Here’s a link to the Amazon page for more information on the book!  Need to get your hands on a book last minute?  Let us know and we’ll find a way to get it to you!

Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 5th at 6:30pm

At Leah and Chris’ apartment – 1093 N Jamestown Road, Apartment D

It’s been a while since we’ve gathered at Leah and Chris’ apartment for a meal and conversation like we used to at the start of Praxis. This Maundy Thursday we’ll gather at the apartment to eat together and reflect on both the joy of Jesus’ ministry and the somberness of this communion meal. For this potluck meal, we’ll make the main dish. Bring a drink, side dish, or just yourself. Everyone is welcome!

See the Facebook invite here:

Easter – A New Path

Sunday, April 8th at 5:30pm

At 125 Ellis Street

Jesus appeared to the first disciples in the evening following the resurrection.  So we gather to seek Jesus in the evening, waiting for him to make his presence known.  In the early church we see a profound shift in thinking from following in the path of Jesus to searching for a new path that Jesus’ spirit would travel.  What does it mean to live into the transformation of Easter?  How does the experience of resurrection change our life, our path, who we are, and how we relate to the world?

Join us for coffee starting at 5pm before the service.

Plenty of free parking is available behind the Commons as well as in the parking lot next to the church building on John Wesley Dobbs!

See the Facebook invite here:

Upon arriving in Atlanta, Matthew shared with me a story from this past fall when he spoke with students from Chicago Theological Seminary.  Following the talk, Susan Thistlethwaite, a theology professor at the school asked her students what they thought Matthew’s talk was about.  When nobody seemed to be answering she started throwing out suggestions, “was it about hermeneutics (how we interpret scripture)? Eschatology (how the world will come to an end)? Ecclesiology (how the church is structured)?”

When no one threw out the answer she was looking for she exclaimed, “He was talking about Christology! Christology! Christology!”  Matthew was talking about the nature of Jesus and who Jesus might represent for us in our lives.

Hearing this story it rang true for me just how sharp Matthew’s understanding of Jesus is.  In stepping out on his journey seeking shelter, refuge, and hospitality for those who are, like himself, homeless, Matthew has a living, breathing understanding of just what Jesus might have been up to as he was wandering around preaching, teaching, and healing in the countryside.  Matthew is an example of how attuned to God we become when we not only reflect on our spiritual journey, but also strike out on an unknown path following where God leads.

For those who were in attendance last year when Matthew spoke during our monthly services, you should know that he will be presenting different material.  This time he will be sharing recent stories from his journey of homelessness and what it has meant for him to seek shelter in the church.  He will also bring his church in a box, which he spoke about last year, to share following the service.  Of course, his message will be full of insights about Jesus and his ministry across the Judean countryside – as can only be understood by someone who has spent years in his own homeless ministry. Come join us this Sunday to hear from Matthew of his travels.

Hear Matthew’s appearance on NPR’s This American Life – The Call of the Great Indoors

You can read about Matthew’s homeless church in the conclusion of God’s Politics by Jim Wallis

Thanksgiving 11-20-2011 from Praxis UCC on Vimeo.

The scripture passage was Matthew 6:25-33

What do you think? Do have some beautiful Thanksgiving moments to share? We’d love for you to add your comments below.

While there is some confusion about what Occupy Wall Street and its affiliates stand for, the community that has sprouted up around the movement is something to behold.  At Occupy Atlanta they offer food, childcare, legal assistance, and health care to anyone participating as a testament to an alternate way of doing community.  Occupy Atlanta actually includes many people in its ranks who were already experiencing homelessness.  Together with those who have chosen homelessness in protest of a broken economic system, they have now created what is so difficult to find in so many American cities: a group of neighbors willing to take care of each other and share “all things in common,” distributing “to all, as any had need.” (Acts 2:44)

This is a movement where it’s difficult to see who has a home to return to and who does not.  Whether you agree with the many grievances the movement has espoused, the occupiers have shown us a face of solidarity between those who have and those in need.  Isn’t this what the church should be striving for?  To erase the lines that divide us?  To treat one another as equals regardless of social location? This might be summed up in our UCC motto: “That they might all be one”.

I’m excited for the upcoming Mission 1, where the United Church of Christ will take 11 days between 11/1/11 and 11/11/11 to feed the hungry and confront food related injustice.

As part of our Mission 1 collection at Praxis we’ll be taking donations to the Occupy Atlanta movement where it will help support those who are living on the street–whether by choice or by circumstance.  We’ll also collect canned goods that will go to the Atlanta Community food bank.

Here’s a list of items that the Occupy Atlanta protesters are requesting.  If you bring these to Praxis we’ll make sure that they get to the organizers:

Camp Sunshine is an incredible organization that helps kids that are living with cancer. They are centered locally in Decatur. For more information on Camp Sunshine, go to www.mycampsunshine.com.

Please join us in supporting Always Saturday in their mission to help Camp Sunshine! To listen to some of their great music check out alwayssaturday.com and then download the song through itunes by clicking here!

Now twice a month, we gather for coffee and fellowship to reflect on issues surrounding homelessness; then we hop across Ponce de Leon Ave. to Journey (next to Druid Hills Presbyterian) and do art with the residents in a low-key, fun environment. Our goal is to create relationships and allow everyone’s creativity to flourish, no matter how “good” at art we are–or aren’t! Come join us!

Preparing stencisl that say "Jesus was Homeless"

George's awesome "FAITH" t-shirt

Praxis UCC gathered last night with thousands of other Georgians for an Atlanta rally in support of stopping the execution of Mr. Davis. A prayer service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King served, was held afterwards.

As Christians, we worship a man who was unjustly executed by the state.  We are also called to walk humbly with a God who embodies justice and love.  Whether you are against the death penalty in general, or for justice to be done in this particular case, we ask you to join us in showing support for Troy and in praying for the family of Officer Mark MacPhail, the victim in the case, as we work for just alternatives to an unwarranted execution and a broken judicial system.  For more info on the case and why there is too much doubt to execute, go here.  To add your name to a 600,000+ signature petition to stop the execution, go here.

Our friend, and member of the Praxis community, Laura aka Lucki devi-dasi is celebrating the opening of her new art show this evening. Her show will feature her eclectic found object paintings, assemblages, collages, and sculptures.

Come join us tonight (August 5) from 7-9pm at Red Wall Studio. 1428 Ponce de Leon N.E. Atlanta. It’s right next to St John’s Lutheran Church where we used to have worship.

To see more samples of her fabulous art check out her web page - Art Outside the Box – here.

Quick reminder: our first meeting to discuss Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical is THIS THURSDAY: dinner at 6:30pm (bring a dish to share!) followed by discussion from 7:30-8:30(ish) at Chris and Leah’s place, 1093D N. Jamestown Rd.  Our gathering will focus on CHAPTERS 2-5.  Dinner will be gazpacho + nachos, and whatever else you bring!

Come out and join us for thought- and faith-provoking conversation, good food, and great fellowship!  All are welcome!