Author-speaker Brian McLaren to be with us Saturday and Sunday

A few years ago I came across the writings of Brian McLaren, and then I saw him on a webstream as he addressed the Anglican bishops at their worldwide gathering at Lambeth in 2008, a once-every-ten-years convocation of hundreds of bishops. I was quite taken by Brian's vitality, creativity and his ability to make recast ancient concepts, and make them alive in our complicated multi-cultural chaotic world.

I've been trying ever since to get him to come to St. Paul's. And he will soon be with us!

Brian McLaren will conduct an all-day workshop called "Why Everything Must Change" this Saturday March 3 from 9 am to 3pm (lunch on your own), and he will preach Sunday March 4 at 8 am and 10 am. He has a book by that title that I would recommend reading before he comes. We are then planning to build our Sunday Lenten adult education around what we hear from Brian and the issues he raises. I am very excited, and if you are in our area, I hope will come. His appearance is made possible for us by the Koinonia Foundation.

Let me also recommend another book that is terrific, and take a deep breath -- it has a long title that by its length tells you something of his perspective: A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional + evangelical + post/protestant + liberal/conservative + mystical/poetic + biblical + charismatic/contemplative + fundamentalist/calvinist + anabaptist/anglican + methodist + catholic + green + incarnational + depressed-yet-hopeful + emergent + unfinished Christian.

Brian McLaren to join us at St. Paul's

A few years ago I came across the writings of Brian McLaren, and then I saw him on a webstream as he addressed the Anglican bishops at their worldwide gathering at Lambeth in 2008, a once-every-ten-years convocation of hundreds of bishops. I was quite taken by Brian's vitality, creativity and his ability to make recast ancient concepts, and make them alive in our complicated multi-cultural chaotic world.

I've been trying ever since to get him to come to St. Paul's. And he will soon be with us!

Brian McLaren will conduct an all-day workshop called "Why Everything Must Change" on Saturday March 3, and he will preach March 4. He has a book by that title that I would recommend reading before he comes. We are then planning to build our Sunday Lenten adult education around what we hear from Brian and the issues he raises. I am very excited, and if you are in our area, I hope will come. His appearance is made possible for us by the Koinonia Foundation.

Let me also recommend another book that is terrific, and take a deep breath -- it has a long title that by its length tells you something of his perspective: A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional + evangelical + post/protestant + liberal/conservative + mystical/poetic + biblical + charismatic/contemplative + fundamentalist/calvinist + anabaptist/anglican + methodist + catholic + green + incarnational + depressed-yet-hopeful + emergent + unfinished Christian.

I am very excited that we will be hosting him and I hope you can join us.

Advent Conspiracy: We can change the world this year

"Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins."

-- 1 Peter 4:8 (from this morning's Daily Office reading)

How? Let me recommend a way:

Last year I promoted Advent Conspiracy, and I am proud to do so again. This is coming from the "Emerging Church" movement, a group of Christians (young!) unconcerned about denominational boundaries (refreshing!) who are focused primarily on serving the world outside the walls of our institutions.

They especially want us to renew the meaning of Advent and Christmas by giving, and especially by bringing safe drinking water to the poorest regions of the world. Watch this video below, and check out the Advent Conspiracy website by clicking HERE.

While we are at it, you should see last year's video. It is a classic: