Crossroads Worship Experience

God is always coming...always!

2012-01-27T07:03:00.000-08:00

So, I just returned from four days in Dallas, Texas. (They really do make things bigger in Texas…check out the 30 foot statue of Jesus in the church parking lot at First UMC Richardson below). Anyway, I was there for a conference on church leadership. Sounds exciting, right? Well, as with all conferences, there were things worth keeping and things you just let go. There were three things that stuck with me that I want to share with you as we continue to explore the missional church. I think these statements can speak to us personally and corporately as the “sent” body of Christ. So, here they are:

1.Our gathering time (worship) ultimately becomes storyboards of God sightings. We gather in worship to celebrate God and what God is doing in our lives and in the world.
2.One of the things we ought to work towards is figuring out how to “bless the world.” Through acts of mercy, kindness, justice, peace, and joy, we announce God is at work.
3.One of the most important things to remember…God is always coming….always.

These thoughts have energized me and are working in my heart as we shape our communal life at Crossroads. This week (January 29), I will be preaching, and the sermon is titled, “City on a Hill.” We will explore, dream, pray, dream, pray and dream so more about how we can become storytellers of God’s work, how we can bless the world., and proclaim that God is always coming…always.

One final thought as you reflect. During one powerful sermon by Olu Brown, pastor of Impact Church in Atlanta (a United Methodist Congregation), he reminded us to “not let our past defeat our future.”

As people of faith who believe that God is always coming…I pray that our past, although may inform, does not defeat our future.

I hope you will join us at 5 PM on Sunday. I can’t wait to see what happens….

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

Texas-sized Jesus

2012-01-27T06:22:00.000-08:00

This is what greeted us as we made our way into First United Methodist Church in Richardson, Texas for the Large Church Initiative...a 30ft statue of Jesus...

They really do make things bigger in Texas...

Morning thoughts...

2011-10-14T03:48:00.001-07:00

As I write this, I am bombarded with images on the news of protests and uprisings. The headlines speak over and over again of the bickering on Captiol Hill, and the discontent with politicians. It feels, as though, we are at some sort of tipping point, though I cannot quite put my finger on it just yet. Maybe you can. I don’t know.

What I do know, or rather, what I claim to believe is hope. Not necessarily some audacious hope that is mired in political banter, or is it some religious pie-in-the-sky, we all sing kumbaya kind of hope (although that would be fun, right? ). The hope that I am filled is this deep sense of calling that God has upon our community. The hope that we have as people who have been invited by a loving and grace-filled God into relationship with the divine, with one another, and the world. Through that relationship, we seek to find places where we can work for justice, where we can advocate for the oppressed, where we can seek wholeness in salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Each week, I am renewed by our sense of call through our worship together. In the times we work together to make sandwiches or walk to raise awareness of homelessness issues, I am renewed by our call as a people who seek justice, love mercy, and who long to walk humbly with God. I pray that in spite of the images that are put before us, images that could dampen our hope, may we be reminded of the God who calls us from darkness into light, and who loving leads us in hope.

Peace,

Jimmy

The mountains tremble and the earth shakes...

2011-08-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Psalm 46:2-3

Dear friends,

Whew! What a week it has been. The question that has been asked the latter part of the week is, “where were you when the earthquake struck?” Living in a city like Washington, DC, you meet people from all over the world. My guess is there were plenty of folks from the West Coast and other parts of the world who had experienced earthquakes, but for many of us, it was a first. It leaves you trembling a bit…and thinking. Now, here were are sandwiched between two incredible forces of nature, an earthquake and a hurricane. One is very unpredictable, the other much more predictable. How often is the DC area rattled by and earthquake and then battered by a hurricane within the span of five days? It’s an incredible thing to reflect on as we think about the power of creation. If you recall, after God brought forth life from chaos, God rested. I think after the earthquake, a little rest would be in order.

We are in the midst of our Sabbath series, but it may be hard to think about rest as we prepare for possible tropical storm weather conditions. I pray that we all may find moments of time and sacred spaces where we can reflect on the wonder of creation while inviting the Holy Spirit to restore our bodies, souls and minds. Please be mindful of the weather conditions and be prepared. As we say in the South…we will see you on Sunday..”God willing and the creek don’t rise!” Let us not to forget to pray for and to help those most vulnerable in natural disasters.

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

This week at Crossroads

2011-07-29T10:14:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

As we near the end of July, I hope that you have been able to find moments of solitude, gratitude, and play. Many of you will do just that in the month of August. As you are in town, you are invited to join us for worship at Crossroads. This week we are wrapping up our series on the Power of Food. We’ve explored our call to feed the hungry around us, we have been challenged to rethink how we approach food, and we’ve discussed the power food has to bring us together. Our final look this week has to do with looking beyond food as we explore ourselves in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Once basic needs have been meet, we can begin to move forward in our journey seeking something greater for our lives. In the sermon “Not By Bread Alone,” we will explore the power of the presence of one another in our lives as we seek to find purpose and meaning. This self-actualization can be given space to grow and flourish through the holy spirit and with the encouragement and help of others. Jesus said that human kind cannot live by bread alone. While we need to food to exist, we need more to flourish and grow. Join us as we explore this together.

In our prayers:
Healing prayers for Mary Jean Evans, Annie Butler’s mother, and the people of Norway
Prayers of empowerment for our Volunteers-in-Mission team going to Nicaragua and for Susan Fratzke who is working in Belgium
Prayers of wisdom for the leaders of our country
Prayers of strength and healing for those struggling with emotional and mental illness
Prayers of mercy for those traveling this August
Prayers of grace for our community of faith
Prayers of discernment for the Crossroads vision
Prayers for our various service ministries and for the residents of the St. Luke’s shelter

Coming soon!

August Sermon Series: Sabbath. Join us as we explore this ancient, but often ignored practice of Sabbath. We will take the month of August to discover again the roots of Sabbath, how we might bring that into our place of work, how Sabbath helps us with advocacy, and practical ways to practice Sabbath drawing on our Christian tradition as well as Jewish and Muslim traditions.

The next installment of Jazz in the Garden will be Friday, August 12 from 6:30-8:30 featuring the Tara Hoffman Trio. Spread the word! Find more information at metrocrossroads.org

Food series wrap-up: As a part of the response to our sermon series called the Power of Food, we will be joining in a cooperative parish effort to feed those who are hungry around us. In the coming weeks you will hear information about trips to glean at local farms and the Salvation Army Grate Patrol. There will also be nutrition classes starting in the fall as well. Please pray about how you might serve in these areas.

Small group Bible study: Returns this fall. More information and opportunity to sign up soon.

Serving at Crossroads: We invite you to be a part of the Crossroads team. We are seeking help with food preparation and hospitality, greeters, and sound and video technicians. We will have opportunities to sign up at the service, but you can also e-mail me for more information.

I hope to see you this Sunday as we open ourselves to God’s movement in our lives.

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

The Power of Food

2011-07-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Jimmy

We close out our sermons series on the Power of Food by actually going beyond food. Jesus said that human kind cannot live on bread alone. There is much more than that. Once we meet the basic needs and we are no longer physically hungry, we begin to seek the more that God has in store for us. This is the final level of Maslow's hierarcy called self-actualization. We will explore how those around us helps us to reach this point in our journeys.

I hope you will join us. I can't wait to see what God is doing this week!

Peace and Joy,

Exploring the Arts at St. Luke's

2011-06-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

We convey our faith story in many ways. We tell stories, we preach, we sing, we paint, we draw, we create pottery, we write poetry, and the list goes on and on. There are many ways to explore our faith, justice, and hospitality through the arts. This summer at St. Luke's, the Crossroads community is invited, along with our neighbors, to experience and participate in one or more of four classes that will be offered. Find a complete listing and description below. You can find the registration forms by going to this page: http://metrocrossroads.org/#/connecting/summer-at-st-lukes.

Art Class:
Time: Wednesdays at 7pm
Dates: 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 8/3, 8/10
Cost: $40 includes supplies

Class Bio: Faith and the Visual Arts

In this class students will explore many of the ways in which faith and visual arts intersect. Each class will include a short devotional and art lesson followed by time for students to put those lessons into practice in a weekly project. The projects are designed to useful for people of varying artistic background.

Personal Bio:
Ben Sloan is currently a Masters of Divinity student at Wesley Theological Seminary studying to become a pastor in the United Methodist Church. In college he studied studio art and world religions at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. Ben has displayed his art in solo and group shows at churches and universities across the country. His preferred medium include pottery, oil painting, and charcoal drawing. To see some of his art visit www.benjaminsloan.weebly.com.

Art Class:

Dates: July 12th-August 9th
Time: Tuesdays 5-6:30pm
Cost: $40 includes supplies

“We live within the process of creation just as much as it exists within us.” - Shaun McNiff -

This class will look at what we have to say in the world and how to convey that voice through visual form. Art has the capacity to create a space where we can find and use our own voice as well as engage those of others. We will explore these voices through various mediums and experimentation with our unique styles of visual communication. No expertise is needed. In fact, expertise is probably best left at the door along with any notion of how art should look.

Emily’s love of art started with summer visits to her beautiful Grammie where no trip was complete without an artsy or crafty project. Since then, she’s been hooked to creating for the purpose of community and self-expression. Her favorite mediums are painting with acrylics and enamels, drawing with pens, pencils and charcoals, photography and digital manipulation of old photographs. Themes that are typically found in her work are memory, absence, presence, process, connection and creation. Emily finds the commonly held notion that art is for those who understand it and/or those who are told that they are ‘good’ at it endlessly frustrating. She’s not quite sure what it even means to ‘understand’ art or to be ‘good’ at it. Emily firmly believes that living is an act of creativity and that if anyone has ever told you that you are not good at art, that person has been misinformed.

Yoga Class:
Dates: July 2, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6th.
Time: 9am Saturdays
Cost: $75

Class Bio:
Post-natal yoga for Mommy and Babies.A class that helps a new mother relax, stretchand spend special bonding time w/ her newborn. Class focuses onrebuilding mothers strength as well as helping her find breathing techniques to help w/ stress and lack of sleep. Baby must be at least 6 weeks old and mother must have doctors approval to begin yoga practice. Yoga mat and blanket for baby to lieon is needed.Mothers should feel comfortable stopping to nurse,bottle feed, or change diaper whenever needed.

Personal Bio: Monica Zoll
I started my yoga practice when I first moved to NY in 1997. Along with yoga I also was active in spin classes, weight training, and running. In 2002, I married and moved back to my hometown area of Maryland and began to work as a Montessori Teacher in a Charter School in DC. I used my yoga practice with the children in the classroom, as well as contined my personal practice. During my first pregnancy in 2005, I used yoga to help throughout the pregnancy and once my daughter Isabella was born, we took the post-natal "Mommy and Me" classes together. I also became certified in children's yoga through YogaTales and worked with 3-6 year olds. During my second pregnancy with my son Miles, I was certified through YogaFit for pre-natal yoga. Again, yoga helped me through my second pregnancy and during recovery. My children love watching and participating in yoga, it's a wonderful gift to give yourself and your children.

Dance Class:
Dates: 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27
Time: 4:30-5:30pm Wednesdays
Cost: $30

Class Description:

Dance & Spirituality
This class is for those who would like to explore dance and for those who would like to explore spirituality. This four week class will be a mix of both of these topics and will introduce different dance genres, ideas on how to use dance to explore your spiritual life, practices for movement-meditation and prayer, not to mention fellowship and lots of fun! You do not have to have ever taken a dance class or a bible study before to take this course. All are welcome! The class will meet from 4:30-5:30 on the Wednesdays in July. Please contact Jennie Murray with any questions you might have.

Jennie Murray is a three-year resident of the District and has been exploring dance for the last 25 years. She is currently working on her MDIV from Wesley Theological Seminary, where she dances with the Wesley Dancers, and is very interested in exploring the ways in which dance can and has been used to explore and teach us about life and our relationship with God. She currently works for Catholic Charities, assisting recent refugees, and attends Mt. Vernon Place UMC in Chinatown. Jennie currently lives with her partner, Max, and dog Sammie in Adam's Morgan.

A Theology of Picnics!

2011-06-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Gathering around the table, whether it be the communion table or the dinner table, is one of the most powerful things that we do in the church. When we have table fellowship, we begin to see one another for real. We receive grace that transforms us and sustains us. We break bread with one another so that we might establish authentic relationships, and thus, hopefully open ourselves to an intricately woven, diverse community.

As we live into the series on community that we are exploring, I want to suggest that one of the things we are called together to do is to eat. We are called together to eat the bread of life in Holy Communion, and we are called to form dynamic and life giving relationships around the dinner table. This week at Crossroads, we have a powerful (and fun) opportunity to continue our exploration of community around the table. We will gather around the communion table during worship, but afterwards we will take our community to Guy Mason Park to gather around the picnic table!

At Crossroads, we know that God moves in our worship, in Holy Communion, in our music, through our prayer stations...we also acknowledge that God moves in our eating and playing together.

Eating and playing aren’t the only goals, though. We do hope that we can connect with and get to know our neighbors around the church and in Glover Park. This isn’t a time for scary evangelism techniques (no Bible beating), but rather, it is a time when we seek to genuinely get to know people who may come to the park, and who may join us for food. We should certainly share about our church if they ask, but we want folks to know that we care about who they are. We want to first be a neighbor who shows compassion, justice and mercy. We want to show that God is at work in our midst in our worship, service to others, and play! This theology of picnics will be on full display this Sunday, June 12 after worship.

You are invited and encouraged to help us out! We need folks to bring chips or drink (or both), and we need some folks who are willing to help set up. Also, I encourage you to invite someone to come with you. There will be plenty of food!

Please dress very casual as we will be in the heat!

Worship begins at 5 PM (Pentecost!) and the picnic will begin at approximately 6:15 PM!

I can’t wait to see what God is up to this week at Crossroads!

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

All Who Are Thirsty...

2011-03-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

There is nothing I like more than a hot cup of coffee. I mean a good cup of coffee. One that has the right amount of freshly ground coffee beans with a touch of cream and just a pinch of sugar. That is one of my pleasures. If I was traveling in the wilderness, I would want my coffee. Yet, it doesn’t quench my thirst. When I am parched, I don’t reach for my cup of java in hopes of being refreshed. I reach for water…

Here we are in the season of Lent. We are, indeed, somewhat in our own wilderness. In our community, we are exploring the movement from old to new, from death to life, from thirsty to quenched. We have begun the process of learning who we are, shedding some of that, and moving to the next place of recognizing new life around us and choosing to claim that new life. As we move through this Lenten journey, I invite us to explore what we choose. When we are in need of something that delves deeper, and quenches thirst, do we still choose that which will satisfy us in the moment only to leave us wanting more later?

Last week we explored that idea that as pilgrims on a journey, we are always looking to encounter something more. Something deeper. The question is, when we find it will we choose it?

I am excited to see what God will do this week at Crossroads.

See you Sunday at 5 PM.

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

Bridges and Bombs

2011-03-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

I recently came across a song written by Aaron Niequist, who is a worship leader at Willow Creek Church in Chicago. The song has a catchy tune and simple lyrics. One of our singers at Crossroads chuckled a little because it reminded him of a folk song from the 60s. In a way, I guess that's right. But I think it bears singing, reflecting and listening to given what we are experiencing now. The chorus goes:

But love, love can change the world
Oh do we still believe that love
Love can change the world
Oh do we still believe that love, love
God is love, our God is love and love
can change the world.

The things that catches my attention is the line "Oh do we still believe?" That is a question for us in our Lenten journey. In a season where we are listening for God and looking for new images, we are still experiencing disaster and war. Just this week, bombs began to fly over Lybia. I am torn because it would appear the NATO forces were doing it for humanitarian reasons (to protect citizens from Ghaddafi's forces). However, where does it stop? Do the bombs keep dropping so that we rid the world of another dictator? Maybe that's the answer...maybe not. I know that good people of faith are on both sides of this issue. But, it raises a lot of questions...

Which brings me back to the song. The opening verse goes:

Bridges are more beautiful than bombs are. Bridges are more beautiful than bombs.
Listening is louder than a lecture. Listening is louder than a shout.

I like the images of bridges. They connect one thing to another. Jesus was a bridge builder between us and God. We are bridge builders between each other, and between the church and humanity. I want to invite us all this week to look for ways that we can be a bridge in someone's life. Where can we connect someone with the love of God. Through our service? Through mercy? Through our compassion? Through listening? Through giving? What will it be for us this week?

Bridges are, indeed, more beautiful than bombs are. Do we still believe that love can change the world?

Let's find out.

Joy and Peace,

Jimmy

Check out Aaron Niequist teaching this song to the folks at Willow Creek. (Be careful, you'll be singing along pretty quickly).

Encountering Something More...

2011-03-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

Surely there is more to life than this! Earthquakes, tsunamis, the volatile stock market, job losses, radioactive scares, congressional hearings on Islam, hate speech approved, potential airstrikes in Lybia, murders, overpaid athletes being coddles, underpaid workers losing rights to bargain as a group, and kids ingesting cocaine at a local elementary school. Surely something better is hoped for. Surely something better was intended! I know that reading this list is a negative way to start the day, especially considering we will have a beautiful day here in DC. Yet, this list was pulled from the news headlines this morning. It is the very thing we would encounter when we read the newspapers or go online for news. As a people of faith, how do we respond to this. Do we respond to this?

We continue our Lenten journey this week by exploring our desire to encounter something more. To encounter something more in our personal lives, in our corporate lives as a faith community, and as a part of creation. A Jewish leader named Nicodemus went looking for something more one night. He left the safe confines of his home to travel the dark streets in search of the man with whom the Jewish leaders were not happy with. Nicodemus went looking for Jesus. His desire to encounter something more left him pondering a statement about being born again.

Our Lenten journey is about a path through the wilderness to prepare us for something else. To prepare us to be baptized or more fully live out the covenant made in our baptism. This journey often leaves us pondering statements and situations. Seeking justice and mercy even as injustice and acts of hate stare us in the face. As we continue this journey (and following up on last week) we continue to learn who we are. In that learning process, we begin to understand what drives us and what motivates us. We listen and actually hear God’s voice speaking to us to come and follow. To encounter more. Even when our own personal lives do not mirror the news headlines, we recognize that life is even more than about us. For the world to encounter something more…something different, then we must encounter something more. In order to do that, we’ve got to go looking…

Surely there is more to life than this! Let’s find out together.

I am excited about what God is doing, and I look forward to what will

happen this Sunday at 5 PM.

I hope to see you there.

Joy and Peace,

Leaving Life as We Know It...

2011-03-10T05:36:00.000-08:00

Beloved community,

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. It’s a day that marks the beginning of the season of Lent for the Christian church. Our journey in Lent is one that is marked by the self-examination of our hearts. We take stock of what is important to us, and what our priorities are in our lives. We repent of our primarily self-centered ways, and seek to be deeper, more faithful disciples of Jesus. We prepare ourselves in hopes of being transformed.

Now, what does all of that mean? I just used a bunch of churchy words and phrases in that last paragraph. Are they important? Should we take them seriously? Well, that is a good question. We struggle with the notion of discipleship. We say we want to “transform lives,” but what does that mean? What does it look like to be “deeper, more faithful disciples of Jesus? Well, I’m not sure I know exactly, but I want to invite all of us to explore that together. One of the ways in which we figure it out is in community.

Throughout Lent, we are going to explore together the phrase, “Leaving life as we know it...” The Gospel stories throughout Lent reflect the temptation that we face, the most basic human tendency to sin, the brokenness of our world, the joy found in new life, and a call to move from one place to another (spiritually, physically, and sometimes emotionally). How does that translate to our lives? What should we do with that? What if we don’t want to move from the life as we know it?

Every times the season of Lent comes around, we find ourselves, I believe, at a crossroads. Where will I put my resources? How will I spend my time? What will I give up? What will I take on? Does it have any meaning in my life? It is my hope that we, as a community, can explore these questions and more together as we seek to be a community that “extends radical hospitality, transforms lives, and pursues justice.

I am incredibly excited to see what God is up to this week and beyond at Crossroads. I hope you are too!

See you at 5 PM this Sunday!

Jimmy

When God is Silent...

2011-03-04T05:44:00.000-08:00

Living in a big city brings with it all sorts of noise. Fire engines and ambulances. Honking horns and helicopters. People milling about the Mall and people protesting in front of the White House. There seems to be some kind of noise all the time. Depending on where you live, it can be 24/7. We are even aware of it during our worship on Sunday evenings. In our times of silent prayer, you can dogs barking and children playing. We can hear the sirens and the honking horns that seem to break into the silence in our worship.

As we wrap up the series on prayer, we are reminded that of the contradictory nature of silence when it comes to God. In our prayers, often silence is the best way to listen for God’s still small voice. Yet, after we have prayed, often the silence can be deafening. As we wait to hear from God, the silence becomes paralyzing, lonely, and sometimes, painful. We move from listening for the still small voices to reacting to anything and everything we hear. We long to hear God, but sometimes what we get is…silence. In her book "When God is Silent," Barbara Brown Taylor writes, "God's silence is the more threatening (over God's speech), perhaps because it is the more frequently experienced of the two." Quite often people will come to a pastor not because of what God said to them last night, but most often because God is saying...nothing.

So, as we explore prayer, how do we approach this silence? What does it mean? What do we do? The Dark Night of the Soul can be unbearable, but what might God be saying when God seems to say nothing at all?

What will we do in the silence?

See you Sunday at 5 PM!

Jimmy

A Life of Prayer

2011-02-18T06:36:00.000-08:00

This month, we are exploring our struggle with prayer. There are so many questions that surround this mysterious spiritual discipline. In the first week, we explored why we pray. First and foremost it is about relationship with the Triune God. Secondly, it provides an avenue to be transformed -- for our lives to bend towards holiness.

This week, we will explore the very practical side of prayer: how we pray. We will look at different disciplines and possibilities as we seek to be a praying community. Above all, it doesn't matter when or where, ultimately, we are invited into a relationship with God through the discipline of prayer. I invite all of us to explore this life-changing practice.

See you Sunday.

Jimmy

Martin Luther King Day of Service

2011-01-19T05:29:00.000-08:00

Prayer, Remembrance and Service! On Martin Luther King, Jr. day, the Crossroads team led a service of prayer and remembrance followed by a day of service. Nearly 90 folks came out to work in the St. Luke's Mission Center (cleaning the homeless shelter, making sandwiches for the hypothermia shelter residents, preparing the hostel for mission groups, etc). It was a great day that began with worship, and with Mary Jean giving her testimony about attending the March on Washington in 1963. Thanks to all who came out as we seek to turn our worship into witness.

New Sermon Series: Found in Lost

2011-01-06T15:27:00.000-08:00

Join us as we begin our January sermon series based on the theological ideas found in the popular television show, Lost. The first week, we will explore the great mystery of faith and how we are invited to embrace that mystery in the midst of many questions and doubts. Click below to watch a short video about the series.

This week: Embracing the Mystery
Rev. Jimmy Sherrod, preacher

A Christmas Prayer

2010-12-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Beloved Community,

On this Christmas Eve, it is my prayer that you find yourself in the presence of those with whom you find life, love, happiness, and fulfillment. It is also my prayer that at some point in the coming week, we all reach beyond ourselves to extend radical hospitality and pursuing justice for the common good in hopes of bringing about transformation. Let us all join together in praying for peace where there is war, hope where there is cynicism, and healing where there has been disaster. On this night where we remember the birth of the Christ child and God became like one of us, let us remember the powerful effect that our love and care for one another can have one the people around us. Let us also pray for those who are grieving, and may be experiencing an incredibly difficult time this year.

Remember that there are no Christmas Eve services at Crossroads (St. Luke's), but you are invited to join us at Metropolitan Memorial (3401 Nebraska Ave. NW) four Christmas Eve (5 PM, 7:30 with communion, and 11:00 PM with prelude music beginning at 10:30). Come and join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

December 26: We will NOT gather for worship on December 26. We will meet again on Sunday, January 2 at 5 PM.

Small Group: The Thursday group will NOT meet this week but will resume in early January.

May God grant you peace on this most joyful day.

Merry Christmas,

Jimmy Sherrod

This Week - Fourth Sunday in Advent

2010-12-17T06:28:00.001-08:00

The Other Side of the Door

New and unseen things reside on the opposite sides of doors. This is both a blessing – offering new life and possibility – and also a source of anxiety, because we really never know what is there. Isaiah’s prophecy to Ahaz came amidst a time of great anxiety, when Jerusalem was being besieged by the apparently invincible armies of Assyria; and the prophet calls on the king to trust that God is still working. Matthew also tells a story of great uncertainty, an unwed mother prepares for the birth of her child; a man betrothed to a pregnant woman wonders how to respond. How to we address the anxieties of our lives and prepare to trust. The sermon will explore where the trust comes from, and how we live into it.

Join us Sunday at 5 PM for worship!

A 'just' Christmas

2010-12-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

alternative way of giving the Christmas
by Rev. Kate Murphey

We are about to celebrate God’s gift of eternal truth and love made tangible in the person of Jesus Christ. As a way of honoring and passing on the hope and joy of such a gift, we, in turn, give one another gifts. It’s a practice meant to ripple out God’s love across our communities and world, drawing all of us closer to one another. Unfortunately, there are some things impeding those ripples. The rampant consumerism coupled with a drive for maximizing profit has led to slave labor, unsafe working conditions, and the depletion of natural resources. We have focused on what we want for ourselves, making sure the right people have our lists. However, Christmas is not about us. It is not our birthday. And in honor of that, I invite all of us to focus on what we want for others, for our communities and for our world.

Give life-giving gifts

So that not only is the gift-receiver blessed, but the gift-maker and the natural resources used to create are as well. Here are names of fair trade organizations to Google where you will find such good gifts:

General Gifts

Global Exchange
Fair Trade Federation
Ten Thousand Villages
Women Thrive Worldwide
Global Stewards

Baby & Kids Gifts

Taraluna
Tiny Birds
Peapods

Food/Drink Gifts
Women’s Bean Project
Garudain
Equal Exchange
Alter Eco

Clothing

Avatar
Market Place India
Maggie’s
Marigold
Global Mamas

Give Empowerment

www.kiva.org is a micro-loan site. Choose an entreprenuer; lend that pesron money; read about how they're doing; receive payment on the loan, and lend the money again to someone else. Give a gift certificate for someone else to do the same.

I saw the transformation such micro-loans can bring first-hand in Nicaragua in 2008: I met a woman, Berta, who received a $300 loan to buy a cow. She went on to establish her own brand and now has eight cows to supply cheese and milk for her family and to sell. Her husband and children have also started helping her with household chores so that she can travel to workshops. She described the experience by saying, “It was like before I was asleep, without courage.” That one $300 micro-loan and one cow changed her world.

As we give this Christmas, I hope that we can look for life-sustaining opportunities that will bless the maker, giver, and receiver.

Peace,

Rev. Kate

A Life of Praise

2010-11-02T06:42:00.001-07:00

In a conversation with a friend the other day, I was reminded of the phrase "rhythms of life." All sorts of images flooded my mind. The everyday, normal and routine things that we do that define our life. There are certain rhythms that we have individually, with our family, our work, and our faith community. There are rituals that move us throughout the days, weeks and years. In the rituals of our faith community, we are reminded that a central theme to our life as a community together is worship.

I'm not talking just about the one hour we gather to sing and hear preaching, but rather worship that is woven throughout the rhythms of our lives. This week, we explore the fourth in our series on rethinking church as we seek to have a "life of praise."It is most appropriate to do this on All Saint's Sunday when we are reminded of those who are now a part of the eternal communion of saints but who remain a part of our rhythms of life in memory and through what we learned from them.

As we are preparing to gather again this Sunday, I wonder what a life of praise really means? How does it become a part of our rhythm of life, and more importantly, how are we transformed through the art of praise?

Jimmy

Living to tell the story: Rethinking Evangelism

2010-10-28T12:15:00.001-07:00

In general, mainline church people shun evangelism. The reason is multi-faceted and complex. For some, it's because of the negative connotations that come with evangelism (think street preachers and tele-evangelists). For others, it's uncomfortable to share something so personal as one's faith. And then even for others, there's vulnerability and risk involved when we share our faith story. We might even add that some of us do not share because we are not even sure what we believe.

Certainly, there are obstacles to sharing our faith. It's increasingly difficult to share in the postmodern world that doesn't buy into any one truth. Yet, we sometimes forget that the Christian faith is about transformation. If our lives are being transformed, then often that is enough to tell the story. We can share about what we DO know. One parishioner recently sent me a note about why she tells people about her church (which she is clear to identify as the Metropolitan Memorial Cooperative Parish). It was a heartfelt, meaningful, and excellent description of evangelism. It was a combination of action and words. In that note, she said, "Talking about my church is something I can do. I talk about what I do for the church, and other things going on in the church. I talk about my pastors and other leaders who are willing to advocate for the marginalized at their own risk. I talk about leading students on a gleaning trip for Bread for the City. I talk about a hope that I have of hosting residents of the Methodist home for Thanksgiving dinner. I talk about my cool, fun pastors. So, maybe it isn't evangelism per se, but hopefully it will improve some people's views of "church" enough to get one of those "I have faith, but I don't like church" people back to church."

How do we tell our story? How do we rethink church and this thing called evangelism? I invite you into a dialogue rich with dramatic storytelling that weaves together our story of faith with the local church in hopes of changing the world.

The gospel story can and should shape our lives. In his book, Live to Tell, Brad Kallenberg writes, "I cannot judge or confess that a story that involves me is true unless the story shapes my life." Really, sharing our faith story is sharing how it has shaped our lives. That shouldn't be too difficult, right?

Below is a video created from the Rethink Church campaign from the United Methodist Church. It is a great way to get us thinking about rethinking evangelism. What if we could share what we are doing with others?

Jimmy

New Small Groups Forming

2010-10-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

As we seek to learn and grown together, we are creating two new opportunities for us to gather in small groups to worship, pray, reflect, discuss and connect. Here are the opportunities:

Thursdays Together: This Thursday night October 28, we will kick off a small group bible study from 7 PM-8:30 in the St. Luke's Sanctuary (at least for the first week). This is a casual, drop-in study, but if you know you are coming, give us a heads up!

Sunday prayer group: A small group will meet for prayer on Sundays at 4:30 just prior to worship at 5 PM. We will meet in the Wesley Room at St. Lukes.

Find out more: www.metrocrossroads.org

Homeless Walk and Pumpkin Fair this Sunday!

2010-10-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

Join us for the Walk for the Homeless to benefit the St. Luke's shelter housed in the mission center. We will have two walks: one at 1:30 and the other at 4 PM just prior to worship! Also, a pumpkin fair will be going on beginning at noon! Come and join us -- 3655 Calvert St. NW. More info at www.metrocrossroads.org.

Rethinking Church

2010-10-21T21:38:00.001-07:00

So, last week we began our series on Rethinking Church. We talked about service as being the new entry point. Nowadays, it is not a given that everyone is going to come to worship. People long to serve, though. They long to give their time to something meaningful. Many times, serving others is a way to the church. We explored this idea in the context of rethinking church -- what if church was a verb. What if we didn't use it to speak of a building, or a denomination, or location. What if we used it to specify a body of people - a living organism -- moving together in diversity to transform the world. Do you think people would join that movement? I do. Check out this video that expresses some of what we are talking about.

Alternative Community

2010-10-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

What's the point of the church? It's sentimental. It can be fake, right? Do you ever want to be saved from Christianity? Jesus called his disciples into something radically different than what was being taught or lived during the day. As a lead in to our five week series on Making Church a Verb, we'll explore the concept of church as truly an alternative community. What would that mean? What would that look like? I want to hear from you? Let's challenge one another to live into God's way of life! We'll begin exploring this on Sunday night at 5 PM at Crossroads. The five weeks after, we'll be exploring specifically how we live into this as a community of faith in the postmodern world. We'll break down one of the five pillars of our parish each week: serving, learning, sharing, caring, praising. All this leading up to our commitment celebration service on November 22.

What are your thoughts to the questions above. Comment here or on Facebook. Also, go to our website for more thoughts at www.metrocrossroads.org.

Peace!

Extending hospitality

2010-09-14T13:11:00.001-07:00

Last week, I was thinking about putting things off. You know, "I'll fold those towels tomorrow, or I will put those sheets on the bed later" (maybe that's not the case for some who read this -- you know, deadline oriented people). Nonetheless, it started me thinking about how would we be changed if we were always ready to extend hospitality? How would that affect how we live our lives, and how would it impact others? Just fodder for conversation. I posed the question on Facebook, and I wanted to share a few responses here. I have removed names, but these are comments from my Facebook page:

* "The other half of that thought is how would it change others. The world would have to be a better place."

* "If I was always ready to extend hospitality, I wouldn't be so self-centered. Unfortunately, it is a hard thing to not think about how things relate to me. I strive to have a more Christ-centered life."

* "I always used to get a good feeling putting up my fellow swing dancers for an evening after a dance in Baltimore so they didn't have to drive to DC that night...and then feeding them a full breakfast w/eggs, toast and coffee. Though I (we) can't do that very much anymore with kinder in the house, I still have the hospitality chip in my brain. May I never lose it."

* "Yes, the hospitality chip for home is in my brain. Imagine if everyone was polite and followed the golden rules. As someone else wrote, it would make "the world a better place" if we had world hospitality, kind of like the movie "Pay it Forward". Great movie if you haven't seen it.

* "An amazingly profound question!"

What would you add to this? How would your life be changed if you lived in such a way that you were always ready to extend hospitality? How do we respond to hospitality shown to us?

Jimmy

One day til relaunch

2010-09-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

Well, we are one day away from relaunching Crossroads on Sunday evenings! We are excited to share our vision as we seek to build community with each other and communion with God. I hope you can join us at 5 PM tomorrow at the St. Luke's Mission Center (3655 Calvert St. NW). If you can't make it, then please pray for us! metrocrossroads.org.

Changes coming to Crossroads

2010-08-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

After much prayer and discussion, we have decided to move Crossroads from Saturdays to Sundays at 5 PM. We hope that this will better serve the Glover Park as we seek to engage our community to extend radical hospitality, transform lives, and pursue justice. We will switch to Sundays beginning Sunday, September 12. We will NOT have worship on Saturday, September 4. Also, after worship on September 12, we will gather in the courtyard for dinner. For more information, visit our website at www.metrocrossroads.org

Figuring It Out

2010-06-16T17:08:00.001-07:00

Where do we see God? In what ways do we encounter the divine? What is the struggle that we have with God? Is it in the tension between the evil in this world and the divine goodness? Is it in how one community interprets scripture versus another? The prophet Elijah was face to face with his own struggle --- that God had abandoned him and he was going to die at the hands of his enemies. In this moment, Elijah struggles to figure out what he's supposed to do next. Elijah goes through a struggle at Mt. Horeb, where he meets God...not in the earthquake...not in the fire...but in the silence. The point here is not that one only meets God in silence. Even though Elijah hears God, he comes out of this encounter unchanged. Yet, in his struggle he goes to great depths of faith.

So we may ask: What am I doing? What is the point? What is my purpose? The point here is that God was doing something special. Even in the midst of struggle and in the midst of figuring it out...God was using Elijah. In the midst of this, Elijah chooses to engage God rather than disengage. He wasn't changed immediately. His hopeless disposition remained for the moment, but God uses Elijah.

How do we engage God? How do we open ourselves up to be used by God to care and love for our neighbors? How do we figure it out?

Change the World

2010-04-14T23:31:00.001-07:00

Sounds unrealistic, huh? Well, maybe. Maybe God is the one who can really change the world. Yet, maybe not. God uses us to do great things. During the weekend of April 23-25, you are invited to do something in the name of Jesus. You are invited to step out into your community and be the hands and feet of Jesus. In our parish, you are invited to join us for Rebuilding Together on April 24. Whatever it may be, step out and be a part of Changing the World. Watch this video!

Crossroads in Mission: Rebuilding Together

2010-04-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

April 24 is the annual "Rebuilding Together" day (formerly Christmas in April). We are putting together service teams who will help repair a home in the DC area. We need people who are willing to help prep on April 17 and work on April 24. There are two shifts available on April 24. The service team needs folks for three work crews that will do the following: Dining Room painting crew - 3-4 people;Upstairs Bedroom painting crew - 3-4 people; and bathroom painting and caulking, 2 people. Given this, we probably need the most people early Saturday a.m. to clean out the rooms, prep for painting, and then prime. If we could get that done by lunch, that gives us the afternoon for the finish coat. The house is located in Northeast DC near Bladensburg Rd. If you think you would like to be a part of these teams, please contact Lee Crockett (leecrockett@verizon.net) or Rev. Kate Murphey (kmurphey@mmumc-dc.org).

The very FIRST Easter Service

2010-04-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

After Holy Thursday and Good Friday but before Easter morning, there is Holy Saturday. On this day, at Crossroads, we celebrate the FIRST Easter service of the weekend. We walk from darkness into light. We remember God's deliverance, covenant and promise of salvation. We hear the glorious Easter story of resurrection. We proclaim the Good News once again that God loves us so much. We remember our baptism and that we are raised to newness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Join us at Crossroads on Saturday, April 3 as we will share and participate together in the ancient ritual of the Easter Vigil. Through word, song, and Communion, we will share this time together. I hope we will see you at 5 PM at Crossroads this week.

Signs of Life

2010-03-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

As beautiful as a fresh fallen snow can be, it is easy to tire of a huge snowstorm on about the third or fourth day. Once the plows have made their way up and down the streets, what we are left with is a huge mess of dirty snow. And then you have to walk over it, around it, and, sometimes, through it. Sometimes the mild winters leaving us wanting more, but not this year (at least in the Washington, DC area). We've seen plenty. After days and days of cold weather and snow on the ground its seems as though the landscape has been encapsulated in a endless black and white photo. It's an image where any sign of color or life is a welcome one. In the past week, I have begun to notice signs of spring. I can see little green sprigs coming up from the ground (they even started poking up through the snow!).

Today, I was walking my dog in the neighborhood, I glanced down and was stopped in my tracks. There is a space that is brown with mud where two very small purple flowers were blooming. Between those two flowers and the green sprigs pushing up through the snow, I was once again reminded of life in the midst of death. I was refreshed with God's invigorating Spirit and subsequent message of life. I am reminded of those moments of darkness (or even blandness) in our lives where hope is scarce and we are not capable of seeing the possibility of an abundant life. Two purple flowers and a couple of green springs poking through the snow reminded that God's love and God's grace is more powerful than any darkness. I am reminded that as recipient's of that love, we, too, are invited to be light in the dark and life in the midst of death.

I love winter. I really do. But I thank God for the promise of spring, new life and hope in the resurrection!

Celebrating a year in ministry

2010-02-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

Starting a new church or even a new worshiping community in an already existing church is a challenge. There is the challenge of the unknown. What should we expect? What will it be like? The challenge of fear. What if we can't make it? How long will we last? What if no one comes? There is also the challenge of societies view towards religion, particularly Christianity (of which, some of the criticism is deserved). It is daunting, challenging and overwhelming.

Yet, here we stand one year into our Crossroads ministry. The worshiping community is powerful. It is exciting. It is dynamic. It is deeply spiritual. It connects our life to the ever flowing life-giving baptismal waters that God touches us with. Each week, we are strengthened by God's grace through Holy Communion. Each week, our community reaches out to those who have gathered and say, "you are loved."

There is much to celebrate since we started one year ago. But like our spiritual journey, we are not where we want to be. We should be engaged in further mission to the community and larger city. We desire to go deeper in our Bible Study. We are challenged to think critically about our faith and the role of the church (in a society that increasingly has no use for it). So, we celebrate for a day the past year while we pray and sing about the future.

I hope you will join us for Crossroads this week. We will continue our Lenten journey, we will celebrate, we will worhsip, we will be in community, and we will hope.

See you at 5 PM this Saturday.

Jimmy

Do all the good you can...

2010-02-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

Crossroads is participating in a food drive for Bread for the City. Through March 20, you are invited to bring items to Crossroads or our main office at Metropolitan (3401 Nebraska Ave.) to be delivered to Bread for the City.

Seeking to provide healthy food to their clients, Bread for the City suggest donations of the following items:

Canned Tuna, Chicken, or Salmon
Canned Fruit, preferably in its own juice
1 lb packages of Dried Beans
1 lb packages of Brown Rice
Whole Grain Pasta
Canned Vegetables, low-sodium preferred
Canned Tomato Sauce or Spaghetti Sauce, low sodium
Boxed Cereal
Oatmeal

Other non-perishable food items will be accepted as well. We’ve set an ambitious goal of collecting 2010 items. So please contribute generously! Volunteers are welcome to help with the sorting and delivery on Saturday, March 20 from 9 – noon in the Great Hall at Metropolitan Memorial.

We listen to hear...what is our response?

2010-01-27T05:52:00.000-08:00

Last week at Crossroads, we explored what it means to really listen to hear God's voice. We listen to hear in the midst of the craziness of life. We listen to hear in the midst of turmoil. We listen to hear in the midst of struggles. We listen to hear when times are good. So what? What if we do listen? What if we don't like what we've heard? How do we respond? When Jesus taught in the synagogue in Luke 4, when he mentioned that he has come not only for the Jewish people but for others as well, they got ticked at him. They were so upset that they tried to throw him off a cliff. How do we respond?

Haiti Emergency

2010-01-14T18:19:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday, a massive 7.0 earthquake rocked Haiti. Port-au-Prince was hit very hard, and thousands are feared dead, missing, and injured. People are without homes, food and water are scarce, and many are searching for loved ones. The United Methodist Church, and the Crossroads faith community is calling all people to be in prayer for the people of Haiti. We pray that rescuers will be able to do their jobs, that supplies will reach the needed areas, and that comfort will come to those affected in and outside the country.

In addition to our prayers, you are invited to give to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). UMCOR is an outstanding United Methodist organization that provides relief across the world. 100% of what you give goes directly to the need. You are invited to give online at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760

We will receiving a special offering for the relief effort in Haiti this Saturday night at Crossroads. We will also join together as a community of faith to pray for the people affected.

Bokamoso Youth Choir this Saturday

2010-01-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

The Bokamoso Youth Choir from South Africa will be joining us for worship this Saturday, January 9 at 5 PM.

Finding Time

2009-12-15T22:34:00.001-08:00

In the midst of Advent, some take time to slow down, reflect, pray and be silent. Some, not so much. For some, that is draining. Some people would rather spend time building community, talking with friends, or sharing a meal with family. Regardless of what it is, it is important to take time. After this week's worship on December 19, we at Crossroads will take time to reflect on the meaning of Advent and Christmas, and its implications for our lives. We will not gather as a community to worship on December 26 or January 2. However, we will resume the Crossroads experience on Saturday, January 9. Please join us as we explore spirituality and journey towards deeper discipleship through as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Pass along the word to your friends to join us this Saturday, December 19 at 5 PM as finding time to seek God.

Finding Joy

2009-11-22T20:37:00.000-08:00

The season of Advent begins this weekend. We will celebrate Thanksgiving this Thursday, and immediately we will jump into the craze that is the Christmas season. But in the church, the season of Advent comes first. Advent means coming. It is a time where spiritually we prepare ourselves for the comings of Christ - in his birth, in his continually coming through Word and Spirit, and in his return. The mystery is this season is found in the waiting and watching. The community of faith is invited into the richness of this season as we hear the voice of the Prophet Jeremiah speak a word of hope to the Hebrew people, as we hear John the Baptist call us to repent, and we finally bear witness to Immanuel, God is with us through the birth of Jesus. Here are Crossroads, we will explore these themes through a series of worship experiences focused on the theme of "finding joy." We being this weekend with the "Joy of Home." Let us prepare to wait, watch and welcome together.

Grace, Gratitude and Generosity

2009-10-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul invites the churches in Asia Minor to give to a collection being taken for the church in Jerusalem. Paul doesn't coerce, misrepresent, or guilt the followers of Christ in these areas. He simply invites them to remember the grace that is present at people of God, the generosity that comes from God and flows out from our lives, and the gratitude that we offer one another and to God. What we do with what we have truly becomes a way of life. Let us reflect on what it means for God to "reign" in our lives. What are you doing with what you have been given?

Called to Serve the City

2009-10-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

We serve in many ways. One of the opportunities that we have at Metropolitan is through our annual Tyler Rusch Walk for the Homeless. On Sunday, October 18, you will have a chance to walk to raise money for our homeless shelter ministries across the parish. Find out more information about registration on www.nationalchurch.org. Join us Saturday night as we explore how we can continue to serve God and neighbor in our city.

Called to Serve

2009-09-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

"We are called to be light for the Kingdom, to live in the freedom of the City of God. We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly. We are called to love on another, to walk humbly with God."

We begin this week with a look at how we can be engaged with people throughout the world. One of the most amazing efforts to stamp out malaria related deaths is to use bed nets. This video provides a taste of what bed nets mean to the people of Africa.

A Little Night Music

2009-09-10T10:14:00.000-07:00

Last week I talked about the Power of a Song. This week, we'll get to experience that during and after our Crossroads worship. This week, we present "A Little Night Music" a concert to benefit our music ministries across the Metropolitan Parish. There will be exciting music from In-Process (from Wesley), Dayspring Choir, The Crossroads Band, and various solos from each church. There will be hors d'oeuvres in the garden beginning at 6:30. The concert will get underway at 7:30 followed by dessert and coffee in the garden afterwards. Please make plans to stay for this wonderful night of musical celebration!

The Power of a Song

2009-09-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

I like singing in my shower because it is all tile and enclosed with a glass door. That means that the acoustics are fantastic! I just love how a particular song sounds in there! No matter where you find yourself singing (in the car, walking your dogs, or in the shower) there is something about the power of a song.

Songs have long been identified as a portal into the soul. You can reach the heart of a person quicker than anything else when you use music. Music calms fears, helps us through trials, encourages us, and speaks out for justice. Whether it is the singing of a lullaby or the powerful words of "We Shall Overcome," songs speak meaning into our lives.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul writes to the church in Ephesus about certain things to avoid (unwise living, etc). He says to "be filled with the Spirit as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts." A life in the spirit, or a life full of joy is often expressed through the giving of ourselves and our worship. When we sing, we offer praise to God, and we receive peace, comfort, restoration and life!

One of my professors says, "In all the stuff you deal with, where do you find joy!" Many of us find joy in the power of song. In the midst of your day (or your stuff), keep on singing!

Jimmy

The problem of Scripture

2009-08-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

I heard someone use the phrase "an eye for an eye" earlier today. Of course, it is a reference of the passage in Exodus 21 when the Hebrew people receive instructions from God through Moses on living as a community, and a nation. I was really upset with the way the person used this. He is a Christian and yet he completely ignores Jesus' call in Matthew 5:38-39 when he says, "You have heard it said, an eye for an eye" but I say (paraphrase) do not resist evil. Turn the other cheek.

Of course this is difficult, but there nothing in scripture that suggest following Jesus is an easy course. We are quick to judge and exact (or wish) for revenge. We often use the Bible as a means of justifying our actions. This is the problem of scripture, er, shall I say the problem with the readers and interpreters?

Saturday Church

2009-06-23T17:46:00.001-07:00

A little about who we are!

July 4 worship

2009-06-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, so July 4 is on a Saturday. We are in Washington, DC where you can watch fireworks on the National Mall. We are going to cancel church, right? Not quite! We invite you to enjoy the best of both worlds. Join us for worship in the courtyard beginning at 5 PM. We'll celebrate in worship outdoors followed by food (hopefully from Rockland's BBQ in Glover Park). We'll wrap up by 7 PM and you will still have time to make your way to the mall to watch the fireworks! We are also inviting you to bring items for St. Luke's shelter. Those items can be found on their website: www.saintlukesmethodist.com

Radical Hospitality

2009-06-23T16:50:00.001-07:00

What does it mean to welcome? How do we make room in our lives for the strangers we encounter? This week, we are going to explore what it means for our lives to experience a disruption in order to welcome someone into our presence? We will highlight the story from Luke where the King invites guests to his dinner but they are all too busy. He sets the table for one group, but another group takes their place. See you Saturday!

Crossroads Pictures - May 9, 2009

2009-05-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

On May 9, our theme was "The Search for Good." During the time of response, there was a prayer station that listed names of local organizations where people can volunteer. Here are a few snapshots from Crossroads.

Wrestling with faith

2009-05-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

What are you wrestling with? What is difficult about your faith journey? What would like to know more about? What experiences would you like to share? What inspires you? What challenges you? I'm gathering information for upcoming worship experiences at Crossroads. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the above questions. You can reply to this post, or you can send me a note at jsherrod@mmumc-dc.org.

God of this City

2009-05-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday we sang a song called "God of this City" by Chris Tomlin. While we were singing it, we scrolled the names of cities and communities in the Washington Metro region. Charlie's sermon was about the search for good. It was in the context of science and religion. We were challenged to find ways to do good in our own cities and communities. Take a listen, the song is pretty inspiring.

2009-03-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for the first Crossroads Worship Experience

Pictures from launch of Crossroads

2009-03-06T20:25:00.001-08:00

Tony, Jay, Calvin and Daniel: The Crossroads Band

Crossroads Worship Experience

2009-02-23T06:27:00.000-08:00

Click here for an invitation.

2009-02-12T19:57:00.000-08:00

What is it...this Crossroads?

2009-02-11T20:20:00.001-08:00

So I was thinking (dangerous, I know). Just what in the world is Crossroads? I don't like labels in this case, so I was searching for ways to describe the experience. Imagine an electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, a little keyboard, and a clip from your favorite movie (or one your despise). In other words, it's not your grandmother's church! Yet, your grandmother could come (as a matter of fact we would welcome her) and might very well feel at home. Why? Imagine also places for quiet prayer, candles, communion, and a mix of old and new tunes (arranged in a fresh way). Imagine a place where the ancient meets the future. A place where God's mystery is held in high regard, yet also a place where relevance for our lives is important. Imagine a place where life and faith meet - and where we are transformed.

Maybe that's what it is...

Plus, Saturday church just sounds cool!!!

Peace!

Jimmy

Our story

2009-02-10T20:24:00.001-08:00

12 hours, two lattes, and one church history class later, I'm sitting here at the end of the day pondering story. What does it mean when we say, "What's your story?" In the post-modern culture, that seems to be the buzz. In the church, we recognize that we are a part of God's story. Our narrative is woven into God's story in a complex and marvelous way. As I ponder story, I'm also trying to write a script. On Thursday, we're going to shoot two or three brief promo videos for Crossroads. I want to refer to story in one of these. So, what do I say? How important is your story? Do you see a connection between your story and God's narrative? Do you feel like your story is carefully managed and controlled like Jim Carey's character in The Truman Show? Do you feel like it is spiraling out of control? What is your story, and more importantly, how does it connect with others?

What about community?

2009-02-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

Lesli and I took in the sights and sounds of Glover Park tonight. What is so important about community? Community is where life is shared. Community is where stories are told. Community is where people join together to stand for a cause. I came across a website that was about Glover Park earlier today. It's loaded with details about this small section of Washington, DC. In that, though, I could see how important community is to folks. Community is a ritual. To be in community with a group of people is saying I belong to something. I'm a part of something that is bigger than me when I am part of a community. I look forward to getting to know the people of this community. Hopefully in the process, create more opportunities for community. Remember to mark Saturday, February 28 - 5 PM.

Joy and Peace!

Jimmy