News & Updates Archive
Our hearts and bellies are grateful for the ice cream lovin' we got this summer. Our friend, Ben Cohen (co-counder of Ben and Jerry's ice cream) donated several hundred ice creams for Potter Street Camp. Thanks Molly for helping make it all happen! Here are a few pictures of the fun...
Read More... The Simple Way would like to welcome the Petersens to Philly.
The Village House is designed to give people an opportunity to live, work, and serve here at The Simple Way. We are seeking a handful of individuals that are interested in being a part of this pilot program. So no matter if you're in your 90s, 20s, or somewhere between here's your opportunity to come for a season of time and work with The Simple Way.
Read More... Once again, our partners at Yes! And... CAMP are beginning a summer full of fun at their Summer Theatre Camps. They are asking for your help to raise the money they need to produce this new play, through their "SHADOW Dollar Campaign".
Read More... Shane wrote an article about Independence Day that appears on the Huffington Post blog!
Read More... Some words from the Timoteo commissioner and updates on recent happenings.
Read More... Here in Kensington people know how to celebrate a graduation -- cars honking, people yelling, windows decorated, balloons everywhere. Graduation means that someone has beat the odds and triumphed over the obstacles. After all, the dropout rate in Philly is 42%... some schools only see 25% of the young men getting the diploma. So we are excited this year...
Read More... If you are interested in volunteering with our summer camp, July 19-August 6... contact Jason for details:
jason@thesimpleway.org Check out details on the Rutba film currently in production.
Read More... The simple way, the Alternative Seminary, and Shalom House invite you to "The People's Journey". Join citizens from IRAQ, GAZA, AFGHANISTAN (via skype), and VETERANS of the GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR who will share their experiences, moving beyond the political rhetoric as we converse with Americans of all persuasions.
Read More... Join us for a screening of "Soldiers of Conscience" with a discussion afterwords... it's FREE.
Read More... The Simple Way summer camp is a three-week day camp for kids age 5-13, and the application to volunteer is now available!
Read More... Church of the Sojourners, our sister community out in San Francisco, is looking for apprentices for this next year, August 2010 - July 2011.
Read More... Our friends at The Alternative Seminary have a new course running June 1 - July 6, THE RADICAL WAY OF JESUS: A SIX-WEEK STUDY OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK. You need to register no later than May 12 with
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Read More... Issue 5 of
Consp!re: Path and Place is now available. Signup as a co-conspirator (all new levels of engagement!) on the
Conspire website or pickup a copy from our
Simple Store This summer, Chris Haw will be starting an apprenticeship program on carpentry, pottery, and theology in Camden,NJ .
This summer, the apprentices would spend about 25 hours a week working either with Chris doing carpentry or pottery, possibly serving as well in a garden or in another capacity within the neighborhood. They would also spend about 10 hours a week in study and conversation on theology. The apprentices would need to raise money about $2000 for the summer, per intern. This would cover housing and most meals. If any of you are interested, please email Chris Haw at: hawchris@gmail.com ASAP.
We regret to inform you that the PAPA Festival will not be happening this summer. We're stepping back and looking at a variety of options, including a mix of local and regional gatherings for the future. Lord willing, we will have something planned for next summer. If you are interested in helping plan and carry-out future events, let us know at
http://bit.ly/cFHnTY Read More... Since 2001, we have been giving away money. It started with our
Wall Street Money Drop and continues every year as we send gifts in varying amounts to communities and organizations around the world. It's our little attempt to support the little revolutions and share what we have. Now, we're proud to have a section on our website dedicated to the
Jubilee Fund. You can see a list of the 2009 recipients (past years coming soon) and learn more about the fund.
The snow is gone and flowers are blooming!!! We'll be working hard on the Greenspace, so
check out the blueprint and donate a tree or drop by and break a sweat (keep an eye out for workdays and pictures!).
All our major repairs of 3234 Potter are complete. So beginning in April, lots of TSW activities will happen out of this community house (it's the largest, and our motherhouse). This includes Morning Prayer and Family Dinner on Friday nights.
Several of us just returned from Iraq, and we are excited to launch a few new projects from the pilgrimage.
Read More... We have more copies of Conspire, Issue 3 in stock now--19 to be precise. If you don't live near a co-conspirator and missed them before, you can
get a copy in our store now.
Shane wrote a reflection on our recent vigil at the Shooter Shop with Heeding God's Call. Jamie took some video footage.
Read More... We're having a night for Shane, Katie Jo, and Jamie to share stories from their visit to Iraq, Israel, and Palestine over a Middle Eastern potluck.
Find out more and RSVP! Jamie Moffett is streaming the vigil live from his phone!
Read More... We are proud to introduce you to our newest project: Timoteo Flag Football League! That's right, we have partnered with several local congregations in our neighborhood to sustain a vital ministry among the youth in our neighborhood. Find more information on our
Timoteo Football League page
A few years ago, Shane interviewed Tony Campolo for an article in Cross Currents Magazine. We think it's still relevant.
Read More... "Embezzlement: The Corporate Sin of the Contemporary Church" article written by theologian and pastor Ray Mayhew. This paper, written out of a desperate love for the Church has been a catalyst for all sorts of rethinking of economics, including our very own Relational Tithe. You can
download the free PDF and then figure out your own way to make a difference.
We have been preparing for a
vigil and action at the K & A Shooter Shop to try to get the owners to sign on to a voluntary code of responsibility. We were painfully reminded of the dire necessity to end gun violence as a young man was shot and killed on our block late last week. Please join us in action as well as prayer.
Read More... We have a new item in our store! The first in a "Special Topics" series, based on The Ordinary Radicals, by Jamie Moffett. Check out
Heaven and Earth - The Ordinary Radicals, Special Topics Vol. 1 There are a few upcoming opportunities to take part in School(s) for Conversion: Feb 26 - 28 at Communality in Lexington, KY and March 19 - 21 at Reba Place Fellowship in Evanston, IL.
Get more information & register online at New Monasticism.
Shane, Jamie, & Logan went to Iraq. Shane was previously there with Christian Peacemaking Teams, Logan served in the US Army and was stationed in Iraq & Afghanistan, and this was Jamie's first time. Revisit
Shane's 2003 Iraq Journal and standby for more stories.
Read More... Our partner Yes! And... is putting on their annual winter show,
A Winter Sort of Thing, Jan 28 - 31. Be sure to check out
their website for more information and check it out! See you there!
Read More... Our friends at EAPE are working with their partners Beyond Borders / Haiti Partners to get relief on the ground quickly. They've setup an emergency fund where you can donate and are looking for doctors and nurses to be part of teams going to Haiti. Get more info here:
http://www.eape.org/.
Don't forget that we're already looking for contributions to CONSP!RE Volume 2, Issue 1 "On Pilgrimage, On Place." Read the full call and submit on the
CONSP!RE website We are co-sponsoring a campaign called the 13th Month. Much like the 29th chapter of Acts, it exists in spirit and it is a commitment to tithe an additional month to organizations that you believe in.
Read More... Our friend and co-founder Jamie Moffett put together a video of our neighborhood during the recent snow.
Check it out! Read More... Help us build a neighborhood greenspace! We have begun work on the new greenspace at Potter & H Street and need your help to finish. We are creating beauty where the fire destroyed our block two years ago and we are plotting goodness with our neighbors to transform the lots into a community space. You can help us by buying the trees, plants, supplies that will fill the community area!
Check out the plans and contribute! Esquire Magazine asked Shane to address those who don't believe or lost faith in Christianity. Whether that describes you or not,
take a look at what he has to say.
Read More... The fence is up Now it's time to put in the trees, playground, and gardnes. To do this, we need your help!
Eastern Trip update! We took a few kids from our neighborhood to hear about the school and other opportunities to get them excited for college. Hear what they had to say.
We bought the heroin house. We were able to purchase 3 houses on our block here on Potter street that belonged to an absentee landlord in New York.
Read More... We were able to purchase 3 houses on our block here on Potter street that belonged to an absentee landlord in New York. One of them was a house being used for drug activity. We are gutting the house to start from scratch in renovating it and making much needed repairs to the other houses (which have folks living in them!). If you would like to be a part of the restoration process, you can sign up here and we’ll contact you with more details about your specific area.
Philadelphia City Paper wrote an extensive cover story about us. You can read it on their website.
Amber did a little article with a sassy Catholic publication called Busted Halo.
Read More... Shane wrote an article for The Other Side journal, check it out.
Read More...
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