I enjoyed doing the Lectio Divina with you all. It seems like a good, ancient, deep exercise in praying and listening. What did you think?
This seems like a good method to add to our regular routine, maybe every other month. Part of our looking back as we look forward.
If you are interested in knowing more, read more »
Just a reminder that this Sunday, May 25, the Porch will participate in the Shepherd and Knucklehead. It meets at the Wilde Rover Irish Pub in Kirkland at 7:00. NOTE THE TIME CHANGE
If you have any questions, contact Jim Trott
As we enter a new quarter and spring, it is a good time to reflect on where we are and where we are going. So, here is the Question: Why do you come to the Porch? Where do you think we should be going?
Our three emphases are, "Learning about God; Serving each other; Serving the community where we live." What do you think?
Porch Podcast: Kingdom Questions (Baxter)
Last Sunday, January 27, Jason Baxter asked us to think about some pretty provocative questions about the Kingdom of God. Do we know what it is? What Jesus meant when he talked about the Kingdom of God and repenting? read more »
Quick Overview: Dec 16 @ 5:00, Dec 23 and Dec 30: No Meeting, Dec 31: New Year's Eve @ Ralph & Gloria's
Sunday, Dec 16
We have been looking at a variety of service projects. In our area, the main need is for money for flood relief. We encourage folks to give to that... but hard to have a gathering around giving money. So, we have to regroup a little.
Tonight, we will have a Christmas Party, eating and music and trying some ideas from Advent Conspiracy, making useful gifts that can be given away, that will be useful to a women's shelter. Jill and I found a cool project from (shudder) Martha Stewart that looks great, a no-knit, hand-knotted scarf. We'll have the stuff - you bring the love and hands to do it. This will be fun so come if you can. Connect, yak, make stuff, listen to music, eat and be together in an informal way. This will be a blessing to everyone, I think. I will conclude with a little meditation. read more »
If you are looking for a devotional help, or ideas for talks, I just came across a free version from Vanderbilt University of the Revised Common Lectionary, the scripture schedule used by many churches around the world. For each reading, this site also offers Art in the Christian Tradition in a searchable database to get images to accompany the readings. Worth looking at
This year, we want to build the habits needed to be involved with "others." In partnership with God, to love our fellow humans (that notion of empowered partnering with God is really important!). We need to overcome the
There is an unlearning that has to be done as well as a learning, unlearning the "evangelism" programs that many of us have received which end up making Christians into jerks, approaches that only a used car salesman could love (not to slam salesmen 
. Learning how to be human, to be normal with people!
We will use a series of exercises to train ourselves and report on what we are learning and keep each other honest. Here's one... read more »
In the Porch, we are trying to consider the words of Jesus. Last year, we focused on a talk he had at the beginning of his public activities. That talk is often called the Sermon on the Mount because it was set on a hilltop and was delivered to a large, general audience. In it, Jesus laid out core principles about the life of those who want to love him and follow him, what he intends. read more »
