As I was listening to the words to “Glory Be” from Sojourn’s Advent Songs yesterday, I was reminded of the beauty, majesty, and mystery of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the reality that in Christ, “the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Yet, the same passage of Scripture tells us, “the world did not know him” (1:10). All around us is darkness, but we are salt and light sent out into this world to bring light to darkness (Matt. 5:13-16). Let us let our light shine before our neighbors “so that they may see [our] good works and give glory to the Father who is in heaven” (5:16).

In response to the stewardship of the light and life we live and proclaim, as we embark upon this season of Advent, we are going to join the angels in their song and sing for joy because our Messiah has come to set us free, just as the words of “Glory Be” remind us!

Every Monday during the month of December (Monday, December 6; Monday, December 13; and Monday, December 20) we will be meeting at 6:30PM in the gallery at the 930 (Midtown campus) to hit the streets and sing the gospel to every home in the Germantown, Schnitzelburg, and Shelby Park.

We are calling every Sojourner to join us in this corporate song of celebration for the coming of our Messiah with our neighbors who do not know him. We will have the words and chord sheets for Christmas carols that proclaim the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ available for you, and we want you to come sing the Good News, whether you sing on key or not. If you play the guitar, clarinet, or any instrument you can carry and play, bring your instrument along to accompany our carolers.

As the world around us retreats into their homes for this Christmas season, let’s invade the darkness with songs of truth and light!

Hallelujah, the Lord of life has come,
To reconcile the nations to their God,
Hallelujah, he’s coming back again,
To finish what began in Bethlehem!
Hallelujah!!!

Nearly five months ago Sojourn’s leadership moved to reorganize Sojourn’s 100+ Community groups into neighborhood “clusters”.   The move has better positioned Sojourn to pray, think, plan, and engage in gospel mission, in particular neighborhoods among particular neighbors, across the city of Louisville.  The move has also given Sojourn’s Community Groups a fresh awareness of the biblical call to be who they are – the church, where they are – in local neighborhoods, together – mission is a community project.

Every one of us is where we are for a reason, and our missionary God calls us to be present with the gospel wherever that might be.  Sojourn’s leadership believes the same thing is true of every Community Group.  No group meets where it does by accident or mere choice of the group members.  Every Community Group has been sent, by God, to carry the light of the gospel into the apartment complex or the neighborhood where they gather.

The only questions are: How bright is the group’s gospel light among lost neighbors?  Is the group hiding its gospel light?  If a Community Group folded or moved to another area of the city, would neighbors notice?  Would they miss the group’s influence or presence? If the group left the neighborhood, would anyone notice? Would anyone care?

Increasingly, Sojourn’s Community Groups are coming to terms with these questions and learning together to think and live like MISSIONARIES (who they are) in the neighborhoods (where they are) where God has placed them (together).  Below is Part Two of yet another example.  This one comes from Sojourn members Cliff and Ashley Hilton, who recently decided to throw a neighborhood party with the members of their Community Group.

________________________________________

Marengo Tango.Part Two

Day of.

Mark and Joan Smalley, a couple in our Community Group, were a monster help in preparation. They provided an extra grill, tables, fun little games from the dollar store, and tons of drinks. After all, we had no idea what to expect. We had announced on the flyer that the party started at 2pm, so we waited.

Around 2:30 a couple of families, along with some of the members of our Community Group, came and hung out with us.  And as the day went on more and more neighbors came. I was thinking it would last til 5 or so, but it went on…til 9pm. Amazing! We had neighbors telling us they had lived in the neighborhood for X amount of years and had never even met their next door neighbors!  What an opportunity!  We had some who recently moved, as we did, and were encouraged about this neighborhood. Many families brought their kids, evening out the adults/kids ratio. Some of our neighbors even brought food and desserts. Many drove by and asked what we were doing, including one lady who asked “What committee are you with?”

We got to tell most of these folks why we wanted to do this: living in community, close proximity community, and how our church values that and growing together by actively loving God and loving people.

In the end, we received as much from this party as we gave – like families offering to babysit.  Several women told Ashley they were home during the day if we ever needed anything. And everyone thanked us sincerely for having the party. Many asked if this would become an annual thing. Many stayed around to help clean up. One highlight for me (Cliff) came when one neighbor told me that an elderly widow who has lived in the neighborhood for years was out of town at her 65th high school reunion and was very upset she was having to miss this!  I was able to introduce myself to her the very next week!

So, after many burgers, games of corn-hole and croquet, kids drawing and writing with sidewalk chalk, basketball in the street and blowing bubbles, I looked around and wondered where it would all lead.

At this point, we’re planning to have the families who attended over for dinner to get to know them better. And some of the neighborhood kids know us by name now and often stop by, including one family who asked us to be a part of a fundraiser. We received a Halloween present in our mailbox from one family. We were able to support our neighbor who ran for city council.  In short, the doorway has swung wide open! And the door isn’t just open between us and our neighbors but between other families who now know each other.  They say it just feels “more comfortable” around the neighborhood.

We think there are many things God is going to be doing here, and we’re excited to see him work.  We have seen Jesus more clearly, as a result of this “Tango,” and we know that He will use this for His glory. Our eyes have been opened and walls broken down here in this multi-aged, more open door community.

We hope this encourages you to open your doors, to step out of the home or apartment where your Community Group gathers, and to be present in your neighborhood, as missionaries. It can only bring good things!  Whether you have a party like ours, offer to help someone rake leaves for a day, offer to collet a neighbor’s mail while they’re out of town, or throw a Christmas party for your neighborhood, be creative and be intentional!

We pray for you, fellow Sojourners, that you might see your surroundings as ministry – urban, suburban, or rural, our church is moving out into our city and you, God’s people, are needed.

________________________________________

Are you interested in throwing a neighborhood party with your Community Group?  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are all around the corner, and all of them provide perfect opportunities for hosting parties and developing relationships with neighbors.  Fill out this form to get started!  If you have any questions, email Mike Crowe, Director of Groups, at mcrowe@sojournchurch.com..

Nearly five months ago Sojourn’s leadership moved to reorganize Sojourn’s 100+ Community groups into neighborhood “clusters”.   The move has better positioned Sojourn to pray, think, plan, and engage in gospel mission, in particular neighborhoods among particular neighbors, across the city of Louisville.  The move has also given Sojourn’s Community Groups a fresh awareness of the biblical call to be who they are – the church, where they are – in local neighborhoods, together – mission is a community project.

Every one of us is where we are for a reason, and our missionary God calls us to be present with the gospel wherever that might be.  Sojourn’s leadership believes the same thing is true of every Community Group.  No group meets where it does by accident or mere choice of the group members.  Every Community Group has been sent, by God, to carry the light of the gospel into the apartment complex or the neighborhood where they gather.

The only questions are: How bright is the group’s gospel light among lost neighbors?  Is the group hiding its gospel light?  If a Community Group folded or moved to another area of the city, would neighbors notice?  Would they miss the group’s influence or presence? If the group left the neighborhood, would anyone notice? Would anyone care?

Increasingly, Sojourn’s Community Groups are coming to terms with these questions and learning together to think and live like MISSIONARIES (who they are) in the neighborhoods (where they are) where God has placed them (together).  Below is yet another example.  This one comes from Sojourn members Cliff and Ashley Hilton, who recently decided to throw a neighborhood party with the members of their Community Group.  Look for Part Two in the next few days!

________________________________________

Marengo Tango.Part One

Once upon a time, a little over a year ago, we had a vision of living in a neighborhood that was filled with families and friendships – a closeness I remember as a child, where our own children could run out of the house and over to a friend’s house. Well, every good story has a beginning, and this is the beginning of our neighborhood story, our community, and how our vision will become reality, with hope, love and sacrifice, in the near future.

Sojourn’s leadership began casting a vision for community in neighborhoods across the city at the very moment Ashley and I moved into our home in Middletown, onto a street named Marengo Dr. We live on a corner lot, in the middle of a cut-thru street, that leads to many side streets. At the outset, we met a couple of neighbors, but it seemed nothing was to come of it, besides a few friendly waves and some quick conversations.

We wanted more.  So, we had an idea to throw a major neighborhood party in our yard early in the summer.  After many weeks of discussion, when, how, and why questions started to come up in our Community Group.  It gave us a real opportunity to talk through what it means to be missionaries, to reach out to our neighbors.  Finally, we decided to just do it. We named it the Marengo Tango.

In two weeks time we made flyers, passed them out, encouraged our group to join us, talked to the two neighbors we did know about it, and it all came together in the end.  We hit the streets, put the flyers in mailboxes, and personally delivered them to the neighbors we were able to speak with.  It was that easy.  One mother even opened up to my wife about her college-age daughters needing to connect with other young people and was excited for this opportunity. We even had a returned invitation with a note on the back that let us know the neighbors who received it were sorry they could not make it.

With a collective desire to bless our neighbors with a stellar party, our Community Group collected funds for the party, and Sojourn matched what we gathered. We were amazed – both by our Community Church and by Sojourn’s desire to support us. This is not normal, not based on my background (Cliff), at least.

What a wonderful church we have!  Praise God for Sojourn Community Church.  But here’s the great thing.  As we talked about and planned this party, our Community Group recognized something – we are the church, and this party took us out of our walls and into our ministry, our neighborhood.

Stay tuned for Part Two of Marengo Tango.

________________________________________

Are you interested in throwing a neighborhood party with your Community Group?  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are all around the corner, and all of them provide perfect opportunities for hosting parties and developing relationships with neighbors.  Fill out this form to get started!  If you have any questions, email Mike Crowe, Director of Groups, at mcrowe@sojournchurch.com.

Give women in Louisville a chance to escape the slavery of the sex industry… and see Derek Webb at the same time!

Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken Concert to benefit Scarlet Hope Ministries

Thursday, November 18, 2010 / 7:30 p.m. / Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

$12 advance / $15 at the door

Scarlet Hope exists to bring the Hope and Love of Jesus to women in the adult entertainment industry.

The Mission of Scarlet Hope is to answer the Lord’s call and go and love these women right where they are. We provide resources such as transitional job change, housing, mentoring, transportation, and drug rehabilitation.  Our mission is to share the gospel of Jesus with each dancer, bouncer, prostitute, or club owner that God puts in our path.

The Vision of Scarlet Hope is to see women in the sex industry know they are loved by a creator that knows them. We believe the Lord has called us to minister to the hearts and lives of women in the sex industry. Our vision is simply to follow after Jesus, continually laying down our personal agendas and saying yes to all that He asks us to do (Lk 9:23). Our goal is not to achieve any particular outcome, but to simply love God and our neighbors (Mk 12:30-31).

Who are the women of the Sex Industry? You might be surprised. Read more from Scarlet Hope here.

See you on the 18th!

Purchase Tickets Here

If you are interested in helping Sojourn address the need for more affordable housing in our inner city neighborhoods, then read this report.  The 2010 State of Metropolitan Housing Report shares how you can access Louisville’s Land Bank, where the government is willing to sell back vacant properties to low income housing developers.  You will also learn about ways to house the homeless through transitional and permanent housing programs.  And don’t miss out on tax increment financing as a viable tool for construction of affordable homes in the inner city.

Contact mercy@sojournchurch.com to learn more about our future hopes and plans for our urban neighborhoods.

In this report you will also get up to date stats on Louisville’s Section 8, Subsidized Housing, Hope VI and many other similar programs.  These federal programs play an important role in providing affordable housing in Louisville and the neighborhoods surrounding our campuses.

The Report is Now Available on the Metropolitan Housing Coalition Website

More about the report:

Published annually since 2003, the State of Metropolitan Housing Report examines nine measures of affordable housing opportunities in the 13-county Louisville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

This year, the 2010 State of Metropolitan Housing Report also provides a housing policy roadmap for the City of Louisville.  It  examines housing policies and strategies that can shape housing choices for individuals and families in Louisville.  The report provides an  outline for what issues local and state housing policies should address, what policies and strategies have been successful here or in other  cities, the most effective ways to implement these policies and strategies to provide fair and affordable housing for all members of the Louisville community.

Brothers and sisters, we have experienced some amazing things these past two months, celebrating our 10th birthday and the incredibly successful Fall Festival this past weekend. So many of you have contributed your time, talents, and energy to these events to make them a success, and I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your part in these expressions of our love for one another and to our surrounding community.

In addition to my gratitude to you for your service, I also need to set before you an urgent need for volunteers for an upcoming community outreach event, Halloween in Brown Park sponsored by the St. Matthews Area Business Association (SMABA).

Specifically, SMABA is looking to Sojourn East to provide volunteers to oversee the children’s games, which will include a bouncy Mystery Machine (think Scooby Doo), a pumpkin bobbing game, bean bag toss, and a couple of other games for kids and adults of all ages. This may not seem like much, but our presence at this event, which they anticipate to draw more than 1500 people, will make a tremendous statement to the St. Matthews and East End communities regarding what Sojourn is all about. Many people read the article about Sojourn in the Courier Journal last month, and they are seeing our new sign on Westport Road as they pass by day by day. This event is a very easy and visible way for Sojourn to bless the people in our community to demonstrate the love of Christ to them through our service.

Specifically, we need 40 volunteers to work one-hour shifts at the five game stations between 10:30AM-2:00PM on Saturday, October 30, 2010. The event will be held in Brown Park in the heart of St. Matthews behind Baptist Hospital East. With 40 volunteers, we will not only make staffing the event far easier on each of the volunteers, but we will also have a very visible presence at the event, which will far exceed the actual service that we provide.

If you and/or your community group are interested in volunteering at this event, please contact Eric Spann at espann@sojournchurch.com or 502.526.3501. You can also register to volunteer using this online form as well: https://sojournforms.wufoo.com/forms/brown-park-volunteers/

Last week Midtown Campus Community Groups descended on The 930, banded together, hit the streets and dispersed into the neighborhoods surrounding Sojourn’s Midtown facility.  Over the course of three days, hundreds of Midtown Campus Community Group members were able to distribute nearly 3,000 Fall Festival flyers and extend personal invitations to many, many neighbors.

As the last light of day began to fade each night and group members finished up their distribution routes, groups returned to The 930 to find firepits in the parking lot and s’mores stuff close at hand.  The fires and sweet treats proved to be a great context for groups to interact with one another, and many people hung out at The 930 until late in the evening.  Some passersby, who aren’t even part of Sojourn, saw what was going on in the parking lot, and stopped to check it out.  One guy, who lives in the neighborhood and happened to stop by, even offered to keep the fires going while everyone enjoyed the time together.

A simple but profound picture of what it means to be a compelling gospel community, don’t you think?  Those on the outside were draw in because they were curious to see why 100 people would hang out together, at 10 PM, in The 930 parking lot.  In the same way, those who don’t know Christ ought to be able to look at the deep and committed love we have for one another and be provoked to come and see, to examine for themselves what it is that has so transformed us into a people who would care for one another so radically and selflessly.  The question is:  Do the relationships we share with one another actually compel those around us to come and see? It’s relatively easy to be committed to one another around a firepit.  It’s much more difficult when we’re really doing life together, when sin is exposed, when we’re called to repent, when personalities clash and we’re called to forgive, or a real need arises that exposes our selfish unwillingness to sacrifice anything for anyone but ourselves.  The good news is that there is real forgiveness, in Jesus, when we don’t love one another as we love ourselves, and there’s real power, in Jesus, to live together in such a way that our shared life compels unbelievers to take notice, ask questions, and experience the same forgiveness and freedom, by God’s grace.

Now, what exactly do 400 cakes have to do with compelling gospel community? To be honest, not much, at least directly.  However, the 400 cakes needed for Saturday’s Fall Festival cakewalk, do give us, as a church, another opportunity to step up, step in, and be a tangible blessing to the many neighbors who will attend the Fall Festival.  And though that may seem like a small thing, it may be just the thing that compels one person or one family to check out a Sunday gathering at The 930, because they want to see what this church that gives away (free of charge) hamburgers, hotdogs, popcorn, cotton candy, and cakes is all about.

So, what about you?  Will you bake a cake for Saturday’s Fall Festival cakewalk?   We need 400 of them! Why not have a cake baking party with your Community Group at some point this week?  Take the opportunity to live out our SERVANT identity, in community, and be a blessing to those who will attend the festival.

If you bake a cake, you can bring it by the Sojourn offices @ The 930 on Thursday or Friday during business hours (9am-4pm), or you can drop it by on Saturday morning before the Fall Festival begins.

There’s a chill in the air.  The leaves are just beginning to fall from the trees.  And football season is in full swing.  Fall has arrived, and that means Sojourn’s annual Fall Festival is just around the corner.  In fact, it’s less than two weeks away!

One important step of preparation we take every year is to have all Midtown Campus Community Groups walk the streets around The 930 and personally invite neighbors to the event.  This gives us the opportunity to get to know neighbors, pray for them, and identify needs in the neighborhood.  It also gives us, as a church family, the opportunity to engage in mission and service together.  It helps every one of us see that we’re part of something bigger, that God has called us, as Sojourn Community Church, to be who we are – the church, where we are – the Midtown Campus gathers each week in Germantown, together - mission and service are not something we’re called into alone.

So, what can you expect when your group shows up @ The 930 this week to distribute Fall Festival flyers?

• Expect to be joined by other Community Groups and Sojourn members/attenders from across the city
• Expect to interact with neighbors, and expect God to use you to bless someone with gospel encouragement as you walk the streets, hand out flyers, and offer to pray with/for the people you meet
• Expect real needs to emerge as you interact with neighbors, and consider how God might use you and your Community Group to meet those needs
• Expect to grow closer, as a group, as you walk the streets together and pray with one another for the gospel to advance among our neighbors
• Expect the firepits to be going and the s’mores stuff to be close at hand when your group returns to The 930 after distributing your flyers!  It’ll be a good time to get to know members of other Community Groups and talk together about your interactions with neighbors.

Whether your Community Group meets on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening, we look forward to seeing you and serving alongside you this week.  And if you’re not yet in a Community Group, but you’d love to help distribute flyers, you’re welcome to join us any night this week.  You might even get connected to a Community Group!

Hello Family,

Have you been considering adoption?

On Saturday, October 16, Orphan Care Alliance and Southern Indiana Adoptive Families will be hosting a free Adoption Seminar in Jeffersonville, Indiana for anyone interested. It will take place at Eastside Christian Church from 8:30 am until 3pm. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided. Also, local adoption agencies will be on hand to answer questions and distribute information.

You can preregister for the seminar (by October 9th) and find more information here: http://www.adoptedindiana.org/adoptionseminar

Eastside Christian Church is located at 2319 Veterans Parkway in Jeffersonville, IN, 47130.