On the Faith & Leadership website, writer Lynn Gosnell offers a report on The Loft coffeehouse, an innovative missional community near San Antonio, Texas.
The Loft isn't just a coffeehouse, of course. It is also a church. The Loft is a core ministry of Riverside, a church community planted six years ago by San Antonio's Alamo Heights United Methodist Church. The church plant started with the coffeehouse, and eventually grew to include a food bank, thrift store, and a resource centre for the needy - and this was all before it held its first Sunday worship service. Now Riverside holds two services each Sunday with about 500 people, but there is no formal membership, and it owns no buildings, preferring to rent.
"Customers might not know that this is a church," said Tami Piatnik, who works on Saturdays. Indeed, The Loft displays few crosses or other signs of its affiliation with the United Methodist Church.
Today’s newspapers are full of stories about the changing face of Canada, including Statistics Canada’s projections that minorities will be majorities in two Canadian cities by 2031.
As the stars were gathering in Hollywood on Sunday, another group of stars was gathering at Eastminster United Church to celebrate how churches and other communities of faith are turning deeper and deeper green. It was fun to be there.
We are having a talent show for our confirmation and i want to play a song on the guitar or piano. One of my friends have agreed to sing but we don't know what song to do.... does anyone have any good idea's???
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Seeking the heart of Jesus through repentance. Text: Luke 13-19. Third Sunday in Lent.
Preached by Rev. James Murray at Dominion-Chalmers United Church. March 7 2010.
Herod Antipas, the son and heir of Herod the Great, was in a tough spot. He should have inherited his father’s power outright but the Romans knew how to manage their client kings — encouraging their greed while, at the same time, promising shock and awe if they got out of line… and an intimidating mixture of public flattery and private contempt.
Seeking the heart of Jesus through lamentation and loss. Text: Luke 13:31- 35
Second Sunday of Lent. February 28, 2010.
Preached by Rev. James Murray at Dominion-Chalmers United Church.
