tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219644792011-11-25T13:31:40.973-08:00We are a friendship of believers journeying together to follow God in the way of Jesus Christ in Cental California. Our cohort meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7 PM to explore what it means to be the Church in our emerging culture. This is a place of refuge for anyone wondering, "Am I the only one who thinks like this?" The answer is, No.Tomnoreply@blogger.comBlogger311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-4884890321158653842009-01-18T09:40:00.000-08:002009-01-18T09:49:01.542-08:00

Our first gathering of the new year is this week – Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 PM at Mark and Brenda Royce’s home at 1726 El Paso in Clovis.TOPIC: The End of MythPREPARATION: Please read http://www.emergentvillage.com/weblog/the-end-of-myth AND http://blog.beliefnet.com/tonyjones/2009/01/who-decides-orthodoxy.html – come with thoughtsRSVP: If you can join us this month please send me an email

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-87439031954249378342008-10-16T22:18:00.000-07:002008-10-16T22:22:56.134-07:00

The Emergent Central Valley Cohort is meeting this coming Wednesday, October 22, 7:00 PM at Mark and Brenda Royce's home (1726 El Paso Ave, Clovis 93611). mapWe will be watching and talking about the 45 minute video of Bill Hybels interview with U2’s Bono from the Willowcreek 2006 Leadership Summit – good stuff. Feel free to invite people who may resonate with our purpose of providing a safe

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-33018073248684252152008-09-22T19:22:00.000-07:002008-09-22T19:23:42.737-07:00

Central Valley Cohort is meeting Wednesday, September 24, 7:00 PM at Mark and Brenda Royce's home (1726 El Paso Ave, Clovis 93611). mapPlease RSVP so we can plan accordinglyTom Cottert(dot)cotter@sbcglobal.net

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-56426894444754136182008-09-10T11:06:00.001-07:002008-09-10T11:06:14.921-07:00

Using contribute software for the first time, test

Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07609185055176182953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-217644358423362302008-08-20T21:53:00.000-07:002008-08-20T21:55:05.592-07:00

Central Valley Cohort is meeting Wednesday, August 27, 7:00 PM at Mark and Brenda Royce's home (1726 El Paso Ave, Clovis 93611). mapPlease RSVP so we can plan accordinglyTom Cottert(dot)cotter@sbcglobal.net

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-27079220280146784572008-07-31T07:15:00.001-07:002008-07-31T07:18:23.671-07:00

What does our church offer the community. In our world of church consumerism, who has the best band, best Children's ministry, cleverest preacher, best small groups, best lattes, etc. what is our goal? Lives transformed. How do we do that, the right amount of foam or baddest music? I don't think that is it. Church baristas will not have the skills of the neighborhood barista and may lack the

Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07609185055176182953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-32410246010455996362008-07-20T23:27:00.000-07:002008-07-20T23:29:55.810-07:00

Emergent Central Valley Cohort is meeting Wednesday, July 23, 7:00 PM at Mark and Brenda Royce's home (1726 El Paso Ave, Clovis 93611). mapPlease RSVP... so we can tell the clown how many balloon animals he will need to make. Am I kidding? Yes.Needs:Some simple snacks Friends of yours who could benefit from the cohort’s purpose of a safe place for robust theological conversations and connection

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-817192680522742062008-07-09T12:25:00.001-07:002008-07-09T12:26:01.554-07:00

7 pm July 12 Cornerstone Youth Center 1517 L Street (it's free too!)-- Shane Claiborne, Chris Haw, and friends are coming to town July 12 - and it promises to be a phenomenal time of reimagining the Christian 'good news' as we know it. -- These guys are all about provoking the political imagination, subverting the empire, living in community, taking politics beyond what we think they are capable

jessica, jah.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-371247889692725572008-07-03T15:02:00.000-07:002008-07-03T15:16:03.299-07:00

Here is your Central Valley Cohort shameless plug/Public Service AnnouncementBill Mallonee will be playing a concert at casa de climero in Visalia on July 8 at 7:00 PM (home of Guido and Amy Climer) Bill played one of the first Leadership Network mega conferences at Mt. Hermon.Bill is great song writer and this will be small venue, my front living room. So, enjoy the opportunity to hang

Guidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07609185055176182953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-69799381726168498152008-07-02T23:23:00.000-07:002008-07-02T23:26:34.173-07:00

Hello friends!I stumbled across this trailer the other day and nearly wept for joy.Jamie Moffett's upcoming documentary takes a look at exploring a peculiar kind of Christianity being born in homes and playgrounds and homeless shelters and gardens across the empire.Please note the soundtrack, if you're into that kind of thing.Anybody else get the shivers?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNYgwNYf6Ok

jessica, jah.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-44400911351658552142008-06-29T19:47:00.000-07:002008-06-29T21:44:56.358-07:00

A missional church is a collection of missional believers acting in concert together in fulfillment of the missio deiA missional church is one where people are exploring and rediscovering what it means to be Jesus' sent people as their identity and vocation.A missional church is individuals willing and ready to be Christ's people in their own situation and place.A missional church knows that they

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-4542062132564666032008-06-21T22:58:00.000-07:002008-06-24T12:20:33.937-07:00

I've been pondering church design for quite some time. There are many models out there to pick and choose from in the buffet of the modern ministry paradigm. I wonder what it would look like to design a church like something alive in our world. This talk by William McDonough (one of my favorite thinkers) is shared in the hopes that some windows of imagination might be opened up in how we think

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-86050997248728323802008-06-19T10:49:00.000-07:002008-06-19T10:53:07.933-07:00

Tomnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-48262545155621630322008-06-17T11:47:00.000-07:002008-06-21T08:32:08.121-07:00

Central Valley Cohort is meeting this month on Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 PM at Mark and Brenda Royce's home (1726 El Paso Ave, Clovis 93611). mapMeet others who are exploring what it means to be the Church in our emerging culture. This is a place of refuge for anyone wondering, "Am I the only one who thinks like this?" The answer is, No.Please contact me for any questions.Shalom,Tom Cotter559-681-

Tomnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-42813300040189465402008-05-21T07:50:00.000-07:002008-06-21T08:32:47.920-07:00

Upcoming Emergent Events in Central ValleyThe Church Basement RoadshowSpeakers: Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Mark ScandretteJune 17 at 7pmUniversity Presbyterian Church - Fresno, CAContact: Chris Erdman, erdmanc(at)gmail(dot)com http://churchbasementroadshow.com/Jesus for President TourSpeaker: Shane ClaiborneJuly 12 at 7pmCornerstone Church Youth Center, 1545 Fulton St., Fresno, CA 93721, 559-442-

Tomnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-86278025486881205122008-05-21T07:45:00.000-07:002008-06-21T08:33:10.941-07:00

Emergent Central Valley Cohort's next meeting is Wednesday, May 28, 7:00 PM at Mark and Brenda Royce's home (1726 El Paso Ave, Clovis 93611). mapPlease RSVP to tom(at)sbcglobal(dot)net so we can plan accordingly. Also, let me know if you would like to bring your children and their ages so we can enough wild animals to watch over them :).Contact me for any questions.Shalom,Tom Cotter559-681-8256t(

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-42567910181383567632008-04-15T16:19:00.000-07:002008-06-21T08:33:35.350-07:00

Wednesday, April 30, 7:00 PMMark and Brenda Royce's home (1726 El Paso Ave, Clovis 93611) mapPlease contact Tom Cotter for questions - t(dot)cotter(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-73401432929508883422008-03-22T09:55:00.000-07:002008-06-21T08:33:54.239-07:00

The Central Valley Emergent Cohort will meet Wednesday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. We are trying a new venue out this time - New Stars Vegetarian Restaurant at Champlain & Perrin (1134 East Champlain Drive, Suite 108, Fresno CA 93720 | map). I have reserved the back party room. I need you to please RSVP to me so that I can let them know how many to prepare for.You don't need to buy food but it would

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-65272948292568346452008-02-11T09:20:00.000-08:002008-06-21T08:34:11.800-07:00

Hi Cohort Friends!The Central Valley Emergent Cohort will meet on Wednesday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. Once again we have the back room at Sequoia Brewing Company, 777 E. Olive in the Tower.Some of our time will be just catching up and meeting any new people, but here's a proposed topic for conversation beyond that:If you were going to be a part of starting up a new missional/

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1171552118819215992007-02-15T07:08:00.000-08:002008-04-15T16:25:59.164-07:00

Thursday, February 15th, 7:00 PM at Tower Mosaic Church. (google map link) Thanks to Tower Mosaic for hosting us! At the request of those present last month, we will continue our conversation on chapter 2 of The Shaping of Things to Come. (book link) Hope to see you there,Tom Cotter

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1168834359080909032007-01-14T20:07:00.000-08:002007-01-14T20:20:02.513-08:00

Friends,Our first gathering of 2007 is here - Thursday, January 18, 7:00 PM.We will be meeting at 311 W. Chennault, Clovis, 93611 (Bill & Pat Smethers home). Pat will have drinks and a dessert for us to enjoy together.Map Also, please come prepared to discuss chapter two of our book, The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation & Mission for the 21st Century by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch.

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1161649922042101302006-10-23T17:31:00.000-07:002006-10-23T17:32:02.056-07:00

Friends,We will be gathering again for the Central Valley Cohort This ThursdayOctober 26th from 7pm-9pm. James Bergen & Matt Insley have graciouslyinvited us to North Fresno Church for the meeting.We will be discussing the first chapter of The Shaping of Things toCome. If for some reason you have not been able to pick up the bookand have not read the first chapter we invite you to still join us

Central Valley Cohortnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1158672307314562792006-09-19T06:04:00.000-07:002006-09-19T06:32:23.426-07:00

Friends,We are excited to get together again after the Summer for a new year of conversation and learning. Our September meeting will be held this Thursday, September 21, 7:00pm. We will be meeting at Wesley United Methodist which is located at 1343 E. Barstow (map). The church is located in between First and Cedar near Fresno State. Bet Hannon will be our hostess. We will be meeting in the

Tomnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1151528120814956752006-06-28T13:52:00.000-07:002006-06-28T13:55:20.826-07:00

Friends,The next gathering for the central valley cohort is scheduled for July 19th at 7:00pm. We tried as hard as possible to pick the day that worked for the most people. We will meet at Tower Mosaic Church. There is a map attached below. We hope to see as many of you there as can make it.

Central Valley Cohortnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1150244789348904682006-06-13T17:25:00.000-07:002006-06-13T17:26:29.366-07:00

Sojourners,It has been a while since I have really had time to sit and think aboutour cohort. With a six week old and some sleepless nights it has beenhard enough to focus on my full-time job. That being said I wanted tocoordinate a gathering for July. I know that the summer is somewhathectic so what I propose is that we try to meet in July, take Augustoff and then connect again in September.

Central Valley Cohortnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1143137290821206942006-03-23T09:51:00.000-08:002006-03-23T10:09:10.890-08:00

Friends,I felt energized when I left out cohort last week. For two reasons really. First, I feel so grateful that I have some new friends who are willing to think about what it means to follow God in the postmodern context that we are living in. Second, Ii feel that our dialogues together thus far have been insightful really great. Thanks again to James for leading us last week. I have been

Central Valley Cohortnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1142403979419836342006-03-14T22:25:00.000-08:002006-03-14T22:26:19.430-08:00

Yale conversation for emergent cohortWednesday, March 15, 2006Looking forward to conversation and relationship this Wednesday night.I thought I would get our conversation going from a theme from the emergent theological conversation held at Yale at the beginning of February. Miroslav Volf was the theologian that helped shape the conversation there.The main part of the conversation came from Volf’

Central Valley Cohortnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1142033816498426092006-03-10T15:26:00.000-08:002006-03-10T16:30:04.583-08:00

We will be meeting this Wednesday at Tower Mosaic Church , 7 pm.Google MapIf you're coming from the Clovis area and want to ride together let me know. Post a comment so we can hook up.Posted by Tom

Tomnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1141937543207431442006-03-09T12:44:00.000-08:002006-03-10T15:40:40.686-08:00

Gang, looking forward to seeing you next Wednesday night. Here is my blog address which contains some of my thoughts and reflections from the Miroslav Volf emergent conversation held at Yale last month: http://jamesbergen.blogsome.com. Let's jump off some of those themes or some of your own if you have read his stuff. I plan on putting together a few questions or thoughts prior to our gathering

Central Valley Cohortnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1141015639923390632006-02-26T20:42:00.000-08:002006-02-26T20:47:19.943-08:00

Friends,Our first Cohort meeting I thought was a great success. I want to again encourage all who attended to invite someone new to join us for our next gathering. As best as I can remember, our next scheduled gathering is for Wednesday March 15th, 2006 at 7:00pm. I can not remember whether or not we set a location. Maybe someone can leave a comment about that. I was not sure whether we were

Central Valley Cohortnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21964479.post-1139078672850529682006-02-04T10:36:00.000-08:002006-02-13T22:09:18.050-08:00

In these times where the church is changing rapidly and where many groups are seeking new expressions of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ we are seeking to provide space for conversation, friendship and support. The Central Valley cohort will allow to discuss different ideas and evaluate what it means to be a follow of Christ in the postmodern era we are living in.We have

Central Valley Cohortnoreply@blogger.com1