New Horizons Thrift Store needs our help!

This Monday, we're heading down the road to Hamilton to help with donation sorting, pricing, cleaning, and display making. There will be something for everyone to do, sitting, standing, moving, dancing ...

If you want to carpool from Burlington, please meet in Rob & Lisa's driveway at 6:30. We'll meet at the store (520 James Street North) at 7:00. If folks are hungry, we'll find a pub when we're all finished ...

For information on New Horizons & Welcome Inn, check out their website.

See you there!

let justice roll ...

The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of the twelve he sent:

Simon (they called him Peter, or "Rock"); Andrew, his brother; James, Zebedee's son; John, his brother; Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew, the tax man; James, son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon, the Canaanite; Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).

Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:

"Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

"Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

"When you enter a town or village, don't insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave."


Who are defending & bringing justice in our world?
. ngos
. children's aid society
. stop the traffik
. yugo
. salvation army
. shelters
. governments
. community living
. the church
. vpi
. micah house
. compassion society
. welcome inn
. the media
... alternative media sources
. oxfam
. world vision
. amnesty international
. pen
. big brothers big sisters
. celebrities
... bono
... chris b
. faith-based groups
. stephen lewis
. nelson mandela
. desmond tutu
. shane claiborne/simple way
. schools
. corporations
. meal programs
. educators
. sketch
. microfinancers
... kiva
. protesters
. rotary
. parents
. individuals
... ruth
... jillian
... donna jean
... fran
... mr. pugh
... don s
... jason f
... lance
. legal aid
. child advocates
. activists
. athletes
... curtis joseph (baseball player? :)
. right to play
. world vision
. athletes for africa
. canadian baptist ministries
. mennonite central committee
. fundraisers
. "_____" without borders (doctors/engineers/etc)

What can I do?
. consumer choices
... fair trade purchases
... alternatives to consumer-focused gift-giving
... buy nothing day
. buy a farm in mexico & run it ethically
. sponsor a child
. raise awareness
. educate others
. educate myself
... read alternative media sources
. fair trade chocolate festival
. create a local foods cookbook
. eat local
. rescue sex slaves
. become a big brother/big sister
. volunteer/partner with justice-focused organizations
. help your neighbours be active (ie. coat drive phone call)
. give money
. volunteer with children's aid society (driving, wrapping gifts, planning events)
. build a porch at micah house
. wrap gifts at city kidz
. be politically active
. fly & drive less (decreased carbon footprint & oil dependency)
. share
. support friends doing development work
. habitat for humanity build
. check out volunteer websites
... hamilton
... halton
. serve a meal
... wellington square kitchen
... wesley centre
... in your neighbourhood
. get to know people in need of justice
... 'the more I know about you, the less likely I am to hurt you.'
. introduce yourself to the 'faceless'
. step out of your comfort zone
. share your food
. write letters
. march & protest
. share your passions with others. talk to your friends
. find your gifts/skills/passions & connect them to what you do
. bring a friend
. do something
. go first

come on over for dinner

See you Monday at Rob & Lisa's to continue our conversation from last week, on a quest for not only questions, but answers and solutions ...

If you ever need ideas of what to make for Quarry dinner, please check this out.

Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream ...

How are you feeling?
. Confused
. Hopeful
. Frustrated
. Ready to weep
. Ready to respond
. Powerless
. Powerful
. Uncertain
. Overwhelmed
.

Completely understandable. These are big questions that we're tackling, and not ones with easy answers. How do we respond to the oppression and injustice that exists in our world? How do we work together toward the hoped-for restoration of the world? What role do we play in Amos' cry to 'let justice roll'?

Our world is filled with those who are oppressed and those who oppress, and there are complex systems that reinforce the injustice, this is true. To try to solve so many problems seems overwhelming at times, so much so that we can become paralyzed, unable to do anything at all. However, there is always something that can be done, however small our action might be.

Your response might address grassroots issues or wider systemic ones. It might be about personal relationships or about organizational actions. It might be about consumer choices or about awareness campaigns. It might be local or it might be global. It might be a group effort or it might be you alone. It might be about action or about prayer. Or it might be all of these things. There is not one single solution but there are many.

There is an often heard quote from Margaret Mead - one of my favourite reminders:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

In our own lives we truly can influence change, and even more so when we unite together and come alongside God in working toward a restored world, one in which justice rolls like a river.

monday.

Join us on Monday at Rob & Lisa's for a continuation of Monday's conversation ...

You know how it goes:
6:30 dinner
7:34 the rest

See you then!

ps. in our ongoing quest to make increasingly ethical purchasing decisions, check out Hamilton's newly established Ethical Consumers Cooperative

liturgy.

I've been thinking more this week about the concept of liturgy. What is it, really?

To date, I have really only thought of liturgy as those rituals & ceremonies within a church service. Communion, confession, etc, etc.

The recited phrases, often part of those moments, often
mumbled quickly: thelordbewithyou.andalsowithyou.liftupyour
hearts.weliftthemtotheLord ...

Don't get me wrong, I see that there is great value and significance in coming together through these liturgies. But, is there more to it? Can liturgy be part of my everyday life?

Robbell indicated that "liturgy" can be translated as "worship" and also as "service." Does this mean that it's not just as part of a 'worship service' on Sunday morning? These two definitions suggest that our worship - the way that we praise God - is played out in the ways that we serve others - our church, our families, our colleagues, our neighbours, even strangers ... complete strangers. Every day.

Of course, Robbell is a wise teacher, but could there be more to this? On my quest for accuracy and insight, I consulted with the definitive source of accurate information: wikipedia.

According to wikipedia:
The word comes from the Classical Greek word λειτουργία (leitourgia) meaning "public work." As a religious phenomenon, liturgy is a communal response to the sacred through activity reflecting praise, thanksgiving, supplication, or repentance ... it forms the basis for establishing a relationship with a divine agency, as well as with other participants in the liturgy.

Wait. A response to the sacred? Activity reflecting praise? Establishing a relationship with a divine agency (um, God?). Establishing a relationship with other participants (our neighbours perhaps? community members?) This sounds a lot like service as worship. Or worship as service.

Our desire to serve others is a response to God, to our relationship with the divine - a tangible way to express our praise and thanksgiving, our gratitude. It is a response from the heart. And it is a response that changes not only ourselves, but the lives of those around us.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

mondayyyyy

See you Monday at 6:30 at Rob & Lisa's ...

I'm not sure we can top eXtreme jEnga, but we'll try!

Dear Quarry,

I really want to thank you for your most recent donation to Micah House, but more than that, for ALL the things you have done and mean to us here. You have had a profound influence upon us as we have grown from a fledgling ministry to a veteran on the social justice scene. You are spoken of OFTEN and always with the undertone and understanding that Quarry "really gets it", that you truly understand what we're about and how to serve us best.

I am, we are, so grateful for this relationship.

Quarry, may God bless you all.

Gripped,
Scott

do justice. love mercy. walk humbly with God.

mmmonday.

See you at the Irish's on Monday!
Rebecca & Dave will have a great evening planned for us.

I haven't heard any details for the evening - Dave & Rebecca will email if there's anything you need to know.

In the mean time, check the calendar for this week's meals ...