Theology Pub in Livermore

Since starting up our church’s Theology Pub, there have been a few folks who have asked how it’s gone and what we’ve talked about. We’ve only had it two weeks, but I think both weeks have been successes and so I’ll share about them briefly, as well as some additional thoughts.

Advertising

I tried to go with a dual-approach for advertising about our Theology Pub. I had hoped that this would be something that young adults in our congregation would be interested in. However, it’s something that we open up to all people in the congregation. Partially because I really enjoy it, but also because I wanted to put up some posters around town, I designed a different poster for each week (see below). I put up posters in Starbucks, Peet’s and Panama Red (a local coffeehouse that is right across the street from the First Street Alehouse). The first week I asked people if I could put up the posters, but after that, I just walked in and put them up.

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RunKeeper Pro

RunKeeper

So, I’ve started running again. I’m taking it slowly…Monday I ran 2.4 miles, today it was 2.94. And luckily, I’ve found a fun new gadget to accompany me along these runs. I was first considering the Nike + iPod kit but when I looked into it, it was $29 for the kit, plus $80+ for Nike+ shoes (or you could buy other accessories to hold the kit on your regular shoes). I wasn’t about to go buy a pair of fancy Nike shox shoes, but I was thinking about the Nike + iPod kit until Matt Scott recommended the RunKeeper Pro app for the iPhone 3G/3GS (sorry 1st generation folks – it doesn’t work for you).

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A Community Called Taize: A Review

Book3D

There are many places in the world that I would love to travel to. Between my wife and my immediate family, I’m the only one who hasn’t been to Iona – and I think there is something wrong with that. However, another well-known worshipping community that I would love to visit some day is Taizé. Many in the contemporary church culture are very aware of the Taizé community now because of their simple – but powerful – music used in churches around the world now. In the .bE alt.worship gathering I lead from time to time, we generally try and use some Taizé music when we can. And when churches decide to start an “alternative” or alternate worship gathering – one of the most popular options is to do a “Taizé service.”

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A Hidden Wholeness: A Review

Palmer

I haven’t read a lot of Parker Palmer’s books, just Let Your Life Speak. I really appreciated that book at a time in my life when I was thinking about the questions of calling and vocation that he brings up. Recently, I was sent a copy of “A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life” to review on this blog. Let me say first that I am currently looking at a shelf of 30 books I’ve received (and these are just the ones I’ve kept) that have been sent to me to review over the past 9 months or so. I used to love getting free books – however, now it’s a little overwhelming.

But I did want to share with you about the new paperback release of Parker Palmer’s “A Hidden Wholeness.” The hardcover edition came out in 2004 and this is the new paperback edition, which includes a guide for readers & group leaders, as well as a DVD entitled: “Circles of Trust: The Work of Parker J. Palmer.” So it’s a great deal for the book when you think about the enclosed DVD. I watched a couple of the clips from the DVD and it would be a great addition if you were going to use this book with an adult small group or if you wanted a clip for a retreat.

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