turn the page

[posted to crossing community on 2/2/10]

Every year, we make a huge turn in our life @ The Crossing. It's a bit like clockwork. It's certainly the movement of the Holy Spirit.

We're turning right now.

Throughout the last 12 months, people have been praying and murmuring and planning around how The Crossing might become even more deeply connected and grounded as a Christian community. I believe we're going to look back on this coming Thursday night and say, "That's when we got it. That's when we caught a vision for becoming a whole different kind of community."

Rebecca Hall will lead a big community conversation on Small Groups @ The Crossing. She organizes Formation and Small Groups Ministries at St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas(closest thing to a mega-church you'll find in the Episcopal Church). She's coming to learn a little from us and to share a lot with us about relationships, transformation, becoming disciples, growing into leaders, being church ... and how all those things flourish in small groups.

Whether you're a newcomer or you've been around for years, please stay after worship for our conversation with Rebecca and with each other. Even if you can't make worship, come by 7:30pm for this amazing opportunity to learn, to explore, to grow and to help The Crossing to make a huge turn in our life with each other and with God.

coming up @ the crossing

THIS THURSDAY @ 6pm // Worship and Community

Kirsten Wesselhoeft kicks off the month's gospel reflections with Luke 5:1-11, while Lispeth Nutt shares the spiritual practice.

• BEFORE WORSHIP: Help set-up at 4:45pm or join the pre-worship prayer circle at 5:30pm
• AFTER WORSHIP: Small Groups @ The Crossing (conversation w/ Rebecca Hall -- w/ pizza!)
• GETTING TO THE CROSSING: 138 Tremont St., across from Park St. T
• PARKING: $5 parking coupons for Boston Common Garage on Charles St (b/t Common and Public Garden)
• LOTS MORE INFO: Head to www.thecrossingboston.org

THIS THURSDAY after WORSHIP // Small Groups @ The Crossing -- Part II

Please stay for dinner AND an incredible learning/sharing opportunity. Rebecca Hall, who does big things with small groups in Austin, Texas, will help our whole community to explore the impact and significance of small groups for building an authentic, connected, passionate and engaged community of disciples (and yes, that's what we hope to become!). CONTACT Jason at community-life@thecrossingboston.org.

THIS SATURDAY @ 9am-1pm // Small Groups & Transformative Communities -- Part III (location: Episcopal Div School in Harvard Sq.)

Rebecca Hall continues to deepen our learning about small groups -- how we lead them, how we grow them, how we grow IN them. This time, we widen the circle and welcome friends from The Cathedral, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Natick and St. James Episcopal Church in Groveland to this training/workshop/kick-off.

CONTACT Jason at community-life@thecrossingboston.org to attend and get skills to lead small groups or any other kind of group!

THIS SUNDAY @ 3-4pm // Lent Worship Planning Circle @ Rev. Steph's House in Central Square

Bring your creative spirit, music, poetry, art -- anything that says "Lent" to you. The Worship Ministry Team invites you to help plan worship in the coming season of deep reflection and mystery. We'll meet at Rev. Steph's house: 65 Magazine St. in Central Square -- Central Sq T; no permit necessary to park on Sundays; call for directions: 617.312.5218. CONTACT Marie Harkey atworship-arts@thecrossingboston.org.

FRI., 2/26 @ 7:30pm / Singing for Haiti: A Benefit Concert @ The Crossing

Together with friends from Boston Faith and Justice Network, area campus ministries and Haitian church leaders, we're co-sponsoring a benefit concert for the stricken people of Haiti. FeaturingAaron Strumpel (Christian artist visiting Boston), Tracy Howe (Christian artist who also happens to be a student at Harvard Div and friend of The Crossing), and many more. CONTACT: Justin at justice@thecrossingboston.org.

In the meantime, keep sending prayers and support to our brothers and sisters in Haiti:

** The Society of St. Margaret, 17 Highland Park Street, Boston, MA 02119. For updates and more information about the sisters’ work in Haiti, go to www.ssmbos.com and click on the “Haiti” page link.

** Episcopal Relief and Development: Donate online at www.er-d.org or call 800-334-7626, ext. 5129.

small groups, formation + community

Our new season of small groups begins on February 15, and everyone is welcome to take part. CONTACT: Jason at community-life@thecrossingboston.org. Here's the calendar so far:

Sundays @ The Crossing

* Every Sunday @ 3-4:30pm // Catechesis: An Intro to the Episcopal Church

* 1st Sundays @ 5-7:30pm // Scrum: The Crossing Leadership Crew Meeting

* 1st Sundays @ ~ 5-7:30pm // Artistic Expressions

* 2nd Sundays @ ~ 5-7:30pm // Bible Study

* 3rd Sundays @ 5-7:30pm // Crossing Community Dinners

* 4th Sundays @ ~ 5-7:30pm // Bible Study

Small Groups & Formation during the Week

Mon.-Wed. evenings:

* Neighborhood Action/Reflection Circles in Brookline and Cambridge

* Covenant Groups: Discipleship Circles

Thursdays after Worship:

* Dancing with Jesus (1x/month)

* Everybody Does Theology (1x/month)

And if you'd like to make a connection with the broader Crossing community, don't forget our online forum, InBetweenCrossings: groups.google.com/group/inbetweencrossings. Here's where we connect and share random community announcements and info -- including upcoming events, apartment sublets, job opportunities, lost-and-found, furniture exchange, help requests, etc. You got stuff to share (a job, a couch, a theater gig you want people to attend)? You need stuff (lost scarf, dog-sitter, an apartment sublet)? Want some company for a concert or a movie? Pass along the word ...

giving @ the crossing

Alleluia! We met our fundraising goal of $20,000 for 2009, and now we've raised the bar to $23,000 for 2010. That extra money will allow us to 1) move Rev. Steph from 1/2-time [where she's been for the last year and a half] to 3/4-time starting this January, and 2) allow us to bump our Minister for Community Life from 1/4-time right now to 1/2-time starting in July.

If you'd like to make a commitment to sustain The Crossing community's life, please prayerfully consider making a one-time gift or start pledging (setting out an amount you'd like to give over the course of a year, and filling out a 2010 pledge card so we know we can count on your contribution). Give however you're able: cash, check or credit cards. CONTACT: Chris Ashley at giving@thecrossingboston.org.

get connected

We've got an amazing crew of leaders making life happen here @ The Crossing. Click to Meet The Crossing Leadership Crew and see who you might talk with to plug into anything -- lead a spiritual practice, have a newcomer coffee, link with justice work, join a small group, help with the web, pitch in with hospitality, start giving regularly, or just get some support and hope for the journey we share.

Sending blessings and peace and keeping the faith,

Rev. Steph