The Sustainist

Food Truck Frenzy

A team of leaders of Forest Hill United Church took a look at a map of their church and noticed that the largest portion of the property was the parking lot.  Through a year-long Holy Currencies workshop, they had learned about the currency of time and place and began to explore how they could exchange this parking lot space for more than just parking of cars.  They wanted to exchange it for currencies of relationship with the neighborhood folks, and currency of money because they noticed that the roof of their church was in need of repair and would cost a lot of money soon.

They decided to offer their parking lot for Food Truck Frenzy.  Here is how it works:  Every Monday, the parking lot is open to local food trucks to do business.  The church will create a nice picnic environment for people to eat and interact with each other.  The food truck businesses will donate 10% of their proceeds to the church with the knowledge that the church needs a new roof soon. 

Members of the church also intentionally spent time at the Food Truck Frenzy to meet and listen to people from the neighborhood.  About once a month, they do an event with a special theme such as Cars on the Hill, Celebrate Canada, Celebrate Families and Celebrate School.  Through these thematic events, the church hopes to better connect with the people in the community, build trusting relationships, and discover the truth about the needs and concerns of the community.  Their next challenge is to respond to the needs and concerns by investing their other currencies to provide wellness programs to create a more sustainable community.

Meanwhile, they are ahead of schedule in raising the necessary funds for the construction work needed to repair their roof.

Reflection Questions for 6th Sunday of Easter (Year C) Acts 16:9-15   What did you learn from this text about sharing resources? Psalm 67   What are your reasons for praising God? Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5   How can we take part in the healing of the nations? John 14:23-29   What does it mean to accept the peace that Jesus gives us?

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: May 4-7, 2016 Barbara Harris Conference Center, Greenfield, NH Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Incubating Sustainable Missional Ministries     Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation KI Associates Conference (by Invitation only) August 4-6, 2016 West Linn Lutheran Church, West Linn, Oregon Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 Register at www.kscopeinstitute.org

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org                

Power of Words

Words are powerful. Words coming out of our month can pronounce blessings or curses.  Especially today with computer technology—internet, YouTube, blogs—anyone can publish without getting permission; anyone of us can have his/her own TV channel with the potential to have millions of viewers.  On top of that, for those of us living in the United States of America, we have the right to have freedom of speech and of the press guaranteed by the Constitution.  Does that mean we can say anything we want?  Yes.  But we also need to know and be willing to face the consequences.  

What we say and what we put out in the world through the various media has tremendous power and influence. As Spiderman’s uncle said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”  We can use this power to spread hate or we can use it to propagate love.  We can use it to control or to empower, to isolate or to connect, spread fear or to build trust.  We can use it to breakdown and divide the community, or we can use to build up and unite the community.

To continue our dialogue in preparation for the upcoming election in the United States, I invite readers to study a very famous speech given by Abraham Lincoln.  As you listen to this short speech given in November 19, 1863 at Gettysburg, PA, pay attention to the carefully chosen words.  In just over two minutes, Lincoln invoked the principles of human equality espoused by the Declaration of Independence and redefined the Civil War as a struggle not merely for the preservation of the Union, but as "a new birth of freedom" which would bring true equality to all of its citizens. Instead of using words that divide and further polarize the people in the country, he chose words that illuminate, clarify and refocus people to what is truly important for the sustainability of the future of the country. 

As the people of the United States move toward the election in November, I would invite readers, who are citizens, to consider the words that the candidates use.  I invite you to evaluate the candidates based on whether they are careful, gracious and truthful in choosing the words that they use in their speeches and in the media they use to put forth the ideas and passion for the future wellbeing of the country.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we cannot consecrate -- we cannot hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.  

President Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863

Dialogue Process:

1. Inform participants that Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address will be read three times. After each reading, participants will be invited to share their reflections using the Mutual Invitation process.
2. Invite participants to capture a word, a phrase or image that stood out for them from the document while the text is read out loud the first time.
3. Using Mutual Invitation, invite each person to share his or her word, phrase or image briefly.
4. Invite participants to consider the following question as the text is read a second time: How might the words in this speech be relevant today for the people of the United States?
5. Invite someone to read the text a second time.
6. Using Mutual Invitation, invite each person to share his or her reflection the questions.
7. Invite participants to consider the following question while listening to the text again: As a result of listening to this speech, what are you being called to do or change (as a person living in the United States) today?
8. Using Mutual Invitation, invite each person to share his or her reflection.

 

Reflection Questions for 4th Sunday of Easter (Year C) Acts 9:36-43   What did you learn from this text about healing and wellness? Psalm 23   How do goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life? Revelation 7:9-17   How does the vision in the passage inform your community? John 10:22-30   What does this passage teach you about leadership?

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: May 4-7, 2016 Barbara Harris Conference Center, Greenfield, NH Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Incubating Sustainable Missional Ministries     Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation KI Associates Conference (by Invitation only) August 4-6, 2016 West Linn Lutheran Church, West Linn, Oregon Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 www.kscopeinstitute.org

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org                

Stewardship365

During the Kaleidoscope Summer Training Institute 2015, the Rev. David Andrews, rector the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and St. Matthew, were introduced to the first version of the Holy Currencies: Stewardship program.  That fall, he began introducing the Holy Currencies concept and processes to the congregation through the weekly e-newsletter, sermon and workshop. In the September newsletter, he wrote:

I am excited to present to the entire parish a new approach to Stewardship that we will begin on Wednesday evening, September 23rd.  Beginning that evening, we will meet for six Wednesday evenings (9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/21, 10/28 and 11/4) from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.  We will share a meal and some time for fellowship and then we will study six different blessings.  This program was developed by the Rev. Eric Law who . . .  uses material from his groundbreaking book, Holy Currencies: 6 Blessings for Sustainable Missional Ministries. It is important for folks who participate to read this book in preparation for each Wednesday evening session.

The six currencies or blessings we will review and experience through small group exercise and theological reflection will be:  Currency of Time and Place, Currency of Relationship, Currency of Truth, Currency of Wellness, Currency of Gracious Leadership and Currency of Money.  I strongly believe in this approach, as it is a path for each of us to experience Stewardship as more than pledging money to SsAM.  We will reflect on topics that impact what we pledge and how we are to be the Body of Christ at this time in our history.  This program will engage our hearts and minds and lead us to increase our lives as stewards of all God has given us, for which we are thankful, but for which we often take for granted.

On Stewardship Sunday November 15, 2015, the day when church members are asked to pledge their time, talent and treasure for 2016.  David reconnected the guiding principles of the parish through the lens of Holy Currencies.  For example:

We will be mission driven in our work and life together so that we go forth into the world as representatives of Christ (relationships, time, wellness, gracious leadership)

We will include individuals from all walks of life, all cultures and all races in the life of the community (relationships, truth, wellness)

We will be advocates for social justice (truth, time, and wellness)

We will share authority and ministry with the congregation in the design and implementation of worship and Christian formation, education, services, activities and program (gracious leadership, relationships, truth, time and place, money, wellness)

We will use all our resources in ways that strengthen both our faith community and the surrounding community (place, relationships, money)

We will confront issues and conflicts openly, honestly, and with care for each other and the community (truth, wellness, relationships, gracious leadership, time and place)

We will honor and celebrate our historic roots and differences in ways that move us toward our Vision (truth, relationships, and gracious leadership)

Having fully explored the six currencies for six weeks before hand, congregation members responded generously when the time comes for them to offer their currencies of money in exchange for the development of the other currencies that empowered their mission. 

On December 10, David wrote an email to me saying “. . .  we are almost done with stewardship 2016 and to date we have received 131 pledges for $417,824 compared to a year ago when we had 124 pledges for 347,000, and we still have 30 folks yet to hear from, plus new members.”

On January 11, he wrote, “Thanks to the stewardship program from HC we exceeded our goal for this year and our projected deficit will be only 18,000.00 without taking any monies from the principle of the endowment.  To put this is perspective: when I arrived at SsAM six years ago our deficit was $140,000.00. The Holy Spirit is at work here.”

On January 15, he wrote, “. . . this past week [our] vestry adopted a balanced budget for 2016. . . .A good week indeed.”

Based on experiences like David’s and others, of the early draft of the curriculum, we have designed a full curriculum called Stewardship365.  To learn more about this program, come to our Training Institute on May 3-7, 2016 at the Barbara Harris Conference Center, in Greenfield, New Hampshire.  This will be a 3-day intensive training for participants to fully experience the model, processes and activities involved in this new approach to Stewardship.  If you are not able to join us on this event, we have scheduled a second one in August 4-6, 2016 at West Linn Lutheran Church in West Linn, Oregon.  Go to our website to register: www.kscopeinstitute.org

We have also designed an on-line version for the course consisting of 6 webinars, which will begin in May through July 2016. Here is the on-line course description and outline:

Stewardship365: Holy Currencies

Stewardship365 is an on-line curriculum that empowers local congregations to expand their vision of stewardship beyond money to include the currencies of relationship, truth, wellness, gracious leadership, time and place.  Through this process, they will create a year-around stewardship movement enabling the congregation to shift from maintenance to mission, from scarcity to abundance and from fear to grace.

Outline of the course:

1. A church team begins the course by participating in an in-person Regional Orientation. (4-6 hours). (We require a minimum of 5 congregations in the same geographical area to sign up for the course.)
2. The church team then signs onto six 1-hour webinars over the next 3-6 month period covering the six holy currencies. The webinars will be offered on 6 Wednesday May-July, 2016, at noon and at 3 pm pacific time.  The dates are:  May 25, June 1, June 13, June 27, July, 6, and July 13.
3. In between webinars, the church team completes 5 homework assignments engaging more members of the congregation in the process.
4. The regional congregation teams then participate in an in-person training session to launch their stewardship movements. (4-6 hours)

Tuition:  Between $500 and $3,000 per congregation. The fee covers the regional in-person orientation and final launching sessions and printed material for a team of 5 members.

If you and your congregation leaders want to participate in this first-time presentation of the course, please contact the Kaleidoscope Institute ([email protected]) and we can assist you in finding more churches in your area that might also be interested.  Once we have 5 church groups sign on, we will send a KI Associate to do the in-person orientation and the same associate will also serve as a coach for your church team as we move through the on-line portion of the course.

Reflection Questions for Second Sunday of Easter (Year C ) Acts 5:27-32   How are you being a witness to Christ today? Psalm 118:14-29   What is the chief cornerstone of your spiritual life? Revelation 1:4-8   What does it mean to believe in Christ who is, who was and who is to come? John 20:19-31   How are you like Thomas in your belief?

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: May 4-7, 2016 Barbara Harris Conference Center, Greenfield, NH Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 July 18-22, 2016 Los Angeles, CA Holy Currencies: Incubating Sustainable Missional Ministries     Gracious Leadership: Racial Reconciliation KI Associates Conference (by Invitation only) August 4-6, 2016 West Linn Lutheran Church, West Linn, Oregon Holy Currencies: Stewardship 365 www.kscopeinstitute.org

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org