an emerging, missional Christian community in the Scranton, PA area:
rooted in the Episcopal Church, welcoming all.

Monday, June 18, 2007

church as improvisation

As we are working on our mission statement(s), I've been on the looking for thoughts, ideas, and images that could inspire our own self-descriptions. I just came across this wonderful poem by Stephen Dobyns called "Thelonious Monk" (click here for the whole poem). Here's an excerpt from it that makes me imagine what it could be like to embody church as improvisation:

Thelonious Monk

A record store on Wabash was where
I bought my first album. I was a freshman
in college and played the record in my room

over and over. I was caught by how he took
the musical phrase and seemed to find a new
way out, the next note was never the note

you thought would turn up and yet seemed
correct. . . .

What Monk banged out was the conviction
of innumerable directions. Years later
I felt he's been blueprint, map and education:

no streets, we bushwhacked through the underbrush;
not timid, why open your mouth if not to shout?
not scared, the only road lay straight in front;

not polite, the notes themselves were sneak attacks;
not quiet—look, can't you see the sky will soon
collapse and we must keep dancing till it cracks?

Monday, June 04, 2007

Artist Feature: Rebekah Cummings



While browsing my blog feeds today, I saw a new post from the Freeway Church Community's companion blog for their coffeehouse promoting the opening of their next art show. It features Rebekah Cummings. I wandered over to her website and really liked what I saw.

On a side note, I really like what I know about Freeway. I e-mailed their pastor when Peacemeal went on retreat and asked him to pray for us and for discernment. They are a Salvation Army church plant that is doing things a very different way. Check them out while you're poking around online. I couldn't help but transplant our ministry's name, FreeSpace, onto the face of Freeway and wonder about the possibilities...

Friday, June 01, 2007

This Weekend

Yes, yes, I know I need to get the entry page to the website updated. I have a good excuse for being a little busy lately! Anyway, here's what's up for this week (AKA - tomorrow):

weekly gathering
    sat. 06.02 4:30-7:30 p.m.
    community meal (hot dogs/veggie dogs - outdoor party food)
    +
    evening prayer
    stefanie's back yard & deck
    (lots of parking)
    [ directions : e-mail ]