Austin Mustard Seed

July is Road Trip Month

John Chandler — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:54:18 +0000

While the Chandler family is moving this month, our Sunday gathering locations will meet in the homes of others in our community until we are settled in our new place. If you’d like to join us for a gathering, please let us know and we’ll make sure we direct you to the proper location for that week.

Looking Back: Lectio Divina

John Chandler — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:50:47 +0000

This past Sunday, we shared an experience in Lectio Divina together. This is an ancient way of reading Scriptures that can be practiced both individually and in community. For those who were there who might want to explore it more on your own, here’s a review of the stages we worked through together:

Lectio.
Slow your mind down as you read the words.
Pay attention to what words or phrases stand out.

Meditatio.
Meditate on a significant word or phrase.
Take note of how you are responding to it.

Oratio.
Means ‘speak.’ For the first time, you initiate a thought.
Ask God what to do with what you’ve been given.

Contemplatio.
Quiet your soul and body.
Sit quietly in the presence of God.

A Brief Summer Break

John Chandler — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:18:42 +0000

With many from our church community on the road, we will take a break from our Sunday gatherings on June 14 and 21. We look forward to all being back together on June 28!

May 31 – Pentecost

John Chandler — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:42:20 +0000

This Sunday, May 31, is Pentecost (wikipedia). This is the day when the Holy Spirit came to the apostles, and is traditionally celebrated as the birth of the church.

To celebrate and remember this day, we are going to read the story of Pentecost together as it’s found in Acts 2. Take some time this week to read Acts 2 and come prepared to offer your own questions or thoughts about the text.

Back to Sunday Evenings

John Chandler — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:08:05 +0000

On Sunday, May 10, we are moving our gatherings back to Sunday evenings. We will continue to meet at the Chandlers’ home and have a shared meal and community time together.

Passover Meal

John Chandler — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:55:29 +0000

As the beginning of our time to celebrate Easter together, our community is going to gather to share a Passover meal together. As we eat, we will reflect on the Jewish story of freedom from slavery and Jesus’ initiation of the Last Supper before his death as a continuing story of God’s work of freedom.

We will gather at the Chandlers’ home on Thursday, April 9 at 5:30pm. If you would like more information, or directions, contact us and let us know.

The Parables

John Chandler — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:44:48 +0000

The image to the right is one that we are living with as we work our way through the parables. When we think of a tree, we often only visualize what we see above the ground. But a tree is so much more than that. The very life and vitality of the tree depends on the unseen roots.

Thomas Keating points out that the point of the parables is often to ask the question: “What makes you think that the world is the way you see it?” So, as we work through the parables, we are asking the same question. What is it in this parable that Jesus is trying to reveal to us? Where is the kingdom of God at work around us in ways that we’ve not been aware of?

I hope that as we work through the parables we can be asking these questions. That we can be looking for what is going on that is unseen. But not just as we sit with the text on Sundays, but on Monday through Saturday as well.

Super Bowl Sunday

John Chandler — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:55:58 +0000

We are not having a Sunday morning gathering this week. However, many from our community, along with some other friends, are going to get together to watch the Super Bowl later in the afternoon. If you’d like to join us, drop us a line and we’ll send you the details.

Help End Local Poverty

John Chandler — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:26:15 +0000

This Sunday, Chris Marlow will be joining us. Chris is a member of our board and a respected friend. I’m excited to have him come and tell the story of Help End Local Poverty — a movement he is forming out his own hope to see relief and justice brought to those in need. I’m looking forward to having Chris share his heart with us.

A Holiday Breather

John Chandler — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:08:19 +0000

With most of our community out of town for the holidays, we will be taking a break from our Sunday morning gatherings until after the first of the year. Those of us who are remaining in Austin will be joining some other local communities for worship over the next few Sundays. Let us know if you’d like to join us.