DOOR Denver

Fall Celebration October 29

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 03:52:00 +0000

Save the Date! Oct. 29 6pm

The local Board of Directors and many of our Denver partners and friends are coming together for a great evening of celebration.

Please mark you calendars and be sure to come out for this event. It won't be complete with you!

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:17:00 +0000

Thank you DOOR Denver Discover Participants! We enjoyed partnering with each of you this summer.

We remain connected to each other, to the broader body of Christ, and to the least of these my brothers.

Thank you DOOR Denver Discern Participants for making the summer Discover program possible!

As August Begins

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:46:00 +0000

We have a couple of intergenerational groups here as well as a high school group. That means we have an age range this week of 13-75! Pretty fun. All three groups are musical so they have taken turns leading us in worship through song. We are looking forward to spending the evening together in the mountains this Thursday.

One thing that I overheard this week that made me smile, was when someone shook the hand of our speaker and said “you had me convinced in the first 5 minutes of your talk”. I didn’t get to hear what he was convinced about, and I don’t know that our speaker was trying to convince anyone of anything. I just thought it was an interesting exchange. It is amazing how just being yourself and giving information about the people you know and the things you have seen can “convince” someone else of something. I am constantly convinced that we need to accept people as they are and meet them right where they are at. Being a witness is just testifying to what you know and have experienced. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to do the convincing, the changing, the healing. But it is an honor to be used by God in the convincing along the way.

Beginning of July report

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:06:00 +0000

We enjoyed having 3 different Mennonite groups with us this week. They got along famously and they seemed to come away with some good insights.

Aside from rain causing some agency cancellations and creating a couple of mornings of me scrambling to find places for groups to go, things went well agency wise. I even received the following e-mail that brightened my day:

“Molly I just wanted to say how impressed and amazed I am with your groups, I just finished with today’s group and this is turning out to be the highlight of my summer here! Their kindness and goodwill is so wonderful to be around…I just wanted to pass that on.” Denise

This weekend the Dwell/YAVers and I are going to spend the morning volunteering at a garden that is run by/for resettled refugees. I don’t know much about the organization, but am excited to learn more this Saturday.

Next week we will have a smaller Discover group of 26 here. It is a good week for a small group since I will be with the Dwell/YAVers doing a transition retreat as they come towards the end of their volunteer year.

God has been faithful through it all this summer. It is exciting to watch each day unfold.

Privilege to Listen

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:53:00 +0000

My favorite quote from a participant this week is “I am so glad we got the privilege of going there…” I think that sums up how I feel about Network Café each time I have the privilege of going there too. To sit across from someone and hear their story has a way of melting away our stereotypes, preconceived notions, and begins connecting us to each other in a way that our individualistic society seems to strip us of.
My prayer is that each group returns from an agency this week and counts it a privilege that they got the opportunity to participate in the work God is doing there.

Illinois Week

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:40:00 +0000

This week we had two youth groups from Illinois. They came from towns as small as 200 people. Many of them had the desire for God to open their minds through service to the people of Denver. A high school student named Chris told me he was tired of being comfortable, he really wanted God to use this opportunity to teach him what kind of experiences people are going through and how to relate and communicate with them.

We learned the difference between to and with. By that, I mean we learned that God did not bring us to Denver to do something for someone but to do it with them. By doing with, you are intentionally showing God’s active love and mercy. We are all humans, we all respond to action. As Christians, we are called to act in positive leadership that ultimately shows Christ. Sometimes positive leadership isn’t easy though, it requires going out of your comfort zone or maybe being outside in 90 degree weather.

God taught us that when we got tired or frustrated to stop and pray and God would help us refocus on Him. It was then that God illuminated our walk to and from the agencies as if we ourselves were workers paving the streets with love and gold. And even as one of the groups left at 3:30 in the morning Saturday, we glowed because we had been in the presence of God all week.

by Katelyn Durst, Summer Staff

A Belated Post of the First Week of Summer

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:37:00 +0000

We finished our first week here at DOOR Denver. The week started out when the DOOR staff team was commissioned by the His Love Fellowship congregation. Also Denver Inner City Parish held a special "blessing" for us. It is so great to know that there are church bodies behind us, encouraging us and praying with and for us.

The first group was from Kansas and was a made up of a variety of different church denominations, despite the differences the groups all dwelled together by having the same mindset of inviting each other to worship Christ through service. I can’t help but be reminded of the verse in Isaiah 52: 7, “how beautiful are the feet of them who bring good news, proclaim peace, bring glad tidings and proclaim salvation and proclaim to Zion, “Your God Reigns!”

The first thing we learned was "communication." Communication is the toughest thing on the planet, especially when you don’t know the city or the people you’re with at all. However, God showed Himself as strong- God is mighty to save! He showed us that we need to come to dwell with Him and God will come to dwell with us.

The difference between walking with Christ and walking for Christ is when you’re walking with Christ you are going where He is leading and letting Him take you there and joining with Him in the work that He has for you there. When you’re walking for Christ often times you’re saying, Lord I want to go here but I’m doing it for you and you are limiting His power and plan in your life. Christ showed us that when we walk with him, He will lead us to where he wants to and show us our dreams to their fullest capacity.

by Katelyn Durst, Summer Staff

A Week to Serve and Learn

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:11:00 +0000

This week we are serving together in Denver with two groups, Roanoke Mennonite Church and First Christian Church both from Illinois. We had served and learned much from the people of Denver. We look forward to a cook out tomorrow night and gather to worship and reflect on all that has happened in this week.

Hopes for the Summer

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:49:00 +0000

This quote is taken from last summer's evaluations but it expresses our hopes for this summer's experiences;

Christ walked up to me today,

Tattered clothes were all he wore.

He stopped and stared as if to say,

“when you see me will you turn away?”

Christ walked up and smiled at me,

A story book was what he bore.

He stood and stared with utter glee,

“If you read to me, I’ll learn much more.”

Christ walked up and spoke to me,

Asking “Can you spare some change?

Money is not what I want to see,

A change of heart would mean much more.”

Christ stared back at me today,

My own reflection I did not see.

“A heart, a smile, a helping hand

Is all we need today.”

--Mark from Canon City

Summer Season Kicks Off with Iowa College Group

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:36:00 +0000

Last week we hosted a Presbyterian college group from Iowa. They made up one work team so the week was full of shared experiences. We all enjoyed hearing Jimmy’s story and hanging out at family night at Tha Myx. The week had them reflecting and wondering how to help their church reach out more in their own community.
This week Molly will be attending a leadership conference hosted by Volunteers Exploring Vocation on the Princeton campus.

Intentions Versus Actions

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Sat, 08 May 2010 19:48:00 +0000

You never know how what you say will affect those around you. Recently the Dwellers began quoting what I said during orientation week 8 months ago! I was amazed to hear how one phrase I used has stuck with all of them: We often judge ourselves by our intentions and others solely by their actions. I went on to talk about assuming the best about each other at the start so that we are less likely to get into conflict because we perceive others actions as a negative thing towards us. If we assume the other housemate’s intentions are good and may be it just didn’t come out in the way they intended it, we have a better starting point for conflict resolution than if we immediately assume their poor action was a direct result of poor intentions.
I was mostly talking about community, but I think it applies more broadly. I was blessed and amazed to hear the Dwellers talk about how that one truth has impacted them this year in their intentional community and how they have individually tried to find ways to apply it in relationships and situations beyond their house hold. I am thankful for a community of believers in Dwell and DOOR as a whole where I can assume that other’s intentions are good and we can work things out when the actions seem to not line up with those intentions.

Dwell in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:24:00 +0000

This quaint little house is home to the Denver Dwell intentional Christian community. This year has been the first that we have had participants in this neighborhood. Many relationships have only just begun.

If you are interested in serving in some outstanding partner agencies and ministries in the Mile High City, apply for Dwell.
The new team will start Aug. 31, 2009. You may never have a more fulfilling, challenging and exciting year as a year of service here in Denver.
Come and see what God is doing and creating in the city of Denver. Come and be a part of it.

Sent e-mail and grace

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:20:00 +0000

15,263. That is how many e-mails I sent at my previous job that I held for 3 years. I know this number because I keep receiving that pesky “your mail box is over its limit” e-mail. I’ve gotten tired of going into various folders and trying to find the last couple “enormous” files that I’ve received or sent to delete them. Today it occurred to me that I should go in and see how far back my sent e-mail file goes…apparently it went all the way back to the start of my last job. No wonder it takes forever for my computer to search through my sent box when I ask it to find something. It had to search through 5 years worth of work!

It made me wonder again about the gift we were given through Christ’s death and resurrection. Christ’s work on the cross makes it so we can have mercies that are new every morning. We don’t have the baggage of 15,000 things that have to be sorted through before God can respond to us. Each day we can wake up knowing God loves us, forgives us, and wants to be in relationship with us. The message I get to share in the midst of the Discover orientation each week is the same thing that keeps me going as a believer. I talk about God’s love for us that is perfect and spelled out in John 3:16. For God so loved the world that He Gave us his only Son. That whoever believes in Him should not die, but have eternal life. And our response to that love is summed up in the Great Commandment…Love the Lord your God with all your heart , soul, and strength. Then love your neighbor. Jesus told Peter to show his love for Jesus by feeding his sheep. We see specific examples of what that looks like in Matthew when Jesus said when we give a cup of water to someone who is thirsty, we do that unto him…

It is this beautiful interwoven message of love that gives us life. This Love is freely given each and every day. We get to participate in that love. What a blessing to be free. To be free of past baggage that slows us down. To walk in forgiveness, and to walk loved and loving others.

I am in the midst of hiring a summer program assistant. I am excited to begin to share with her these simple truths that the entire DOOR Discover week is founded on in Denver. I look forward to hearing her story of how this has played out in her own life, and to discover how she would like to incorporate her gifts into sharing this truth with Discover participants.

Thank you, God for the daily “delete” button that can free us of the “stuff” that slows us down.

DOOR Denver Goes to College

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:09:00 +0000

If you're near Colorado Christian University this Thursday, stop by and say HI. City Director Molly and Dweller Hillary will be representing. Look for the big striped display. We look forward to seeing folks and visiting campus.

Summer Applications Due Soon

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:06:00 +0000

If you're applying for our Discern/ summer support program, please get your applications in soon and your 3 references!) While April 1 is the deadline we have begun making hiring decisions in our rolling process. Don't delay. Get yours in to 430 W. 9th Ave or email them to Marie@doornetwork.org.

Welcome Spring Break Groups

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:11:00 +0000

This week we welcomed two spring break service groups. Both are United Methodist church groups from Oklahoma and Kansas. After a little bout with the altitude, they are getting along fine with each other and have had a wonderful day filled with service and encountering God in those they met. I look forward to the week of new experiences. May each personal encounter and act of service help us to grow closer the One that first served and loved us.

Dwellers on the Bus

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:08:00 +0000

Some big lessons in urban living are found as easy as riding the bus. What follows is an excerpt of Meghan's blog. The Dwell participants are blogging about their learnings and experiences.

my housemates and i are lucky enough to have the program car to borrow a few times a week so we don't have to lug bags of groceries home on the bus, but many people do. i've never had to keep track of a stroller, and other energetic kids who just can't sit still on the bus, but many people do. i've never been late to work, missed a job interview or a medical appointment because the bus was late, but many people do. i've also never been unable to afford the $2 (one-way) bus fare to get somewhere i really needed to do but i know there are those for which this is a very large amount of money.
this said, there are things i've loved about riding the bus too. i've met some really interesting people both on the bus and while waiting for it, and even made a few friends at my regular stops that i look forward to seeing every day. i don't have to pay for gas or worry about finding parking in the city, which is a huge relief. public transportation is of course, better for the environment.
i'm kind of hesitant to post this because i feel like i just made you all listen to a bitter rant about my hassle riding the bus. but i think it's important to talk about, because i don't think most people realize how much it is actually a problem, or how many people are just stuck dealing with it because they have no other choice. what makes me angry is that the positive aspects of public transportation would probably make the bus the more desirable choice if it were just reliable, and if many of the bus lines came more often and later into the night to accomodate a real person's schedule. i think it would actually be beneficial to the community as a whole to get the bus system worked out, but no one really cares or thinks about it, because most people don't ride the bus on a regular basis. i kind of wish everyone had to spend at least a week riding the bus, and then maybe things about it would change. i encourage you to try it.
i just don't think it's fair for people to have to explain themselves to an angry boss for being late to work, when they were right on time to the bus stop, and it was their bus that made them late. it isn't fair for kids to have to wait an extra hour at day-care and for their parents to be charged extra because the bus scheduled for the correct time never showed up. it should could work better, it could work better, and we should all care more so that it does.

Accepting Applications for Support Staff

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:33:00 +0000

We are currently accepting applications for Denver young adults to serve this spring and summer as support staff. It is not exactly a 'steady' job, but it's a great experience with a small paycheck.
As a leadership program, you will work preparing for and during particular weeks through the spring and every week during the summer. You'll have reflection time to discuss what you're learning and all of the staff attend a special retreat at the end of the summer to relax and reflect.
If you're interested check out the complete job description and get your application in right away. The sooner you apply the better chance you have of being accepted and offered a position.

Weather Permitting

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:39:00 +0000

Molly will be in Kansas this week. Denver has always had connection to youth groups and college students from Kansas. Many of those relationships come from our Mennonite roots, but not all. We've been welcoming groups and individuals from Kansas to Denver for many years. We've shown off the gifts and the needs of the Mile High city. But we've also traveled to Kansas. We've spoken in churches and been on college campuses. Relationships are two-way. There is the receiving and the giving. God reveals so much through relationships. We could so easily get stuck in the receiving side or even on the giving side. But God calls out to risk, to step out, to break the molds. So whether it's in Denver or in little town in Kansas, may we all seek to both give and receive and be ready for the relationship that blooms.

Gifts of the City

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:37:00 +0000

One of the gifts of the city of Denver, is it's weather and certainly it's proximity to the Great Rocky Mountains. One of the pieces of our philosophy of ministry is to be in urban ministry means to accept the city for both it's gifts as well as it's needs. God is in the city and in the mountains. Amen!
We are thankful to have the mountains as a retreat and as a monument to God's majesty. Our YAV/Dwellers will attending Young Adult Snow Camp as a retreat with other young adults from the city of Denver in snow fun and Bible study. What a gift!

Dwell'n in December

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:42:00 +0000

God of the Silence, God of this universe, God of our journey, God that we understand and God that we wonder about… we love you and thank you for walking this journey with us and never leaving us behind.

We had a good silent retreat 2 weeks ago. Some of us just sat on a swing enjoying the silence while others walked snowy trails and enjoyed reflecting while looking out over the Colorado Rockies or were curled up by the fire and drew. Some spent time in reflection and others looked ahead. Overall, we walked away thankful for the silence

Last week we met with Herm, a local conference pastor, and learned from each other’s life journeys. It was a great time of thinking about how spiritual disciplines and discernment have been a part of each of our lives.

Tonight we celebrated Rachel’s birthday by fellowshipping over supper and then enjoying the Christmas lights at Botanic Gardens. It was great to be together. Happy Birthday Rachel!

Snow Fall Can't Stop God's Work

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:50:00 +0000

The snow keeps falling. Just as it clears up and the sun shines bright again, we've received more intense winter blessings. The work keeps moving on. The Dwell/YAV team is going very well. The service opportunities within the local ministries give insight to the lives of so many in our community. It is a blessing to walk alongside these three young women as they serve and learn every day. It is even a greater blessing to be a part of the larger work through each of our partner agencies.
In other news, our local board is working to strengthen their work as well. We've been blessed by the leadership of our Chair, Randal Friesen for many years. He is now leading the board to select new members for the coming years.

Spiritual Disciplines in the Snow

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:03:00 +0000

An enormous amount of snow in October calls for fun as soon as the Dwellers could get outside! It just kept snowing and snowing. Sunshine called for a celebration with a snow ball fight. Besides all this fun, the team has begun studying and practicing spiritual disciplines. We've just finished Sleeping with Bread and begun Real Hope in Chicago and Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.

Dwell team settling in

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:06:00 +0000

Our Dwell team is settling in and finding their groove. We've finished the house covenant and signed it as a part of foot washing time together. Even though our feet aren't crusty and dirty like the original disciples, it is a very real tangible reminder to serve one another.
We've also spent some time talking about committing to a local church for the year and all the things surrounding the decision making process. They all seem to be taking seriously the quest to get connected to a church. It is interesting to balance being challenged by attending somewhere different from what you are used to and the cultural norm to “consume” church…picking a church based on what makes you feel good and comfortable.
I was honored to spend some time with the students of Hesston College. Immanuel served the Church Leader in Residence and I was able to connect to former staff and interested future participants. Now it's great to be back in Denver. The early winter blast was unexpected but a refreshing reminder of the changing seasons.

Dwell'n

noreply@blogger.com (DOOR Denver) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:33:00 +0000

On August 31st we received our yearlong particpants! Dwell/YAV is our yearlong program at DOOR and this Denver DOOR's first year with Dwell/YAV. We are so excited to have Meghan, Rachel, and Hilary here!

The first week was spent in orientation. We toured the city, got them acquainted with the public transportation system, hosted a meet and greet lunch with the board and agency coordinators...we also went to a Rockies game and hiked 7 miles at Rocky Mountain National Park. Aside from some plumbing issues in their duplex it seemed to be a pretty smooth transition.

Each of us took turns leading a morning devotional. The following are some of the texts that reflect the minds and intent of the Dwellers for the year:

1 Cor 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Phil 4:4-9 "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone, The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

John 15: 4-5 "Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am and vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing."

We've visited two of our supporting congregations, His Love Fellowship and First Mennonite, and will go to a Wednesday evening service at Denver Inner City Parish tonight. It is exciting to have the Dwell/YAVers begin to create some connections with local congregations.

Meghan, Rachel, and Hilary are in the middle of week two at their agency placements, and seem to be enjoying their placements. For this I am so grateful!