ReImagine

Dear friends,

Last month my thirteen year old son and I joined a group of friends for an amazing weekend that combined silent prayer with meals shared with homeless friends at a Franciscan worker house in Salinas, California. We had several memorable adventures, including an exciting visit to a new friend’s encampment along the freeway. The weekend reminded me that we find God and our soul’s rest in the messiness of real life and relationships.. Nothing illustrates this better for me than the image of a savior born in a barn or a rabbi washing dirty feet.

During this season, our Tribe communities have focused on the theme of SIMPLICITY in the life and teachings of Jesus. Together we have been wrestling with how to channel our time, money and resources towards the way of love rather than serving money, schedules or things. We have been giving away possessions, making and sharing budgets and practicing simple cooking and gift making together.

As an organization, our goal is to be a resource for holistic and active Christ-conscious spiritual formation for people throughout our region. With this in mind, we offer a variety of ways to connect and take action– from one-evening or one-day events to year long experiments in intentional community.

Follow the links below to see how you can be involved.

Shalom to you and yours during in this seasonal celebration of hope lighting up the dark of night!

–Mark Scandrette

P.S. If you plan to do some year-end giving, (and value what we do), consider a tax deductible donation to support the work of ReIMAGINE! For details, go to: http://reimagine.org/contact

IN THIS NOTE:

TASTY MORSELS
ReIMAGINE WINTER 2010 OFFERINGS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MARK’S UPCOMING SPEAKING & TRAVEL

TASTY MORSELS available online:

A 17 minute video of Mark reflecting on missional community . http://missionalshift.com/2009/12/11/new-transform-video-mark-scandrette/

The 2009 Scandrette Family Letter http://www.markscandrette.com/2009/12/01/scandrette-family-holiday-letter-sure-to-entertain/

WINTER 2010 ReIMAGINE OFFERINGS:

AWAKENING CREATIVITY: Exploring the hidden story of your life
http://awakeningcreativity2010.eventbrite.com/
January 12-February 16, 7-9:00 P.M.
$60-$150 Sliding Scale (Scholarships available upon request)

Ancient origins of our present quest.
A theological soiree featuring Evan Howard
http://ancientorigins.eventbrite.com
Thursday January 21, 7-9:30 P.M.
Location:  Casa ReIMAGINE! San Francisco
Cost: Free

SIMPLIFY
Finding a Path Toward Greater Freedom & Creativity
(In an era of scarcity and greed)
Hosting & registration by: www.seminaryofthestreet.org
Saturday January 30th 9 a.m.- 3 P.M..
$40-$60 Sliding Scale

RETURN to the Sacred Heart.
A weekend experience of contemplative prayer and loving action
http://return.eventbrite.com
February 26-28 Salinas (Begins at 7:30 P.M. Friday and concludes at 12 P.M. Sunday)
$75-$150 sliding scale (includes five meals, instruction and modest accommodations)

RESONATE: A city-based walking poetry & prayer exercise
http://resonate2010.eventbrite.com
Saturday March 13, 2010 10:30 a.m.-6 P.M.
$25-$50 Sliding Scale

Experiments in Truth: A laboratory for personal transformation. http://experiments2010.eventbrite.com
February 23-April 6 7-9 P.M.
Location in central SF TBA.
$60-$150 Sliding Scale (Scholarships available upon request)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

JESUS DOJO FOR YOUTH WORKERS. A six-month spiritual formation process designed to nurture personal integration. Beginning Jan. 28 and meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month in Redwood City. Facilitated by Mark Scandrette and veteran youth worker and author, Charley Scandlyn. This leadership & spiritual development process is being offered free of charge thanks to a foundation grant.  Contact mark AT reimagine.org for an application.

Terruño, A SPIRITUAL FORMATION LEARNING COHORT FOR EMERGING LEADERS in the Bay area, facilitated by the Emerging Ministries board of directors: Nancy Ortberg, Roy Goble, Pam Willhelm, Bart Garret and Mark Scandrette–begins in early March 2010. Contact mark AT reimagine.org for an application and further details.

MARK’S UPCOMING SPEAKING AND TRAVEL

Mark will be one of the featured speakers at TRACTION in Sacramento on Dec. 28th. (a West coast alternative to Urbana). Check out website for details: http://www.tractionforgod.com/welcome.html

January 24-25 Clovis http://www.theharvestgroup.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=30
Visalia http://www.theharvestgroup.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=29

January 30-February 8 Washington D.C., New York Philadelphia

February 21-22    Santa Rosa, CA  http://www.theharvestgroup.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=33

March 24-27        Minneapolis
March 28-30        Northern California
Yuba City, http://www.theharvestgroup.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=34
Chico, http://www.theharvestgroup.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=35
Redding, http://www.theharvestgroup.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=36

This has been ReIMAGINE’s most popular offering for over 5 years. Get your new year started right with this intensely transformative workshop that integrates theology, creativity and personal narrativ. Concludes with a public arts event. Register here.

“Created to be creative
We enact our destiny
Embracing the energy of the Spirit
To risk making beauty
With our whole lives”

Lately I’ve been helping out with a new magazine called CONSPIRE, a partnership between ReIMAGINE, The Simple Way and a host of other conspiring communities. Go here for submissions information. And consider joining as a co-conspirator.

Thanks to Steve Knight, Don Heatley, and others for putting this together. You can check it out here:

Our good friend Linda Bergquist, and one of the cofounders of ReIMAGINE, has recently written a book with Alan Carr called Church Turned Inside Out: A Guide for Designers, Refiners, and Re-Aligners. This is a deeply human and creative book on Christ-Conscious community making. Check it out. Here’s my endorsement:

“When plans for birth or change in communities of faith are hatched from strategies or models, without adequate consideration for people, place and passion, the results can be dehumanizing. In Church Inside Out, Linda Bergquist and Allan Karr help us appreciate the importance of personality, story and culture in the design of transformational communities. This book offers a holistic and organic approach to creating community, useful to both seasoned practitioners and those just beginning to dream about making a life together in the way of Jesus.”

–Mark Scandrette, Author of SOUL GRAFFITI: Making A Life in the Way of Jesus