Organic Faith

Organic Faith Holy Week 2012

Yesterday marked the beginning of Holy Week.   Holy Week is the last week of the Church season of Lent where the Church takes time to remember the last week of Jesus' life.  This involves going to church a lot: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday.  And then, next Sunday, is of course, Easter, when we people go to Church, again, to celebrate Jesus' Resurrection and ongoing victory over death and decay.  

Here at Organic Faith, we are going to observe Holy Week in our own unique way.   This Saturday, we'll be making bread and soup, and then handing it out to people at the downtown Greyhound station.  Join us at 12pm at 700 Lexington Avenue Buffalo,NY to help with the soup making.  A little after 1pm we will pack everything up and head downtown.  If you want to join us earlier in the day, we are going to begin making bread around 10am.  Feel free to join us then and help out. 

We're doing this as our Holy Week/Easter celebration because this is what resurrection looks like.  New life is possible in this world when we care for those in need, when we bring joy to joyless places (like a Greyhound bus station).  

Soul Cafe #6: "Hilarity"

Organic Faith has been on a brief summer hiatus, but we are going to get back into the swing of things in a big way this Wednesday.  Our Soul Cafe gathering will return from a year-long hiatus.  Join us on Wednesday July 20th for a coffeeshop-like gathering complete with coffee, tea, and baked goods.  We'll be reflecting on hilarity at this Soul Cafe and so we ask you to consider the following questions: 

Does humor have any importance in our lives of faith? What does the universal expression of laughter say about the nature of God? Is hilarity holy?  

Come and share a poem,song, video, routine, activity, or idea with the Organic Faith Community.  Below you'll see our flyer (click image to enlarge):

 

Organic Faith April 2011 Newsletter

<Click Image to enlarge>

Destination: Chicago

Organic Faith is just 2 weeks away from its Mission Trip to the Windy City.  We have 10 confirmed participants for our service trip and we are all really excited to spend some time together in service, prayer, and conversation.  

While we are still shoring up a few of the details for our trip, the important pieces are in place: a spot to stay at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, several vehicles to transport us to Chicago, and 10 people in their 20s, ready to serve. 

I'll be sure to post a recap blog upon our return. That's a promise.

Upcoming Organic Events

Organic Faith has moved the Late Service gathering from Sunday Nights to Saturday Nights at 5pm.  We will still be meeting at Parkside Lutheran Church and our gathering will still be one of contemplation, conversation, and community. 

Additionally, Pub Church will continue to meet on Wednesday   nights at 7:30pm at Sterling Tavern on Hertel Ave.  Each week we choose a theme, grab a drink, and discuss together the ways that we personally think about any number of issues relating to our spiritual life.  New comers are always welcome!

Finally, 

 Mark your Calendars! One of the best ways to build community is to eat together, so that’s exactly what we are going to do.  Invite a friend, invite a stranger and join Organic Faith in two weeks on Saturday evening (2/26) at 5pm for a shared meal together.  The food will be provided, but you are invited to bring any drinks or desserts to share, if you wish.  The only reason we are not having a celebration meal this Saturday is so you’ll have a full week to plan ahead, and to tell your friends.  We hope you can make it! 

 

If you have any questions about any of these gatherings, don't hesitate to email Nate <nate.preisinger@gmail.com> 

 

The Super Bowl of Generosity, Saturday February 5th

(Click image to enlarge)

New News

Over the course of the Fall Organic Faith has been turning its focus to developing a life of worship together. The Late Service has been gathering every Sunday night for a unique expression of worship together. We are continuing to develop the artwork, the music, and the gathering itself and are always looking for new ideas, or creative people who are excited about crafting a creative and communal worship gathering.

Long ago the leadership team discussed our hope for Organic Faith as a whole. We developed a vision statement that read like this: “We are a worshiping community. We are honest about our limitations. We are made new in Christ.” Tied up into that long conversation about our vision was an image of Organic Faith as a stool with three legs. One leg that we as Organic Faith would stand on would be worship (hence the development of the Late Service). The other two legs to complete our stool are Community and Mission. Our hope is to have all three legs of the stool interplay with each other, and in a way, this has already begun in a way as we have a missional focus in our communal worship gatherings.

The Late Service will continue to develop and grow but the Organic Faith Leadership team has determined that it is time to develop the second “leg of our stool” so to speak. In the months ahead we will seek to develop a new gathering for Organic Faith, a gathering that can develop the community portion of our stool. What do you think?  What would you want your church community to do to strengthen the trust and relationships within the community?

Feel free to email in your ideas or better yet, join us on November 20th from 10am-2pm for our monthly Think Tank Retreat!

Announcing: The Late Service

 

On September 19^th Organic Faith will begin a new aspect of their existence as a Christian community,  9/19/10 marks the date of the first ever Late Service at Parkside Lutheran Church. 

 

This contemporary take on the Monastic Compline service will truly be an expression of community.  The music was not only chosen by members of Organic Faith, but much of it was written by members of the community.  Additionally, the entire service has been prayerful designed to provide the people of Buffalo with an opportunity to gather together in an authentic community and to hear of God’s promises.  

 

The Late Service (or TLS) hopes to be a space of peace and reflection; an escape on a Sunday night from the hustle and bustle of life in the city.  

 

Join us on Sunday, September 19^th for TLS, an alternative worship service of the Organic Faith Community. 

Soul Cafe 5: Contemplation

Join us this Tuesday (8/3/10) for our 5th Soul Cafe!  The topic this month is Contemplation.  Come ready to share a reflection on contemplation in whatever way is meaningful for you: through song, poem, story, artwork, whatever!   Bring friends, bring thoughts, see you Tuesday!

Here's the Flyer (Click to Enlarge)

News, Notes, and the Remaining Summer Schedule

Faithful readers,

It has been nearly a month since the update.  During this hiatus I completed my transition from Zion Lutheran Church to Parkside Lutheran Church.  On July 11th, I was installed as the Intern at Parkside and I will be serving there for a full year as the pastoral intern at Parkside under the direction of Pastor Charlie Bang.  

This move has a few great implications for Organic Faith.  For one, we will be able to make a stronger link with Parkside, where we have been gathering for many of our events. I’m hoping in the year ahead that we can invite many of Parkside’s members to our different gatherings and events as the church, and I also hope that we might participate in some of Parkside’s gatherings etc.  Furthermore, we have the new potential to put together really neat events and initiatives together.  

In other words, start dreaming big friends! There is so much potential for what we could do with this new connection!

Now I’m guessing that some of you are saying, “that’s great, but what does this mean for Organic Faith for the rest of the summer?” I’m so glad you asked!   In our remaining time together this summer I would really like spend a lot of time together as a community planning for the fall and dreaming about where we can go during Organic Faith’s 3rd year.  

As we gather and grow as a community this summer I ask you to please invite anyone and everyone that might be interested in a different type of church.  Below you will see a complete calendar of the events for Organic Faith through the remainder of the summer, feel to share it with all your friends, or let me know if there is something else that you would like to see this summer that’s not currently on the calendar.  You’ll notice that all gatherings begin at 7:07pm - this specific time was chosen so its easy to remember and so we can have a clear time set for when we will begin.  

I don’t say it enough, but thanks to all of you who care about Organic Faith and put time into building this community; its so exciting to be on this journey together with each of you. 

THE SUMMER SCHEDULE:

NOTE: All gatherings are at Parkside (2 Wallace Ave), except for Pub Church, which is held at Sterling Tavern

July 22nd (This Thursday) @ 7:07pm  - Devos (A time to gather, to discuss, to pray, to learn, and to dream together)

July 29th - Devos @ 7:07pm  

Aug 3rd - “Soul Cafe: Contemplation” @ 7:07pm

Aug 10th - Pub Church @ Sterling Tavern. Gather @7:00, discussion begins @ 7:30 

Aug 14th - Devos @ 7:07pm

Aug 16th - Pub Church@ Sterling Tavern. Gather @7:00, discussion begins @ 7:30

Aug 21st - Devos @ 7:07pm

Aug 23rd - Pub Church @ Sterling Tavern. Gather @7:00, discussion begins @ 7:30

Aug 28th - Devos @ 7:07pm 

Aug 30th - Pub Church @ Sterling Tavern. Gather @7:00, discussion begins @ 7:30