To everyone who’s nearby, there’s some outstanding things coming up at Up/rooted.
This Friday nite at 7 p.m. Mark Van Steenwyk is at Up/rooted North at Life on the Vine. Mark is a founder of Missio Dei, a missional, neo-monastic community on the West Bank of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. You can read about Missio Dei, their rule of faith, and their gatherings here. He blogs at jesusmanifesto.com, and is a member of the Twin Cities Emergent cohort. Are you interested in talking first hand about neo-monasticism, the idea that we can live as a community, engage in community practices that center our life in Christ while engaging the local community for gospel transformation, then you’ll enjoy this evening. I long have wondered how to do intentional Christian community in the suburbs. Can this guy from the city help? Oh yeah! I’ll be there, hope to see you!

Monday April 23rd, 7 p.m. Up/rooted west will be having Annie Gill-Bloyer from Bread for the World and the ONE Campaign join us and speak to us about how we can all be involved in the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty. We’re meeting at at Northern Seminary on Butterfield Rd. in Lombard, conveniently located off of I-88 & I-355. The presentation will be in the chapel at Kern Hall at 7pm. I’ll be teaching that night at Northern, but I’ll be sure to pop in.

This summer Up/rooted (with the help of several other Midwestern Emergent cohorts) will be hosting the first-ever Midwest Emergent Gathering. Mike Clawson and friends have done a great job of pulling this together. I urge you check it out if you’re seeking to engage the emergent discussion first hand. I plan on being there!

Lastly, May 9, 10-4 p.m., I am doing an all-day seminar conversation on Post Modern Post Christendom and why it is good news for we seek to be the church more faithfully in our times. I hope to articulate clearly what these cultural phenomenon are (is that possible?) and then talk about going organic church when it comes to worship, mission, spiritual formation, leadership, justice and preaching. What can the church look like versus the mega-sizing that seems to drive church in the consumerized, individualized culture that is killing us all (was that too dramatic?). You can read more here.

If anyone is coming in overnight for one of these events at Northern, I can get you a good rate (through Northern) at the Hyatt right next door! Feel free to E-mail me.