Tonight we’ll be coming together for our weekly gathering and common meal. If you can’t join us, try to gather with others and practice this simple liturgy or mix it up with your own elements:

• Begin by gathering around the communion table and read Galatians 3:6-9.
• Receive communion together, meditating on how the Lord’s supper demonstrates how we, as gentiles, have received the blessing of faith.
• Have a short time of open prayer for revealing the “blessing” of God to the whole world.
• Eat together
• After dinner, gather to read through Galatians 3:1-14 and discuss how God’s promise to Abraham reveals that God always intended to redeem the whole world through faith in Christ, and not by observing Torah.

Today we’ll be continuing our Galatians study through our weekly Sunday evening gathering and common meal. If you aren’t able to join us, you can gather with others on your own and practice our simple liturgy or something similar:

• Begin by gathering around the communion table and reading Galatians 2:15-16
• Receive communion together, meditating on how the Lord’s supper demonstrates our faith in Christ.
• Have a short time of open prayer for placing more of our trust in the work of Christ for our lives.
• Eat together
• After dinner, gather together to read through Galatians 2:11-21 and discuss the story of Paul’s confrontation with Peter.

As we prepare to enter our study of the book of Galatians, we’ll use this first gathering to prepare our hearts and minds to engage with the gospel we find there.

• Begin by gathering around the communion table and reading Galatians 3:28
• Receive communion together, meditating on the reconciliation demonstrated by the Lord’s supper
• Have a short time of open prayer for reconciliation in our lives, relationships, and the world
• Eat together
• After dinner, gather together to read through Galatians 1:1-2:10 and discuss Paul’s opening words

Questions for reflection:

1. What seems to be the reason Paul is writing?
2. What passages strike you most?
3. What clues can you find that reveal how Paul is distinguishing his gospel from that of those he’s condemning?
4. How is the gospel you first heard different from the gospel you’ve come to understand as you’ve grown in your faith?

Tonight is our fourth Advent gathering. The theme for the fourth and final Advent candle is Peace. Our readings are:

• Micah 5:2-5a
• Psalm 25:7
• Luke 1:46-55

We’ll be meeting at the Lawson home at 6:30PM. Be sure to bring a desert to share.

Tonight is our third Advent gathering. The theme for the third candle is Joy and our readings are:

• Zephaniah 3:14-20
• Psalm 25:5-6
• Luke 3:7-14

We’ll be meeting at the Verners at 6:30PM. Be sure to bring a desert to share.

Today marks our second Advent gathering together. We’ll be meeting at the Kipley’s at 6:30PM. Our passages for tonight are:

• Malachi 3:1-4
• Psalm 25:3-4
• Luke 3:1-6

Kids are included and everyone should have their assignments for this weekend. Feel free to invite anyone ot join us for the worship gathering and please be sure to arrive on time and bring a snack or desert to share.

Advent is a Christian season practiced during the four weeks leading up to Christmas and helps us commemorate the first coming of Christ while also anticipating his return. Rediscovering the practice of Advent can help us shake off the commercialization of Christmas and reclaim this season for worship again, for genuine gift-giving, and especially, for fixing our faith on the radical hope of Christ.

Our Advent season this year will be marked by three practices:

Four Advent Sunday Gatherings
We’ll begin with the first of four gatherings starting on Sunday, November 29th. These will be short worship gatherings (about an hour) in each others homes that will involve everyone and focused on drawing our attention toward Christ and his coming. We’ll have scripture readings, songs, and prayer together. The dates and locations are:

• What: Thanksgiving lunch!
  
• Where: Grape Day Park, Escondido Ca.
• When: November 27, 12PM
• Why: Hello…food and friends!

Come join us on the day after Thanksgiving at 12PM for a Turkey lunch/dinner with our homeless friends who live in the park. Bring enough food for you and more to share with those who may not have enough. We need:

• Turkey sandwiches
• Stuffing
• Potato Salad
• Fruit
• Trimmings (mayo, mustard, cranberry sauce, etc)
• Bottled water
• Plates, forks, knives, napkins, & cups.

Please  RSVP by commenting below with what you plan to bring and who is coming with you. See you at the park!

This weekend we did things a little differently at Ikon Community. Normally we gather every Sunday night at someone’s home for a meal, the Eucharist, some reflection and discussion of scripture, and prayer. But this Sunday was the weekend for the local Stand Up Against Poverty event, organized by ONE San Diego in support of the Millenium Development Goals.

So, we decided to show up there for “church” instead.

Today is our day to practice worship together. If you’re not part of Ikon Community, get together with a group of friends and practice the following exercises:

• Eat together
• Receive communion together (choose a reading from John 6:43-58, or 2 Cor 11:23-26, a liturgical book like the Book of Common Prayer)
• Read all, or some portion of the beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-12 or Luke 6:17-26, together and share your experiences from your exercises this week
• Pray for anyone in need