Check out the 297 blog for more information.
10/30/2008
10/25/2008
10/17/2008
10/10/2008
10/03/2008
09/30/2008
Parish
We have been in a conversation with our community about what it would
look like for us to love our Parish, Austin. The following is
background info regarding the Parish:
Basically, a geographic area assigned to a particular church. Various church traditions have used the parish system to ensure every area is served by a church. It's usually thought of as a medieval and/or Catholic and/or strange Louisiana thing. It's also often associated with the concept of 'a parish priest', a kind of lonely messiah who only talks to people twice his age and occasionally helps McCauley Caulkin get home safe on Christmas Eve.
In reality, the earliest churches planted by Paul and co. appeared to assign themselves parishes; in addition, throughout much of history a church's responsibility to a parish usually went far beyond the work done by one priest. For example, up until the modern era, most Anglican and Catholic parish churches still included at least an official parish nurse, a school, the equivalent of a 'neighborhood association', and numerous opportunities for the community to learn and practice music and visual arts. In fact, much earlier on, when the early Greek and Roman churches started dividing and assigning church groups to parishes, they did so much effective work for their communities they gradually replaced/morphed into the official local civil government [ok, probably don't want to go any further with that, unless we've got our eyes set on the Travis county sheriff's office or something].
The original term for parish comes from the Greek words meaning 'beside-house'. So, historical tradition aside, when we say Vox has a parish, we mean:
1) literally the area beside our house
2) is the responsibility of our group of believers
One quote off the internet is straightforward, but somehow a nice change of pace from our consumer/consumption Christianity:
"Choosing a church should be a no-brainer. We are divided by location into "parishes." Where you live determines where you go to church. In some ways, no further choice should be necessary. Catholic churches are remarkably similar one to another—in every parish throughout the world, the same Scripture is read, the same feast days celebrated, the same doctrines (for the most part) upheld."
- Johnny Seefeldt
Basically, a geographic area assigned to a particular church. Various church traditions have used the parish system to ensure every area is served by a church. It's usually thought of as a medieval and/or Catholic and/or strange Louisiana thing. It's also often associated with the concept of 'a parish priest', a kind of lonely messiah who only talks to people twice his age and occasionally helps McCauley Caulkin get home safe on Christmas Eve.
In reality, the earliest churches planted by Paul and co. appeared to assign themselves parishes; in addition, throughout much of history a church's responsibility to a parish usually went far beyond the work done by one priest. For example, up until the modern era, most Anglican and Catholic parish churches still included at least an official parish nurse, a school, the equivalent of a 'neighborhood association', and numerous opportunities for the community to learn and practice music and visual arts. In fact, much earlier on, when the early Greek and Roman churches started dividing and assigning church groups to parishes, they did so much effective work for their communities they gradually replaced/morphed into the official local civil government [ok, probably don't want to go any further with that, unless we've got our eyes set on the Travis county sheriff's office or something].
The original term for parish comes from the Greek words meaning 'beside-house'. So, historical tradition aside, when we say Vox has a parish, we mean:
1) literally the area beside our house
2) is the responsibility of our group of believers
One quote off the internet is straightforward, but somehow a nice change of pace from our consumer/consumption Christianity:
"Choosing a church should be a no-brainer. We are divided by location into "parishes." Where you live determines where you go to church. In some ways, no further choice should be necessary. Catholic churches are remarkably similar one to another—in every parish throughout the world, the same Scripture is read, the same feast days celebrated, the same doctrines (for the most part) upheld."
- Johnny Seefeldt
09/26/2008
09/19/2008
09/18/2008
Vox Neighborhoods
We're resuming our Neighborhoods next week (Sept 21) so check out the locations below and click on the map links to find out where you're meeting. If you have any questions, please email us.
What are Neighborhoods?
We are called to love God with our heart, soul, mind and strength. However, evaluating that life can be nebulous. Fortunately, Jesus gave us some context to living that out - if you want to know how well you love God, look at how you love your neighbor, they are one in the same. Neighborhoods are Vox's biweekly regional gatherings, anchored by food, prayer and scripture to learn what it looks like to love our neighbor. Hopefully over the course of the year, our neighborhoods will be blessed by our coming together.
[Locations]
A. Midtown (Wednesday @ 7pm)
[north of 35th St and west of I-35]
Contact: Teddy Chao
Email: midtown[at]voxveniae.com
B. South/Central (Wednesday @ 7pm)
[south of 35th St and west of I-35]
Contact: Dan & Becca Lew
Email: southcentral[at]voxveniae.com
C. NorthEast (Tuesday @ 7pm)
[north of 12th St and east of I-35]
Contact: John Bagwell
Email: northeast[at]voxveniae.com
D. MidEast (Friday @ 5:30pm)
[between 12th St and Oak Springs and east of I-35]
Contact: Carol Lee
Email: mideast[at]voxveniae.com
E. SouthEast (Tuesday @7pm)
[south of Oak Springs and east of I-35]
Contact: Gina Bastone
Email: southeast[at]voxveniae.com
Please note that locations will rotate between host homes. Check the website at www.voxveniae.com or send an email to find out locations for that week.
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