Sanctuary Blog

2011-11-29T11:13:00.001-08:00

Advent Events:

November 27 - 9am & 10:45am: Sunday Worship
December 4 - 9am & 10:45am: Sunday Worship
December 11 - 9am & 10:45am: Sunday Worship
December 18 - 9am & 10:45am: Sunday Worship
- 6pm: Potluck Dessert @ The Green Bean
- 7pm: Taproot play (The White Elephant) @ Taproot Theatre
December 25 - 10:45am: Christmas Worship Service
January 1 - 10:45am: Sunday Worship

How Should We Read The Bible?

2011-11-10T12:45:00.001-08:00

In light of the recent conversation on Scripture and Science (and how the two interact), here's an article in The Banner (the CRC's monthly publication) that addresses some of those questions.

http://www.thebanner.org/features/article/?id=3733

(if the link does not appear above, please click "view entry" below, and it should work there)

Retreat Registration Link

2011-07-20T13:51:00.001-07:00

Click HERE to register online for our Fall Retreat.

Retreat Registration

2011-07-19T11:12:00.001-07:00

Sanctuary on Facebook

2011-06-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day BBQ

2011-05-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day BBQ

@ The Mohrlangs

5pm

514 N 138th St, 98133

Bring something to grill and something to share!

Spilling Hope

2011-05-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

Here are two links to videos related to the Spilling Hope campaign many of us are participating in here at Sanctuary:

Videos about Spilling Hope, the Bethany Community Church non-profit (here).
Videos about Living Water International, the organization Spilling Hope supports (and the video that was shown 5/1/2011 in the worship service) (here).

Enjoy!

-mark

Exploring faith, art, and culture

2011-04-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

For a wonderful article on the above topic, go here.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2014766932_pacificpchristian24.html?cmpid=2628

(Thanks for the love, Jonathan!)

Holy Week Gatherings

2011-04-20T12:03:00.001-07:00

Thursday.

Maundy Thursday String Quartet Concert

7:30pm

Harbor Church

-On Maundy Thursday (April 21) at 7:30 pm Elizabeth Knighton's string quartet will be playing Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ at Harbor Church. This is a multi-movement string quartet work that depicts each of the "seven last words," with readings done in between. It is intended to create space for meditation and "quiet" during Holy Week. The event is free.

Friday.

Good Friday Communion Service

7:30pm

Harbor Church

-We will join two of our partner churches (Awake and Harbor) as we celebrate Good Friday and worship our Lord together. All are welcome, and although there will be a room set aside for parents and children who need it, no childcare will be provided.

Easter Sunday.

Join us for our regularly scheduled worship services (9 & 10:45) at Taproot Theatre as we celebrate the defeat of death in Christ's resurrection!

map

A Love Poem

2011-02-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

by Jonathan Assink

(as heard in worship on 2-13-2011)

this is a love poem

how shall I love you?

with my heart?
with my head?
as one longs for a lover,
or as one longs for pizza?
because I love
pizza.

we love many things.
we love our friends and our family,
even those who are no longer with us.
we love the food that sustains us,
we love the water that quenches our thirst,
we love sanctuary,
we love the green bean,
we love double tall 2% vanilla lattes,
we love the seahawks,
and even sometimes the mariners.
we love so many things
do we even know what it means
to love
at all?

and what of being loved?
we so often feel alone,
unworthy,
unwanted,
unloved.
we so freely and easily give our love,
hoping desperately that in our giving we will receive.
longing to make a connection,
to find worth,
to be wanted,
to be loved back.
we give away our love so freely,
to cars,
to homes,
to toys,
to technology,
to sports,
to sunsets,
to sunrises,
to babies,
to high school crushes,
to summer camp sweethearts,
to pizza.
we give away our love so freely,
yet we forget the example of Mary.

yet we forget the example of Mary,
who poured out perfume upon your sweaty, dirty feet.
how often do we show our love with an act that defies logic!
how often do we show our love with an act that makes others question our sanity?
she didn’t just give the nicest thing she had on hand,
she gave a gift she could never replace.
but it was worth it
but it was worth it
every
penny

she gave a gift others said was theirs,
she gave a gift that was already yours.
she gave a gift while others sat,
on the sidelines,
and criticized.
she gave.

you give.
you give us love like we can’t imagine.
you give us crazy,
stupid,
absurd,
preposterous,
extravagant,
love.
and for that,
we love you.

Christmas Eve

2010-12-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

First of all, thanks to those of you who came out last night to the Potluck Dessert and Taproot play. What a wonderful evening of good food, good people, and good news!

This Friday, Christmas Eve, please join us @ 5pm for our Christmas Eve worship service @ Taproot Theatre. All are welcome (kids included!).

Again:
Christmas Eve Worship Service
Friday, December 24th, 2010
5pm
Taproot Theatre

Peace on the earth, and God's gracious favor on all of us!

A brief note about Sunday School

2010-11-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, Martin the intern here.

This last week we studied Habakkuk in Sunday School (meets during the 2nd service, in the Green Bean conference room). We talked about social justice, wrestled with the sovereignty of God, and looked at how remembering God's work in the past is to be viewed as a down payment on God’s promises being fulfilled... ultimately to redeem and reconcile all things to himself.

Here are some of the key verses that speak to the truth of the matter even when injustice surrounds us and allow us to enter the testimony of Habakkuk: Habakkuk 1:2-4, 2:1-3, 3:2, 13-19

Please join us next week as Tom leads our discussion of Haggai and Zechariah. I encourage you to read through each book once or twice this week in preparation. Haggai can easily be done in one sitting and Zechariah in 2-3. Read them as literature, or aloud, or on a lunch or work break while enjoying any sunny moments that God graces us with. Read them even if you can’t come to the Sunday School and let them encourage you this week.

The Lord be with you.

Green Bean Rebuild

2010-04-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

Making space for God (a catchphrase you'll see a lot of around here) is an audacious endeavor unless you believe that God is already at work and on the move, and what's really necessary on our part is eyes to see what God is up to, and courage to join in that work.

Well... the work we're joining right now is the redemption of an abandoned McDonald's building. What's been an empty storefront in Greenwood for the past couple of years is fast becoming transformed into the new home for the Green Bean Coffeehouse! I'll keep this post brief, but please head over to the Green Bean's website (www.greenbeancoffee.org) for frequent updates on the progress and needs of the rebuild.

Good Friday

2010-03-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

Please join us at 7pm this Friday (April 2) as we celebrate communion with the Harbor Church, one of our partner churches, in a reflective Good Friday service. Their building is located on NW 92nd St & 11th ave NW just south of Holman Road.

Then we're back to Taproot at our normal times of 9am and 10:45am on Easter Sunday (April 4).

Come celebrate with us!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2010-03-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

"Turn and face the strain."

David Bowie might have had it right. Change brings some strain. For example, when Coke introduced Coke 2. Nothing but strain.

But change can also bring possibility. And hope. And our hope, in making the change from one service to two, is that we might experience just a bit of what the early church experienced in Acts chapter 2 when they were "praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47 NIV) Our hope is to be a growing community of Christ followers who are telling and living Jesus' story in such a way that those around us can't help but follow as well.

Help us Lord!

Consider yourself cordially invited to experience the change with us, on March 7, as we move back into Taproot Theatre for our worship services, now at 9am and 10:45am. Our adult small group/class for March will be looking at the interesting characters known as the Major Prophets of the Old Testament. Tom Ackerman is the host.

9:00 - 1st service, nursery, kids' Sunday school
10:10 - Fellowship (coffee and treats in the upper lobby and Green Bean)
10:45 - 2nd service, nursery, adult small group / class
12:00 - Community brunch at Romio's Pizza (1st Sunday of the month)

Ash Wednesday Service

2010-02-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

Join us as and our partner churches Awake and The House as we enter into the season of Lent through a short meditative service.

Where:
8956 Aurora Ave (90th & Aurora)
Above the Aurora Grocery store

When:

6:15pm

Wednesday, February 17th

What to look for:
Sanctuary A-board
Greeter at the door (entrance on Aurora, near the southeast corner of intersection)

Where to park:
Side streets

Hope to see you there!
-mark

A word from Randy

2009-12-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

Throughout history, God has called forth the offices of prophet, priest and king. Prophets represent God to the people and "forth-tell" what God has to say. Priests represent the people of God to God and beg for their salvation and healing. Kings are leaders who bring order and vitality to God's people through numerous structures. Jesus Christ, who comes to us anew this Advent - by the way, the 10th Advent of the 21st Century - is the ultimate embodiment of all three offices of Prophet, Priest and King. He was compete and perfect in each function.

Jesus lived, died and rose again and in doing so, call upon us "Advent People" to embody as best as possible these offices of prophet, priest and king among ourselves and for the sake of the renewal of all Creation. Isn't that exciting. You, Sanctuary, bear these holy and needed offices to a hungry, hurting and longing world. And, you are doing a great job!

In the midst of a terrible economy and a series of arsons, committed by someone many of us know, you have prophetically proclaimed God's love and good favor to one and all here in Greenwood and beyond. Last Monday, the 30 of November, elder Tom Beavers and I visited the Green Bean's confessed arsonist, Kevin Swalwell in the King County Jail. We were delighted that he received us. We express concern for him, and at one point, I was able to say, "Kevin, on behalf of myself and all the folks at the Green Bean and Sanctuary Church, and on behalf of Jesus Christ, we FORGIVE you. We are not mad. We want you to be well." These prophetic words of God's good favor did not come from me. I was simply the voice for all of us. Kevin wept, and later we prayed for him.

As priests, you have stood before God and begged for the salvation and fullness of life for people within the church and outside of the life of the church. You have been Jesus to those in mourning, distress and need. You have been Jesus to the children of Sanctuary and the Greenwood neighborhood (I think of Harvest Fest - and Kathy Gylland and family dressed as clowns ministering to kids on games). As priests you have cared for one another, and have literally set each other free from many fears, sources of guilt and shame, and liberated one another to hope and dream for great things in each other's lives. Wow. Way to go!

As kings, you have provided a spirit of loving and collaborative leadership in Greenwood that has caused our friends and neighbors to cheer us on as a temporarily located church and coffee house. We have been told again and again that our leadership in Greenwood is making a difference. Our kingship in not rooted in traditional power and authority, but in love, authenticity and a willingness to embrace those around us whether they are similar to or very dissimilar to us.

Jesus' reign which began when he helped form all of Creation, took human form at the first Advent. Jesus' reign became absolute Lordship at his Resurrection and Ascension to the right hand of God the Father. Jesus' reign is dispersed in the hearts, minds, lives and actions of you and me as we own his offices of Prophet, Priest and King. God is using each of us. As we enter this Advent, let's open more space for this God-man among us and see what faith, hope and love can be unleashed upon a languishing and open culture.

God bless you and keep you and may the light of Christ himself shine upon you - you dear lot of prophets, priests and kings!

Harvest Fest 2009

2009-11-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

Looking out over Harvest Fest on Saturday was an example of what community can be. Thinking over the past week and reflecting on all that was done to make this happen, we are truly thankful for all of you who made crazy games, donated scrumptious candy (so much of it, we couldn't give enough away) and overall went above and beyond to make this a reality. Here are a few of our favorite moments, although this is by no means an exhaustive list:

Watching Chris Sink give every kid that scored a goal exuberant cheering that put a smile on their faces for the whole day
Seeing Julie Eidson walk up in her "ballerina" costume - with Julie next to the table, no one could help but stop and talk.
Watching child after child try to conquer the crazy maze game or watching the smallest child try to throw a bean bag through the eye of a jack o'lanter.
Seeing a huge line outside the Salvation Army nacho truck.
Seeing all the great costumes!
Hearing from those in the community with concerns about the Green Bean.
Hearing the hoots and hollers coming from the "bowling alley" - kids were still lining up for it when we were cleaning up!

Overall, it was one of the greatest Harvest Fests we've ever had and we could never have done it without all of you.

Paula and Dan

Meeting times

2009-10-23T12:13:00.001-07:00

Sanctuary Church will be meeting on Sundays at 10 am at the Upper Crust (South East corner of Greenwood and 85th) for the time being.

Green Bean Coffee House Fire

2009-10-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

Please check the Green Bean website for information about the fire.

www.greenbeancoffee.org

Thank you!

What is your GOAL(s) in life?

2009-10-07T14:39:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but I tend to easily become a very busy and active person going nowhere. The first time I ever saw a cartoon about humans resembling a hamster on his wheel - going full speed to nowhere - I didn't know whether to laugh and cry because that is so often my life. I know that's true for many of you with whom I speak at well. Busy, tired, and not sure where you're headed.

With a few years of experience and lots of anguish over wanting to be well focused in my life, I have learned a little secret that I try to apply at least daily in my life. The secret is to take a minute regularly to remember my goals and envision myself moving toward them - then getting off my back side and moving toward those goals.

Jesus was enormously busy, popular, challenged, overworked and had a couple of huge groups of detractors that wanted to put an end to him. One of those detractors asked Jesus, "Teacher, what is the greatest of the commandments?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord you God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind. That is the first and greatest of the commandments. Another is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself. Upon these two hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Jesus essentially answered for us the great question, "WHAT IS YOUR GOAL IN LIFE?" - It is nothing less to love God, Self and Others fully. That will look different for all of us. For some, our love is expressed through teaching and verbal skills, some of us through the work of our hands, others through business skills. But, the bottom line is LOVING GOD fully and then allowing the love we experience from God to flow in us for our benefit and through us to the benefit of the world.

Loving God fully with our whole person is a lifetime endeavor. We grow bit by bit. But, growth optimally takes place when a) we know what we are aiming at and b) we practice living toward our goals daily. For me this is stopping to pray and worship. For me this is asking daily, what does it mean to love my wife and kids as we all get a little older? What does it mean to be a pastor in Greenwood? What is my best avenue for loving others?

For all of us, our series this year on "Following Jesus" will bring us to a point of wrestling and again and again with these core, goal-in-life issues and I both fear and savor the time we will spend together. I fear how little I know and how much I have yet to learn. I savor the idea that we are all going to walk more closely with Christ and see amazing things happen in and around our lives in the coming year.

Welcome to Autumn 2009

2009-09-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

I hope your summer was refreshing and rewarding for you and all those whom you love, live, work and serve with. Here we are at Labor Day. Time to put away the white gloves, linen sports coats - and soon the shorts.

As we make this transition into Sanctuary's 5th year as a church in Greenwood, I am delighted to say that we are having a very fruitful time in this community at the church and at the Green Bean. I thank God for the many blessings.

This Fall, we are going to work on leveraging our blessedness by deepening our life with Jesus Christ, with each other and with Greenwood. Our Messages this year will focus on what it means to be a serious follower of Jesus Christ - in love with God, growing in our sense of self and our giftedness and in LOVING the socks off of all of our neighbors. For me, this will be an important season. I continually need to ask myself, "Randy, what is your goal in life?" And, "What are you doing that evidences that you're moving toward that goal." I find studying about following Jesus hard and strong challenges my behaviors and reignites my heart for him. Hope the same is true for you.

Also this Fall, beginning with our Small Group kickoff BBQ at Mohrlang's on Wednesday the 9th, we are going to be forming numerous small groups for the purpose of growth, care, relationship building and serving our world. It is my dream that 100% of us at Sanctuary will be in a small group to live life "together". Maybe you feel like you don't like, need, want or desire the risk of a small group. If so, I respect that. At the same time, even if you don't need a group - others in the groups NEED YOU! Let's do this TOGETHER!

Finally, we are pushing hard to reach our community and engage at a deeper level yet this coming year. We have a Harvest Festival, Christmas Drive, Colossal-Caroling Evening and lot's of volunteer work at the Green Bean and around Greenwood in the next few months. We would love to have everyone on board. Many hands make work light - and fun. You are gifted. And your gifts are wanted and needed.

Also - hooray for our numeric growth in members at two levels: 1) by new folks choosing to be a part of us, and 2) by so many of us having babies. Small groups and a new second worship service in January will accommodate the new adults and Tammie Haulter is helping us move Children's Ministry to 312 North 85th at our offices. The room will be a great, safe and loving place to leave kiddies starting mid September.

We are on a fabulous journey together in Christ. Let's relish this season together.

Much Love,

Pastor Randy

The Body

2009-08-10T15:16:00.000-07:00

Chuck Colson has a book by that title in which he tells some amazing stories of how the Church is living out her calling all over the world. Stories where the simple act of "being the body of Christ" impacts the local communities, governments, and indeed, changes lives and history. It's a great read, one I highly recommend, and it comes to my mind because I've found myself being very grateful that the true nature of the church isn't an organization, or a structure, or a set of documents, but rather, the body of Christ. That somehow, we as a community, reflect Jesus to those around us. Certainly the image of Christ is being formed in us as individuals, but the most complete way our world will encounter Christ is through the church community. Jesus says, "Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35, NLT)

I took (and am still finishing) an ethics class through Fuller Seminary this summer and a point that was raised in class has stuck in my mind. The point is this: There is no such thing as individual ethics for the Christian. When Paul wrote his letters, he wrote them to communities, to churches. Sure we make individual choices; we're not part of some mindless collective consciousness, like the Borg in Star Trek. But we're mistaken when we think our actions don't have impact on our community. This impacts how we treat the environment, what we do with our money, how we act sexually, and, of course, how we treat each other. And how we treat each other is going to be the proof in this pudding (pardon my butchered idiom).

So beloved, let us love one another. I see this happening here. Whether it's helping a brother get his green card, a sister get a job, helping to raise each others' kids, or simply sharing meals together in each others' homes... we are slowly but surely realizing that Paul wrote "You are the body of Christ" with a plural you. If Julie Eidson had written it, it would read: Y'all.

with much love,
Mark

Summer Time and the OT

2009-07-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

Isn't it nice to feel the warmth and change of pace that summer brings? It's lovely to take a walk, hit a golf ball and have a little bit more laid back season than we seem to have the rest of the year. Please, make the most of your summer.

To encourage all of us in our walk with God during Summer 2009, we will embark upon a sermon series of "OLD TESTAMENT CHARACTERS AS I SEE THEM". During this series, staff members including myself, Summer Mohrlang and Mark Mohrlang are going to share our perspectives on some of the key characters in the Old Testament. We will kick it off on the 12th of July with Adam and navigate our way through the narratives and biographies of 10 fascinating characters who encountered God profoundly in the midst of their world.

One of the things that I love about the characters of the Old Testament is how absolutely REAL these folks are. Foreparents such as Adam and Eve are blessed to relate with God up close and in person. Yet, they are the consummate villains as their pride and lack of control rebels against the Almighty One.

It is our sincere hope that as we come together week in and week out this summer, we will see how GREAT, how ORDINARY and how FLAWED these dear friends of God were. This gives me hope. How about you?

Whether your life is a mess right now and you are hiding out among the fig leaves and wine vats like Adam, Eve and Gideon, or you are walking tall and strong like David, Deborah and Esther, please join us weekly for your taste of what it means to live Real faith in Real life, just like men and women of Old.

And, by the way, feel free to bring your friends, co-workers and visitors from out of town by church. We will continue providing stimulating worship, fellowship, coffee after service at The Green Bean and monthly brunches on the first Sunday throughout the summer of 2009!

Hope you enjoy some hot fun in the Summer Time.

Much Love,

Randy Rowland

New Life is Blooming at the Bean

2009-06-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

As the cold, rainy Seattle spring grudgingly gives way to a slightly warmer, slightly sunnier Seattle summer I'm watching with excitement as carrots, onions, potatoes and a myriad of other interesting plants slowly begin to claim their territory and to win the battle against the terrorist squirrels in my backyard. For what seemed like AGES the little seedlings I'd set out appeared to be losing the battle against the ravages of late snowstorms, torrential rains and the curious fingers of squirrels dead set on uprooting everything I'd so carefully rooted. But praise God, summer is coming and new life is blooming in small pockets all over my backyard!

I'm excited to report that new life is also blooming this spring at our church's outreach, the Green Bean Coffee House. I shared, a few weeks ago in a sermon, that we were in need of more workers to go out into this harvest field. I'm thrilled to report that we currently have 30 active volunteers at the Bean busily baking, cleaning, serving coffee and joyfully caring for the customers who come looking for caffeine and community! One afternoon last week I stopped to count and realized that we'd had TEN different people working behind the counter on that particular day alone! A HUGE thank you is owed to Paula Kett who's taken on the epic task of training this mighty band of eager volunteers.

Recently, after the service on Sunday, one such group, made of 12 folks from Sanctuary and the community, came and breathed new life into the Bean by devoting an entire afternoon to scrubbing the store from top to bottom...I personally witnessed Rebecca Miller dusting tea cups, Denise and Bob Jackson cleaning, and recleaning the floors with a power washer, John Eidson installing outlets and shelves, Rachel & Joe Dieleman cleaning every surface behind the counter, Sara Caldwell scrubbing every surface in the rest of the store...and those are only the people I SAW!

As the summer arrives and your schedule becomes a bit more flexible, I hope you'll consider building occasional stops at the Bean into your schedule. If you come, ask whoever's working to introduce you to one of our regulars and be prepared for God to begin expanding his kingdom right then and there as you share Christ's community with another. Or maybe now's the time to attend one of our volunteer orientations and to begin exploring how God wants to use YOU to breathe new life into the ministry of the Bean! Please let us know if you'd like to talk with someone about ways you could use your gifts here. We'd LOVE to have you!!!

Shalom,
Summer

Welcome to Spring 2009!

2009-04-16T12:10:00.001-07:00

As we pass beyond the Easter season, I want to take a moment to reflect back on Bible passages from Palm Sunday and Easter. Both occur in John's Gospel. The first, in chapter 11, is the story of the resurrection of Lazarus. The second text, from John 20 is the passage wherein Jesus enters a locked house to pay a visit to his disciples on Easter evening.

In both of these stories, there is a consistent theme: Easter is all about the glory of God and that glory is ongoing as the power of the resurrection is revealed to the world through the church.

In the case of Lazarus, Jesus resurrects a very dead man before a watching crowd of both friends and detractors. When Lazarus emerges from his tomb wrapped in grave clothes, Jesus pulls the bystanders into his redeeming, saving, life-giving action by saying, "you unwrap him". Jesus invites his followers, at least in some small way, to participate in and broaden the scope of the resurrection of Lazarus. So, we entered into Easter week asking, "as I anticipate the resurrection of Jesus, how is he going to involve me in his redemptive work? Who am I given the privilege of unwrapping?" Is it a friend? coworker? Family member? Homeless stranger? Neighbor?

And, as we observed in Jesus' appearance to his followers on Easter evening, the imperative of RESURRECTION POWER-TO-PERSONAL ACTION jumps out at us once again. In this story, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into his disciples and tells them that they are commissioned into God's redeeming acts in the world, "As the father has sent me, I send you." And, the tag line to this passage is also powerful, and not unlike the "you unwrap him" message. Jesus says, "whoever's sins you forgive are forgiven, and whoever's sins you do not forgive are held against them." This a strong way of telling us to go out and proclaim God's love and forgiveness to a spiritually parched world and invite all of God's wandering children home to God through Jesus Christ.

What a powerful and important job we disciples have! Go and tell your world that it is forgiven. Treat people as forgiven. Remind people they belong to God. Treat people as beloved children of God. Invite people into the community of God here at Sanctuary and anywhere else the Body of Christ expresses itself.

Unwrapping the bound. Forgiving the guilty. Reclaiming God's good Creation. It's all right there for you and me and supercharged with the power of the Resurrection and the Sprit of God breathed into us. May God bless each of us as we strike out on our post Easter course of Spirit-filled living this Spring.

-Randy Rowland

Romio's Brunch Remix

2009-02-24T18:34:00.000-08:00

You may recall a mention earlier this year about our council looking into ways to cut costs in these tumultuous times. We were considering removing the Romio's brunch entirely but believe it to be an important aspect of our life together as a community. So this month we're asking you to show us if you agree. We are hosting the Romio's brunch the 1st Sunday of March as usual (which happens to be March 1st - THIS SUNDAY), but we're asking if everyone can chip in to help cover the costs. Donations would be requested at about $6-10 per person. Please show us your support!

What's in a Gift?

2008-11-19T13:26:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here! (At least it is according to the retail world, which says it arrives IMMEDIATELY following Halloween each year…)

And whether you're someone who is tired of trying to figure out what to get for somebody who usually has everything they need, or you are just interested in pushing back against the consumerism that's taken over such a blessed holiday, we invite you to consider trying something
a little different...

GIVE SOMEBODY YOU LOVE A CHEESE SLICER FOR THE GREEN BEAN.

That's right. They may not be able to take it home and use it themselves, but every time they bite into a hot, gooey panini at the Bean, they know it's THEIR cheese slicer that helped bring that sandwich so close to perfection.

But it doesn't have to be the cheese slicer! We've got a whole list of things that the Bean could really, really use, and we’d be so blessed if you could purchase one (or even many!) of the items in the Green Bean gift catalog.

Check the comments to see which items have already been spoken for!

Sanctuary and Green Bean Video

2008-09-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

Scott made this awesome video about Sanctuary, the Green Bean and the Greenwood neighborhood. Have a peek at what we're doing here!

Greenwood Sea Fair Parade

2008-07-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

Two neighborhood kids enjoy free soda, ice cream, and face painting at the Sanctuary Fun Zone as Cindy Black and Cheryl Robinson keep coolers stocked and carafes full.

Over 40 Sanctuary volunteers enjoyed the opportunity to meet their neighbors during this year's Greenwood Seafair Parade. The Sanctuary Fun Zone offered parents the opportunity to rest and enjoy some Green Bean coffee and find out about local non-profits like the Senior Center while their kids had their faces painted or burned off steam in the bouncy house. Ten local businesses contributed items for a raffle which raised $240 for Tiny Hands, working to abolish the child slave trade in and around Nepal. Down the street at the Green Bean Coffee House, volunteers distributed water in paper cups to greatful passers-by who had walked long distances to get to the parade. Over all, the Fun Zone was a great opportunity for Sanctuary and the Salvation Army, who funded the event, to care for our neighborhood and to showcase the ministry of the Green Bean.

-Morgan Knighton

What Is Worship?

2008-03-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Every week as we meet together at an off-duty theatre, just north of where the sidewalks in Seattle end, I am usually inviting everyone who has gathered to “stand and join us as we worship our God together.” It’s a nice sentiment. What I mean is this:

You who have been called by God to be his witnesses in Greenwood and to the ends of the earth: watch out! You are simply unable to stand in His presence, your knees are too weak, your hearts too frail, and your minds too distracted by the things of this world. But don’t lose heart. Just admit it. And hear this good news: While you were still far away and lost and blind, this holy God became like us, never losing his God-ness, ran after you, caught you and embraced you… even though you tried to wriggle free of His grasp… ‘cause that’s so like you. And somehow, through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, your weaknesses get turned into strengths, and your death becomes life. So brace yourselves. Grab a nearby hand for support. You may, if you’re not careful, be changed by the Spirit before you have a chance to run for the doors.

So watch out!
~Mark Mohrlang

Fresh Air

2008-01-28T19:44:00.000-08:00

Maybe there's just something about a new year that brings about renewed purpose... or maybe it's the sight of those mountains on a clear, crisp day during an otherwise gloomy season. Either way, as mentioned below, a lot is happening in this little congregation, but we can't make all of these amazing forward movements and changes without some help and some extra hands on deck. There are quite a few of you out there already fully committed and doing what you can when you can, but we've also heard that some people want to be involved and either aren't sure how, or aren't sure where... Well here's your call to action! Drop me a line and let me know your passions, gifts, questions, etc and we'll make sure everyone has a way to be part of the team, part of the family, part of the body of Christ in 2008 and beyond!

~Torrey Edwards

Happy New Years!

2008-01-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2008! And there's so much to look forward to this year. We're focusing the Green Bean's business structure so that we can better deliver the ministry vision of the coffee house as well as sustainably continue as a business. There's room for you to get involved at the Bean too! Hayden and Lisa are working to form ministry teams that do everything from being a barista to coming alongside customers to meet the needs that coffee can't fill.

I'm also excited for Sanctuary's Council retreat that will be held in January. We will be working through a book called "Simple Church" and challenging our organizational structure to attempt to bring about an obvious and clear organizational structure which similarly to the Green Bean will enable us to deliver our goals of ministry more effectively.

Come and see what God is going to do at Sanctuary and the Green Bean in 2008.

Urban Hymnal

2007-12-03T08:35:00.000-08:00

Most of you know Mark Mohrlang as Sanctuary's gifted Sunday morning worship leader, but few of you know that he was born with a guitar pick in his hand and educated in the School of Rock...
I'm not sure where I'm going with that, but I did want to let everyone know that Mark, along with some other gifted musicians who have led us in worship before (Zadok Wartes, Tara Ward) have put together an amazing interdenominational worship event that will take place in a few weeks. Here is the info:

Urban Hymnal 01 | music. art. prayer. silence.
"The longest night of the year"
Dec. 14th 8-9pm
St. Mark's Cathedral
$0-10
http://urbanhymnal.org

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2007-11-30T09:50:00.000-08:00

The leaves are all gone, the cold has come in, the smell of wood fires fills the air... and if you weren't aware Christmas is around the corner then you live under a rock because every retail operation from here to Florida has been plastering "Christmas" up in their displays since the last trick-or-treater ran all the way home.

So let's all take a breath and enjoy an old-fashioned celebration of coming together to sing carols and learn more about this amazing birth story. Join us for the Taproot Touring Company's production of "Christmas Past" at the usual joint (that is, Taproot Theatre) and for goodness sake bring a friend! Spread the love and take this opportunity to maybe open the door a little bit wider to God's call to His family. Our family.

Brothers and Sisters - let's rejoice! Sunday, December 16th at 7pm. Snacks and drinks to follow at the Bean.
(Email Torrey if you'd like to reserve some tickets.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-20T10:36:00.001-08:00

In North America, we are blessed beyond our imaginations. Ben Katt touched on this theme earlier this summer pointing out how rich we are when so many in this world live on 2 dollars a day. That's half of a latte, do you think twice about ordering a coffee during the day? It gives you pause to think about how God is blessing us.

What are you thankful for? Post a comment and share with us!

Volunteering at The Green Bean

2007-11-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

When I think about how Sanctuary is reaching out to our neighborhood the first thought I have is the wonderful creation and ministry of Lisa and Hayden at the Green Bean Coffee House. It is a rare hour that God's love is not shinning through a hot double tall soy latte with room or a gluten free cookie. But the measure we often use for how effective our presence is in the community is a simple question: "If the Bean closed down, would people miss it?"

I answer with a resounding YES! And it gives me shivers to think about how exciting it is to be a part of making the Bean be the Bean. Now, I can't pull an espresso shot to save my life, if you can or would like to learn you should talk to Hayden and Lisa who are looking for a few volunteer shift leaders. But if that's not in your skill set, there are countless other ways to be a part of what is happening, from spending an hour "sitting long and talking much" at the Bean, to leading a special class about a topic you are passionate about, to sharing repair skills or willing hands and time to keep the Bean looking good. There is an opportunity this Veterans Day weekend to do just that. The Bean will be closed on Sunday and Monday to move some plumbing, install a dishwasher, touch up some paint, repair a chair or two, install a few basement lights, and do a little bit of cleaning. Click the calendar link for more information.

Harvest Fest

2007-10-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Sanctuary and the Bean hosted their 4th annual Harvest Fest. We had a wonderful time running carnival games for kids, handing out candy, and making connections with many parents from the neighbourhood. The event was a huge success and a very big thank you is in order for those of you who donated candy, helped set up, ran the carnival games, and took clean up.

Minister of the Word

2007-10-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

It is Sanctuary's great honor to sponsor Ben Katt's ordination into ministry in the Christian Reformed Church. As many of you are aware Ben has been called to plant a new church in the Seattle area. He has been listening for direction from God about this process and in an act of openness and transparency has been journaling about that ongoing process at his Awake blog. Like Paul blessing the new church plant in Colossia it is my prayer that Sanctuary will say "since the day we heard about you Ben, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way."

Investigating the Mystery of God...

2007-10-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Sanctuary,
What a full day yesterday! And by "full", I don't mean "busy" - I mean "rich" and "good". A baptism, communion, a shared meal at Romio's, the memorial service for John at the Green Bean, and a sister church goes public. All of this on our 3rd birthday!
One thing was clear to me yesterday - God is faithful.

This week I will take the baton from Randy and continue the series on Colossians by taking a look at 1:24-2:5. Here is an excerpt:

2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

So what do you think? What strikes you about this passage? As I prepare this week, I'd love to hear your thoughts/comments/questions about this text. Please email me at bkatt@sanctuarycrc.org!

Buen Camino!
-Ben

The loss of a friend/member of our community

2007-10-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

At Sanctuary, we are a pretty young church. We celebrate weddings, babies being born and even young folks beginning to date or get engaged. Less frequently, we must deal with the death of loved ones.

Last night, John Fason, passed away after an extended battle with cancer. Lisa Etter and Hayden Smith, who have been friends/family to John for the past couple of years, were at his side.

When I first heard the news before dawn today from Sara Caldwell, I wrote this email:

Amen to Sara’s blessing. I saw John for about 15 minutes yesterday afternoon. He could not respond to much, but I did encourage him to let go and release himself to the loving arms of our father and I anointed him with the sign of the cross. I am so glad his suffering is over. He has set sail for a far better harbor.

Lisa, Hayden, Patty --- all who have cared: Rest now, in the loving arms of God yourselves. Mourn well. Heal in time. Live in faith, hope and love.

John was a key part of our life in Greenwood. He was a daily smile, a new poem and a pencil sketch of a cat or squirrel or some other animal scene. There was a simplicity and beauty... an innocence recovered in his expression of art. John's work has been assembled into a book by Lisa and Hayden. I am sure it will soon be on display for all to see and read at the Green Bean.

John made a public confession of faith in Jesus Christ and expressed a desire to "go to heaven" two weeks ago today. It's never too late. And, I am further reminded that at the core of all we are and all we do is JESUS. He is all we have that lasts forever. I am so glad that our ministry at Sanctuary and the Green Bean is all about JESUS and that we are able to love on people and invite them into the forever family of God and the the great party of the Kingdom of God through our various activities....and, even more, through our very lives given to others as Hayden, Lisa and so many others have demonstrated with John.

Colossians

2007-10-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody,
Hope you're having a great week!
This is just a reminder to those who have joined us for Sunday worship and an invitation to those who haven't that we are again diving into Paul's letter to the Colossians this Sunday. Specifically, we will be looking at Colossians 1:21-23.

Here's a sneak peak at the passage:
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Let that text percolate in your head and heart for the next couple of days.
See you Sunday, Taproot @ Ten!

Church Organization

2007-09-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

After 3.5 years of the Sanctuary community being together around the idea of Making Space for God, being an integral part of Greenwood, and growing in number we are now becoming an organized church.

What exactly does that mean you ask? It doesn't have to do with a better communication system (although that is also happening) nor a new administration position (but this is also happening) nor is it about giving up on our organic communal structure. Instead the greater Christian Reformed Denomination is recognizing a new phase for Sanctuary not as a church plant but as an independent church. A church that can now go and support new church plants.

During the church plant phase the denomination supported a significant portion of our operating budget as our community grew from 4-10 people meeting in a small house church back in March of 2004, to our first public worship service in October 2004 at Taproot. Over the last 3 years as the Spirit has been bringing more people to our community the denomination has been slowly setting us loose like a mother letting go of a growing daughter. Now we have reached a critical mass that nearly supports our costs of worshiping and being a community in Greenwood. We also have a group of people who are identifying themselves as members of the Sanctuary Community. Sanctuary's Leadership Team shares a larger vision of training the next generation of leadership, planting more churches and supporting the emerging churches in the Pacific Northwest region. There'll be more about this subject in a future post but for now, much of this work is still being supported by our Denomination.

Now as we embark into this new phase of Sanctuary Church I sense God reminding us to "Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Check out what's up

2007-09-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the newly revamped website! Our site will be updated regularly with the upcoming events that are going on. Check out the Calendar for ways to join in our community happenings. There are also a number of ways to get plugged into groups at Sanctuary from small groups to a college aged lunch fellowship. Also if you are looking for help with moving or trying to find a new home for your old things, there is a classified page to post ads on.

Interested in learning more about us? Take some time to view our staff and leadership team. We are also interested in recruiting more leaders for our Gather, Glorify, Grow and Go leadership areas. If the goals of any of these areas seem like they match your interests and skills please contact the heads of the appropriate areas.

Sanctuary Website Changes

2007-08-23T16:21:00.001-07:00

Comments and corrections to edit the Sanctuary site should be placed here as a comment to this post. Put the page you want edited with the text to change in the comment. As I address those changes I will delete your comment. Thanks!

Your Web-lackey,
Steve-Dave