ekklesia

Our Christmas Giving for 2011

2011-12-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

We want to introduce you to Narges K. Ashtari, The Prishan Foundation, and the

Assist Orphanage for Girls

Each year we at Ekklesia adopt a special project overseas that we ask for

everyone to donate towards. This Christmas season we want to take the time

to think about how we might be able to most closely represent who and what

this Christmas season is really all about. We attempt as a community to

give sacrifically so that others might know the love of a God that would

come to earth for us. This year we have chosen to give toward building the

Assist Orphanage for Girls in Rayagada, India. Currentlly Narges K. Ashtari

(pictured above) and The Prishan Foundation are about halfway to their

$41,000 goal to build a home for 40 beautiful little girls who would not

otherwise have a place to live. You can read more about the project in an

interview done by Mark Langham and Conspiracy of Hope -Here.

We are asking you to consider giving sacrificially above and beyond your

typical gifts to this building project for Christmas. We have a chance to

make a huge difference in the lives of these girls. If you would like to

give you can bring a donation to our Sunday Night meeting or you can mail a

check to:

PO BOX 641

Hattiesburg, MS 39403

Make out checks to Ekklesia Hattiesburg and be sure to indicate in the memo

line what the gift is for.

Thanks for being a part of making this dream a reality -

The girls from The Assist Orphanage thank you as well!

Hawkins Day of Service

2011-10-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

Our Hawkins students recently collected toiletries and then created self care kits to be distributed to local shelters.
Great Job Guys!

Hawkins Day of Service

2011-09-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

MEETING AT HAWKINS ELEMENTARY THIS SUNDAY AT 5:30PM

2011-08-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

To Celebrate our 4th Year as a community of faith we are going to hold our public meeting at Hawkins Elementary this Sunday. Same time, 5:30pm, but NOT at Court Street. Please stick around after the service for a potluck dinner.

Let us know you are coming and if you are bringing anything to the Potluck asap by filling out this FORM and/or responding to the Facebook event. Feel free to invite a friend or friends!
Although there will be NO Family Experience before the service, we WILL have childcare during the service.

Hawkins is located at 526 Forrest Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Behind the Hattiesburg Public Library on Hardy. From Hardy Street take Green Street to Hawkins.

Children Serving at Edwards Street August 6

2011-07-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 6, 10am-2:30pm
Our grade school children will meet at Court Street at 10am to go serve together at Edward Street Fellowship Center in the garden and food pantry. They will have lunch together & then go bowling! Bring a sack lunch and $5. Let us know if your child will participate in this day of service and fun! Email colbey.sparkman@gmail.com

Proving Meals for Families with Newborns

2011-06-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

Diaper Shower! SUNDAY, June 12

2011-05-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

We have 3 new babies coming this summer. We'd like to help the expecting parents by giving them some diapers and wipes. Please mark your calendar to bring a pack of diapers or wipes (unwrapped) on Sunday, June 12. We'll have some refreshments from 5-5:30pm if you want to come early to congratulate them!

Check out Opportunities for Small Groups for the Summer

2011-05-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY, May 15 COOK-OUT/PUBLIC MEETING at Kamper Park 4:30pm

2011-05-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

Meet for our annual Cook-Out at Kamper Park at 4:30pm in the evening instead of our usual lunch gathering. We cannot meet at Court Street on this particular Sunday, so we are going to play at Kamper Park instead! We'll provide the burgers/dogs, buns & paper products. BELOW IS THE SIGN UP FORM TO SHARE WHAT YOU WILL BRING. Go HERE to find out what others are bringing.Loading...

Friday Night Cook-out

2011-03-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

Click the picture to view the albulm

Friday Night Cook-Out!

2011-03-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

Join us THIS Friday at 6:30pm for a Family Friendly evening of good food, great conversation, games and maybe an opportunity to show off those dance moves you've learned from Just Dance Wii!:) Please let us know you are coming asap by filling out this form or responding to the Facebook event. Please feel free to invite a friend or friends! To see who's bringing what go HERE

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Ideas for Lenten Promises

2011-03-09T09:28:00.001-08:00

Give Up:

1. Food Item (sweets, fried food, meat, etc.)

2. Television

3. Say "NO" to something that is a waste of money & time.

4. The need to be right.

5. Grabbing the best parking spot. Let someone else have it, and the walk will do you good.

6. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace

7. Buying things for yourself.

8. Smoking

9. Stop listening to depressing music or talk radio& enjoy silence or something uplifting

10. Alcohol, soft drinks, etc.

11. Complaining about where you are in life. Stop whining about how great things were there, and thinking "I will be happy when..." Be content and make today better.

12. Let go of the grudges and stop rehearsing the past events. Forgive those who have hurt you.

Start Something:

1. Commit yourself to a small group or meeting weekly with a friend who encourages you in your faith.

2. Use your blinker. Drive the speed limit.

3. Pause before you speak. Listen more than you speak.

4. Tell the Truth.

5. Clean up after yourself.

6. Be early.

7. Tip big.

8. Start Recycling from your home or place of work.

9. Find a way to go to bed earlier, so you get enough rest.

10. Set aside 15 minutes a day to Be still and Know that You are NOT God.

The Way of the Child STARTS THIS SUNDAY!

2011-03-01T08:35:00.000-08:00

For the next 8 weeks our grade school children have an opportunity to experience The Way of the Child during our Public Meeting on Sunday nights through the season of Lent.
Meeting in the FELLOWSHIP HALL at 5:30pm.

The Way of the Child recognizes that children have an innate spirituality with a natural acceptance of mystery, an amazing capacity for awe, a vital imagination, a longing to be their unique selves, and an ability to be open to and receive God's love.

The Way of the Child

Takes seriously and joyfully children's capacities, deep needs, and spirits
Leads children into a deeper relationship with God
Instills in children spiritual practices to form lifelong habits
Encourages children to respond to God in awe
Helps children embrace all of life, responding to God's call
Provides an experience of vital community

Parents please sign up to bring a snack for 10-12 children one week during the season HERE (Coordinator: Rebecca Lauderdale, rlauderd@gmail.com )

Ekklesia Retreat March 25-26

2011-03-01T08:34:00.001-08:00

Starting with dinner on Friday from 5:30-6:30pm with the first session starting at 7pm and ending on Saturday around 2:30pm.

The retreat is $25 per Adult, with a $60 Maximum for a family.

The price includes lodging and 3 meals.

We will have childcare and fun children's activities when the adults are in a session (1 on Friday night and 2 on Saturday). This weekend is fun and relaxing for all ages. We'll have a bonfire, eat good food, rest and play together.

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Spring Small Group Info

2011-02-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

Ekklesia Retreat March 25-26

2011-02-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

SOUP-ER BOWL Part at the Dixons

2011-02-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

Walk over to the Dixon home after our service Sunday night for food and the TiVo'd Super Bowl. Sign up to bring soup, chips/dip or desserts HERE. You can see who is bringing what so far by clicking this LINK.

This Week's Podcast

2011-01-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

This Week's Podcast: Simply Following Together

Sunday, January 9, 2011 Podcast

2011-01-12T06:57:00.000-08:00

Luke 16:16-18
The Heart of the Law

3 Week Small Group Opportunity!

2011-01-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

Right now, we are just offering a group on Monday evenings, but if you'd like to participate let us know another evening or two that might work better for you in the form below. We have other people willing to host a group on another evening.

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GIVING

2010-12-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

As 2010 comes to a close we wanted to do something that we don't do very often, talk about money. While we at Ekklesia are strong believers in the idea that we are called to be generous with the resources God has trusted us with as individuals, we also understand that there are many worthwhile groups and causes that many of you give to. We do not claim that we should be the recipients of all (or any) of your generosity. With that said, we also know that many of you have invested your resources in the mission of Ekklesia Hattiesburg and we wanted to give you all the information you might need regarding giving to Ekklesia during this Christmas season.

Please take a moment to look at our proposed 2011 Budget so you can be familiar with where your gifts are used.

This season there are two main areas to which you can give.
1) You can give to Ekklesia/Neighbors at Hawkins.
2) You can give gifts designated to the International Justice Mission as part of our special 2011 Christmas offering.

Ways to Give:
1) Check/Cash
a. We can accept checks or cash on Sunday Nights at the service. (Reminder that there will NOT be a service 12/26/10)
b. If gift is for International Justice Mission, then you can write the check to Ekklesia Hattiesburg, but put IJM in the memo line
c. Gifts can be mailed to Ekklesia Hattiesburg PO Box 641 Hattiesburg, MS 39403. (must be postmarked 2010 for 2010 tax credit to be given)

2) Automatic Debit -
a. We are able to automatic debits from your account to ours. This can be done one time or on a monthly recurring basis
b. We need a voided check and this FORM filled out and turned back in

3) Stocks/properties/ other non typical donations
Are best be given to our account with the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation. Let us know if you would like to make this kind of donation and we will make necessary arrangements.

We will be giving to the International Justice Mission. Find out more about their work to free young girls from sex trafficing. It takes an average of $15,000 to free one girl. Our goal is to try to raise enough to do just that this Christmas season.

See this video: IJM Gift of Freedom 2010 for encouragement to Spend Less, Give More, Love All & Worship Fully this season!

You can view other stories from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.
Peace Be With You!

Special Christmas Offering to International Justice Mission

2010-12-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

You can give a designated gift by putting "IJM" in the memo line of your check written to Ekklesia Hattiesburg. Mail it in or turn it in on Sunday evenings.

IJM Gift of Freedom 2010 from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

Spend Less, Give More, Love All & Worship Fully with Us This Christmas

2010-12-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Last year we gave over $15,000 to build clean water wells in Haiti. This year we hope to help free young girls from slavery and sexual oppression by giving to the International Justice Mission.

Dec. 5: Fellowship after the Baptism & Child Dedication

2010-11-24T03:12:00.000-08:00

The Way of The Child for K-6th Grade

2010-11-09T10:04:00.000-08:00

For the next 7 weeks our grade school children have an opportunity to experience The Way of the Child during our Public Meeting on Sunday nights through the season of Advent.

The Way of the Child

Takes seriously and joyfully children's capacities, deep needs, and spirits
Leads children into a deeper relationship with God
Instills in children spiritual practices to form lifelong habits
Encourages children to respond to God in awe
Helps children embrace all of life, responding to God's call
Provides an experience of vital community

New Page on our website: PRACTICES

2010-10-19T11:11:00.001-07:00

We at Ekklesia Hattiesburg have attempted to order our communal life around a few simple practices that we see as integral to our collective life as followers and imitators of Christ. Here are some short explanations for these practices.

STUDIES & SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITIES START THIS WEEK

2010-10-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Look over the opportunities for study and small groups this fall & sign up for one at this LINK!
Click on the picture of the book to order the books.

Sundays @ 10:30 am This women’s group will start Changes That Heal: Understanding Your Past for a Healthier Future at the home of Lindsay Price (415 Court Street) (Leader: Sharon Miles)

Sundays @ 5:10 pm Family Experience (Children & Parents). A teaching time for parents to join with their children. While it has mainly been directed towards preschoolers & younger children, all parents & children are welcome. We are working towards organizing an opportunity directed more for our grade school children. (Leader: Debbie Schmidt)

Tuesdays @8pm for COLLEGE Students at the home of John Laukkanen. This is a small group for college students. For this semester the group will watch a brief Nooma Video & discuss the faith related topic from the video. STARTS OCT. 12 (Leaders: John Laukkanen, David Bell & Emily Sheckles)

Wednesdays 6-7:30PM for YOUTH. This group will meet twice a month at the home of Steve and Margie Willis to give youth an opportunity to know one another and talk about their faith. STARTS OCT 13 (Leader: Steve Willis)

Wednesdays @ 11:45am @ Caliente Grill

Book Study (Men). This group has been meeting for a couple of years, but new people are welcome to join. They just started a new book: Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt.

The following will start OCT. 13 & meet:

Wednesdays @6:15 pm at Court Street. Childcare available.

MANNA & MERCY: A Brief History of God's Unfolding Promis to Mend the Entire Universe by Daniel Erlander. This is a theological overview of the Bible. (More of a class structure. Teacher: Mike Dixon) *We have the books already ($10)

Book Study on Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest & Delight Sabbath is one day a week when we should rest from our otherwise harried lives, right? In Living the Sabbath, Norman

Wirzba leads us to a much more holistic and rewarding understanding of Sabbath-keeping. Wirzba shows how Sabbath is ultimately about delight in the goodness that God has made--in everything we do, everyday of the week. With practical examples, Wirzba unpacks what that means for our daily lives at work, in our homes, in our economies, in school, in our treatment of creation, and in church. (Facilitator: Colbey Sparkman)

Service & Small Group Opportunities coming in Ocotber

2010-09-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

ISAIAH 6

2010-09-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Catch up on this series on Isaiah 6 which reflects some of our practices as we gather together publicly for corporate worship and in our daily life.
Sept. 12 "Called Out By Grace"
Sept. 5 "Woe To Me"
August 29 "High And Lifted Up"

3 Week Small Groups Start Next Week (Sept. 7,8 &9)

2010-08-31T08:54:00.001-07:00

Celebrating 3 Years of Life Together

2010-08-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

Sign Up for a Short Term Small Group

2010-08-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Ekklesia Band CD is here!

2010-08-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Ekklesia Band's debut record, "Stories We Had Forgotten," marks a creative evolution of yesterday's most sacred songs, mixed with the band's own spontaneity and flavor. The album features 11-plus hymn arrangements marked by a broad blend of instruments and vocal melodies. $10 each can be purchased online or at Ekklesia's public meeting. Proceeds go to Neighbors at Hawkins. Mark your calendar for the CD Release Party August 27 @Rare Design

Become a fan
The Ekklesia Band

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Celebrating 3 Years as a Community of Faith

2010-08-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

HELP AT HAWKINS TOMORROW, SAT., AUG. 7

2010-08-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

Join us from 9am-noon as we help the teachers of Hawkins Elementary organize their classrooms and paint the cafeteria in preparation for the first day of school on Monday!
If you are coming let us know by completing this FORM.

SUMMER MOVIE NIGHT TONIGHT AT DIXONS

2010-08-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

Join us at 7pm at the Dixon home, 401 Walnut Street, for a movie and discussion. Tonight's movie: "The Invention of Lying"

Welcome Baby Emma Carvajal! Sign up to Bring A Meal

2010-08-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

Ekkelsia serving at Hawkins on SATURDAY, AUG 7

2010-07-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

Women's Small Group at Coffee Depot

2010-07-07T12:42:00.001-07:00

This Sunday at 10:30am meet at the Coffee Deopt to discuss "Discovering your Holy Discontent". Contact Sharon Miles for more info.

PRAYER GATHERING starts THIS Sundays @ 5:10p

2010-07-07T12:41:00.001-07:00

Starting this week come to the sanctuary at 5:10pm on Sundays to prayer for the weeks prayer requests, for our meeting and other concerns.

Urgent Choice for a Patient God, podcast of Luke 13:1-8

2010-06-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

This week's message: "Urgent Choice for a Patient God". You can get any of the messages you missed here.

No Family Experience THIS WEEK, July 4

2010-06-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

We will not have our family teaching time this week, July 4. Childcare will still be provided each week for our public meeting.

We've Made it Through Luke 12

2010-06-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

This week we finished Luke 12:49-57 "Divisive Peacemaking". You can get any of the messages you missed here.

No Family Experience June 27 and July 4

2010-06-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

We will not have our family teaching time this week, June 27 or on July 4. Childcare will still be provided each week for our public meeting.

SUMMER MOVIE NIGHTS

2010-06-09T09:33:00.001-07:00

THIS WEEK: Wednesday, June 16 "BONHOEFFER"

Many of our small groups are not meeting for the summer, so in lieu of that meet at the Dixon house at 401 Walnut Street this summer at 7pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month in June, July, and August.

Kamper Park Cook-Out: Sunday, May 16 @ 11

2010-05-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

Daily Lenten Prayer Emails

2010-02-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

We will be posting daily Lenten prayer reminders during each day of Lent. If you would like to receive emails of these prayers please fill out the form below.

Super Bowl Sunday Night Schedule

2010-02-05T02:24:00.000-08:00

Here is an update on Super Bowl Sunday. We are going to start Sunday night at 5:30 SHARP!!! YES WE WILL ACTUALLY START AT 5:30!!!!! and we will have a short service of prayer, a devotional thought, and communion together. Then we will all walk across the parking lot to the new totally undecorated Dixon House next to the church. We will have a couple of screens showing the game from the beginning. We will fast forward through the half time show and should be pretty much real time by the second half. We would like everyone to bring a little something to the party. You can let us know you are coming and tell us what you are bringing at the following link

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGxUM3dLc3pNRmFUV3FGcDM4cGs1U3c6MA

See you Sunday - 5:30 Sharp!!!!

Mike

Super Bowl Sunday Form - Tell us if you're coming

2010-02-03T02:08:00.000-08:00

Who Dat still meeting on Sunday Night? Dat is us....

We are planning on meeting this Sunday Night and then all watching the Superbowl together from the beginning on tape delay. If you are coming on Sunday Night, we need to know, so fill out this form and let us know.

Playing your part in the community

2010-01-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

If you came out this past Sunday night, you heard a little but about who we are, what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how you can be involved in what is happening with Ekklesia Hattiesburg. For those of you that were not there our podcast page will have the service up soon. If you did not get a chance to fill out a paper form for participating then you can fill out the form below to put your name on a couple of dotted lines.

Or you can click on this link

Haiti Water Project Gift Cards

2009-12-13T03:44:00.000-08:00

As you have heard on Sunday Nights we have once again decided to ask you to take part in giving to the Haiti Water Project this year with the rest of our community. In our effort to Spend Less on the things that don't really matter, and give more to those things that more fully reflect the God we serve, we have decided to try and help build clean water wells to those who do not currently have access to one.

To make things easier for you we have made a series of gift cards you can give as presents this Christmas, in lieu of the bad sweater you were going to give. The picture above is one example among others like: "We sent your fruitcake to Haiti"

So donate some money to build clean wells and then you can download the front and back of gift cards from the PDF files below.

Download , print , and enjoy

Download HWP gift cards- 4 to a page final

Download HWP gift cards 2- 4 to a page final

Download Bckside 4 to a page final

Our Communal Advent Prayer.

2009-11-30T03:39:00.000-08:00

For those of you that did not get to attend last night we began the advent season together as a community. We have decided to have the whole community pray a daily Advent prayer and light a candle as we attempt to re orient ourselves towards what this Christmas Season is all about. If you did not get a chance to pick it up last night here is the prayer that we chose.

An Advent Prayer by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Lord Jesus,

Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.

We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.

To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!"

2009-11-18T03:02:00.000-08:00

This year we will be taking part in the Advent Conspiracy study again during the season of Advent (last Sunday in Nov. through Christmas) Here is a little video to help get you thinking about the Conspiracy of Incarnation.

The Lord's Prayer

2009-11-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to remind you that we have been making our way through the "Lord's Prayer" on Sundays. We have posted 6 of the seven talks on our podcast page (1 of the recordings did not turn out). You can go to the podcasts directly or you can look us up through itunes.

Hawkins Football Game

2009-10-28T03:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks for coming out for the game on Saturday. Hawkins won the game
and we had a lot of fun eating hot dogs and cheering the team on. You
can see all the photos in the photo album that is in the margin of this
page

Baptism service

2009-10-19T03:42:00.000-07:00

The podcast from last night service and baptism is available on our podcast page or available on itunes. Thanks for all the help in getting everything set up. Here are a couple of pics of the guys setting things up and "cooking the water" so as to not freeze anyone!

Thanks for all your work!!

2009-09-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Habitat for Humanity was a big success due to your commitment. Thank you for sacrificing your finances and your sweat to make it happen. Because of everyone's hard work and common purpose there are five families with new homes this week. You should be proud of what can be accomplished when everyone gets on the same page, stops talking church, and starts being the church.

You can view some of the pictures by clicking on the album to the left, or just click this link.

Movie Night - This Tuesday

2009-08-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

This Tuesday at 7:30 att he Dixon house we will be watching the Documentary "The Merchants of Cool"

Eat dinner before you come, and join us as we watch the movie and have a discussion following the film.

Questions for 7/21/09

2009-07-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

If you did not get a chance to be there last Sunday night you can find the talk on our podcast page here. Here are some questions that will hopefully keep the conversation going during the week.

1) What was going through your mind/emotions as you hear the story that was read to start the night?

2) We talked about the Priest and Levite having a theology problem considering there were commands not to touch the dead/ bodily fluids, but there are also commands about caring for those in need. Do you feel like you experience problems like this with scripture sometimes? What do you do if you feel like the Bible might be telling you to do 2 different things?

3) Do you think the church today has their own "Samaritans"? (People that they avoid at all costs b/c they are seen as "unclean"somehow) How have you seen the church succeed or fail in their relationship to "Samaritans" What could they have done better?

4) In the story the most Christlike character is the most disliked character. Why do you think it might have been important for the Samaritan to be the one helping the man and not the other way around?

5) What are some of the practical implications of this controversial story for you as an individual follower of Christ, and for us as a community?

Questions from Sundays Talk

2009-06-22T05:21:00.000-07:00

We talked out of Luke 10 last night about the typical Father's Day topic of exorcism!

If you were not there last night than you can download the talk through itunes or directly from our website here.

Here are some questions that might help keep the conversation going a little bit.

1.) What is your initial reaction when you read in scripture about things like exorcism? If your honest would you say you tend to ignore them, think about them literally, or think about them symbolically?

2.) Do you feel like the images you have attached to things like exorcism, demons, etc are more influenced by popular culture, the Bible, things you have actually seen, or some combination if these? Explain...

3.) One thing we seem to know for sure from these passages is that the life of discipleship has power. Do you feel strange talking about power in regards to your Christian life? If so why? In what ways have you experienced the power of following Christ?

4.) Did the talk Sunday night cause you to think about things like exorcism any differently? How so? Was there anything in particular you found thought provoking, or any thing you think you disagree with? (and yes, as always, it is more than ok to disagree with something said on Sunday night)

5.) We talked about the fact that the Kingdom of God doesn't accupy the same space as the Kingdoms of this world. Do you feel comfortable sharing some ways in which you experience the tension in your own life of the two kinds of Kingdoms trying the push the other out?

6.) If we are all, in a sense, called to be exorcists (those who embody/help establish the Kingdom of God which pushes out all competing Kingdoms)... How do you see that playing out practically in your own life?

Questions from Sunday 6-14-09

2009-06-16T03:47:00.000-07:00

If you were not with us you can catch last week's talk on our podcast page. Here are some questions that will hopefully keep the conversation going.

^{Luke 10:16}"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

1.) How would you react/feel hearing Jesus say this to you? Does it seem like Good news, bad news, unrealistic....?

2.) Do you tend to see yourself as a person that represents God's words in this world? Why or why not?

3.) Was there a time in your life when you felt confident speaking on behalf of God? Have there been times when you felt totally unqualified? Have you ever seen God really use something you have said? Have you ever said something that you thought represented God, that you are now sure did not?

4.) What are some of the best or worst things you have heard said "in the name of God".

5.) we talked about two safeguards against the dark side of speaking for God. How do you see humility helping to protect us from the dangers we discussed?

6.) How do you see the guiding question of , "Does it look like Jesus?" helping to protect us from the dangers we discussed?

7.) Mike mentioned the recent murder of a Doctor in Kansas as an example of a time and place where those safeguards could have changed things. Can you think of specific instances in your life or the news where those two safeguards mentioned should have been in place?

Questions from Sunday 6-7-2009

2009-06-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

If you did not get the chance to come out this last week you can download the talk from the last week on our website.

Here are some questions that might help unpack the topic a little bit.

1) Can you relate to the tension that is sometimes present in the way we talk about the Love and Peace of God on one hand, and the Judgment of God on the other hand? In what ways do you think we over-emphasize or under-emphasize either God's Peace or God's judgment?

2) We talked about having glimpses in our life of the Shalom of God. Those moments when everything seems to be the way it was intended to be. When are some times and places in your life when you feel like you get these glimpses of Shalom?

3) How do we as followers of Christ really offer Peace to those we come across?

4) In what ways do you see yourself, or people of faith in general, lean towards judging instead of offering peace? What are some times and places where you have seen Christians take the job of judging as there own? What are some times and places in which you have seen some choose a message of Shalom when it would be much easier to judge?

5) How do you think the message "the Kingdom of God is Near" can simultaneously be a message of Peace/Hope and a message of Judgment? What does this mean practically for you in the way you live out your faith?

Questions from Sunday 5-24-09: Luke 10:4-11

2009-05-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

You can listen/download the talk here

1.) Do you feel like you have a kingdom? A domain where you make the rules etc.? What does your domain communicate?

2.) The message that is given to those sent out is "The Kingdom of God is near". We talked about the present and future aspects of that message. Are either of those aspects more difficult for you to embrace or believe at times? Does either aspect bring you more comfort? What is the importance of both?

3.) We talked about the importance of the medium and the message. Can you think of any examples in your personal history (in or out of church) where the medium undermined or did not match the message?

4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road….7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you

4.) What do you think about the importance of dependence in the way we are living out of the message? Why was it important to Christ's message that he came to earth so dependent? Why is it for us?

7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages

5.) What about the importance of having an open table/sacrificing our ideas of who is clean and unclean? How was it a pivotal part of what Jesus communicated about the Kingdom?

Do not move around from house to house.

6.) Why is it a necessary part of the message to not spend your life "shopping for a better deal"? Why was the message of Jesus supported by his constant moving down the ladder of life?

8"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'

7.) Why is healing so much a part of trying to communicate the idea that the kingdom of God is near? What do you think "healing" looks like for you as a follower of Christ in the 21st century?

' 10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'

8.) Why is it necessary to respect when people we encounter say no to the message? Why is it important that the message does not change even when that happens.

Questions from Sunday Nights talk

2009-05-18T04:38:00.000-07:00

If you weren't able to make it out on Sunday night we have posted the talk on our podcast page here.

Here are some questions which can hopefully keep our discussions going a little while.

1.) As a Christ follower do you tend to view yourself as someone who is preparing the way for the work God is still going to do, or only as someone who reflects on the work Christ did? What difference would it make to see your role, in part, as preparing the way for what is still to come?

2.) It was mentioned that we are called to be a glimpse of the coming Kingdom (or a tremor/firstfruit). Name some people, places, or times you have experienced that served as that glimpse for you?

3.) Talk some about your struggles or successes with trying to be a "firstfruit" in your life. (at work, in our family, with your friends etc.)

"Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves"
(Luke 10:3)

4) What does this verse say to you? What do you think it means practically for us?

5) We talked of being both "sent" into this world, and of being something different than the world. Have you ever faulted on one side or the other of this tension? Do you still struggle with it some?

Questions from Sunday Night (5-11)

2009-05-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

If you didn't get a chance to join us on Sunday night we have posted the talk here on our podcast page. Here are some questions that will hopefully keep the conversation going.

1) we started by talking about the way we "speed limit" certain things, which is to say that we try and dance around the pretty obvious or direct meaning of something. Can you think of anything in your life where if you were honest, you would say that you have definitely done this?

2) Read through these three stories again in Luke 9. What is your initial impression of these stories? What do you like about them, and which are ones that you don't get, or make you uncomfortable?

3) Jesus seems to want to the man in vs. 57-58 to understand the difficulties surrounding being a disciple. Do you find the misconception that Jesus is here to make all of our dreams come true tempting? Do you feel like it is prevalent?

4) Jesus' encounter with the next two men indicates that sometimes Jesus asks us to give up more than just "bad" things. Have you ever felt that being a disciple has meant you needed to give up something religious in nature, or something that is considered expected and/or good?

5) Is there someone that you know or admire from afar that exhibits the qualities of costly discipleship. (Their faith has cost them wealth, career advancement, reputation etc.)

6) How does this question sit with you, "Does following Christ cost you anything?" (We do not want you making lists of the cost to prove anything to anyone) The basic point here is talk about the ramifications that question has for us as followers of Christ.

Questions from this past Sunday Night

2009-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Questions from Sunday Night's talk. If you weren't able to join us on Sunday night then you can download it on our podcast page here.

Here are some questions that will hopefully keep the conversations from Sunday going.

1.) Do you have any stories that relate to someone (maybe you) overreacting to being slighted by those perceived as being against them?

2.) In what ways do you see yourself as being like the disicples in the way they reacted in this story?

3.) How do you think scripture relates to the way the disicples reacted? Since they could have looked to their scripture to back up their conviction, what does this mean for us as we look to interpret scripture in the practice of our faith?

4.) Can you think of any examples that you have from your life, or that you have seen in Christianity in general that would constitute trying to "build God's kingdom using the world's tools"?

NEIGHBORS@Hawkins April Newsletter

2009-04-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post a digital version of the new April newsletter of our Neighbors at Hawkins program. You can download it by clicking the link below

Download Neighbors Newsletter 1a

Questions from Sunday 4/19/09

2009-04-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

This past week we tried to take a few minutes to talk through the core values of Ekklesia Hattiesburg and how those values play out in our community practices.

Instead of putting up questions for you I wanted to encourage you just to take some time to go through 4 core values ( you can find them here). Talk through the ones that you connect with. Or maybe talk through the aspects of the values that you have experienced personally. If you have any questions about them talk through it with the group to see if you can come up with a fuller understanding of what we are doing at Ekklesia, or a fuller understanding of how you can more fully participate in those values.

Hello My Name is Ekklesia

2009-04-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

This Sunday night we will be meeting at our normal time and place, but
instead of a sermon we will be talking through what this Ekklesia
Hattiesburg thing is really all about. So whether you come every week,
have only come a couple of times, or have never made it out, this is
your chance to come out and get some questions answered...Meet us again
for the first time.

If you are a facebooker, and who isn't nowadays, you can view the event here...

Questions from Sunday Night

2009-04-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

It was good to celebrate Easter with you all last night. If you were not able to join us this week, we hope to see you next Sunday Night. You can catch this last week's talk here on our podcast page. The career's small group will be hanging out at the Willis house this week, but for those of you that are in other small groups here are some questions to keep the conversations going.

1.) First take some time to share anything in particular you feel has stood out to you this season of Lent andEaster?

2.) We talked about how we as followers of Christ are not called to pretend that the bad news doesn't exist. Do you feel like this is a temptation for you, or have you seen this tendency in the Christian community at large? Share any stories you might have about this.

3.) Have you seen times and places where "resurrections" still occurs in our world?

4.) What role do you see us as "Resurrection People" playing in our world?

5.) How do you think you can personally reflect the good new of resurrection in your daily life? (at work, at home, at school etc.)

Questions from Sunday 4-5-09

2009-04-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

If you were not with us on Sunday Night you can catch the podcast here. Here are some questions that might get the conversation going a little bit.

1.) Can you relate to the disciples in this passage? Can you think of times/places in your life where the mission at hand is less important to you than your role or the credit you get?

2.) Do you feel like your church experiences in the past have tended to value the various parts of the Body of Christ, or devalue expressions different than there own?

3.) How can we be a people who embrace others (other churches,
denominations, political party, etc) with the attitude "whoever is not
against us is for us"? What does that look like?

4.) For some people the Priesthood of all Believers is this empowering gift, or others it's intimidating. What were your initial thoughts about the priesthood of all believers? Empowering or intimidating?

5) "Do you consider yourself a minister?" Do we tend to place more
importance on the work of those working professionally for the Church?
how?

6) The Priesthood of believers is yet another representative of the upside down Kingdom as it "levels the playing field". What are the advantages and disadvantages of this for the churched or for the unchurched?

Questions from Sunday 3-30-09

2009-03-30T04:49:00.000-07:00

If you were not there on Sunday night you can download 3-30-09 "Cure for the Common Comparison". Here are some questions that will hopefully keep the conversations going from our look at Luke 9:46-48.

1.) Have you ever been in a situation where you were strongly on one end of a competition or comparison? What is the story? How did your "win" or "loss" affect you?

2.) Have you ever seen or been a part of a good thing that was ruined by competition or comparison?

3.) In what ways have you seen this poisonous way of looking at the world infects a faith community? (maybe specifically surrounding the areas of unity, focus, false criteria that we discussed)

4.) How does it affect the way we look at the world and our faith when Jesus so closely aligns himself with the "children" (those who have nothing to offer) of this world?

5.) In what ways have you experienced hospitality as a means of ridding ourselves of the spirit of competition and comparison?

6.) How can we as followers of Christ practically make steps to weed out the competition and comparison that we have within ourselves?

Questions from the last two Sundays

2009-03-23T05:11:00.000-07:00

Because we had Spring Break last week, and the last two weeks have overlapped so much I wanted to start you off by pointing you to last week's questions listed below. If you have not gone through those questions feel free to start there. Please consider these questions a continuation of those listed below. If you were not there last night you can catch the podcast here.

6. Did this talk bring to memory and particular stories or new ideas for you?

7. What are your initial impressions of this story when you read it? Can you sense how strong a change in setting, mood, etc is happening from the transfiguration to this story?

8. "The path of Christ is not found on the mountaintops, but in the valley" - Does this idea contradict any of the ways you have approached your spiritual life? Does it help to explain or support some of the ways you have approached your spiritual life?

9. Did you grow up with a picture of a God that "floated above" the earth and all it's problems, or do you think the picture of God you have traditionally held had "feet on the earth".? What difference do these competing images of God make?

10. How do you think it looks when the disciples of Christ truly pick up a cross and walk in that place "where eternal love and utter brokenness meet"?

Questions from Sunday 3-16-09

2009-03-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

If you did not get a chance to join us on Sunday Night you can get the talk on our podcast page here.

Here are some discussion questions that can hopefully help us unpack the ideas we talked about from Luke 9:28-36.

1.) Is there anything about some of the history & symbolism surrounding
the story that we talked through, that was new to you? Did it shed any
new light on the Transfiguration for you? Did you get anything new
from the story?

2.) We talked about transcendent moments in our lives. Can you recall any
such transcendent moments in your own life?

3.) Did you try
and do anything to capture that moment? Did that work or can it ever
work?

4.) Does our Christian religious culture focus more on the "transcendent" experience with God or the simple "listen" to Jesus? In what ways does our religious culture focus on the transcendent in our gatherings, products, etc. Why do we want to pitch our tent there?

5.) We said on Sunday that the Transcendent experiences only mean something and/or change us when viewed from the vantage point of the cross. Does that make sense to you? In what ways have you seen that play out in your life?

"Unashamedly Following" - questions from Sunday Night

2009-03-09T05:04:00.000-07:00

We posted the talk from Sunday night on our podcast page if you didn't get a chance to join us last night.

Here are some questions for you guys based on the talk.

1) If any of you have been commemorating the Lenten season, take a moment to talk about how it is going and what, if anything, you feel like you are learning.

2) Have you read Luke 9:26-27 before? What has it traditionally meant to you?

3) What do you think about the idea that maybe these verses are not about reciprocity, but about free will? What are the ramifications?

4) We talked about the fact that there is no such thing as "private discipleship". Do you find yourself privatizing your Christianity? What are some ways we can help each other avoid such privatizations?

5) We also talked about living with the "long view" in mind. How has this played out in your life? (good or bad examples) Can you think of times when you think the church fails to live out its call with the long view in mind?

Questions from Sunday 3-1-09

2009-03-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

If you were not able to join us this past Sunday night then you can get the podcast through itunes or directly from our podcast page The picture I have posted represents the icon of the Agnes Dei or "Lamb of God". The lamb has represented the humility and sacrifice of Christ throughout Christian history. It seemed particularly appropriate as an image given the topic last week. The meek and sacrificial lamp carries the cross as a symbol of the kingdom for which it gives itself.

With this image and the subject of Sunday night's teaching in the front of your mind, here are some questions that will hopefully further the conversation.

1.) If there are some in your group who are commemorating the Lenten season you can take a couple of minutes to share what you may be learning so far during this time.

2.) "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it"
This sounds like a contradictory thought. What does it mean to you? have you found it to be true in your life? Are there any times in your life in the past or present in which you felt like you have lost something important by trying to protect it?

3.) We talked on Sunday about being in a battle. Does war language regarding our spiritual lives sit well wth you or not? Why? What are some negative ways you have heard war language used within Christianity?

4.) In what ways have you seen the tendency in your life to choose security and safety over and above the cross of Christ?

Presentation on Jesus and Consumerism

2009-03-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Here is the powerpoint and audio of the presentation given at the University of Southern Mississippi in February. I will probably post it on the podcast page as well.
Mike

Questions from Sunday Night 2-22-09

2009-02-23T04:22:00.000-08:00

If you weren't here last night you can catch the podcast here. Here are some questions that can hopefully get the discussion going within your small groups or casual conversations this week.

1) We talked about how quickly Jesus moves the conversation from his own title, to his function. It is also a move from what the disciples believe to how they live. Talk about some ways in which you have seen this transition in your own spiritual journey.

2) Why do you think this idea of "Denying Yourself" is given such a foundational role in our identity as a disciple of Christ?

3) Have you had any experiences when the counter intuitive act of self denial led to something important, meaningful, and/or surprising?

4) Is anyone going to be commemorating the season of Lent in any ways that would be applicable? Is there any way that the others in the group can help you as you do this?

5) What do you see as more difficult for you: The idea of martyrdom (dying for Christ if need be) or the idea of daily sacrificial living?

Questions from Sunday Night 2-15-09

2009-02-16T09:17:00.000-08:00

This week's message is now up on our podcast page, if you were not there you can get the message by clicking on this link.

Here are some questions for you to kick around this week.

1.) Do you have any stories (funny or not so funny) of when you struggled with the label that was put on you?

2.) Why are titles/labels dangerous in these situations?

3.) Can you think of other people who you have probably done injustice to by the labels that you have given them?

4.) Why do you think Jesus told his disciples not to talk to anyone about Him as Messiah?

5.) Do you think you have ever "boxed Christ in" during your faith walk?

This weeks questions...

2009-02-09T03:07:00.000-08:00

If you did not get a chance to come out last night we have posted the podcast here. Here are some questions for you that can hopefully get the discussions going this week.

1.) What are some of the things that you put a lot of hope in that will happen "one day" in your life?

2.) Can you think of some of the positive things that have come from a hope and faith in "One Day"?

3.) Can you think of some negative things that have come from focusing too much on "One Day"?

Read this quote from Fred Craddock -

“Everyone had a sermon under the title ‘When the Messiah Comes’ a message including every hope, every dream, every ideal condition for which the heart longs. It is no wonder that the church’s message that the Messiah has come and he is Jesus has not been as popular. To believe the Messiah has come means we can no longer shape him to fit our dreams; he shapes us to fit God’s will. That is a difficult adjustment. There is enough misery in the world to make the message that a Messiah will come believable; there is enough misery in the world to make the message that the Messiah has come unbelievable. The first and major task of a Messiah is to get people to quit looking for one.”
- Fred Craddock

4.) Do you agree that it is easier to gather a crowd around the idea that messiah is coming one day, rather than the belief that the Messiah has already come? Why?

5.) What are some things that you know you want to have in your life "One Day" that you are (or should be) working towards today?

6.) Is there any ways that you as the family of Christ can help each other with those things?

Questions from 2-1-2009

2009-02-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

We spent some time last night talking about the feeding of the 5,000 from Luke 9. If you were not there you can catch the talk on itunes or get it here.

Here are some discussion questions for you.

1.) Just as an icebreaker why don't you share some of the unique things that let you know you are among family. (i.e. Mike talked about his family always eat off each other's plates)

2.) We mentioned that it's possible for some of the most profound ministry moments to happen in the unplanned/ off-the-clock moments. Have you found that to be true? Do you have any particular examples of this happening.

"Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here. He replied, "You give them something to eat."

3.) Do you find yourself giving into the temptation of asking God to do things in this world that we could/should be doing in Christ's name?

4.) Talk a little about what it means to you when we say that it is both important that we "give them something to eat" , while remember that man does not live on bread alone.

5.) What are some practical ways that you as a group or as individuals can do more to embody the open table of Christ?

Hope these help continue the conversation!

Questions from Sunday Night 1-26-2009

2009-01-26T02:59:00.000-08:00

I have posted the talk from last night on the podcast page here.
1/25/09 "Questionable Kingdom Builders". Or you can find it by subscribing through iTunes. Here are some discussion questions that might help lead to some further thought on the topic.

1. Does it seem like a good or bad idea to leave the task of building the Kingdom to all of us?

2. We talked about the nature of kingdom (upside down/backwards). In what ways have you seen the power of that kind of kingdom building in your own life?

3. Was there a time in your life when the "questions" were as important or more to your growth than the "answers"?

4. What are some of those big questions that you have encountered which even when answered have just opened up another world of new questions?

5. What are some way that you can live questionably in the context of your life?

Weekly Sunday Night Questions....

2009-01-21T03:01:00.000-08:00

We are going to begin to post some discussion questions each week based on the previous Sunday night's talk. These will begin to be posted on Mondays and will serve as the starting point for our small group discussions. If you are not able to be a part of a small group we hope that these questions might encourage further exploration f the themes and ideas we are examining in the book of Luke.

The talk from last week can be heard online here, or you can subscribe to us through iTunes. Here are some questions to maybe get the discussion going a little.

Who is someone that has modeled the love of God in your life?

Do you find it easy or difficult to think of God as a Father who is pleased by our attempts at imitation (even if we are not particularly good at the imitation)?

When all is said and done what do you hope will be said about the life that you lived?

What keeps you from living that kind of life?

How can we as God's family help each other lead the lives we would like?

Sunday Night

2009-01-19T07:44:00.000-08:00

I wanted to thank you again for your kindness as I shared some of what I learned from my friend and teacher Dr. Daniel Goodman.

The podcast from last night is up now.

In case any of you are interested there are some resources that people have put together that gather some of his sermons and teaching. You can find them at the following links.

Here are some sermons

Here are some recordings from a New Testament class he was teaching at Gardner Webb

Grace and Peace,
Mike

Martin Luther King Jr - remembered

2009-01-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

Appropriate we listen to these words again....

Drumroll Please.....

2009-01-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

It appears as though I have finally waded through all of the financial
stuff from December and finally have an actual total on your giving
towards the Haiti Water Project. as you know we were hoping to be able
to raise $3,000 in order to build a clean water well for 2,000 or more
people.

You
guys have absolutely floored me with your generosity for this
worthwhile cause. When all was said and done you guys donated a grand
total of $9,863.00 !!!

To
give you some perspective this is over 10% of our total annual budget!
And you guys gave it in a couple of weeks! Thank You for generosity
and your witness toward the true nature of the Christmas season.

Movie Night

2008-12-16T03:27:00.000-08:00

This Wednesday night we will be watching the documentary "What Would Jesus Buy". It overlaps in an entertaining way with much of what we have been talking about over the last couple weeks. We will be watching it at the Dixon house at 6:30.

This week's advent readings...

2008-12-14T14:33:00.000-08:00

Due to a jammed printer we couldn't get you guys a paper copy of this on Sunday Night. You can just click on the link below to get a copy of the prayers from this week.
Download Dec 16 - dec 23

Haiti Water Project - Share the Well

2008-12-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a short video about the Haiti Water Project to help get you thinking about what you might like to contribute on Sunday the 21st as we raise money to give towards providing clean water to our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Ooops - this weeks reading ( a little late)

2008-12-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

If you missed last Sunday night we wanted to give you a chance to get the
daily Advent prayer sheet for this week. If you didn't get the
chance to pick it up you can click the link below to get the document.
Download Dec 8 - dec 15

Habitat for Humanity September 2009

2008-12-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

We are excited to be a part of building up to 7 houses in one weekend at Celeste Place in Hattiesburg. This is a neighborhood that is made up entirely of Habitat Homes. We at Ekklesia are joining with a group of churches in order to adopt two of the houses being built.

Below you will find the volunteer schedule based on who filled out the online form (which is below the schedule)

HERE ARE THE BUILD SCHEDULES

Download Final Habitat time sheet Friday

Download Final Habitat time sheet Saturday

Download Final Habitat time sheet Sunday

&lt;a href="http://ekklesiahattiesburg.wufoo.com/forms/m7x3k1/" title="Habitat for Humanity"&gt;Fill out my Wufoo form!&lt;/a&gt;

Haiti Water Project

2008-12-03T02:24:00.000-08:00

There are 8 million people in Haiti, & it is estimated that up to 60% of them do not have access to clean drinking water. The estimated cost to dig a well is $2,000 -$5,000 U.S. The cost to build cisterns in areas where wells aren’t feasible is around $1,000. And since the Haiti Water Project is ultimately more about people than projects, here’s another way to do the math: It costs about $1 to provide clean water for one person for one year in Haiti

You can contribute to the Haiti Water Project through Ekklesia (just write Haiti Water Project in the memo line of a check), & Ekklesia will provide you with a “gift card” that you can give to your loved one. (there are a couple of examples of the cards below)

You might also want to purchase a $5 ornament or $15 nativity set made by Haitian artists providing them with a fare wage & you or your loved one with an ornament to remember the poor of Haiti with each year. If you want an ornament or nativity set (and havent signed up for one yet) you can email me or just sign up Sunday Night. You can make checks for the ornaments out to Ekklesia and just put "Haiti ornament" in the memo line.

Link to the Superman Story

2008-12-01T04:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to the story I referred to in last nights talk about Mark Weisenbeek and his Superman outfits. You can click here to listen to the interview/story. Just click the "Full Episode" button. The entire episode has various stories, but the portion I referred to can be found at about minute 30. (BTW I don't entirely remember what else is in the episode and therefore am not endorsing any of it.... )

Advent Daily Prayer Readings - Week #1

2008-12-01T02:54:00.000-08:00

If you missed last night we wanted to give you a chance to get the daily Advent prayer sheet for this week. We will post one of these at the beginning of each of the next 4 weeks. If you didn't get the chance to pick it up you can click the link below to get the document.
Download Dec1- dec7 –

Beginning this Sunday - The Advent Conspiracy

2008-11-26T02:19:00.000-08:00

[WORSHIP FULLY]
[SPEND LESS]
[GIVE MORE]
[LOVE ALL]

We will begin participating this week in the Advent Conspiracy, during which we will examine what the Christmas season is really about, and how we as the peculiar called out followers of Christ might celebrate the true purpose of these Holy Days. I wanted to take this chance to post the video that we showed Sunday Night for those of you that did not see it, or who wanted to see it again. You can find out more about the Advent Conspiracy movement at the website www.adventconspiracy.com

We will end up this season by giving to clean water projects in Haiti through the Haiti Water Project, but we will give you more info on that soon.

Emori's Food Box

2008-11-18T04:17:00.000-08:00

We told you last week that our own Emori Sparkman was collecting food for families that were hurting because of the Howard Industry raid. Dont forget that we will have the box in the back at Ekklesia next Sunday night. For those of you that didn't get to see it, here is the local news coverage of Emori's food drive.

Fall Festival at Hawkins

2008-11-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

Thanks again to all of you who helped out at the fall festival. It was a big success. We have posted a few pictures in the photo album on the right side of this page. You can click below to see all of the pictures

www.flickr.com

This is a Flickr badge showing public photos and videos from ekklesia hattiesburg. Make your own badge here.

Election day thoughts from Shane Claiborne

2008-11-04T02:11:00.000-08:00

Here is a blog post I thought you might enjoy......

Voting as Damage Control

by Shane Claiborne

Every day I am asked how I will be voting.

Principled Christian non-voters and secular anarchists have written
to urge a public statement on voting abstinence. Good folks in both
parties and plenty of journalists are frustrated that we won’t answer
with a simple endorsement. That just seems too easy. Jesus was far
too slick to get boxed into any political camp.

One of the ways the Religious Right went wrong was telling folks
what to do rather than stirring people to think for themselves. Our
whole Jesus for President project has been about provoking imagination
and action. The decision we make on November 4 is an important one —
perhaps no more important than how we live on November 3 and November 5
— but important nonetheless. We have done all sorts of discussions
and studies to try and discern the most appropriate Christian witness
to the state (by the way, if I might recommend one book for this week,
it would be John Howard Yoder’s Christian Witness to the State). Let me share a few of the things I will be considering as I choose the most faithful action on November 4.

As a follower of the enemy-loving God, it is difficult to vote for a
commander in chief of the largest military in the world, especially
when no candidate seems to be preaching “blessed are the peacemakers”
or creating a plan for turning swords into plows.

If you are completely paralyzed by imperfect choices, writing in
“Jesus” is an option but should also come with grave responsibility.
Just because you don’t vote doesn’t mean you can’t critique any more
than owning stock should be a prerequisite for decrying the patterns of
Wall Street. However, if we do not vote, we had better be spending
every day of our lives trying to create alternative solutions to the
questions of how 48 million folks can have health care, how we can live
without fuel, how we deal with violent people … and on and on.

No candidate or party fully embodies the values of God’s upside-down
kingdom. It’s hard enough to find one politician that embodies a
consistent ethic of life when it comes to all issues (from abortion to
death penalty to war and poverty). Perhaps a good answer when folks
ask if you are a Republican or Democrat is: “On what issue?” I heard
one preacher say, “I’m not a Republican or a Democrat… I am a
Christocrat and it is Christ who forms my politics.”

It is not easy to make an imperfect decision. It just doesn’t feel
right to say to the state, “Please kill less”… as it still holds an
imperative “Please kill.” However, ideals can keep us from working for
“better.” We make imperfect decisions all the time. For
instance, you may try to avoid the large corporate Home Depot and shop
at the local hardware store but then find out that the hardware store
owner beats his wife, thus further complicating things. We always need to make informed decisions, though we may not endorse things that are imperfect manifestations of kingdom values.

One way for people of so-called “privilege” to act in solidarity
with the poor and marginalized is to ask folks in poverty who we should
vote for. Another experiment for white folks in this election might be
asking people of color who have suffered so much historically whether
we should vote or who we should vote for — and to honor their struggle
by submitting our voices with theirs.

One way to look at voting is that it is damage control -– not so much voting for something
as it is voting against something worse. We must do everything we can
to reduce the destruction done by the principalities and powers, and
voting may be one way to do that. Being an agent of God’s kingdom,
transformation means calling out the best that the state can do, and
not expecting it to be our savior.

More important than endorsing candidates is urging them to endorse
the political manifesto of our commander in chief and to embrace the
values of the peculiar, upside-down kingdom that blesses the poor, not
just the middle class. Our central allegiance is to God’s kingdom, and
we invite everything else in the world to align itself with the norms
of that upside-down kingdom. That is what we endorse, and we stand
behind everything and everyone that moves us closer to that — the
coming of God’s kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.” And we get in
the way of everything that contradicts and works against God’s kingdom
— interrupting injustice with grace.

So if you want to know what I do on November 4, ask me on
November 5. I wouldn’t want to limit your imagination by pretending
there is one faithful answer to this difficult but very important
decision.

Reading from this week

2008-10-06T04:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a copy of the reading you heard this Sunday Night from Mario and Sharon.

If you would like more information on James Weldon Johnson you can click this link

THE CREATION

by: James Weldon Johnson
(1871-1938)

ND God stepped out on space, And He looked around and said, "I'm lonely -- I'll make me a world."

And far as the eye of God could see Darkness covered everything, Blacker than a hundred midnights Down in a cypress swamp.

Then God smiled, And the light broke, And the darkness rolled up on one side, And the light stood shining on the other, And God said, "That's good!"

Then God reached out and took the light in His hands, And God rolled the light around in His hands Until He made the sun; And He set that sun a-blazing in the heavens. And the light that was left from making the sun God gathered it up in a shining ball And flung it against the darkness, Spangling the night with the moon and stars. Then down between The darkness and the light He hurled the world; And God said, "That's good!"

Then God himself stepped down -- And the sun was on His right hand, And the moon was on His left; The stars were clustered about His head, And the earth was under His feet. And God walked, and where He trod His footsteps hollowed the valleys out And bulged the mountains up.

Then He stopped and looked and saw That the earth was hot and barren. So God stepped over to the edge of the world And He spat out the seven seas; He batted His eyes, and the lightnings flashed; He clapped His hands, and the thunders rolled; And the waters above the earth came down, The cooling waters came down.

Then the green grass sprouted, And the little red flowers blossomed, The pine tree pointed his finger to the sky, And the oak spread out his arms, The lakes cuddled down in the hollows of the ground, And the rivers ran down to the sea; And God smiled again, And the rainbow appeared, And curled itself around His shoulder.

Then God raised His arm and He waved His hand Over the sea and over the land, And He said, "Bring forth! Bring forth!" And quicker than God could drop His hand. Fishes and fowls And beasts and birds Swam the rivers and the seas, Roamed the forests and the woods, And split the air with their wings. And God said, "That's good!"

Then God walked around, And God looked around On all that He had made. He looked at His sun, And He looked at His moon, And He looked at His little stars; He looked on His world With all its living things, And God said, "I'm lonely still."

Then God sat down On the side of a hill where He could think; By a deep, wide river He sat down; With His head in His hands, God thought and thought, Till He thought, "I'll make me a man!"

Up from the bed of the river God scooped the clay; And by the bank of the river He kneeled Him down; And there the great God Almighty Who lit the sun and fixed it in the sky, Who flung the stars to the most far corner of the night, Who rounded the earth in the middle of His hand; This Great God, Like a mammy bending over her baby, Kneeled down in the dust Toiling over a lump of clay Till He shaped it in His own image;

Then into it He blew the breath of life, And man became a living soul. Amen. Amen.

"The Creation" is reprinted
from The Book of American Negro Poetry. Ed. James Weldon
Johnson. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1922.

We are Preparing for Gustav

2008-08-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

Many of us learned a couple of years ago that these pesky little hurricanes can put a serious crimp in your life. One of the core principles of what we are attempting to live out in Ekklesia is the idea of really living life together as a family. Part of being a family is being sure that everyone is taken care of in difficult times. So we want to make sure all of our ducks are in a row for the hurricane that is potentially going to come our way. If you can please take the time to read respond to the following:

1) We will meet this Sunday Night unless the hurricane arrives a day earlier than predicted. It shouldn't be here until Monday, so plan on coming out on sunday Night

2) We would like you "ekklesiers" to let us know whether you will be in town as well as some other pivotal information. PLEASE FILL IN THE FORM BELOW AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE. (if you have problem with this link just cut and paste the address below the hurricane preparedness guide at the bottom of the email) You can also find this same form to fill out on our webpage

3) During hurricanes it is often easier to phone long distance than locally. It is recommended that you have long distance contact that you can leave information with. We have a ministry contact that has volunteered to be that contact person for Ekklesia. This means that if the hurricane hits and local calls are difficult then anyone from Ekklesia who would like to let everyone know they are ok, or that they have pressing needs can leave a message with the following contact.
Mark Gallagher
Christian Student fellowship
Indiana State University (812)-232-6853

4) Here are some other links to material that might be helpful to you. It will help to get you prepared if the hurricane comes this way.
MEMA's Gustav Preparation Letter
Hurricane Preparedness Guide

HERE IS THE FORM

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