:45AM fan out; get to work
• 12-1PM return to New Horizons for pizza

LEADERS
Kristen VanderLinden - BINGO w/SENIORS @ SIMONS (ages 3+; see prep/supply note below)
David Anema - REDEEMING SOLES or alternative, including possible P PATCH work
Biff Gaitan - NEW HORIZONS (clean, sort, organize, possible drywall tape, mud, sand)
Nicole Molendyk, Teresa Elenbaas - NURSERY
Eric Likkel - SENIOR APARTMENTS ASSISTANCE (bring gloves, paper towels)
?????? VOLUNTEER NEEDED - PIZZA (Linda Bishop, our regular pizza provider, away this week)

BINGO NOTE: 
Folks planning on joining us at Simon Seniors (or even those who will be participating with another group), we would love if you are willing and able to bring a snack to share with the group and/or a small donation to the prize lot for Bingo.  Popular items include:

• canned soups and other non-perishable food
• toiletries (toothpaste/toothbrush, shaving cream/razors, lotion, shampoo)

SHARING A GOOD MOMENT WITH BELLTOWN

March 9 was a good day for Belltown. Along with Elizabeth Campbell and David Anema from Emmaus Road, Pastor Eric Likkel joined a diverse gathering of neighbors to participate in a neighorhood-wide community development event. Likkel and Campbell were on the steering committee which secured a grant from the Department of Neighborhoods to help pay for the event, and Emmaus Road acted as the fiscal sponsor. Read a nice write-up about the day here.

NOTES: COUNCIL, STEWARDSHIP TEAM, 3/26/13

See notes from the March 26th Stewardship Team meeting, here,
and Council meeting, here.

GROUNDWORKS APRIL 28, 2013

After evaluating Emmaus Road's GROUNDWORKS SUNDAYS (for background, read more here), it seems we have settled on a few changes. One of those changes includes flexible scheduling; we will no longer stick to fifth Sundays, especially when they fall on holiday weekends! This spring season, April 28 looks to be a promising day.

ROUTINE:

• 10:15AM arrive at New Horizons, enjoy coffee, food 
• 10:30AM  briefing; prayer
• 10:45AM fan out; get to work
• 12-1PM return to New Horizons for pizza

POSSIBLE PROJECTS

1. Bingo Tournament with seniors at Simons Seniors Apartments (ages 3 and up) - Kristen VanderLinden lead
2. Apartment cleaning for seniors - Pastor Eric Likkel lead
3. Neighborhood cleanup (appropriate w/older kids) - David Anema lead
4. New Horizons/Emmaus Road cleanup/organize, including scrubbing tables, chairs, working on inside and outside of new storage closet, both kitchens upstairs and downstairs, sorting Emmaus Road's storage closets - Biff Gaitan lead
5. Redeeming Soles - sorting donated shoes for neighbors on the streets - ?volunteer? lead

We may have a volunteer willing to play with little kids in our nursery area (Nicole Molendyk, one of our Children's Ministry Volunteers).

OTHER THINGS WE NEED

• Another volunteer to join Nicole
• Donated pizza/pop/juice for lunch at New Horizons
• Volunteers to make coffee
• Donated snacks/beverages for bingo tournament; also prizes

NEW HORIZONS' HOUSING IS HAPPENING!

from New Horizons' online news letter: "We have huge news! Thanks to your generous support, we are moving forward with the planning phase of our transitional housing program! The 12 beds we are adding..."

READ MORE

ABCD TRAINING MARCH 9

After years of planning, praying, hoping.... the Asset Based Community Development training event is FINALLY happening in Belltown! Free and open to the public, it is happening Saturday, March 9th. Sign up quickly - seats are filling up!

CORNELL GLAD TO BE HOME IN PITTSBURGH