To view the slideshow describing the membership proposal from this past Sunday, please click the link below. Keep in mind that the sections on corporate and individual practices are unfinished. Please send any comments, suggestions, or questions you have our way!

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7W0RcqLUUjwZGQzN2U1NzQtOWMwYy00MDA1LTgzNjItYmEzZjBjOTE0YWE1&hl=en_US

As the people of God, we feel called to be present to the place in which God has planted us. We seek to proclaim and embody the Good News that God has not abandoned us but has come to dwell among us and redeem us. By God’s grace, we seek to be imitators of Christ and live incarnational lives among our neighbors here in Norwood. We are a diverse people, seeking to embody a generous orthodoxy that stands in solidarity with the church historic and global. As we’ve laid out different models for VC over the last several weeks, there seems to be a shared hope to continue being a church in this neighborhood, a church that has a more definitive structure and yet retains an organic and intentional presence in the community.

As we have listened to God and to each other over these last several months, we feel confident in proposing a parish church model for VC that also incorporates elements of both the house church model and the intentional community model. The hallmark of a parish church model is a pastoral commitment to shepherd the people of a specific geographical location. Everyone within that boundary is seen as part of the church’s parish, regardless of their commitment to the church. For VC, this would mean an intentional commitment to caring for the people of Norwood, especially those within the immediate vicinity of St. Elizabeth.

Regular, smaller gatherings of us will be vital to the continued growth and discipleship that house churches at their best provide. These smaller gatherings can be based on geographical proximity, life stage, interest or missional cause. Distinct layers of commitment to the church will allow for clarity, more of a sense of ownership, and the pursuit of a more intentional life together. Each layer will invite people to a deeper commitment to God, each other, and the work of God in this place. Membership in the church will be possible without committing to all aspects of intentional community. Specific practices and covenants will be drawn up to give substance and distinction to these commitments. Further marks of this model are as follows:

A parish model of church would seek to cultivate our relationships with God by

-rooting ourselves in God’s faithfulness and love, seen most fully in Christ and His redemption

-regularly coming together as the gathered body of Christ for worship, prayer and fellowship

-taking seriously the call to proclaim and embody God’s love and justice

-committing to intentional practices of individual and corporate devotion

A parish model of church would seek to cultivate our relationships with our neighbors by

-committing to intentional practices of community presence and neighborly love

-providing a weekly gathering for worship that is accessible to them

-offering pastoral care and other services throughout the week that empower and encourage

-partnering with them in local activities, organizations and initiatives

A parish model of church would seek to cultivate the lives of its members by

-providing preaching, teaching and pastoral care that exhorts, equips, and encourages

-providing teaching and shepherding for children and youth

-coordinating opportunities for small group fellowship and discipleship

-committing to intentional practices of fellowship and accountability

Membership in this parish model would

-be centered around a covenant commitment

-be reviewed on a yearly basis

-include a commitment to mutual accountability with other covenant members

Leadership in this parish model

-would come from covenant members exercising their God-given talents and abilities

-would ultimately rest with a body of elders who represent covenant members

-may include a paid pastor and additional staff positions

The building in this parish model would

-be a visible and tangible hub of the church’s work in the community

-function as both a spiritual hospital and a launching pad for ministry out in the community

-get used throughout the week for various activities that serve the community

If anyone would like to help the Drubers with meals, here is the meal registry that our friend Tiffany Miller set up for us.

Thanks much!
Becca Swartzendruber

The following comes to us from Becca Swartzendruber. She and her husband, Nathan, are expecting the arrival of their first child in about two weeks!  

Nathan and I are asking for help with house projects such as scraping, painting and moving furniture in the next few weeks as our due date approaches. Any help you could offer would be much appreciated. Email us at beccajayne1@gmail.com or fishpatrol@gmail.com.

Starting this Sunday, June 12, and throughout the season of Pentecost, we will be meeting in the “upper room” studio at the back of St. E’s, and we will be meeting at 10am. These changes are in keeping with what many of you indicated as you as your preferences on the two polls sent out a couple weeks ago. Hope to see you Sunday!

The following is from Joshua Stoxen:

I thought it might be good to give people the opportunity to help set up and decorate the sanctuary for Sunday since there may several who would enjoy that — we will be setting up the sanctuary on Saturday the 23rd starting at 2pm. I should also mention that those interested in helping Robert cook pancakes for Easter can call him at 513.351.0751

See more info about Easter Sunday.

Good Friday Service: April 22nd

What is the crosswalk?  It is a vital part of the evening and our discernment process, and will be a time of interactive confession and lament involving a walk around the neighborhood to various sites that signify the memories and hopes (personal and corporate) of the people of Vineyard Central.  The questions of Jesus’ disciples (We had thought?…we had hoped?) we will seek to make ours as a part of our transition into the Easter season.

After the crosswalk, we will assemble in the Upper Room of St. Elizabeth for a time of reflective worship through simple a-capella music and readings from Scripture focused on the Passion of Christ and the events leading up to Jesus’ death on the Cross.  We will be “stripping the cross” of our pieces of cloth during this time and adorning the worship space in black.

Easter Sunday: April 24th

• Worship Gathering @ 10am (in the main Sanctuary of St. Elizabeth)
• Pancake “Brunch” to follow at 12 p.m. (in the Speckled Bird Cafe, bring “fixins” you would like to have with the pancakes to share with others!)

Our hopes are not in vain!  The celebration of God’s redemption and resurrection will involve dedication of children, baptism for those desiring to commit their lives to Jesus, and an opportunity to adorn the same cross we have placed our laments and relinquishments on with beautiful flowers.  We will hear from VCers through poetry and testimony concerning the good God has accomplished in our lives

We apologize for this announcement coming later in the week.  We had said it would come earlier, and we want to be accountable to do what we have said we would do going forward.  Thank you for your patience as we all stumble toward the accountability and grace we need to hold one another as a community!

The VC Women’s Retreat is soon to happen!

Sustainable Faith (the retreat ministry of the Convent) will be hosting the VC Women’s Retreat again this year. Cost will be $25 per person, which will include use of the whole building for Friday night through Saturday afternoon, and breakfast and lunch. Dinner on Friday night will be potluck.

Jody Nixon will be collecting the money, which can be paid through their website or directly to her: checks written to sustainable faith.

Please RSVP to  Mary Ellen Mitchell (maryellenmitchell@gmail.com) or through the Facebook event (preferred)before April 20, but as soon as you are able, so we can get an idea of how to move forward.

If you are interested in spending the night, please post that on the wall below and we will reserve space for you. Rooms will be shared, but over night accommodation is included in the $25, on a first come first served basis.

Please pay Jody Nixon ASAP.

Sustainable Faith (the retreat ministry of the Convent) will be hosting the VC women’s retreat again this year. It is scheduled for Friday May 20- Saturday May 21 and cost will be  $25 per person, which will include use of the whole building for Friday night through Saturday afternoon, and breakfast and lunch. Jody Nixon will be collecting the money, which can be paid through their website (sustainablefaith.com/donate)  or directly to her: checks written to sustainable faith. If you are interested in spending the night, please let her know and she will reserve space for you. Rooms will be shared, but over night accommodation is included in the $25, on a first come first served basis. If you would like to stay over night, please include that in the RSVP. Dinner on Friday night will be potluck. Please RSVP to Mary Ellen Mitchell ( maryellenmitchell@gmail.com ) or Jody before April 20, but as soon as you are able, so we can get an idea of how to move forward.

The following announcement is from Nathan Myers:

Hello Vineyard Central community.

Things were a bit confusing toward the end of our gathering on Sunday as several times/persons to contact were mentioned regarding the upcoming weekly discernment times.  To clear up the confusion a bit, we set up a Doodle Poll to decide on a weekly (Sunday) meeting time. Please cast your votes by Wednesday evening — we’ll tally up the results on Thursday and send out a reminder soon after.

We shifted the suggested times a bit to reflect two desires.  The morning time is shifted back to 11 to provide space for one of the leaders should the community lean on that time more heavily.  The afternoon time is shifted forward to 4 in a desire to be hospitable to parents of young children (of which we have many) in our community who need space and energy to devote to the gatherings before their children are needing to transition to bed.  The times on the poll reflect the likely length of our gatherings maximum of 2 1/2 hours), given that we will spend a piece of time in a worship gathering, a piece eating together, and a piece learning and discussing with one another.

Please click on the below link so we can get a good sense of what time would work best for a wide swath of our community. As stated in the poll, your preference will remain anonymous to all but those collecting the results.”

http://doodle.com/acrk7ay7542nf2p6

Hello Church!

I wanted to send out a reminder that Jill and Josh Stoxen are very close to meeting their son! He’s due in less that two weeks, so be keeping their family in mind and in prayer these last exciting days before his arrival.

Also, I’ll be coordinating a meal share for their family with a fabulous new web organizational tool that Jill told me about. It will take our community meal share superpowers to the next level. Get a preview here. After baby boy arrives I will make a calendar and folks can mark when they can make food and what they plan on making so everyone can see. Gone are the days when lasagna comes 5 days in a row !  Woot!

I will send out another email when baby boy Stoxen arrives, but in the mean time, please let me know if you want to be on the list of people who get to bless this family with food during such a holy time in their lives.

You can reach me via email: elizabeth@bettyhatchettdesign.com or phone: 513.293.1549

gracias,
Elizabeth Hatchett

For those in the VC community and friends who contributed financially to VC in 2010,

There has been an unforeseen delay in getting the end-of-year Donor Statements out the door by the end of January.  I have been having some technical difficulties with the program used to generate the statements.  I’ve been working with a tech support person for the program and hope to have the issue resolved shortly. I apologize for any inconvenience.  The statements will be sent out as soon as possible.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Peace, Marissa

Significantly discounted 2011 Norwood YMCA memberships are now available for Vineyard Central!!

The cost is $150 for the entire year & can be paid in two $75 payments.

Membership includes access to all facilities including free classes & free childcare while you are using the facilities.  There is also discounted daycare available.  The Norwood Y has a fitness center, a gym, an indoor & an outdoor pool, racquetball courts, & sauna.  Classes include yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, step aerobics, weight training, spinning, water aerobics, gymnastics, swimming lessons, tae kwon do, etc.

http://www.cincinnatiymca.org/our-ys/branches/re-lindner

Individuals & families are welcome.  Get in on this great deal!  Payment needs to be made by the end of the year.  Email any questions to:  bethreedsemail@gmail.com

The larger context for this post is our weekly Advent gatherings leading up to Christmas.  The following is a message from Laura McNeel:

REFRESHMENTS for Advent Gatherings

Last Sunday night was the start of our four week series of Advent celebrations, leading up to Christmas and birth of our King. Thank you to all our friends and neighbors who made this beautiful time of worship and fellowship possible.

As the Advent season continues, we hope to draw even closer together as a family of Christ. One way you can contribute is by sharing the gift of hospitality through food and drink. Refreshments for the remaining 3 Advent evenings can be light and simple, and should easily be covered by a few willing volunteers ( one person for food, one person for drinks each week.)
Whether you have a talent for baking, coffee brewing, or just the extra time and resources to buy a few pre-made items from the grocery, your gifts will be gladly received and appreciated.

To sign-up (and to ensure that all our ducks are covered), follow this doodle link, type your name to the left, and check the box for the corresponding date and item you are willing to bring.

Blessings and Thanks,
Laura McNeel

(If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note on Facebook!)