Category: tapestry

as many of you know tapestry is doing advent conspiracy to celebrate CHRISTmas. you can get a great idea of what advent conspiracy is all about by just going to the advent conspiracy link above. the short version of it is that we are trying to bring the CHRISTmas holiday back to being a holy day for us. we’re doing this by worshiping our LORD through trying to spend less while giving more and then using some of the money we save to buy clean water for those in need.

part of our worship for the advent season is changing the way that we value CHRISTmas. we are taking notice of everything we see that GOD has done during our week and placing those events on our own little “charlie brown CHRISTMas tree.” i bought 1,000 shipping tags to write these GOD sightings on. people are grabbing some of the tags to take with them and record events during the week. then they bring those tags back and place them on the tree. these should make for a wonderfully and meaningfully decorated tree by the end of advent.

of course, since we’re going to be buying clean water for people it seemed only appropriate to make this tree out of copper water pipe.  i built our sparse little tree last week and then improved upon it this week. i’ve pretty much decided that i’m going to change it a little each week. i could say that there was an artistic reason for this but the truth is that each week i realize a way i could have down it better. so example, last week it had a mere three branches, where as this week the little copper tree has sprouted several new growths that make it look better (i realized there wasn’t much room for many tags to be put on it). the next improvement will be welding. i have used plumber’s epoxy to join the pipes the past two weeks but if things work out right that will change this week.

my goal is for the artistry of the tree to suck a little less each sunday night. the good news is that it’s pretty easy to improve each week from my original design. 🙂

just because some people want to watch them again, i’m posting the videos from tonight’s tapestry.

 

the first one was from advent conspiracy and is a further explanation of what we will be doing.

Advent Conspiracy Interviews from Robert Terrell on Vimeo.

 

 

the next one is from the onion. it’s about halloween but i thought it was a fun way to enter the discussion of the real meaning of CHRISTmas – the kingdom of GOD versus empire.

 

 

there were also two commercials (one from best buy and one from hyundai) that were examples of what CHRISTmas isn’t about.

 

and that’s your tapestry video round up for 11.16.2008

i’m not sure why but i always feel guilty blatantly advertising on my blog for something that is going on a tapestry. i know it’s stupid. anyhow i just thought i would post the graphics for the 4×6” cards for advent conspiracy at tapestry and the 11×17” poster (which is the same as the front of the 4×6” card, only bigger.

here’s the 4×6” card – front and back.

 

here’s the 11×17” poster

like i said the front of the 4×6” is the exact same as the 11×17” poster. so i’m not real sure why i posted it. anyhow if you want to print one up now you can.

i should have added this to yesterday’s random post but i forgot to do so until this morning when i was walking the basset hounds. it’s just a reminder for those of you who were at tapestry this past sunday.

remember that your homework for this week is to feed someone.

that’s right i gave out homework at tapestry sunday night. as i told everyone sunday evening – i’m not sure what happens if you don’t do your church homework but it can’t be good. 😉

i know of at least one person is interested in this (i.e. josh ross) so here are the two videos that i used tonight.

some of the words from last night’s use of lectio divina at tapestry.

my highly polished and professional looking graphic for use during the message i am preaching sunday at tapestry. as you can tell i spare no expense in conveying the message of the LORD.

SIDE NOTE – i want this!

it’s an elmo document projector and i can get this used one for $199. some friends of tapestry sent on unexpected check last week that i might use for this. the problem is that while i really think it would come in handy i won’t be sure until i try it out. unfortunately i can’t find a place around point that will rent one so i can’t just try it with no obligation. then the issue is that these units usually costs $1,000 so this one is a huge deal. i hate decisions like this.

every thursday night the tapestry leadership team gets together at our house to eat, discuss what GOD is doing in and through tapestry, bounce ideas around, and watch “the office” together. it’s a good time because we all pretty much love hanging out together.

anyhow this week was great because of two reasons: 1) we heard a report from a non-church goer we had asked to come and critique one of our sunday night worship gatherings, and 2) we agreed upon being a part of the advent conspiracy.

awhile back i had meet a new friend who had only been to church a few times in her life and those visits where for weddings. she had never been to a church worship service. i asked her if she would come and critique one of our worship gatherings. i joking referred to it as “renting an atheist.” the goal was to make sure that we were not unintentionally talking in religious code or doing things that did not make sense to people who had not been raised in the church. she graciously agreed to come to one of tapestry’s worship gatherings and give us her thoughts. tonight was the night that she reported. she actually brought a friend with her to the worship gathering this past sunday and brought another friend with her to the report tonight. it was great. they were all extremely helpful in their critique and gave us some much needed input on the things we are doing within tapestry that are actually connecting. it was a fun evening listening and talking with them, as well as having extra people at the house to watch “the office” (more laughter = more fun).

the other great thing was that we discussed involving tapestry in the advent conspiracy. i posted about the conspiracy back in june. at that time i talked about the conspiracy being something that i hoped tapestry would like to be a part of. tonight that became a reality. the above video does a wonderful job of explaining the basics of what the advent conspiracy is. i’ll begin to bring this up at tapestry this sunday and we’ll focus on it until CHRISTmas. i think this fits perfectly with the dna of tapestry.

yes, i am probably biased but i am loving the girls and guys who lead the music at tapestry. not only are they are doing a great job but they are also being very creative. in the four weeks of worship gatherings we have already had original songs, a cello/beat boxer deut, and a harmonica solo. it makes me happy each week to think of what new stuff they are going to do.

SIDE NOTE – i also love the fact that i get to be a part of a church where i can use the picture below in the worship gathering and nobody bats an eye.