Life @ The Crossing: Yoga, Dance, Freedom & Spirit ... and You!

Sure, everybody's out barbecuing veggie burgers, strolling in the sun, playing hooky from work. But there's never a bad time to invite people to get connected: with Jesus, with our bodies, with each other. And that's what we'll be up to this July at The Crossing ...

THURSDAYS / Spiritual practice & Worship: The joy starts @ 6pm, when Matt leads the spiritual practice: YOGA! Worship begins at 6:30pm, with Lynn and Edith alternately leading our reflections on the gospel -- and it's all about freedom in Christ. (Scroll to the bottom for July's scriptures, and if you've got an insight, share it with Lynn and Edith at lynnmcam@aol.com and edith.bross@gmail.com.)

MONDAYS / Scripture Chat and Monday Lunch Volunteers: Join us on July 9 and July 23 (2nd and 4th Mondays) for our Harvard Square Scripture Chat (it's Bible study over brews & super-cheap dinner @ Grendel's Den). Or volunteer any Monday at The Cathedral @ 11:30am-12:30pm to serve lunch and build community with our hungry neighbors. Get details for both options at http://thecrossingboston.org/events.html.

BONUS POINTS:

• Thursday, July 12 @ 8pm / Sweat Your Prayers @ The Cathedral: An incredible experience that's part dance, part prayer, nothing to do with "talent" and everything to do with the Spirit. Cost: $15. Come for yoga and worship, stay to sweat, pray and give it all to God. (flier attached)
• Jobs Available: We're hunting for two special people: an intern from a local seminary who wants to learn and explore with The Crossing throughout the fall and spring; and an assistant music director who will lead singing, stir energy and partner with Ed Broms, our music director. Email Rev. Steph for intern info (sspellers@diomass.org) or Ed for music info (ebroms@diomass.org).
• No worship in August: Don't say we didn't warn you! The crew is taking a hiatus in August to conspire (and yeah, to rest) before diving back in for September. Stay tuned for alt happenings, because we just love a party ...

The sun is calling. Let me drop in some scriptures -- and share God's peace and blessings with you all! -- and I'm out ...

For July 5: Luke 10:1-11 - After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.

Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'

For July 12: Luke 10:25-37 - Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, `Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

For July 19: Luke 10:38-42 - As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

For July 26: Luke 11:1-13 - Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"