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sunday august 2nd
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." Jesus in John 3.8. TNIV

« Le vent souffle où il veut, tu en entends le bruit, mais tu ne sais ni d'où il vient ni où il va. Il en est ainsi pour quiconque est né de l'Esprit. » Jésus dans Jean 3:8 (La Bible du Semeur)

Change of plan!
ride the wind! it's raining again so meet at the Undercroft, to eat, talk, catch up. bring friends and family to join in the fun. Bring food to share and enjoy

sunday august 9
"diving into..."
meet 5.00pm at the Undercroft or 5.30 pm at the McGill field to eat, talk, pray and discuss a juicy piece of scripture together, under a open sky! bring some food to eat & share.

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sunday july 26
vision

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:"
it's not just about seeing what is there, but about what could be there.
we'll explore the whole question of vision with the help of the film "the man who planted trees" and of course the words of scripture. we'll meet at 5.00 pm at the Undercroft and have an indoor picnic! so bring food for yourself as well as something to share!

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sunday july 19
supper on the mountain

two basic options exist, meet at 5.00pm at the Undercroft and we'll walk up to the Mont Royal Kondiaronk Lookout, or take the bike/bus/car to the mountain, then head for the grassy area behind the Chalet where we'll rendez-vous at 5.30-6.00 pm to picnic and celebrate the Lord's Supper together. it's a "bring your own picnic plus something to share" deal, you may also want to bring something to sit on as the grass may be a little damp! of course if it is raining we'll end up staying at the Undercroft!

tuesday july 21
emerge at the movies

to see "Act of God" a movie by Canadian filmaker Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes)we aim to catch the 7.40 pm show at the AMC Forum, and grab a coffee afterwards to talk about it.

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sunday july 12
somehow I've become convinced "God loves jazz", well maybe not every single piece that claims the title but the idea of jazz. so this sunday we'll gather at 5.00 pm on the McGill field to explore what evidence I can bring to support my assertion! let's do the bring-your-own-picnic-plus-a-little-extra-to-share thing, it seemed to work well last time. that will leave plenty of time for those who want to to catch the Ben Harper play the closing show of the Jazz Festival at 9.00 pm.

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sunday july 5th

Ondrej and Emilie will be hosting our gathering, as Nick and Sue will be celebrating their daughter Katie's wedding (congratulations!). We will get a chance to see Katie for her photo session above the Undercroft, around 6:30, to congratulate her in person.

The plan for Sunday night is to focus on a reading from Nehemiah, a prophetic leader in the old testament.

We would encourage you to think, in preparation for Sunday evening, about a project that would unite us (and how it would unite us), just like the building of the walls of Jerusalem united the "exiles" (we will find out more about this in the reading).

What project would help us define our Christian identity as a group and individually? Ondrej and Em think that: a project that would unanimously (in one spirit) agree to would be a glorification of God - a project that would build us up as a community, relationally rather than the usual consumer-me-and-only-me-egocentrism. What does this mean practically? What shape would it take?

Come hungry!

Ondrej will prepare sabjee (Indian vegetarian stew) and rice. Emilie will prepare something (she doesn't know what yet - a desert and/or soup).

See you Sunday!

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this is an exciting time of year in Montreal. we've already celebrated the summer solstice & St. Jean Baptiste's Day, and now we gird our loins (whatever that means) for the upcoming Jazz Festival which opens tuesday night with Stevie Wonder (yes, that Stevie Wonder) in a free concert. aren't you just green with envy?

last sunday Charlie & Julia delighted our taste buds with some colourful south asian cuisine, and engaged our minds with their adventures in Phnom Penh including the darker sides of life there and here.

sunday june 28th
if it's fine we will gather on the McGill field at 5.00 pm for a picnic (see photo) and word on the grass, but if it's raining you'll find us at the Undercroft. give me a call if you can't find us! BTW please "bring your own picnic and something to share"!

after our gathering there's some Irish storytelling at Hurley's!

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sunday june 21st midsummer's day
Recently back from Cambodia, Charlie and Julia will be sharing about the work they did there for 6 months. They will share about Chab Dai, the organization they worked for while they were there, and about how this experience has brought about a goal to work towards ending sexual exploitation and trafficking here in Canada. And they're bringing yummy food! 5.00 pm the Undercroft

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sunday june 14
midsummer music
we are going to have our own musical feast, including, french horn, saxophone, flute, whistles, guitar, piano, drums & voices. as we arrive at the middle of the year and the day with the most hours of daylight, we also celebrate the fullness of God displayed in Jesus Christ. we'll also get to eat together, talk, pray and encourage one another. 5.00 pm the Undercroft

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last Sunday’s free museum day didn’t exactly work as planned, eight of us met in 2nd Cup on McGill College, and five of us were my family! Ah well, we tried something different. Things have been busy for me with a visit to Oshawa and a day for clergy & lay leaders in Loblaws LaSalle! Busy & good though.


Sally sent me this in response to the flash mob guerilla worship video I forwarded,


"Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God:
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,
The rest sit round it, and pluck blackberries,
And daub their natural faces unaware
More and more, from the first similitude."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning
from Aurora Leigh, Seventh Book

sunday june 7
being part of the Diocese of Montreal is a funny thing, but sometimes it has it's perks...such as
11am Diocesan Brunch outside the Cathedral, it's free, there will be veggie burgers as well as beef, and we're all invited!
1pm Diocesan Eucharist: Guest Speaker: Bishop Mark MacDonald. Theme: “Hear What the Spirit is Saying to the Church.”
Bishop Barry is asking us to come together as a Diocesan family. Mark is National Indigenous Bishop and is well worth meeting! (That's his photo at the top)




later that same day… and as if that were not enough, we will get together in the Undercroft to do something we haven’t done for quite a while, share the Lord’s Supper together, plus soup & bread, live music, friends, conversation around “where do you see God’s Spirit at work?” 5.00 pm



wednesday june 10

musicians & singers want to get something special going for june 14 so we’ll get together to rehearse at Sue & Nick’s 7.30 pm

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sunday may 31-pentecost
montreal museums day

when Montreal's 30 museums are freee! 9am-6pm. so let's take advantage of this opportunity and get out there! the idea is to check out a museum or two, preferably with a couple of other emergers, and then get together at the Second Cup at 2200 McGill College & President Kennedy at 6.30 pm to debrief. we know that the Holy Spirit is at work in the world, so we need to pay attention to see what the Spirit is up to! so check out the museums, choose one or two to visit with some friends, then get yourself to 2nd Cup! call me if you get lost!

the Jesus Way reading group continues to meet at Julie-Maud's place.

please give thanks for... Tanya & Joan's successful show last saturday; the imminent arrival of summer; the affluence we enjoy in Canada; life and freedom; relationships with God and with others;...

please pray for... those looking for work; those feeling helpless; the majority of people around the world who can never hope to have a little of what we so easily take for granted; Nick presenting to Toronto synod.