Terra Nova Church Blog

Refuge, seclusion, privacy, spiritual meditation…ahhh….deep cleansing breath…no cooking, long walks in the woods, fun with just the girls…uninterrupted time, insightful teaching, discovering the next step…

If any of this resonates with your soul, consider attending our first women’s retreat, Terra Nova style. We have secured space in the serene Christ the King’s Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, NY (near Saratoga) for a 24 hour getaway. This place has been described by retreat-goers as “hallowed ground.” They exist to provide a peaceful, carefree and beautiful environment for people just like us and they do an amazing job.

The focus of the retreat is praying through your purpose. No matter where we are in terms of career, family, and our development as a person and Christ-follower, we all face the challenges of finding balance, wellbeing and fulfillment. Jean Fast, a certified Life Coach, will guide us through a Life Design Workshop in which we will begin the process of assessing those areas in life that create or diminish avenues of wholeness.

We will have blocks of time for prayer, quiet reflection, and communion with God. We will also have girl time – time to get to know and be known by other women in the Terra community. There will be opportunities for artistic and physical expression. And yes, we’ll throw in a little pampering too!

Come with an eager heart and be ready to experience more of God’s masterpiece in process.

Thanks so much to all that were able to contribute vital supplies to our friends at Jos House. I know some of you have made deliveries on your own. Some of you dropped supplies off here at Terra. Daniel Williams and I made a delivery this morning that was deeply appreciated.

We didn’t have all our facts straight when we passed on the Jos House crisis announcement Sunday. Many of you have emailed questions, so to set the record straight… The City of Troy condemned The Cook Arms, a local boarding house not connected with Joseph’s House and Shelter. By all accounts The Cook Arms was not a great place and the safety and sanitary concerns were merited. However in condemning the building, no provision was made for the 28 residents most of whom are disabled. The burden of housing and feeding these newly homeless men fell on the county’s only shelter, Joseph’s House. This creates several problems. The shelter is already full and space has to be made for more than 20 new men. The shelter needs a code variance to add the beds for that many more and the city, after displacing the people, has been unresponsive to Jos House’s request for a variance. In addition, having that many more people in the shelter puts a strain on all the shelter’s already maxed systems, hence the need for linens, toiletries, and extra food. The issue has been in the news. Here are some links …

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=680254

http://www.troyrecord.com:80/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/BigDaily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.content=%2FMAIN_REP%2FArticle%2F2008%2F04%2F12%2F1886339

We contacted our friends at Metroland with the story and there may be some coverage this week so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Jos House is still in need of the supplies. If you can make a donation, drop by the shelter. You can also drop supplies here at the church and we will do the delivery for you. Contact me if you have any questions about their needs.

The City of Troy is holding up Joseph’s House plans to convert an abandoned building in the little Italy section of Troy into low income apartments. If you are interested in working for justice by being an advocate for the poor and promoting affordable housing in Troy visit …

www.itshouldbezero.org

Terra Nova rents Revolution Hall every sunday morning for worship. In most churches, the big group worship space/sanctuary sits empty the rest of the week. There is something wonderfully dynamic about meeting in a rented space that is alive throughout the week. Most of you catch a show at Rev. Hall from time to time. For those who have only experienced Rev. Hall on Sunday mornings, here are a few selected videos to give you a sense of what happens the rest of the week.  Enjoy. 

A 4 am alarm, two thousand pounds of luggage, 5 chaperones and14 traveling teenagers, three flights followed by a three-hour cross-country ride sardined in 2 mini-vans, mattresses on the floor, beans for breakfast lunch and dinner, sporadic tepid showers and dust everywhere…what an adventure! This was our 9th visit to the Casa and each time is sweeter than the last. We don’t go for leisure or accommodations- we go for the kids, and know each one by name.

Casa de Ninos is a home for about 20 abandoned, abused and orphaned children ages 4-20 on a hillside suburb of the small city of Tepic, located between Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Most of the children have a living parent who is an alcoholic or drug addict, in prison, a prostitute or abusive. Most of the children are there long-term and are not adoptable.  

Days are full, beginning with the breakfast bell at 7am. Team members work in the kitchen doing meal prep and clean-up, and occasionally catch a Mexican cooking class (we learned how to make tamales once!). The kitchen is always bustling with activity and conversation, samples and chores. With 3 daily meals for 40-60 people, there is lots of cooking. I advise team members that if they can’t find something to do, go to the kitchen!

There are always maintenance projects to tackle- walls to plaster and paint, concrete to repair and pour, plumbing, electrical and grounds-work create a never ending to-do list. Cleaning, childcare, sewing and organizing are ongoing activities. Part of our team training is understanding Mexican culture and de-programming the “chop, chop” New York attitude of multi-tasking productivity. It’s just not that way there. “Quizas” has become a favorite word in Spanish, meaning “maybe” and usually said with a shrug.

After lunch and homework, the team presents a Bible teaching and activity, and after that, the games begin! Staff, teams and older kids mix it up for competitive volleyball, soccer and basketball until supper. Many of these kids are at their best on the field and are very willing to show you a move or two that will put your athletic ego to shame. Younger ones are eager to engage in hand-clap games, puzzles, playground and sandbox play and crafts.

Casa de Ninos is a success story. A spirit of love, joy and wholeness transcends. Children are loved, counseled and cared for by Christian staff who provide a safe and consistent environment. Visitors must often remind themselves that these children have been broken, because they seem quite well-adjusted and happy. One group member summed it up when he said,

“Casa de Ninos is a place where God is restoring to these children what Satan has stolen from them.”

We are gauging interest in a July mission trip and we have some flexibility in scheduling. Additionally, we will be returning for February President’s week 2009. Cost ~ $1,200 pp inclusive. Email Ruth Henry for more information. 

Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

 If Terra Nova has a cafeteria on sunday, it is definitely the The Taproom @ Brown’s Brewing Company located in between Terra409 (office, education, gallery) and Revolution Hall (sunday worship) on River St. Today is thier 15th birthday. Every sunday, the restaurant is filled with terra novians coming out of church. Every third monday night, 30-40 people crowd into the Trojan Room at Brown’s for Terra’s Theology @ The Taproom. Many of us are on a first name basis with the staff and that definitely makes it feel like home. To Browns:: thanks for providing great food, beer, and a place where community happens. You are a part of the life of Terra Nova. Stop by and say Happy Birthday and thanks to Garret and Kelly Brown. 

March 30, 2008 | Ray Pierce

When I first saw the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the news back in 2005, the social justice part of me was ready to drop everything to go down to the Gulf Coast to help out. Regretfully, I listened to the practical side of myself and decided that I shouldn’t skip the grad classes that I begun that semester. Why do the little things like school and earning a living get in the way?

Now, in 2008 I’m trying to make good on the conviction I felt back in 2005. It’s only our first day in Pearlington, MS and we’ve already helped a couple folks. We met Miss Henrietta, an 83 year-old lady who is almost ready to move into her new home. The only thing in her way is getting a fridge for the kitchen. So as a surprise we went shopping in Slidell and picked out one that we are going to install tomorrow. Then later that day we also began cleaning up her home in preparation for the big move.

I didn’t really know what to expect in Pearlington, but folks here are very happy to see the volunteers and are amazing positive despite the duration of being without their homes. That’s a personal quality that I’ve been trying to strive for. Being able to have an optimistic outlook even though circumstances are far from good. So in an effort to help others, I think there is going to be a number of things that we are all going to learn.

March 31, 2008 | Kathleen Claydon

Sister Rawls and Sister Mayola along with others in the congregation of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Pearlington have been preparing lunch for the volunteers and residents of the town for two and a half years. I had the privilege of spending the afternoon serving these gracious women.

Much food has to be prepared on one stove top and one oven. Macaroni and cheese, jambalaya, dirty rice, smoked sausage, red beans and rice. All hot and all ready by 11:30 am. Our group of four worked for a couple of hours getting things ready. Working quickly, rushing in our usual way.

Sister Rawls and Sister Mayola came in, things began to slow and the frenzied pace lessened. I have noticed that the pace of life is slow in the south. Many times during the day I had to slow down to let Sister Rawls catch up, to hear what was being said, to understand. My life, the frenzied pace, needs to become more southern…slower. I need to slow down to hear God, to understand. I need to learn to “be still and know.”

April 1, 2008 | Kate Bird

I got to hammer a nail today and it was fantastic! Kate Bird here everyone and boy did I have a grand Tuesday. I was part of a team that was assigned to clean debris from a yard at one of the sites. I personally love yard work so for me this project was perfect. My fellow teammates and I worked in the yard for a few hours and made a great improvement in the yard.

We had another wonderful lunch, which was a great time to hydrate, refuel, and prepare for the afternoon. I wasn’t exactly sure what was in store for me, but that’s what makes it exciting. A group of us were sent to a house that was built brand new after the storm. We were told that we would be working on the framing, which I had never done before, so I was pretty excited. I moved a lot of boards, hammered a lot of nails, and by the end of our times there, the frame of a wall had been constructed. It was perfect timing for a nice Mississippi rainstorm!

This is my first time doing work like this for someone other than my mother or other family members or friends. When I chose to come on the Mississippi trip, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I still don’t have any expectations and I think that has helped me truly appreciate what is happening. I have been able to use my skills and do what I enjoy doing to help others. The conversations and interactions with everyone here have also made this time interesting and very enjoyable. I’m excited to see what the rest of the week will bring!

April 2, 2008 | David Jenkins

I am part of a team of five that has been working on a house for a lady named Miss Dallie Dawsey. She has been gone all week due to an illness in the family, so it has been difficult to turn a porch into a four season living portion of the home without any input as to where walls need to go, or where she wants electricity.

When we arrived at Miss Dallie’s home, it was simple. All we had to do was frame in a few missing walls, put some new plywood on the floor and run wires. The situation quickly changed when I climbed under the back of the house and found years of neglected wood, rotten and destroyed by termites. Our 2 day job turned into a project that will extend long into our absence. We jacked the house up, fixed what we could, tore the floor out and re-framed it. While the home may look virtually the same as it did when we started, it now at least has a good foundation to stand on.

This whole remodeling process has been a great example of what faith really is. Miss Dallie, having never met any of us face to face, placed her faith in us to take care of her home. She blindly let us demolish a good portion of her home and has trusted us to take care of her needs. To see the way God is working in my team, and myself it truly amazing. I pray that I will take with me a small portion of the faith and gratefulness the people of this small town have.

April 3, 2008 | Judith Belt-Smith

An awesome, amazing trip! I had no idea what to expect, even on a daily basis. Each day was new and filled with lots of hard work. My days were spent framing and sawing windows, tiling and grouting floors. It was hard at times to keep a focus on the project at hand. Imagination is strong here…God is strong here. Our reward was a day in New Orleans. What a great day we all had – we listened as many people shared their stories. It is a slow process, a labor of love rebuilding. God can do anything –imagination comes from God.

April 4, 2008 | Luis Pestana

This is Friday evening April 4th, just about 6:30 PM. As I sit here in our large and airy breakfast and supper tent. It is Humid as usual and hot besides. A similar ending to an equally humid beginning though a bit cooler.

Thoughts of thankfulness surface for the break in the monotony of sleeping on a cot —- it was OK. Mine that is. On arrival my pod mate Ray picked out his. Old, delapidated, and creaking with every toss and turn of his body (I felt sorry for him”why Ray?” I thought to myself) I had forgotten the camp manager telling us to bring anything of concern to his attention or Jeremy, his assistant. By Tuesday evening I offered to swap cots with him (while he was hesitant he agreed). Upon swapping however, I found it to be unsafe to sleep on. You are brave Ray. I brought the matter to John (camp manager). “THERE IS ONE BY THE WASH TUBS” - I was informed, just set up for that exact purpose.
I was shocked, and immediately grateful (in the intent of the thoughts of your heart where we establish the recompense of blessing or cursing upon ourselves), that old assurance that God knows our needs and is able to provide even as we take the step of faith to ask and to seek.
Isn’t HE Wonderful ?
So, as I tap, tap away at this keyboard, our group is the the sole camp tenant. A Tornado watch given for the evening. Sal. from Brunswick on the barbecue grill. Cheese Burgers is on the menu. The other Groups from Nebraska Washington and Pennsylvania either returned or have gone to New Orleans for the day. They have done a terrific job of hosting the breakfast and supper when assigned.
I miss the PA group already. They left this morning, and though there were only four ladies, the zeal and spirit working through them is an inspiring and humbling desire . They were funny, serene, quiet, and instantaneously the distant relatives that you missed when absent.
The day advances though, and your family is still with you.

April 5, 2008 | Susannah Corey

How quickly a week goes! Today we finished our work here in Pearlington, recognizing how very large the task of rebuilding this town is in comparison to the tasks we have completed. A group of us finished tiling Mr. Quentin’s house and I probably speak for us all in saying that I wish we could have done so much more. I found myself constantly stretched in my own frailty (aching muscles I never knew I had, using a hammer and power tools with minimal hand-eye coordination, the heat, limited bathroom facilities, and BUGS, BUGS, BUGS!) but I am constantly reminded of God’s strength and power through it all.

I have heard so many people tell stories of heroism, loss, faith, and the slow process of moving on past it all and rebuilding more than just a house, an entire life. As is so often the case in missions, I find myself leaving this place with a sense that I did so little and gained so much through the experience.

I know that I will come home and my life will soon return to some state of normalcy while the people of Pearlington will continue to struggle with overwhelming loss, mess, lack of plumbing and electricity, and the bureaucracy and red-tape that surrounds the Katrina rebuilding efforts. I know that the stories I have heard here and that some of the memories I have made here will fade but my hope is that I will not forget God’s presence in the midst of it all. More than that, I hope that the people of Pearlington come to know that they are not alone, that no matter what small things we can do to help, God is bigger and stronger than Katrina and will continue to provide comfort and aid to them in this long process.

 Some ways you can engage in the missional life of Terra Nova Church this weekend and over the next few weeks…

3/28 – Gallery Opening.  This Friday from 5pm-7pm There will be an artists reception at Terra Nova Gallery for Troy Night Out,  This is a great opportunity to support local art including our own Sarah Gorss and Kate Bird.  Its also a great opportunity to introduce friends and family to both the Terra Nova Church community and the city we love so much.  Bethany Daubman will be playing her harp, there will be wine from our friends at the farmers market Cascade Winery and light fare from our friends at Café Deli-icious.

 3/30 - Mellie “X”  After church this Sunday Mellie “X” (we can’t post her last name on line)  will be showing slides and discussing her time serving in a medical mission http://www.maetaoclinic.org/  and http://betterburmesehealthcare.com/  in Burma/Myanmar last year.  She was “in country” in September when the government brutally cracked down on peaceful demonstrators killing more than thirty and arresting over 3000, many of whom were Buddhist Monks.  Come listen and see her first hand account of what it means to serve Christ and love people in a place where you can be arrested for gathering with more than five people or taking a picture! (according to US State Dept.)  Mellie plans to return to Burma in April so we can also use this time to pray for and encourage her.

4/19 – “1^st Annual Joseph’s House Poker Classic”  As our esteemed Lead Pastor is fond of saying “We play the hand we are dealt”.  At Terra Nova that means when Spencer Martin came to us with the suggestion of a poker tournament with the proceeds going to Josephs House we said “Amen Brotha” so Satuday 4/12 from 1pm until ? we will be holding the 1^st Annual Josephs House Poker Classic with a goal of raising at least $500 for our friends at Josephs House http://josephshousetroy.org/ to use serving the homeless individuals and families in our city.    The buy in is $40 but snacks will be provided and there will be prizes for the top three competitors.  Previously mentioned esteemed Lead Pastor believes he can’t be beaten.  There is limited space available so sign up in the lobby after church or by emailing matt@terranovachurch.org.

On a related note Check out itshouldbezero.org.  As the city of Troy gentrifies and prospers ironically many people living on the edge of homelessness are pushed over.  Sadly the problem of homelessness in our city is growing.  If you are interested in serving  the homeless in Troy contact me at matt@terranovachurch.org and we can plug you in serving at Jospeh’s House and Shelter.  If you are interested in raising your voice in addition to the work of your hands visit http://itshouldbezero.org/

Homelessness continues to be a problem in the city of Troy. Lot’s of people are trying to call attention to this problem and we all wish the homeless population were ZERO . Spencer Martin is doing his part by organizing a poker tournament fundraiser on April 19th. It starts at 1pm in the big room at the back of Terra409. The buy in is $40 a person and all proceeds go to Joseph’s House Shelter in Troy. If you have questions, email Spencer Martin HERE. Additionally, be sure to sign up in the lobby of Revolution Hall in the coming weeks.

• Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis, led by Cathy Blanch beginning Friday April 4th from 7:30 - 10 pm @ Cathy Blanch’s home, 6 Riverside Ave., Apt. 2, Rensselaer meets 6 times meets every Friday, ending May 16th (with April 11th off) Book Description:: “This tale of two princesses - one beautiful and one unattractive - and of the struggle between sacred and profane love is Lewis’s reworking of the myth of Cupid and Psyche and one of his most enduring works.” email:  murrecat@gmail.com
• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, led by Julie McClean beginning April 14th from 7-9:30 @ Terra Gallery meets every other Monday night, ending May 26th meets 4 times Book Description:: The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider’s look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob’s daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah–all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery. email:  mcleanjc@att.net
• When Two Become One - Enhancing Sexual Intimacy in Marriage by Christopher and Rachel McCluskey, led by Tara Bremer beginning Thursday,  May 8th from 7-9 @ Tara’s home, 228 Kenwood Ave., Delmar Meets every Thursday night, ending May 29th Meets 4 times Book Description:: Ignite the intimate, passionate love God created you to enjoy with your mate. That’s what this book is all about. Now in paper, When Two Become One shows couples how to make their love life the fulfilling experience it was meant to be. Christian counselor and certified sex therapist Christopher McCluskey and his wife, Rachel, introduce The Lovemaking Cycle, an innovative model that helps readers see the difference between sex and making love. Much more than a how-to book, this practical, detailed resource offers a vision of lovemaking that facilitates a deeper experience of intimacy on all planes of marriage. Discussion questions and honest advice make this a must-read for all married couples, counselors, and anyone considering marriage.  email:  faithful1983@alumni.purdue.edu 

Two Troy Churches Continue Ministry to Pearlington, Mississippi Troy, NY – March 10, 2008

On August 29, 2005, Pearlington, MS sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. Much of the small, unincorporated town found itself under 20’ of storm surge waters and when the storm was over, nearly every structure in the town was destroyed or badly damaged. In January, 2006, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) set up its sixth Gulf Coast Volunteer Village in the town. It was April, 2006 when BrunswickChurch of Troy started its partnership with this mission, sending a team of 6 to the village to help with the recovery efforts. March 29th, 2008 marks the church’s third trip to Pearlington and the second trip in which Brunswick Church has partnered with Terra Nova Church of Troy.

When the team leaves later this month, it will be 24 people strong. Team Leaders Colleen Lais of Brunswick and Damian Belt-Smith of Terra Nova are pleased with the skill set of this team which includes three building contractors. “So many people want to help, but it is important to realize that the crisis has turned from recovery to rebuilding there. The PDA is desperate for skilled labor,” Lais reports. The team has been working to raise funds to offset the cost of the trip as well as help to provide additional materials and tools to supplement those already on site in Pearlington. Belt-Smith adds, “Katrina hit nearly 3 years ago, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. People need to know that.” Anyone wishing to help donate to these efforts may contact either Brunswick Church or Terra Nova Church. The team will stay in a camp-like setting that encourages community among various groups from all around the country. Team members share responsibilities, like clean-up and meal preparation, while at the camp. They spend their days on worksites throughout the town, toiling alongside the homeowners, doing whatever needs to be done. The PDA partners with local agencies to assign the teams to sites. Since Pearlington is unincorporated, the PDA works with the Pearlington Recovery Center, a grassroots organization started by locals just days after the storm. As the many reports will attest, faith-based organizations have been paramount in the recovery process along the Gulf Coast. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been running several Volunteer Villages in the area since shortly after Katrina struck and is committed to this cause for at least seven years. Brunswick Church and Terra Nova Church are committed as well. Talks have begun regarding a fall 2008 trip.The dates of the upcoming trip are Saturday, March 29 – Saturday, April 5th.

Links:
www.pcusa.org/pda, www.brunswickchurch.org,
www.brunswickchurch.org/missions_blog.php, www.terranovachurch.org

Mellie found herself in Burma right during the recent upheaval that covered the news channels recently. To know that your life is literally in danger has an effect on you. It impacts the way you see life, the way you live your faith, the way you live justly and do mercy. There are obvious connections to the stories in the Old Testament that have occupied our sunday teaching time as of late . . . exile and oppression continue to impact human beings around the earth. Mellie focused her time on health and human rights and would love to share her experiences and photos of her experience in this war torn country before she heads back in April. Join Mellie in the big room at Terra409 on sunday March 30th after church from 1-3PM. 

The results are in. 130 households representing roughly 250 adults and children completed the second service survey. As we compiled that data, a few things became clear about your preferences:: Given the choice between attending an 11AM service, and just about any other time slot (such as 9AM, 1PM, 5PM), you overwhelmingly chose the 11AM service. What that told us was that if we added a second service at 9AM, or 1PM, or 5PM, most of you would stay put and keep on attending at 11AM. This of course would do little in freeing up space for growth. However, when given the option of attending a 10AM or 12NOON service, suddenly you spread out a little more. A significant percentage of you seemed to like the idea of sleeping in later, enjoying a leisurely sunday bruch and then attending the 12NOON service. This was the spread we were looking for and that was the biggest deciding factor in choosing the 10 & 12 format.

What about terra nova kids? Without a doubt, the 10AM service will be the bigger one and will offer full nursery and QUEST right through 6^th grade as we do now at the 11AM service (Parents overwhelmingly chose the 10AM). The 12NOON will be the same exact service as the 10 with the exception of childcare. At this point, we are planning to only offer childcare for nursery-aged children at this later service.

When will the shift happen and why then? We will launch the two service format on September 7^th, 2008. Some of you might be thinking .  . . why wait? The answer comes down to the make up of the church. On any given week, as much as 30% of those in attendance are college students. When the college students go home, attendance drops by as much as 20%. With the end of the semester just around the corner, our attendance will soon drop just enough to give us space to continue to grow throughout the summer. So, just as the students begin to arrive back on campus and families finish up summer vacations, we will be ready to add much needed space on Sundays.

What about logistics? How will we recruit and train enough volunteers to pull this off? How many volunteers will end up being at church for both services? How will they eat? These are all questions that we are working on carefully as a team of pastors. Our goal is that very few people would actually be serving at both services (probably just the band, and whoever is preaching). Our hope is that some of you will be willing at times, to serve at one service and attend the other service. (Primarily, this impacts the people who volunteer with Terra Nova Kids.) Right now, if you are serving with TN kids, you are missing church that week. Period. Once we go to two services, that won’t be the case anymore. Beyond this, we are working on some systems that will allow us to implement a second service with a minimal number of additional volunteers. Some teams (such as backline) will probably be separated into a set up and tear down team. And Delicious plans to open on Sundays when we go to two services. There are a million other details that need to be worked out. Know that we are actively pursuing solutions to all of these logistic issues and we have plenty of time to do so. Know also that there will be bugs to be worked out as we do this and we appreciate your patience with that.

Thanks again for all the prayer you offered while the pastors were on retreat last week. Please continue to pray for the pastors and key volunteers that are working hard to see that this new chapter in Terra’s history happens smoothly. God has blessed this community with an amazing number of capable and committed people. It is a sincere joy to watch people find their niche in the church and do their part to build the monastery so that in our everyday lives we are freed up and trained up to live the mission. Feel free to email questions to serviceexpansion@terranovachurch.org . Remember that on May 26th, we will take a sunday morning to explain the direction that we believe God is calling us as pastors to lead the church over the next 24 months or so. Lot’s of questions will be answered that day and we would encourage you to put that sunday on your calendars now and plan to be in town and at sunday worship. 

I’m sure that you are all avid readers of Yankee Brew News. You probably rush into your nearest brew pub or microbrewery every time you hear that a new issue has been released right? Well, probably not. None the less, it is kind of cool that the editor of YBN asked Terra Nova to do an article about Theology @ The Taproom for it’s current issue focusing on the connection between beer and faith in today’s culture. I wish I could just post a link to the online archive of the article. Alas, there is no online archive for this venerable journalistic institution. So, I’m forced to cut and paste the contents of the article for your reading pleasure. Enjoy.

         It is a crisp fall evening as people straggle into The Taproom at Brown’s Brewing Company and climb the stairs to the second floor of this 19^th century brick walled factory turned brewery. In a few minutes time, roughly 40 people have crowded around tables in one corner of the restaurant. With a beer in one hand and a bible in the other, they look quite happy. Welcome to Theology at the Taproom, a monthly discussion uniting a passion for great beer and classic theology.  “I love reading the great theologians of church history and now I get to do this with friends at a great pub over a couple of beers and dinner—this is like a dream come true” said Dennis when asked why he attends TATT. Steve comments that “for too long, churches acted like beer was evil, or bars were evil or people who went to bars were evil, thankfully that is changing and I love that my church is playing a role in that”.

Steve is referring to the not too distant past in American Christianity when the consumption of alcohol was a litmus test for true faith. If you drank, you were clearly hell bound. Any effort at pointing out that Jesus Christ’s first miracle was turning water into wine brought on a barrage literary gymnastics trying to prove that in fact what Jesus did was turn the water into really good grape juice.

The historical truth is that for most of church history, men and women of faith have gathered around a pint to discuss all sorts of issues. Monks all but took over the brewing process in the middle ages. The great German reformer Martin Luther said that “While I sat and drank beer with Philip and Amsdorf, God dealt the papacy a mighty blow”. And that beer that Luther was drinking was probably brewed by his wife, an accomplished brewer in her own right. When the puritan pilgrims landed in Plymouth in 1620 seeking religious freedom, they had a choice to make on what to build first . . . a church or a brewery. They chose the brewery. A few hundred years later back in merry old England, well known Christians such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were known for getting together at local pubs with other thinkers of their day to discuss everything from the nature of free will to the ethics of cannibalism.

Groups like Theology at the Taproom are becoming more and more common today. Catholic Priests across the country do something called “Theology on Tap” which is a little more classroom oriented than what Terra Nova Church is trying to accomplish with TATT. “Normal people go to pubs restaurants and coffee shops and discuss things that are important to them, why can’t we be normal people in the church” says Pastor Ed Marcelle. “I’m a beer snob and a theology geek—Theology at the Taproom is the perfect combination of these two obsessions” says Pastor Phil Taylor who began TATT.

In the last two years, TATT has included discussions of St. Augustine’s Confessions, Dorothy Sayer’s The Mind of the Maker and Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will. “The goal is to introduce average non seminary trained people to the greatest thinkers and writers of Christian History in a relaxed environment” says Phil. The bar is set high though (no pun intended) and the monthly reading assignment can be quite lengthy. The two paramount rules at TATT are 1. Do the assigned reading so we can have a good discussion and  2. Don’t embarrass us by ordering light beer.  The fact that 30-40 show up monthly to discuss 60-90 pages of heavy theological writing would indicate that things have gone well.

But similar discussions across the country have not gone so well. Darrin Patrick at The Journey Church in St. Louis sponsors an event called Theology at the Shaefflly Tapworks. Recently Darrin and his church got a holy spanking from the Missouri Baptist Convention for holding such an event. Southern Baptists apparently feel that the end of prohibition was a bad idea and do their part to keep it alive in churches across the country. But back in Troy, NY, Garry Brown’s legendary brews flow freely over discussions of 1500-year-old theological writings and no one seems to be complaining.

Theology @ The Taproom is run by Terra Nova Church in Troy, NY. It meets on the third Monday of the month in The Taproom at Brown’s Brewing Company. Those interested can email theology@terranovachurch.org. The current study in Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together” will end in April. Our fall study will likely involve something from the Middle Ages. Possibly Thomas A Kempis’ classic “Imitation of Christ”. 

Terra Nova Church has worked hard to create a positive relationship with its neighbors here on River St. Many of you think of The Taproom at Brown’s Brewing Company as one of your favorite restaurants. On any given sunday after church, you’ll find Brown’s full with Terra Nova people enjoying lunch, a drink and good friendships. It is an honor and a deep complement that Garry and Kelly Brown have invited us back to help them celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and their 15th anniversary. Join us at 5PM as Pastor Ed Marcelle pronounces a special blessing on our friends fine establishment. Watch the video of last years blessing below.