a response to haiti

In Epiphany we have learned that awakening calls for action. We've all been shaken awake by the destruction in Haiti this week. I am moved by the rapid, passionate and creative response.

One of my friends, Stevan Sheets, is mobilizing action through thisishaiti.com. I love this guy, and I'm proud of his creative expression of mercy and compassion.

The Love Chapel Hill leadership team has responded as well, issuing the following response to our people through Facebook and Twitter today:

As news reports of devastation continue to roll in from Haiti, the question continues to rise, "How can I help?" The chaos and loss of life is overwhelming, but there are people on the ground there who are able to save lives and provide hope. Love Chapel Hill has teamed up with two organizations that already have people in Port-au-Prince working around the clock. The American Red Cross and World Hope International. You can join in supporting their efforts in three simple ways.

GIVE $10 to The Red Cross: text "HAITI" to 90999 - You'll receive a text to confirm the gift. Reply "YES" and $10 will be added to your next cell phone bill (standard text messaging rates apply).

GIVE any $$ amount to World Hope International by going to their giving page: worldhope.org Your gift will provide water, food and essential supplies for survivors to begin healing and rebuilding their lives.

GIVE $$ on Sunday. This Sunday Morning at Love Chapel Hill all cash given during the offering will be sent to World Hope International for their relief efforts in Haiti.

You can help! First... PRAY! And if you are able, simply choose one of these giving options. If you have any questions about these or other giving options, don't hesitate to email team@lovechapelhill.com or call 919.442.8828

LOVE with the Heart of Jesus!

The Love Chapel Hill Leadership Team

epiphany

Today is Epiphany, a day celebrated by the ancient Church to mark the manifestation of who Christ is and what He came to do. It is historically observed on the 12th day after Christmas.

Even though we are a new church that desires to experiment with innovative and creative expressions of our faith, we will always root the future in our past. We are a small part of something Bigger. We want to orient ourselves in this larger Story and remember who we are and who we have been.

So with this in mind, we are exploring a series that flows out this season of Epiphany. Our creative, catchy title will blow you away. It's called... wait for it... wait for it... Epiphany. Crazy, I know.

Here are a few scattered thoughts from the messages so far:
Luke 2:21-40 (Jesus dedicated in the Temple)
-Epiphany means "sudden realization or manifestation of meaning."
-It is not about digging up deeply buried treasures, but about recognizing treasures that are hiding in plain sight.
-It is not about opening up new and far off frontiers, but about opening up our eyes to the truth right at our feet.
-The truth, beauty and goodness of God are begging to be discovered. Look with the wonder and awe and freshness of a child and you will experience Epiphany. Your heart will say, like Simeon in the Temple, "My eyes have seen your salvation, prepared in the sight of your people, a light for revelation..."

Matthew 2:1-18 (The visit of the wise men)
-The only thing worse than the person who has all the answers to every question is the person who will accept no answer to any question.
-Our hearts are ships at sea, sojourner souls on a quest for meaning. We encourage the journey because we have experienced a small glimpse of the destination. We honor the quest because we worship the King that waits at the end of it. We celebrate The Searching because we believe in The Finding. Epiphany is possible.

our first baptism

We celebrated our first baptism this Sunday. It was an incredible experience. We gathered and huddled and slipped on the muddy banks of a cold Morgan Creek. On a 40 degree day in December, we celebrated and participated in the new life of our friend Tony. Two weeks ago Tony asked how he could embrace the new life that is offered through the love and grace of Jesus Christ. He is Jeanine's brother, and right there in the room where he has crashed countless weekends on their couch, Justin walked Tony into the Kingdom.

Tony is a Marine, soon on his way back to Afghanistan. There's this thing he does when he shakes hands--a Marine thing, he says--where instead of the normal grip, hand in hand, he grips higher up on the inside of your forearm, while you're gripping his. The test then, is to see who is the stronger man, who has the strength to wrestle and turn his arm on top. In all of my personal experience, Tony has never lost.

Until Sunday.

As he went beneath the frigid water (yes, even cold for a hard core Marine) he let Someone else win. He surrendered. He submitted. He humbled himself to a stronger man... One strong enough to save.

This is the beauty of baptism. The submission and submersion, an old life buried beneath the water. A new one raised fresh and new. (And really, really cold.)

Watch the video of Tony's baptism here on Justin's blog. And as you watch, remember what it was like when you were baptized. And in your heart, go under with him, reaffirming the work God accomplished in you. Remember what it was like to come up new and alive, soaking wet and drenched in grace.

the story so far

It has been an exciting couple of months for us at Love Chapel Hill. We have been humbled by the way God has paved the way for us with His Spirit. Here is an article from reporter Ali Rockett of the Carolina Journalism Network. Thanks Ali, for listening to our story, and for retelling it. And thanks to our friends and fellow pioneers in this experiment in grace.

Read Ali's article here.

a shared journey

Jesus sat down on a hillside, opened His mouth, and reshaped the world.

Every Sunday over the next several weeks, we are walking through His revolutionary teaching known as The Sermon on the Mount. These words have transformed history. They can do the same thing in our hearts.

So, we are inviting you to join us on a shared journey into the life and teachings of Jesus. Over the next 40 days we will immerse ourselves in His story as told by the good news writer Matthew. We are going small with this thing, reading just one chapter of Matthew a day. And going even smaller with the three chapters that make up the Sermon on the Mount. We will move intentionally slow through this portion, sinking into the words and letting the words sink into us.

Join us on this journey into the words that reshaped the world. And let them reshape you as well. Read along each day here.

the varsity

This Sunday, October 4, Love Chapel Hill will find our first home in the historic Varsity Theatre on Franklin Street.

The Varsity is a classic. It is a landmark, an icon, a central piece of Franklin Street's cultural landscape. Since we are a church with a heart for Chapel Hill, it is fitting that we make our home at the heart of Chapel Hill. But we want to make it clear to the community that we are not the new owners and we are not turning it into a church building. We love the history and heritage of this place, and want to see it continue to be a vibrant center of creativity and community.

Thank you to all of our friends who have prayed with us for a location. We are humbled by God's goodness in this. We can hardly believe it. I have a whiteboard on my wall (I know that makes me a nerd) where I've brainstormed possible meeting places. One by one, most of our best backups fell through. And at the end of it all, we are left with our first (and most far-fetched) hope.



I've said before that I've dreamed of this since high school or college. But I'm not sure 'dream' is even the right word. As I think back, it's almost more like a memory that I couldn't even understand at the time. Like God was planting a seed back then that He would slowly and patiently cultivate into a dream years and years later. I am sure I would have never thought of this. But somehow, the subtle memory of it is there. So, really what we are walking into is not our dream or vision or idea, but God's genius and goodness and generous kindness. This is the extravagance of His grace, up in lights and splashed across the marquee.

grace-onomics

Chris Wang (left) is an economics major at UNC. We met this summer by the Old Well on campus. One night I was sitting on a bench, nervously thinking and praying about our first Worship at the Well the next day. He walked by twice, so I said hello. He asked, "What are you reading?" I answered,"Oh, my Bible." He excitedly sat down next to me and said, "I just became a Christian three months ago and this is my first week in town. Can you tell me where I can find a good Church?"

He's been with us ever since.

This Saturday night, we were hanging out around a table and Chris said, "You know what I don't get? I don't get grace. I study economics, and it just doesn't make sense."

It struck me as one of the most beautiful sermons on grace I've heard in a long time.

Then, grabbing a piece of paper, he attempted to force it into the realm of reason. Scratching out multiple graphs, Chris tried to make it square with the laws of supply and demand. His final thought: "If price is free, and supply is infinite, then demand is satisfied."

layers

Gary Kurtz is our good friend and resident photographer (as well as expert on everything from tree herding to tree camping... yes, tree camping... as in sleeping in a tree).

With a theologian's eye, Gary captured this shot of Jason Tuggle leading Worship at the Well this weekend. What thoughts about worship does this image evoke? What story is it telling? What message is it crafting?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

summer of love

We had a great day last Saturday. Since the first day she rolled into town, Jeanine Simmons has had this idea to give away PB&J on Franklin Street. So, on Saturday we set up a table, bringing the banquet to the street. We have been guests at the Table. Now, we get to be hosts. Can't help but remember the parable of the Banquet, when Jesus speaks of the host who rewrote the guest list, and got crazy with it. That is the spirit in which we decorated Franklin Street with colorful chalk, pointing the way to a free lunch. The table was spread with a wild assortment of bread, endless flavors of jam, and even homemade, organic peanut butter (courtesy of April Hastings). And to chase it down, PB&J's perfect partner in the dance of deliciousness... ice cold milk. White and chocolate, from local dairy Maple View Farms. Childish? No way. Child-like? Absolutely. And isn't that how the Kingdom shows itself?






Then, later that evening, we had our first worship gathering as a church. With the Old Well as a backdrop, we worshipped the God that loves us and loves our city. Our mission is never simply about our love for Chapel Hill, or even our love for God. It is about His love for us. The kind of Love that is so real, so robust, so full, so strong, so ridiculous, that if we catch even the smallest glimpse it will mess us up forever. The kind of Love that crossed every line and climbed every wall to get to us... to reclaim us... to rescue us. What would happen if we lived like we believed in that kind of Love?

We will Worship at the Well again July 18 and August 22 at 7 pm. Bring a blanket and a friend.

*Photography by Gary Kurtz and Nick Coronado.
The whole photo album is on facebook. Look for the album titled 'Worship at the Well.'
Or click on the flickr badge in the right border of the blog.

worship at the well

This Saturday night we are holding our first worship gathering for Love Chapel Hill. We will be meeting on the green next to the Old Well at 7 pm.

The Old Well is a landmark in Chapel Hill, a distinct symbol of the town and the University. It has always been a central image of life in our community-- once as the shared source of water, now as the required photo-op for visitors. That is why it is fitting (and strategic) for us to hold our first worship gathering on this spot.

We would love for you to grab a blanket and a friend and come join us. As always, please pray for us as God continues to dream through us for our town.

love buckets

Last week we carried out another Love Chapel Hill mission. With the generous help of my friend Izzy AhKuoi (Dustin's dad) and Family Garden, we filled 6 large buckets with beautiful flowers and left them around town. A simple sign encouraged people to take a flower as a reminder that they are loved.

We did not expect to witness any of the response ourselves. The plan was to drop the buckets in strategic locations and slip away. But as we were carrying a bucket to the local hospital that morning, we offered a flower to a group of nurses heading home from the night shift. They asked who the flowers were for. We answered, "You."

They were clearly surprised (and maybe a little confused). As they took a flower, they said things like, "Last night was so tough. I need this flower. You don't know how much this means." As they walked away, One nurse said to the other, "See, doesn't that make last night go away?"

An older gentleman, with the help of a cane, was walking behind the nurses. He waited until they had flowers, and stepped up to see what was going on. We offered one to him as well. He seemed hesitant for a split second. Then, pulling one from the bucket he said with heavy emotion, "My wife's been real sick. Maybe this will do something for her."

We saw people, flowers in hand, walking Franklin, waiting at bus stops, riding their bikes. Businesses and offices put them on display in vases. Little kids, homeless guys, college students. By mid afternoon, not one single flower was left. Not one.

update: free franklin

Thanks to all of our friends who helped us pull off FreeFranklin last week. Several people contributed money and manpower to Love Chapel Hill, one quarter at a time. It was exciting to hear our folks coming back with stories of surprised parkers, wondering why someone would do that for them. I like the way Justin put it, saying we were "interrupting the pattern of their daily routine" with unexpected love.

Even our DS (my pops) and our Assistant DS (Ernest Mullins, our greatest champion) participated in this quiet conspiracy. We are consistently moved and humbled by this kind of support and belief from our friends and leaders. One of my favorite moments from the day came when a guy gave dad two quarters to "help with the cause." Love is contagious. Pray that we keep catching it. And giving it away.

free franklin

We are part of a new church with a mission: to Love Chapel Hill. But how, exactly, do you do that? How do you love a city?

Well, there are two things that everyone knows about our town:
1. Franklin Street is the symbolic and historic heart of Chapel Hill.
2. Parking on Franklin is a pain in the tail.

So, let’s start here. Let’s Free Franklin.

One day this Spring, we will pay for everyone’s parking on Franklin Street. The day will not be announced before hand. It will be an unexpected surprise. A free gift. This is our small way to Love Chapel Hill.

This is not a random act of kindness, but an intentional move of Love. An underground, grassroots conspiracy to give ourselves away.

Free Franklin. Are you in?

Sign up at FreeFranklin.com

one shining moment

It's been a good week here in Chapel Hill. Several good friends came to town to watch the game and celebrate Carolina's win. Dustin AhKuoi even put in for vacation days several months ago just in case. That is love.

Here are a few videos to relive the experience. Starting off with the classic, 'One Shining Moment.' As a kid out at Webb Court (aka Jake's), this song was the soundtrack running in my head as I played basketball for hours. Enjoy the inspiration.



Cool time lapse shot of the celebration on Franklin Street. Can you see us? Another reason to Love Chapel Hill.


Timelapse: Franklin Street after the victory from The Daily Tar Heel on Vimeo.

Here's a longer video of the chaos.


Franklin Street: The Celebration from The Daily Tar Heel on Vimeo.


And as promised before, another picture with the green man.

our new worship band

We found our worship band for our church. What do you think?



Bobby Knight looks like he almost blew out a knee on that slide. And he calls it 'The' Guitar Hero, in vintage old guy style. Classic. Another reason to love college basketball.

follow the story

Interested in Love Chapel Hill?
Here are several ways to follow the story.

Check out our spring newsletter at lovechapelhill.com
Become our friend on facebook at causes.com/lovechapelhill
Get frequent updates through twitter.com/lovechapelhill
Or watch the story unfold at youtube.com/lovechapelhill

let's dance

I flat out love this time of year. Nothing like it. Full of imagination, dreams, unlikely heroics. Maybe that's why it conjures up imagery from ancient epics and fairy tales... 'Cinderella'... 'David vs Goliath'...

So, here are my picks for the Final Four.

Midwest: Louisville; West: UCONN; East: Duke; South: North Carolina

This sets up the ultimate Carolina-Duke battle in the Final Four. I hope they never meet in a championship game. Someone might die and cities would burn. And apocalyptic horsemen would appear on the horizon. It would not be good.

In the semis, Louisville takes out UCONN, and Carolina moves past Duke in a triple overtime blood bath / offensive barnburner. Barnburner is a great term. Coach K and Roy find a new level of respect for each other that nearly borders on like. Meeting at halfcourt for the postgame handshake, Roy invites Mike to lunch on Franklin St. Mike laughs. They agree to carpool to 'the story' Bible study instead.

This sets up a final between Louisville and UNC. The Big East has a chance to prove that they are the best conference with the best team. But they fail miserably. Roy's classy paisley tie tops Pitino's sleazy white suit. The ACC is hailed as unrivaled and Carolina collects the crown. We all go dancing on Franklin Street and I get my picture taken with the random celebratory green man...again.



What are your predictions?

the story

Tomorrow we are starting an open Bible Study through the book of John. We're calling it 'the story: a journey in the life of Jesus.' We'll meet every Tuesday night at 7, upstairs McAlister's Deli on Franklin.

Why Franklin Street? Because it is one of the coolest places on earth. And it also happens to be the historic heart of Chapel Hill. A crossroads of culture where eclectic masses merge. People ask if we have a target audience. Nope. But we have a target place. Give us Franklin Street.

Why a restaurant? Because there is something about a shared meal and a table. The early Church broke bread together frequently and intentionally. Nothing like a little sweet tea to grease the wheels of curiosity and conversation.

Why a Bible study? Because discipleship is about following Jesus. Being rescued by his love and shaped into his image. Our goal is to orient our community, from its earliest days, in the story of Jesus. And explore what it means to live and love like Him.

Pray for us tomorrow night. We want to tell the Story, and help Chapel Hill find her place in it.

the long road to yes

On the cover of last week’s Relevant Magazine was Pete Greig, founder of the worldwide 24-7 prayer movement. (Just don’t call him that to his face. He doesn’t seem to like it very much.)

Pete is cool for many reasons. Mainly because he’s British. Which means he has all sorts of cheeky sayings (like “cheers mate”) and he adds flavor and color to otherwise bland words by spelling them with the letter ‘u’ (flavour and colour, for example).

Pete came to Asbury last year to encourage our fledgling little campus house of prayer. Hearing him speak was an important experience for me. It stirred and provoked desires in me that weren’t really dormant, but had certainly been stealing a nap. I already read (mostly) his book Red Moon Rising, and resonated strongly with the story—a story of a truly significant move of God… the kind that starts small but swells so fast you can’t possibly keep up. You can try to stay ahead of it, but you just end up bent over, holding your side, huffing “Go ahead without me. I’ll catch up later.”

I’ve always wanted to be part of something like that. Always. Since I was a kid, my favorite stories have always been about a small group of friends facing ridiculous odds. Their only hope is a fool’s hope. But they risk it, and somehow come out on the other side. Looking back, it seems like the end is inevitable. Meant to be. But in the thick of it, you have no clue how things are going to turn out for good. (Think Sam and ‘the stories that really mattered.’)

Seeing that cover immediately sparked a memory. Early last spring I spent a day with a mentor and a friend at the Abby of Gethsemane, tucked away in the Kentucky hillside. It was raining hard, and we were walking a trail surrounded by trees. I was wrestling with what to do after graduation, a months long struggle. Sarah and I were still unsure if planting a church was the right thing. There were so many unknowns, so much fear, so much potential for flat out failure.

That’s when I thought of Pete. And his story. How I had always wanted to be part of a story like that. Always. Was this that chance? Was it worth the risk of failure?

I knew then that my heart had taken another strong step toward Chapel Hill. And it wanted to drag me along.

I was so deep in thought I didn’t see it coming. But at that moment—exact moment—the trail led us out of the trees, a wide clearing opening up around us. The gray sky made the green field seem that much more vibrant and fresh.

The same thing happened in my heart. Something opened up. My will baptized beneath the first rain of spring. It wasn’t the moment, but it was a moment on the long road to yes.

small acts, great love

It's exam week at UNC, so Justin and I went to campus and served free hot chocolate to students on the way to classes.

We are also collecting food for our community kitchen and food pantry, which are in desperate need right now. We placed boxes in our apartment complexes and invited our neighbors to serve alongside us. After just one day, our box was packed! We were pretty pumped about that.

Please keep praying for us as we actively explore what it means to Love Chapel Hill in creative and authentic ways... in ways that point back to Jesus, the root of the Love we're trying to spread... in ways that cause people to see what we do, "and give glory to our Father in Heaven."

Check out the video below. Short spot for our Christmas food drive.