ReImagine

Exploring the hidden story of your life
January 12-February 16, 7-9:00 P.M.
$60-$150 Sliding Scale (Scholarships available upon request)

Awakening Creativity, one of our most popular offerings, begins on January 12th. This is a great Learning Lab for people wanting to make a new start in 2010.

Every culture reflects a collective longing for God’s kingdom. In our region, many people express this through a desire to be more creative and to live more artfully.

In one of the exercises for Awakening Creativity we invite one another to explore the brokenness or “shadows” that keep each of us from living more fully as God’s beloved. We ask each person to come prepared to be photographed with props or a costume symbolizing their “shadow.” Last year Dave, a large burley man, came to the “photo shoot” wearing small shorts and a tiny t-shirt. He huddled under the camera looking like a scared little boy. When viewing the photograph later in group he explained, “Inside I feel small and afraid. Fear keeps me from living more fully into God’s dream for my life.” Laura arrived at the photo shoot wearing spectacles and toting a film projector. For her shadow portrait she posed as a film critic, chomping on a pencil and taking notes furiously. Later she explained, “I tend to look at myself with a very critical eye. I try so hard to avoid making mistakes that I’m afraid I’m not really living.”

Created to be creative. Come explore what this means.

Final public performance/art event, Friday February 19th 7-10 P.M. 


Do you aspire to be more creative in 2010? Since ancient times spiritual seekers have expressed their questions and longings through poetry, art and song. Jesus invited his listeners to repent, reimagine or dream up their whole lives again. Many have observed the vital link between imagination, creativity and spiritual transformation. This six-week Learning Lab will help participants integrate creativity, personal narrative and theology through individual and group exercises. A final group show featuring the work of participants will occur on Friday February 19, 7-10 P.M. 

Participants will:

Learn to use daily journal keeping, a weekly walk and creative adventure as tools for transformation

Study the life and teachings of Christ as an archetype for creative living.

Explore personal narrative through artistic mediums (including poetry, dance, prose, music, sculpture, photography, drawing and painting).

Discuss process and discoveries through small group encounter.

Create a compilation book from weekly exercises for display at an art event called: SECRETS, STORIES & CURIOSITIES on February 19th, 2010.

COST: $60-$150 sliding scale (Includes curriculum, art materials, facility use and final reception costs) Scholarships available upon request. Contact info@reimagine.org.

First, a bit of holiday cheer.

I’ve just recorded and uploaded an audio recording from my book, SOUL GRAFFITI. It’s a chapter that includes a story about a Chanuka party, childhood memories and thoughts on “God as light.” I hope you enjoy it. You can download it here: http://www.markscandrette.com/2009/12/22/a-holiday-treat-for-chanukah-christmas/

I’m also writing to ask you to consider a year-end gift to support the work of ReIMAGINE! We are not desperate… this is just a good time to ask — knowing that, if you are like me, the end of the year is a helpful deadline and reminder to give to the causes and people I believe in.
I know that, like me, you sense a need in our culture for a renewed understanding and a revolutionary practice of the way of Jesus. This is exactly what ReIMAGINE seeks to cultivate in the emerging culture. I know it might sound a bit cheesy to say, but…If you value the voice and contribution ReIMAGINE makes toward the future, you can support positive change with your dollars. Here’s the pitch.

The last couple of years have been really exciting for us–seeing our local initiatives flourish, gaining a larger public audience and having the opportunity to mentor and equip leaders throughout our region. Here are a few highlights of the year:

• For the fifth year in a row we have offered an annual series of Learning Labs in San Francisco, based on various aspects of the life and teachings of Jesus. Each Learning Lab has 30-40 participants and many people sign up for multiple projects. It is so rewarding for us to see the kind of transformation taking place in people’s lives through this program. Our Learning Labs attract people who don’t participate in a local church and people investigating the Jesus for the first time.
• This year we launched two neighborhood ReIMAGINE tribes composed of people who have been through our Learning Lab process. Its fun to see leaders develop and the personality and creativity of these groups emerge.
• This fall we also started a 10-month Leadership Learning Lab for leaders around the Bay area who want to start their own “Jesus Dojo” experiments with groups. We are spending more time training leaders and helping start networks of missional practice around Northern California.
• We also continue to host groups for one-day and one-week learning and serving experiences in San Francisco. Barrio Libre, our neighborhood safety project, and ABOLITION, our local human trafficking awareness campaign have become some of our most popular offerings.
• Our homes continue to be pilgrimage destinations for people from around the world on a spiritual search.

We try to give the maximum benefit with the lowest possible financial footprint. Historically we haven’t  been that comfortable asking for money– but. we believe too much in what we do not to ask.  Your gifts to ReIMAGINE will be used to help us expand our initiatives and effectiveness–so that more people can be inspired to take risks and build community around the tender and radical way of Jesus.

You can send a tax deductible gift to ReIMAGINE!  P.O.Box 411601 San Francisco, CA 94141 or to donate with a credit card, hit the “justgive” button on our website: www.reimagine.org. https://www.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=31-1783556  All gifts posted or received by December 31st qualify for 2009 tax deduction.

Thanks for your partnership & consideration!

Happy holidays to you and yours!

–mark

An audio chapter excerpt from SOUL GRAFFITI: Making A Life in the Way of Jesus

Chapter 5: Darkness and Light the Scandal of Eternity

An audio chapter excerpt from SOUL GRAFFITI: Making A Life in the Way of Jesus called Darkness & Light the scandal of Eternity

I am your child
You love me
With me you are well pleased.

I live by your word and breath– not by the desires of my body
I rule and create through conscious surrender– not by wealth or power
I know who I am, Your beloved– not what anyone else thinks of me