October Synchroblog Announcement – Mental Illness Awareness

To commemorate the launch of Sarah Griffith Lund‘s new book — Blessed Are The Crazy: Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness, Family, and Church — and to participate in National Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 5-11), we invite you to join in a Synchroblog on mental illness, family, and church.

Break the silence by sharing your personal story of how you’ve been impacted by mental illness in your family and/or in your faith community.

Learn more about National Mental Illness Awareness Week: http://nami.org/template.cfm?section=mental_illness_awareness_week

October 7 is also the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding. Sarah Griffith Lund has recorded this prayer video to help faith communities observe this holiday – please watch and share:

NOTE: We are joining with another synchroblog for this event, so the posting date and instructions are a bit different. This is also coming up quickly!

First, publish your post by midnight on MONDAY, October 6^th. Post the links in the comment section here as normal. We at the synchroblog will post all your links over at the Facebook event for the other group (which can be found here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/945367335493240/

If you want, you may also use the hashtag #BlessedAreTheCrazy when you post your links to your blog posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Follow the hashtag: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BlessedAreTheCrazy

Second, we will put up the full link list on Tuesday, October 7^th for you to publish at the end on your blog post.

We hope you will participate and break the silence by sharing YOUR story!

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July/August Synchroblog – Follow

In August Synchroblog will be partnering with Provoketive magazine. Provoketive will be hosting the Synchroblog for the month of August as we consider the concept of Following Jesus.

In order to for an article to be considered for this endeavor the author should sign up to be a writer for Provoketive first.  If you have already done this, you do not need to repeat the process.  It is very easy, and all of the instructions are below.

The topic:  Follow.  In August we are going to consider the idea of following.  Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me,” and that has powerful implications in the way we live.  How does that affect you?   We believe the power of voice has tremendous capacity to inspire and encourage people. Provoketive is a space to explore our humanity, who we follow, and who is following us.

Here are the instructions for August only:

1. Sign up to be a writer on Provoketive.  Click here <http://provoketive.com/writing-for-provoketive/>  and fill out the form.  We’ll send you all the instructions to add your post. This step is unnecessary if you have already registered.

2. Write and submit a 500-1,000 word post on the subject of following.  Some things to consider writing about include: what are the rules for following Jesus?  Are we going somewhere when we follow Jesus? Has your journey changed over time? Is there more than one way to follow Jesus?  What are the markers of a person following Jesus?

You may post the article on your own blog if you wish, but wait for the schedule to be posted after August 1st.

3. All posts must be submitted to Provoketive by August 1.

4.The articles will be posted on Provoketive each day throughout the month of August.

5.  A schedule will be provided in early August so that authors know when they will be featured on Provoketive’s website.

January Synchroblog – A Partnership with Provoketive Magazine // January 18th 2012

Hey Synchrobloggers,

For January we are excited to partner with Provoketive Magazine for our monthly synchroblog.  They will be hosting this month’s topic, and this is a great platform for writers and readers.

In order to do this, the instructions will be a little bit different than our normal “post your link in the comments section” list.   Each writer will need to sign up to be a writer for Provoketive first.  It is a very easy process, and all of the instructions are below.  Instead of only posting your link in the comments section you will be posting directly on Provoketive and also on your own blog.  Everyone should put the link list at the bottom of your post as usual.  Provoketive will then feature the entire series for their January issue. All of the details are here.

The topic:  Hope.  January is often a space to create new dreams and so we’re leaving the topic open and to your imagination. We believe the power of voice has tremendous capacity to inspire and give hope to people. Provoketive is a space to explore what it means to be human and hope is an integral part of that experience.

Here are the instructions for January only:

1. Sign up to be a writer on Provoketive.  Click here and fill out the form.  We’ll send you all the instructions to add your post.

2. Write and submit a 500-1,000 word post on the subject of hope.  Some things to consider writing about include: what gives you hope, what is your hope, how did you gain your hope, or a story of hope in your life.  You may post the article on your own blog if you wish, but schedule it for January 18th.

3. All posts must be submitted to Provoketive by January 17th.

4. Check back on the day of publication and grab the link list to everyone’s post.  Publish the link list on your blog.

If you have any questions or need clarification about the process, please feel free to ask them in the comments section below or over at Provoketive.

We look forward to the new year together!

2011, 2012, New Team Member, A Survey and Provoketive Magazine!

2011 was another great year for synchroblogging thanks to all of you who joined the conversations with your posts and comments.  We had 12 months of great ideas, we successfully partnered with others a couple of times throughout the year and ended up just shy of having 250 contributions for the year!!!

So we are back to do it again in 2012!

However, we decided that we could use some help.

So ….. we asked Jeremy Myers to join our team and (wait for it …. ) he said YES!  (in case you don’t know who else is on our team check out “The Team” section of our blog).

Jeremy works as a prison chaplain, but that’s just a job to pay the bills so he can do what he really enjoys: spending time with his wife and three girls, reading, writing, and studying.  He blogs at Till He Comes,  has had several articles published in various theological journals, and is currently writing a book, which he hopes will get picked up for publication.  Jeremy will help us create monthly themes, write announcements, send out invites, organize link lists and perform other on-going duties.  Take a moment and welcome Jeremy to the team.

All the duties keep us busy but the most challenging thing that we are faced with is coming up with fresh ideas each month.  We need you to help us with that so we have created a survey that you can link to on our blog (bottom right side under the heading “IDEAS”).  It asks you to help us by sharing your ideas about monthly themes, focus and general feedback.  We hope you will take the time to share your ideas with us there. We really need your help.

We are glad to be on this adventure with you and look forward to the months ahead!

Happy New Year from Liz, Kathy, Sonja & Jeremy

PS   We are excited to announce that we are partnering with Provoketive Magazine for the January synchroblog. All the details and information will be out in a few days (probably Monday, 1/9/12) and will take place on 1/18/12.  So mark your calendars now.  This is one that you don’t want to miss out on.

Advent Synchroblog – Link List Part One

Each year blogger, author, gardener, and missional proponent Christine Sine does an Advent series at her blog in which she invites guest bloggers to write from their perspective on Advent for her blog, Godspace. Every year these posts are some of the best the internet has to offer on the season and our shared faith.

This year Christine has kindly offered to team with Synchroblog and will be using some of our posts as her guest series. To that end, we thought it would be a good idea to have a quick event at the beginning of November (Calling Us Out of Numbness), so that we can have an Advent event in late November and then a post Christmas event in late December.

Here are the first of those links … please add them to your posts.

• ron cole at the weary pilgrim – advent: reimagining everything
• liz dyer at grace rules – expect the unexpected
• sarah styles bessey at emerging mummy – in which i’m expecting something from advent
• miz melly at perchance to dream – parousia
• kathy escobar at the carnival in my head – present, humble, vulnerable
• David Perry at Visual Theology – Advent As A Mirror of Possibility
• Christine Sine at Godspace – Jesus Is Coming What Do We Expect?
• Liz VerHage at Living Theology
• Sally Coleman at Sally’s Journey – Come Spirit of Advent
• Jeremy Myers at Till He Comes – Jesus Is Returning Today
• Glenn Hager – Antithetical Advent

What is Emerging in the Church? – April 2010

What is emerging in the church?
What good things are growing that we can celebrate?
Who are the diverse voices that are now leading the church into the 21st century?

There are still serious discussions that need to be had regarding healing and reconciliation in the church. Previously marginalized voices still need to be humbly heard and fought for. This synchroblog in no way stands against that need. I just believe that sometimes it can be helpful to highlight the good things that are happening – reminding ourselves and the Christian community to have hope and to see the voices that are out there and are shaping the faith. I’m a both/and kind of person. I want to fight injustice and illuminate where good things are already happening.

To that end, I propose a Synchoblog on the topic of “What is Emerging in the Church.” I know not all of you claim the term “emerging church” or agree with a group like Emergent Village, that’s okay. The point of this isn’t to all agree or even to say that the emerging or Emergent church has this all figured out (because we don’t). But this path of navigating what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century where a diversity of voices and perspectives are heard is the very definition of what is emerging in the church. God is doing something new and exciting in the church, and we need to tell that story.

Bloggers who participated in this Synchroblog hosted by Julie Clawson:

• Pam Hogeweide compares the emerging church movement to a game of ping pong.
• Sarah-Ji comments that the emerging questions people are asking are far bigger than any defined movement.
• Sharon Brown writes about using labels as an excuse.
• Peter Walker reflects on how the emerging church conversation helped him recognize his power and privlege as a white male.
• Dave Huth posts a on new ways to talk about religion.
• Nadia Bolz-Weber reflects on the the beautiful things she sees emerging in her church community.
• Chad Holtz writes on our Our Emerging Jewishness.
• MojoJules describes her organic entry into the emerging church and reflects on moving forward with a new public face.
• Dave Brown comments on the emerging church and swarm theory.
• Danielle Shoyer reflects on what is emerging in the church.
• Brian Merritt offers his pros and cons of the emerging church.
• Julie Clawson is grateful for emerging globalized Christianity.
• Susan Philips points out that emergence happens as G-d redeems our shattered realities.

• Mike Clawson reflects on the non-western voices that brought him to the emerging conversation.
• Jake Bouma suggest that what is emerging is a collapse into simplicity.
• Liz Dyer believes a chastened epistemology is a valuable characteristic emerging out of the church today.
• Rachel Held Evans writes on what is changing in the church.
• Tia Lynn Lecorchick describes the emerging movement as a wood between worlds (from The Magician’s Nephew).
• Amy Moffitt shares her journey towards a theology of humility.
• Travis Mamone comments on the need for the emerging church to rely on the word of God.
• Sa Say reflects on the the prick of doubt.
• David Henson lists what he sees as what is emerging in the church.
• Angela Harms writes in in defense of emergent.
• Wendy Gritter asks how we can listening to the voices from the margins.
• Bruce Epperly comments on the largeness of spirit of emerging spirituality.
• Linda Jamentz reflects on listening to the voices from the margins in church.
• Lisa Bain Carlton hopes that our emerging conversation can respond humbly to our moment in time.
• Christine Sine asks how far are we willing to be transformed.
  Lori Allen Wilson reflects on what is emerging in the younger generations.
  Cynthia Norris Clack sees love emerging in the church.
  Bob Fisher lists the values emerging in his faith community
  Mihee Kim-Kort writes of the conversions and conversations she sees around her.
  Ann Catherine Pittman believes that what is emerging in the church is inclusivity.
  Matthew Gallion describes how emergence is spread thin across the whole church.
  Phil Snider offers guarded praise of emergent.
• Kathy Escobar reminds us “we may look like losers.”

What is Missional? – June 2008

this is part of the missional synchroblog organized by rick meigs at blind beggar, over 50 bloggers participating, reclaiming the now fairly over-used and ever-popular word “missional.”  although i don’t talk about it much, i consider myself a friend of missional and highly respect their work & heart to infect the kingdom with missional values.  the question was “what is missional, really?”

Bloggers Who Participated:

Alan Hirsch *  Alan Knox *  Andrew Jones *  Barb Peters *  Bill Kinnon *  Brad Brisco *  Brad Grinnen *  Brad Sargent *  Brother Maynard *  Bryan Riley *  Chad Brooks * Chris Wignall *  Cobus Van Wyngaard * Dave DeVries *  David Best *  David Fitch * David Wierzbicki *  DoSi * Doug Jones *  Duncan McFadzean * Erika Haub * Grace *  Jamie Arpin-Ricci *  Jeff McQuilkin *  John Smulo * Jonathan Brink * JR Rozko *  Len Hjalmarson * Kathy Escobar * Makeesha Fisher * Malcolm Lanham * Mark Berry * Mark Petersen * Mark Priddy * Michael Crane Michael Stewart * Nick Loyd * Patrick Oden * Peggy Brown * Phil Wyman * Richard Pool * Rick Meigs * Rob Robinson * Ron Cole * Scott Marshall * Sonja Andrews * Stephen Shields * Steve Hayes * Tim Thompson * Thom Turner