February 2nd also marks the commemoration of Jesus’s presentation at the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem when he was just an infant. One of a dozen feasts in the Christian year, today marks the day Jesus’s parents dedicated him to God. (You can read the story here.)

Eventually Jesus grew up, learned a trade, and began a public mission. This mission brought direct confrontation with the rulers of the temple. According to Jesus this center of religious life had become corrupt. The very place that was supposed to represent God’s connection with his people had become an institution propagating economic injustice.

Some of us have had a similar experience with religious institutions. Perhaps we were dedicated as small children, growing up in a community that represented the best of a sacred tradition. But over time we may have become disillusioned, unable to see beyond the injustice perpetrated in the name of religion… in the name of our religion.

Today’s celebration of Jesus’s presentation at the Temple is much more than a simple feast day. It is our chance to pause and think about reclaiming the very innocence of our religious institutions. What if following Jesus’s example means that being firmly rooted in a tradition is a great position from which to rail against its injustices?

While today might not appear to be any holier than the day before, what gives this day sacred potential is our opportunity to reform our beloved institutions from the inside out. How long will this Winter last? Perhaps it depends on our willingness to see our own shadow.

Adam Long
Lead Pastor
Continuum Church

It’s no wonder that the “prayer meeting” languishes among the ignored functions of a congregation. Who has the time? Who has the energy? I would suggest that none of us have either the time or the energy. And that might be exactly why we need this interruption.

Why are we inviting people to a monthly gathering focused on prayer? Many reasons present themselves. It’s good to help people learn what to do in their personal interaction with God. It’s helpful to connect people who miss gathering in homes for community. It’s a way to invite God’s very Spirit to enliven and grow our congregation. After all… most revivals start in prayer meetings…

All well and good. But maybe we hold a view of prayer that is much too instrumental. Perhaps we are “using” prayer to “get” something. It might be that we all need to reset our expectations of what prayer is and what it is for. Maybe we need a prayer meeting precisely because we need to stop demanding an instrumental reason for everything we do. Perhaps we are creating space to interact with God purely for the… dare I say it… hell of it.

Tonight at 7:00 p.m. we will be gathering at 72 Euclid Ave. for a prayer meeting. Instead of giving it a snazzy title or a jazzy byline, we’re simply sticking with “prayer meeting.” The point is to reclaim this term. And maybe to reclaim prayer itself. You are invited… but only if you don’t have the time.

Adam Long
Lead Pastor
Continuum Church

Last week we started a conversation series called “Finding the Center” in which we’re talking about our church’s beliefs statement. We want everyone to know what our congregation is centered around. This week we are talking about what’s at the very core of what we believe, the foundation that everything else is built on. It’s a commonly used word with uncommon implications for how we live. Interested? Join us at 10:30 a.m. at the Gateway Film Center. Everyone’s welcome.

And now for something that has nothing to do with chocolate: a survey! Each year we gauge our growth and report some stats to our parent organization. While we have never judged our success by numbers, it does help us keep track of where we’ve been. Could you help us out by filling out a quick survey? Let me be very clear: this information is private. We use to help us count, and to make reports, and we treat it with the same security that we’d want for ourselves. Your response helps us! (If you’ve filled this out in the past, no need to do it again.)

See you Sunday!

Beth

beth staten
outreach director
continuum church

A trend among some newer churches is to ditch the statement of beliefs. So many have grown weary of incessant theological bickering that doing without a list of core teachings seems like a good idea. Others argue that such lists only serve to reinforce artificial boundaries between people. It would be a safe bet that many of them have lived through the fallout that often accompanies God-talk.

And yet… while many people have no patience for theological nitpicking, a sizable number would like to know the basic beliefs of the church they are considering. It is helpful to know what you’re getting yourself into when it comes to a community of faith.

At Continuum Church we have decided to create a belief statement… not as a boundary to keep people out… and not as ammo for theological debates. Rather, we are interested in helping our community grow in the faith. And to do this, we feel it important to be able to explain the core ideas around which we are forming.

This Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the Gateway Film Center, we will begin our new series entitled “Finding the Center.” This ongoing conversation is designed to explore the core ideas around which our community is forming. After our gathering, we’ll be getting together for our Second Sunday lunch, providing an opportunity to meet new people and get more involved.

Maybe, just maybe, we can see “this little light of mine” become “this beautiful light of ours.”

Adam Long
Lead Pastor
Continuum Church

The whole story is that the massive injection of grace is always available for me. Every. Single. Day. I can accept it way more often than once every 365 days. God’s unconditional love always offers me the choice to forget what is behind and press on towards something better ahead. “Now” is always the right time to try again, to start over again, to get a second (or third or 365th) chance.

So this year, instead of pinning all my hopes on New Year’s Day, I’m going to use the holiday as a reminder of what’s always there for me every day.

If this is an idea that appeals to you, but you’re not sure how to manage it, may I make a suggestion? Don’t try this alone. When I inevitably mess something up, it’s really hard for me to remember to extend this grace to myself. That’s where friends come in.

If you need to surround yourself with some people who will remind you of the grace available to you, come to Continuum Church. Grace is something we try to practice as a community, and you are welcome to join us. Even if you’ve been gone for a while, it’s OK. New Year’s is still a great time to start new practices.

So, see you Sunday. January 1st at 10:30 a.m. at the Gateway Film Center. (Even if you stay up to ring in the new year, there’s still plenty of time to sleep before our gathering. And we’ll brew the coffee extra strong.) I hope you’re there.

Grace and Peace,

Beth Staten
Outreach Director
Continuum Church

The celebration of Hanukkah recalls the liberation of the temple in Jerusalem from the hands of the Seleucid emperor, Antiochus Epiphanes. For a brief time, the people who had experienced slavery in Egypt, Exile in Babylon, and a succession of oppressive regimes regained control of their own land.

Jewish people around the world traditionally recall this moment of deliverance by lighting candles, saying prayers, and eating together. While this eight-day “Festival of Lights” began last night, tomorrow marks the celebration not of light, but of darkness.

The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Pagans and other earth-friendly types around the world will celebrate this moment of stillness and darkness. They will pause to notice the sun’s hiddenness before anticipating the return of spring.

As we celebrate this season, let us pause to reflect on these two paths. Perhaps like the Jewish people, we can rev up the nostalgia and return to the rituals that have sustained us over the years. Perhaps like the pagans, we can pause to reflect on the still, dark moments of our lives.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Sunday, let us learn from the Jews and the pagans. Let us return to ancient stories of a virgin birth in a Bethlehem stable. And let us recognize that the longest night of the year is a moment for resting in the stillness.

Adam Long
Lead Pastor
Continuum Church

One of the final tests before showtime is called “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!” Named after a line from the cartoon “Ren and Stimpy,” this test consists of the speaker yelling the eponymous words into the microphone as the tech guru adjusts for volume overload. Ironically, this moment is neither happy nor joyous. But we’ve decided it’s a lot better than screaming an expletive into the microphone.

At times people feel the same way about the Christmas season. They know that they’re supposed to be happy. They know that they’re supposed to be joyful. But they’re not. And they feel conflicted about going through the motions. “Should I really act like I’ve caught the holiday spirit when I feel empty and angry on the inside?”

Sometimes yelling “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!” when you would rather shout an expletive is the key to keeping your sanity. Don’t get me wrong. Owning up to suffering is healthy. It’s good to acknowledge when we aren’t doing well. And it’s a drag to go through the motions when the motions are used to mask our true feelings.

But there comes a moment when you decide that the pain that you are experiencing is not going to win. And while you may not be able to change your circumstances, you do get to decide how you will respond to them. In that moment, shouting “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!” is more of a request than a statement. It’s your resistance to the idea that nothing ever changes. It signals that being honest about pain does not mean that it gets the last word.

This Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the Gateway Film Center, we will be celebrating the third Sunday of Advent, known as the Sunday of joy. Those of us who already feel joyful can revel in live Christmas carols and a little improv comedy. Then we can get to know new friends during our Second Sunday lunch at Pizza Rustica at 12:30 p.m.

And those of us who can’t seem to muster the Christmas spirit can be encouraged that there are happiness and joy… even if it at times they must be summonsed by an angry, honest shout.

Adam Long
Lead Pastor
Continuum Church

This is the time of year when some people start thinking about going (maybe going back) to church. Your friends and family are welcome at our Gatherings each Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the Gateway Film Center. This Sunday we will continue our Beneath the Surface series and discuss the stories of the Israelites violently driving other nations out of their promised land. We will also be celebrating Advent; this Sunday’s theme is “Peace.”

Outside of the events Continuum Church is sponsoring, there are other opportunities to do good in our city this week. Scroll to the end of the email to find out how you can help Doma or the AIDS Resource Center. You can also find a preview of Continuum’s participation in a Fair Trade campaign, and more information about Advent.

Hope to see you at the party on Friday!

Beth Staten
Outreach Director
Continuum Church

Doma
Saturday, December 3 @ Gallery Hop in the Short North @ Ekklesia Church, 17 Buttles Ave.
Several Short North area churches are pulling together a Human Sex Trafficking awareness event that will benefit the work of Doma on behalf of the  C.A.T.C.H. Court ladies. Volunteers will interact with the guests during the event, providing info about Doma, offering and serving hot chocolate and smiling a lot. The shifts are an hour long starting at 6pm ending at 10pm. If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact Amy Paragon at aparagon@gmail.com

AIDS Resource Center
Raise Funds and Awareness With A Reason to Dine – Wednesday, November 30
Every 25 hours someone in Central Ohio is infected with HIV. You can make a difference by dining out to help stop the spread of HIV in our community. Select one of the participating restaurants below to dine out on Wednesday, Nov. 30 — hey! that’s today! — in celebration of World AIDS Day 2011 and a portion of the proceeds from your meal will be donated to support direct services for those living with HIV/AIDS and to provide education and testing to stop the spread of HIV. Some participating restaurants include Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits, Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace, Lemongrass, Surly Girl Saloon, Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails. To learn more and to see a full list of participating restaurants please visit www.arcohio.org/areasontodine.

Fair Trade Campaign
Continuum Church is part of the Just One campaign. This project offers people the chance to purchase Fair Trade gifts for Christmas, with a portion of the proceeds coming back to benefit Continuum Church. Watch the Just One video. We hope to give you full details this Sunday!

Advent
A short and helpful perspective on and explanation of Advent from someone who has celebrated it for a long time.

As we begin the holiday season by pausing to be thankful, let me pause to let you know how thankful I am for you. I am thankful that you cared enough about Continuum Church to read this message. I am thankful that so many of you show up for our weekend gatherings. I am thankful for those of you who can contribute with such generosity to the vision of our congregation. I am thankful for those of you who pause to let me know how much Continuum Church means to you.

I am thankful for the time that you spend working in the nursery, running sound, preparing coffee, counting contributions, setting up, tearing down, taking pictures, attending meetings, playing music, planning events, leading groups, doing outreaches, and generally being the best church members on earth.

And I am thankful for those who find it difficult to show up on Sundays, those who struggle to find a dollar for the offering, those who can’t volunteer because of work schedules, those who don’t know if they really believe anything at all. I am thankful for your indomitable spirit that refuses to give up. Whether or not you can sense it, your tenacity in the face of adversity inspires us all. You mean more to me and to our church family than you know.

As we round the corner from Thanksgiving into December, don’t forget to mark your calendars for our upcoming holiday celebration, “The Christmas Party Strikes Back.” We’ll be meeting at Capital City Church on Friday, December 2 from 7-9pm. For more information on this and other upcoming events, check out our website ContinuumChurch.com.

Peace,

Adam Long
Lead Pastor
Continuum Church

We will organize and stock a large donation of Thanksgiving food. Since May, NNEMAP has seen a 30% increase in clients. Our neighbors are looking for help, and we are glad to partner with the organizations who provide it. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to me by email or phone (417-818-4944) so that I can order enough lunch for all our volunteers.

Can’t make it on Sunday afternoon? There are other ways to help! Attend NNEMAP’s Harmony for Hunger concert on Friday night (contact me for more info). Or bring hygiene items to donate on Sunday morning. NNEMAP currently needs deodorant, bar soap, razors, and toothpaste.

Speaking of Sunday morning, you won’t want to miss this week’s conversation. We’ll continue our discussion on the story of Noah and the flood, focusing on what happens AFTER the violence. We’ll meet at 10:30 a.m. in the Gateway Film Center.

If you’ve missed out on any of the past discussions in this series, you can hear the conversation and see the slides via our podcast.

See you Sunday!

Beth Staten
Outreach Director
Continuum Church