Have input into the DNA of a New Congregation...

We are having a meeting this Sunday Evening at 4PM. I write this note for your prayers. Or maybe you want to contact me about being a part of this journey.

At York Street, we have an opportunity: We have a central city space, willing hearts, and an actual key to a large, stunning building not currently being used in the evening. So we seek God’s will in planting a new Evening Congregation: a new community, and a new kind of church reaching a new kind of city. And in partnership with other churches who preach Christ.

We want to truly seek the face of the Lord, and follow his Spirit. Maybe he is not in the project. And we want to find that out. So we are gathering for passionate and fervent prayer this Sunday afternoon. We will be approach God’s throne, asking him what kind of Congregation he wants for a new kind of City. It is Tabula Rasa stuff (Blank Slate). You can read more HERE.

It is rare to be a part of a community in its formation; to have input into its DNA. It will be fun. And we’ll have dinner in the city.

Let me know by emailing me if you are planning on coming. I need to work out how many Redeemer Church Planting Manuals to order.

THE MONTHLY PLAN

BEG (1st Sunday of the month)
We beg God to move and act by his Spirit. We ask him to cause deep repentance. We sing and take joy in Jesus.

PLAN (2nd Sunday of the month)
We argue and eat and discuss the best way forward. Lots of sticky notes and whiteboards. We will work with the Redeemer Presbyterian Planting Manuel.

EVANGELISTIC WORSHIP (3rd Sunday of the month)
Perhaps we go to the Church Building, and do church in a way we pray is good for our friends. Just us. Or maybe our friends join us and help us.

VISITING (4th Sunday of the month)
We visit other churches on this Sunday, looking for the best in them. We will go as a group to other churches, coming back full of joy to share what we learn.
Three ways you can be a part of it:

• EMAIL me if you think God is leading you to plan with us, and we will talk.
  
• EMAIL me if you simply want updates for your prayers, and I will email you.
  
• Send THIS LINK to people who may be interested.

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Pic on Flickr by Idle_Type.

Adventures in Urban Family Living #1

We moved into our place on York Street on Friday. Dr Laurel was already in town. We were in Glebe. I walked with the 3 kiddoes from Glebe Point Road to York Street, with the Western sunset mirrored on the skyscrapers. Since Friday we have:

• We walked to church and spent some time visiting with my family and with the Katays.
• We walked down to Circular Quay and caught the ferry out to Cockatoo Island, past Balmain, Birchgrove and Greenwich Point.
• We walked to Pitt Street to the Monorail (kids wanted to) around to the Aquarium.
• We walked to a Bowling Alley not 5 minutes from our home, and we threw rocks with The Little Man.

He is ...

a man who loved the outdoors... and bowling.

Lots to do around here.

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The Right Age for Star Wars?

From the sublime to the ridiculous. My Questions:

• At what age did you introduce your kids to Star Wars?
• What was your reasoning?
• And how did the react to it?

Our just-turned-five-year-old can tell you about Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. He knows about Light Sabers and can mimic Yoda's butchering of the Queen's English.

But he has never watched.

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John Donne's Prayer

I wrote a piece called Why we need the Poets on the Sydney Anglican Website. I'm not sure if it cut the mustard re hits. As my friend Craig once said of one of his pieces:

It [my Blog post] landed with a bit of dull thud. Listen, listen - phhd. That was it. A shame, because I thought I was making a profound point.

I'm hearing you, brother Craig. But today, I'm dipping into Romans 6-8 at the York Street Forum. We are talking about How People Change.

I have never read a prayer that so captured my desire to change than this classic from John Donne:

BATTER my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee,'and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due,
Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely'I love you,'and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie:
Divorce mee,'untie, or breake that knot againe;
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you'enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.

We need the Poets.

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Sydney Bloggers Rollcall

Tonight at the Nag's Head were:

SPECIAL MENTION (for not mentioning him in this post until now):

• Doug the Psycho (Of Duck5)

OLD GUARD:

• Luke the Brit (of Luke's Inner Workings)
• Craig the Portal (of Craig's Blog)
• Michael the Deep (of Never mind the why and wherefore)
• Me

NEWBIES:

• Tony the Sola Specialist (of The Sola Panel), and father-in-law of Luke the Brit.
• Seamus the Classicist (of Compliant Subversity)
• Rachel the Bold, our brave female and spouse of Seamus of Compliant Subversity
• Andrew the Thoughtful of Will God keep Gumtrees
• Geoff the Inner City Guru, of Blog to come...

Good fun...

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Sydney Blogger Pub Visit *TONIGHT*

The Nag's Head on 162 St John's Road, Glebe

6PM for an hour.

There is inexpensive gourmet pizza on the menu.

EMAIL me if you are planning to come. I'm keen for a Quorum of some kind.

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Phew

Tonight is our first night in our new city home. It's been 6 months since we last had our 'stuff' in New York City. It hasn't been easy, but God is enough.

Sydney Blogger Event on Monday 27 July (7 Days)

We originally had a Blogger event for tonight, which people are still free to go to! But I am in the middle of a move. So I'm suggesting Monday 27th July (next Monday) at 6PM at the Nag's Head in Glebe.

Free?

Is your wife your first ministry?

I'm hearing it all the time:

You family is your first ministry.
You are pastor in your home first.

I get it: there is a priority at home. And it is a service to Jesus. I get Ephesians 5, that a husband is to be like Christ to his Church. And serving in a church is never a valid reason to neglect your home. Not with a warning like this!

But is anyone else uncomfortable with the language?

Wife as ministry?
Pastor of my kids?

I prefer Husband and Father.

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E.B. Reames Art on Friday (#12)

E.B.Reames is Dr Laurel's mom. She is an Artist in Atlanta. She is here in Sydney at the moment, for which we are thankful.

NEWS: The renovations on our city apartment were finished on Tuesday, and we believe that we will soon be living in the best rectory in Sydney! :)

We are waiting on carpets. But (and here is great news), our belongings were delivered this morning, six months *to the day* that were packed up in New York City. E.B.Reames is, as we type, helping to put the kitchen together.

This post is in honour of her spirit of service!

• This picture is called 'Sonoma Winery'.
• Email Beth if you wish to ask any questions, or buy her art: HERE.
• See all the other posts HERE.
• Or visit the E.B.Reames website: HERE.

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What was read at your wedding and why?

We marry lots of peeps here at York Street. In the spirit of minimising some of the choices in my previous post, I now here list the Bible verses we ask people to consider as readings and then to choose from for their wedding:

• Genesis 1:26–2 :4
• Genesis 2:18-25
• Ecclesiastes 3:1–14
• Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
• Song of Solomon 8:6–7
• Romans 12:9–18
• 1 Corinthians 13–1-8a
• Ephesians 5:21–33
• Philippians 2:1–11
• Hebrews 13:1–6
• Colossians 3:12–14
• 1 John 3:18–24
• 1 John 4:7–16
• John 15:9–17
• Revelation 21:1-4

Are we missing any?

What was read at your wedding and why?

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Pic on Flickr by YouDidn'tDidYou Photography.

Infidelity leaves children haunted

A stunning (and sobering) article in the Sydney Morning Herald (From the Boston Globe): Infidelity leaves children haunted.

The following paragraph especially interested me: about how we humans can do extraordinary things, and yet have the capacity to destroy our families and our kid's life's 'in an act of passion' (referring to adultery):

Here we are, a human race that can peer billions of light years into space, communicate in a click with someone 20,000 kilometres away, and cure all kinds of diseases, yet cannot find the carnal off-switch. In the normal course of parenting, trust between children and fathers is a devilish ride. So why some dads go all out to be Satan is an enduring fascination.

Will be quoting that on Romans 7 this weekend.

Why do very smart, and very educated people do very silly things? And why do people think that education is the answer?

God is the answer.

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Pic on Flickr by C@Rd0_0.

Help! Games at a Kids Party

What are the best games for a kids party? Ages 3-6?

Nominate your game, or tell your story here...

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Pic on Flickr by Who Makes the Pie Shops Tick?.

How People Change (Next Series on Romans 6-8)

For the next four weeks at York Street Anglican, starting this Sunday.

HOW PEOPLE CHANGE. (Romans 6-8)

• On Living a New Freedom (12-Jul: Rom 6:1-14)
• On Claiming a New Belonging (19-Jul: Rom 7.1-6)
• On Being Rescued from a Stale Heart (26-Jul: Rom 7:7-25)
• On Being Motivated by a New Spirit (2-Aug: Rom 8:1-17)

Looking forward to it.
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Pic on Flickr by The Three Musketeers.

A New Congregation for a New Kind of City.

God has placed urban ministry on our hearts. That is (in part) why Dr Laurel and I went to New York City, and why we came to York Street Anglican. Sydney is changing, and the city is coming alive again with new residents. Have you got your mind around Barangaroo yet?

Here is a key to Urban Ministry, as I see it: We follow the seams of friendships in the workplace and in Apartment blocks. That's it. We follow the seams, make friends, show hospitality, and "God shows up" (to quote Andrew Heard). And God does good things.

At York Street, we have a new opportunity: We have a central city space, willing hearts, and an actual key to a large, stunning building not currently being used in the evening.

So we seek God’s will in planting a new Evening Congregation: a new community, and a new kind of church reaching a new kind of city. And in partnership with other churches who preach Christ.

We want God in all of this. We want rigorous prayer. We do not want to simply ‘plan’ and ‘get a roster in place’. Instead we want to truly seek the face of the Lord, and follow his Spirit. Maybe he is not in the project. And we want to find that out.

HERE IS HOW WE WILL DO THAT:

• We begin gathering a small core from Sunday August 2.
• No more than 20/30 people (at first), and no less than 2/3 (Dr Laurel and I are in).
• We meet (probably) from 4PM-5:30PM on Sundays, with dinner in the city afterwards.

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE TEAM:

• You will need to be first Christ's. And then keen, humble , unangry, and passionate to see the lost won and the city transformed.
• If you are not already at York Street Anglican, then we'd be keen for a reference of good will (verbal or written) from a minister.
• If you are already at York Street, then you will need to come to the morning as well in 2009.
• You will need to fit with the team as God provides. (We want a un-homogeneous group, and so we will say no to people after prayer!)
• You live in an area close enough so that you can bring your friends to church.
  
• Perhaps each person will need provide $200 upfront for dinners until November (meaning that we will be freed up from paying from week to week.)

THE MONTHLY PLAN

The team meets until we believe God wants us to plant.

BEG
1st Sunday of the month: We beg God to move and act by his Spirit. We ask him to cause deep repentance. We sing and take joy in Jesus.

PLAN
2nd Sunday of the month: We argue and eat and discuss the best way forward. Lots of sticky notes and whiteboards. We will probably work from the Redeemer Presbyterian Planting Manuel -- their song sheet is the probably best for urban contextualizing, I'd say. And it's the one I know. Each person to get a copy.

EVANGELISTIC WORSHIP
3rd Sunday of the month: Perhaps we go to the Church Building, and do church in a way we pray is good for our friends. Just us. Or maybe our friends join us and help us. Redeemer call their services 'Evangelistic Worship'. Maybe not the best name, but the idea is strong.

VISITING
4th Sunday of the month: We visit other churches on this Sunday, looking for the best in them. Many of us are good at critiquing, and we need discernment. But we need also to discern what is good and right and pure about what other churches do. We will go as a group to other churches, coming back full of joy to share what we learn.

Then back to the BEGGING (First Sunday...)

We begin meeting in a few weeks.

Sunday August the 2nd.

Three ways you can be a part of it:

• EMAIL me if you think God is leading you to plan with us, and we will talk.
  
• EMAIL me if you simply want updates for your prayers, and I will email you.
  
• Send THIS LINK to people who may be interested.
  

Who knows what God has planned? But we are keen to find out.

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Pic on Flickr by Idle_Type.

One wedding in Poland, and one in Pennsylvania

Just a simple acknowledgment that four of the students whom I love and served in New York City were recently married in the North Summer: 

David and Amber. Manuel and Zuzia. 

I am terribly sad to miss your weddings -- one in Pennsylvania, and the other in Poland -- but am happy for you.  My prayers are with you.

I hope that you will be in NYC in November.

Blessings to you.

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Review of some old ENGAGE talks

It was pleasant to read this review from my talks at ENGAGE 07.

Here were the talks:

• Talk 1: Tune my heart to sing thy grace (Psalm 63)
• Talk 2: Prone to Wander Lord I feel it (Jeremiah 2)
• Talk 3: Here’s my heart, now take and seal it (Hosea 14)

I based the titles from the Hymn: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

I look back with a sense of inadequacy, so it was refreshing to know that they are still useful.

Thanks Manny.

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On being Unemployed - Posts by Nathan Lee

Great stuff on the Reflections on being unemployed.

Wow.

(He got a job, by the way.)

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York Street Forum TODAY only (The Baartz' on Marriage)

Just sent this email out to some who work in the northern part of the City. Thought I'd make this forum more widely known:

Marriage is wonderful, and marriage is tough. It’s especially tough if you are working, you’ve got kids, a mortgage, and everything else.

We want to be of service to you. Today: Andrew and Rachel Baartz are our guests, as they speak on Marriage. I heard their thoughts on Tuesday, and it is great stuff.

Andrew and Rachel Baartz were on the ministry team at St. Philip's during the 1990's. While serving the business community and executives, a significant appetite for the application of the Bible to marriages became very apparent. Now, while involved in technology businesses, they have continued serving the business community, particularly in the area of marriage and relationships.

There are many different people who receive this email: some are married, some are single. Some are divorced, some are remarried. Some are struggling, some are not. Some who know family or friends who are about to get married. Either way, it’s good to hear simple and practical ways in which to make marriage work, especially if you are working hard!

Here is a link to the Study: The Resurrection and the Sanctity of Marriage.

Our York Street Forum are at 3 York St, Sydney, and our times are:

• 12.40PM-1.15PM TUESDAYS
• 1.10PM-1.45PM THURSDAYS

For more thoughts on marriage, I was interviewed last week on marriage by the Sydney Morning Herald. The article is called What Men want in a Wife. (Scroll down for my interview)

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Pic on Flickr by CHAUSS513.