A few announcements regarding our upcoming Easter celebration:

Easter Service – We’ll gather at 10am on Easter morning for a celebration of resurrection, with the added joy of welcoming new young lives into our church family in a time of child dedication. Childcare will be provided up to age 8. Plan to join us afterward for a memorable Easter potluck.

Easter Potluck – As of Monday morning, we only have a few folks signed up to bring something to the potluck. Please remember to add your contribution to the list. It’s quick and easy.

Church Decorating – Volunteers are needed to help prepare St. E’s for Easter. We will be meeting at 3 pm on Saturday, April 3rd. If you are able we would love for you to bring cut or potted flowers. Plan on spending a couple hours working together to create a beautiful space that adds to the joy of our celebration. If you can help, please email gatherings@vineyardcentral.com to let us know you’ll be coming.

The Vineyard Central Women’s Retreat is quickly approaching. It will be held April 9-10 at the Convent on Lincoln. Rooms are available overnight for $25 a night. If you are interested in participating please e mail maryellenmitchell@gmail.com by April 5.

See the original post here.

Hi friends! On April 4 we’ll be gathering together to celebrate Easter Sunday. A big part of that celebration is the lunch we’ll share. It’s a pot luck, which means everyone gets to bring something to share and we all get to enjoy a delicious meal together … and it’s a surprise as to what we’ll be having, depending on what folks decide to bring : )

This is something where everyone can participate … everyone gets to play. Those who like to cook can cook. Those who don’t cook can stop at Kroger and pick something up that’s inexpensive. Kids can bake brownies or cookies. Folks can help set up the table, and clean up afterward. And we all get to enjoy food and family and friends together on a very special day.

So we’re asking that you think about how you can contribute. What can you bring to the table to share? There’s a list for signing up so we can get a picture of how things are coming together. We’d like to have a full table at this event. There are suggestions below if you’re not sure what to bring. Please take a moment to look it over and consider your contribution, then click on this link and let us know what you’re thinking.

• Meat (bake a ham or a roast or some chicken … bring a bucket of chicken … get cold cuts from Kroger … etc)
• Casserole (make something your family enjoys … meat or vegetarian … a pasta dish perhaps … etc)
• Side (green beans, corn, broccoli, some other vegetable or potato, potato salad from Kroger, baked beans … etc)
• Salad (put one together or get a bag salad and dump in a bowl)
• Bread (bake or buy)
• Dessert (bake or buy)
• Beverage (make a jug of tea or lemonade, pick up some bottled water, or just bring a pitcher you can put some water in … etc)

And we’ll also need a clean up crew. So please, check out the link and join the party!

This was a message from Jody Nixon

The following is a message from Beth Reed:

Hello VC Folks,
The local Norwood YMCA has been offering discounted memberships to 30 VC members for several years.  There are still at least 6 openings left for 2010. The cost is $150 per person for the year. This is only $12.50 per month. (As opposed to the usual $56/ month plus $125 joining fee).
Membership includes:

• Gym with elliptical machines, treadmills, stationary bikes, nautilus and free weights.
• Access to indoor pool, outdoor pool, racquetball courts, basketball court, and sauna.
• Free classes including yoga, aerobics, weight training, spinning, Pilates, water aerobics, group swimming lessons etc),
• Free childcare for children 6 weeks to 8 y/o for 90 minutes at a time.
• Discounted classes like gymnastics, karate & private swim lessons’

Payment can be made in full right away (the sooner the better since it’s already March) or in two payments of $75.

If you are interested in one or several memberships, please email Beth Reed ASAP.  For other ways to get in touch, email the communications team.

You can also check out the YMCA website.

Update:  Seder has been cancelled due to lack of interest.  See comments for more info.

A few of us are inspired to co-ordinate a Seder meal for our whole community on Good Friday, April 2nd at about 6:00 p.m., a little over 2 weeks away.  But, as you may know, VC has a very lean support staff and no financial resources to do such a thing at this time.  So, to do it, we would need to know if the VC housechurches are interested enough in this to make specific contributions of money and energy (detailed below).  We’re writing to give you a sense of what we’re envisioning and to get an Up or Down vote this week.  We recognize this is a lot of detail all at once, but if this is going to happen, we need your housechurch to read these details and respond.  So, check out the following rough plan and let Stephen JohnsonGrove know by Thursday 3/18 whether or not your housechurch is whole-heartedly on board and is able to contribute the specific things requested below.  It’d be helpful if y’all caucused as a housechurch and came to some consensus and then just one spokesperson from each housechurch got back to Stephen, so he’s not getting mixed signals.  If most or all say Yes, we’ll go for it.  If not, no sweat—maybe we’ll try again next year (its sorta last minute, we realize).  Here’s the scoop:

First, in case you were wondering, a Seder meal is a Jewish traditional celebration of Passover, a mixture of liturgy, worship, and eating.  You can read more about a Christian version of this here.

Second, we’re envisioning housechurches spread out in circles on the floor of St. E’s on picnic blankets and old pillows/cushions.  There’s a couple reasons for this.  One, its fun and relaxed when you eat food sitting on the floor—that’s why kids do it all the time!  Two, haven’t you read how Jesus “reclined at the table” with his disciples?  Three, setting up housechurches in circles will create an ideal time for housechurches to extend hospitality to folks new to VC or just not connected to a housechurch yet.  And it’ll be an ideal way for new folks to test out a housechurch—sharing a worshipful yet laid back meal. To create this vibe, each housechurch would need to bring:

• As many picnic blankets and old cushions/pillows as they may need for all their members plus two extra for any guests that might need a spot.
• Plates, cups, and flatware for yourselves and an extra set or two for guests.
• Two candles and a lighter or matches.
• simple sign with the name of your housechurch.
• Someone from your housechurch that can come 45 min. early to help set up the space (clear chairs, layout your blankets & whatnot).

We will also have a table or two set-up for folks that are not comfortable or able to sit on the floor.
During a seder meal, eating of special foods is interspersed with readings and prayers focused on the themes of Exodus, freedom, and deliverance.  The liturgy will be printed out for everyone (its called a ‘haggadah‘).  We think it’d work best for one team of people (please volunteer if you’re interested) to prepare all the special Seder foods for everyone. To make this work, we would need each housechurch to contribute $50-$75 (depending on the size of the housechurch) to purchase all the foods and copy the haggadah for everyone. NOTE: we’re keeping this non-alcoholic, so there will be grape juice, not wine.

After the liturgy concludes, we’ll keep eating—just in the form of one of our good ol’ potlucks (the Seder foods will be a good start but probably not enough to fill you up).  So, we also need 1-2 people from each housechurch to bring a dish to share.

Finally, we’ll need some individuals to sign up to be on the clean-up crew.

So, that’s the idea. As you see, we’re asking a fair amount of each housechurch, so we want to make clear we’re offering this as an option. If it feels like too much to take on or your housechurch just isn’t all that into it, that’s cool—no one will be offended, we promise. But if you’re all in, that’s great. Either way, let Stephen (stephen.johnsongrove@gmail.com) know by this Thursday, March 18. Also, if you individually would like to be on the team of people preparing the Seder foods for everyone or on the clean-up crew, please let Stephen know as well.

P.S.  I just realized I said nothing about kids.  They are not only welcome, they are an essential part of any good seder meal.  The Jews take seriously the several times God commands them, “And you shall tell your children how I delivered you…” So, yes, bring your kids!

Thanks and peace,
Bethany Rogers (worship co-ordinator), Joshua Hanauer (outreach pastor), & Stephen JohnsonGrove (rabble-rouser)

Our colleagues over at 1801 have sent in a few items that folks may be interested in.  They are copied below.

From Wheaton College:

You are invited to a dessert reception and special lecture featuring Wheaton alumnus, Dr. Mark Noll ‘68 on Saturday, March 20, 2010. Dr. Noll will present “The Bible and Slavery” at Miami University’s Farmer School of Business.

Dessert Reception and Lecture – 6:30 PM
East Commons Room
Farmer School of Business, Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056

This event is free but reservations are required. Please contact Dr. Edwin Yamauchi at yamauce@muohio.edu by March 17th.

We hope to see you there!

From Church of the Redeemer:

Make plans to deepen your faith at our LENTEN SERIES which begins Wednesday, February 24, at 7:00 pm. The series will be led by the Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann who will lead us on a journey through recurring plots in the Old Testament. Our Wednesday evening Holy Eucharist will begin at 6:30 pm during Lent and will precede the discussion. Childcare is available if requested (online or by phoning the parish office) four days in advance. The Lenten Series will be held on February 24, March 3, 10, 17, and 24.

Many folks have suggested that we post notes from the pastoral council meetings.  We all thought this was a great idea, so here they are.  You should be seeing these monthly!   -sam

Notes from the PC meeting on February 28, 2010

Present:  Owen Brock, Kenny Havens, Sam Hatchett, Josh Hanauer, Mandy McLaughlin, Dave Nixon, Jeremy Eyre, Christiane Sears, Sarah Adams, Greg York, Janet McNeel, Brad Rogers, Bethany Rogers

Meeting led by Josh Hanauer.  Brief discussion of Google Wave and its use by Pastoral Council.  Agenda items were reviewed and PC members selected priority items via a tally system.  Owen referenced Stephen Covey’s concept of quadrants for recognizing urgency vs. importance.

Agenda:

• VC Finances
• Wedding Business Proposal
• Job Descriptions for Pastoral Council members
• Feedback from last large gathering/ plans for Spanish mass (Easter?)
• Who is a member and who is a friend of VC?

VC Finances – Presentation by Sarah Adams  (with handout)

YMCA memberships  – problems with payments, some participants are not current, costing VC to cover this, deadline approaching to sign for this year.  Decision made to end VC sponsorship.  Volunteer could take this over if someone were to step forward.  [note: Beth Reed has since taken up this cause]

Reviewed various expense items.  Questions asked and answered by Sarah.  Desire is to breathe new life into stewardship process.  Discussed possibility of house churches being asked to forego monthly allotment to help out with deficit for next couple of mos.  [note: only discussed; no resolutions were made] Also team will be formed to discuss financial matters and determine how to best communicate with house churches (suggested names were Mandy, Josh, Sam, Kenny, Owen, and Greg) – Sarah will set a meeting in 1-2 weeks.

Suggestion to inform folks of “direct pay” giving option through local banks online

Wedding Business Proposal – Presented by Greg York (with handout)

Plans are underway to get this started in the near future—viewed as beneficial to VC and to the community.  Some discussion followed.  Concerns re. long term impact on West Norwood.  Further talks will occur with VC congregation.

Job Descriptions – To be completed.  Deadline in two weeks so that this information can be posted on the website.

Brief discussion occurred about communication with folks emailing VC for information, oftentimes these may be individuals who are out of state.  Eventually hope that Kevin Gilles will be able to be the contact person for newcomers to get linked with house churches.  Kenny and Christiane to also be involved.  Jeremy and Greg also agreed to be on a team to help channel folks into house churches.  Plan to have “Come and See” weekends—maybe 4x per year??  Voicemail message for VC will be switched over to Google Voice system.

Review of Last Gathering on February 7

Need welcome, offering basket, try to make more integral part of service especially in light of current financial needs.  Like kids’ song.  May enlist house churches to plan a gathering or have particular roles in the future.  Announcements will be presented by Mandy.  Want to make sure that gatherings reinforce VC’s identity.

Activities and meetings will be on the calendar on VC’s website.  Will make PC mtg. notes/minutes available to the VC community.  Plan is to re-instate Town Hall mtgs. on quarterly basis.

Permission has been granted by the Archdiocese of Cinti for the hosting of a Spanish mass at St. Elizabeth’s in the near future.  PC majority voted in favor of supporting this endeavor.  Will need to decide soon whether this will occur on Easter and how to coordinate with planned use of the building for gathering on that day.

Who are Members vs. Friends of VC  – Item not discussed due to time limitation.

NEXT MEETING:  March 28, 2010  1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Need some girls time-out?

Girls, I’ve got a treat for you! Lots of you are familiar with Beth Moore. If you’re not, Beth is a gifted speaker and writer who is known for her ability to get to the heart of the Scriptures and tell you in plain, every day language just exactly what it means to you. And she does it in a “Girl, I gotta-tell-ya-because-I-love-ya” kind of way. Beth is passionate about the life-transforming power of God, and her messages are straight from God’s Word.

Two Mondays in March (8th and 15th) I’m hosting a women’s bible teaching get together from 3:30 – 5:45 pm at 1801 Mills. Free childcare will also be available for those who register. (We have limited space, so sign up asap).

The video series is called Loving Well, based on I John, Chapter 4. The premise is that you can’t properly love others until you’ve been loved well by God first. Beth hits home the point that as Christians, we are called to especially love those who are difficult to love, and that God wants to provide the key to doing just that.

If you would like to attend, please email Christiane Sears at Cantwait2surf@hotmail.com by Sunday, March 7, 2010 to reserve your spot. To watch a sample of the video series and to listen to testimonials, go here.

And, check the Facebook Event page!

The Gilles family (Kevin, Sarah, Noah and Ethan) welcomed Ruby Rose Diane on February 24.  If you are interested in supporting them with meals, please e-mail Angie Ferrell at aaferrell@yahoo.com.  A schedule will be forthcoming.  Thanks for loving the Gilles family in this way!

This is a reminder for any families interested in participating in the Easter gathering baptisms and dedications on Sunday, April 4.  Please contact Angie Ferrell ataaferrell@yahoo.com no later than March 8th if you’re interested, and include which family member(s) are being dedicated/baptized.

Greetings to the VC Family from the Gatherings team! We pray that you are growing in Christ this Lenten season. We invite you to join us for Sunday’s gathering, this coming March the 7th, where instead of a ‘festival’ atmosphere, we’ll be joining together for mindful relection, in keeping with the nature of the season. Our service begins at 10 am. Childcare will be provided up to age 8.Children older than 8 are asked to sit with their families. We will share a meal following the service, so please bring a dish to pass or a beverage.

We are in need of 2 people who would be willing to greet and welcome visitors before the service. We’ve identified this as an important way we can live up to our goal of showing hospitality to newcomers. Please email if you’re able to volunteer to be one of these people. Thanks in advance!

Questions? Send ‘em to gatherings@vineyardcentral.com