North Oakland Update

Dear Tribe Family,

As Dennis mentioned a couple weeks ago, we'd like to give you some updates on what's going on with the different sites these days.  It's an exciting time of expansion for Tribe and we're grateful to be a part of it with you guys!  Here's the latest on what's happening with North Oakland Tribe.

This past year has been a year of preparation, both for us personally, and for us as a community.  He has brought together an awesome group of about 12 people who form the core of North Oakland Tribe, and He has been bonding us together through our weekly community group and outreach activities in the community, like our Good Friday Art Show back in April, and our continued work with Love Never Fails (organization fighting human trafficking).  The strength of this core will be key going forward.  We trust that God will bring new people to us who are seeking him, and this core will be the ones to welcome them and help usher them into God's presence and his grace.

This fall we are focusing on building the site in three main ways:

1. Outreach in the Neighborhood

2. Two preview worship gatherings.

3. Weekly Community Group

1. Outreach in the Neighborhood

- Love Never Fails: Several of us went to a training over the summer to help with their anti-abuse program in Oakland Public schools.  They will be running this program, at the invitation of OUSD, for every 7th grader in the school district.  I'm excited for us to be a part of helping these kids learn about abuse, find help, and learn how to love better!

- Project Peace East Bay- Several of us volunteered on Saturday August 23rd at Emerson Elementary School, helping them to get ready for the school year, cleaning up the yard, scrubbing down the play structure, working alongside teachers to get their classrooms ready for the first day of school.  We're looking forward to partnering more with Project Peace to meet needs in the North Oakland area.

- North Oakland Restorative Justice Council- We have gone on a couple peace & justice walks with these guys in North Oakland and are excited about their vision for building community and bringing people together.  One of our group may also have a chance to volunteer with Phat Beets Produce, a partner group with the justice council, doing food justice, community gardens, community development, etc.

These are all exciting opportunities to connect with people and show the love of Jesus.

As we begin this new community of faith in North Oakland we believe it is critical to pursue both the going out and the inviting in.  Going out into the neighborhood to show love, and inviting people into a relationship with the God of love.

That's where worship gatherings fit right in.

2. Two Preview Worship Gatherings

- We have tentatively set two dates, October 26th and December 21st, for our two preview gatherings this fall.  Those are both Sundays and we plan to hold them at 5pm in the evening, with dinner to follow.  We are currently beginning to look for a location for these, so please be in prayer about that and if you have any suggestions, please let us know.

3. Weekly Community Group

- The regular connection time we have at community group is invaluable for growing in our relationship with God and with one another, and providing the foundation for our other projects and adventures.  It's a place where we can invite people in to join us in our journey of faith, and also a place where we can prepare to go out and actually go out together.  We're planning to go out in the community to do some kind of service activity once a month this fall.

Here are some things you can be praying for:

- Continued growth and bonding for our core group

- that God would bring new people to join us in this adventure

- that God would open more opportunities to love people in our community

- A location for our worship gatherings

Thanks for reading and being on this adventure with us!

Blessings,

Steve, Audrey & Lucas

Churches and Youth Violence

From Oakland Mayor Jean Quan's newsletter

"President Obama speaking on youth violence reiterated that government alone can never fill the void that causes a child to turn to violence, but that we all have a responsibility to do our part to create safe communities and save lives......"

Those of you who work on the ground in any sort of social service, church, community organizing know this too well.   But it seems that the President is over-stating what the government can do because you can never over-state the importance of a healthy family.  The lack of healthy family IS the main problem in the hood, causing violence, particularly youth violence.  Single moms and grandmas are the real leaders of East Oakland as they have the MOST power and influence over our lost young men.  Imagine if we could resource and support them, if we could put them up and on, and if they were joined by fathers who would come back into the lives of children and families.  Almost seems impossible.  Nothing can replace a healthy family.  This is the work that the church and non-profits can somehow fill that the government can't begin to touch.  Any doubts?  Go visit the SSI, Welfare, Wic, or any other government social service office.  Although some of the people are wonderful, the system cannot do for people what people need to do for people.  I think God resists the system because the system has become proud and haughty; people look to systems and technology to meet deep humans need.  Nothing can replace a hug, a smile just for you, laughter at the dinner table, a kiss on the cheek good-bye, a note in your lunch saying "mommy loves you!", a parent calling up the UC Chancellor on his disabled daughter's behalf, etc. etc.  A big shout out to those of you filling these rolls even though you ain't blood to people who are lacking blood family like this.  May God give you more grace to walk with them, drive them to where they need to go, answer the phone in the middle of the night, support them financially, go with them to their government appointments, visit them in jail, accompany them to church or Bible study, and whatever else real love and friendship and family would require......

Holy Land Tour

The first time you go to the Holy Land, you realize that some of the things you would have been just as happy not seeing – and other things that you didn’t get to see, you would have really liked to see.  Jo-Anne and I had that experience years ago, and we made up our minds that if we ever got to plan a trip ourselves, we would make changes.  Less emphasis on famous churches, on shopping for souvenirs, and more time on the actual spots where Jesus walked and taught, died and rose from the dead.  Not the “Tomb of David” (bogus), but the places David tended, sheep and fought Goliath, and worshipped.  This trip – next February 12 – 20 – is the trip that we wish we could have taken. 

For example, tours often take a boat from Tiberias up the west side of Galilee to Capernaum.  But Jesus and his disciples went repeatedly right across the lake, to the almost deserted East side, as the wind drove them down there in the storms.  That’s the boat trip we’ve arranged this time.

Tiberias, the city situated on the south end of Galilee, existed in Jesus’ day, but so far as we know, he never went there.  He lived on the Northwest corner in Capernaum, and worked on that shore, and then across on the East side, where he healed and cast out demons and taught.  Today, those areas are largely undeveloped, but the land is what Jesus and his men saw.  Those are the places we are going.

Same thing for the Old Testament.  When the Israelites came into the Promised Land, they entered at Jericho, then went straight up to the city of Ai on the north/south spine of the land.  Then they traveled South and North themselves along the ridges, conquering as they went.  These areas are in Arab hands today, and thus they are not often visited.  But we’ve arranged to visit all of them: Ai and Bethel (where Jacob encountered God more than once), as well as Ramah (present-day Ramallah) where Samuel worked.   And of course, Jericho: we’ll be in each of these places.

In Jerusalem, we’ll get to walk through the long tunnel Hezekiah built to supply water into the city during sieges, coming out at the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed the blind man.  We’ll visit the recently excavated Pools of Bethsaida, where Jesus healed the man who hadn’t been able to get into the water fast enough (see John 5); as well as the sheep market referred to in John, where the sacrificial animals were bought and sold.  (The market still functions a couple of millennia later!)  Needless to say, we’ll spend time on the Temple Mount, where Jesus went to worship (and cleanse the temple).  And we’ll visit two tombs: the one where Jesus probably was buried, and one that looks “authentic”, but probably isn’t. 

We plan to visit Masada and the caves of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, swim (or at least wade) in the Dead Sea, see the caves at En Gedi where David hid from Saul (and cut the  fringe off his robe).  We’ll visit the Yad Vashem (Hand and Name) memorial of the Holocaust.  It’s important we do, for the sake of understanding what the Jews went through under Hitler.  Your Jewish friends will know you both understand, and care.

Lots of other things, too: the Roman hand-built harbor at Caesarea and the amphitheater there.  The port of Joppa where Jonah tried to escape the Lord’s call, and where Peter saw the vision which opened the gospel to us Gentiles.  The valley where David and Goliath went one-on-one.  The cells under the High Priest’s house, where Jesus was beaten the night he was betrayed.

The trip is going to be wonderful, but sadly, we know it won’t be inexpensive.  It will not be possibility for everyone.  At this point, we need just about half-a-dozen more people to have enough people to confirm the trip – and we can make room for another dozen beyond that.  Deposits have to be in by November 8th.

If you come along, you’ll understand the Bible, and the people of the Bible, like you never have before.  It’s made a huge difference for many years for me in my Bible study and teaching.  I can’t imagine preaching without that experience. 

Anyway, you’re invited!  Brochures are available at church, or you can call me at (510) 684-5047 or email allan.collister@gmail.com with any questions or just to learn more.

-- Allan