Corktown in an Email

Fall Update Number 1

Submitted by Dean on Sun, 2009-10-25 19:36

Yes, it is true, we've been lame about getting these email updates out in a timely manner. But we're going to try and get this e-newsletter back on track with a few updates here about what we're working on for the fall.

Coffee (& Tea) Nights

We're planning a Thursday night coffee time at Dean & Giles' house for all those interested. We're going to gather over some good coffee, good stories and make good friends. No strings attached, no secret purpose, just a time to chill together in the heart of Detroit. The coffee will have a story to tell as well. More on that to come... but if you're interested, please let us know! We're shooting for November to get this weekly event started. Invite your friends and neighbors.

Garden Project Update

We've officially registered the garden project as a nonprofit organization in the State of Michigan. We're working on getting some land use paperwork drawn up with the owners to clear any legal hurdles so that we can begin gardening soon. A wonderful friend donated lumber, gardening tools, and some seed money to get us up and running. Hopefully we can begin to construct some boxes this fall!

Website Redesign

Over the next couple of months, we're going to revamp the website and make it more usable with more content, more multimedia, and integration with Facebook, Twitter, and the like. So tell us what you'd like to see!

Until next time,

Dean

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Issue #3: Summer in the Cork City

Submitted by Dean on Thu, 2009-07-09 22:50

What an exciting summer so far! Since the last issue, we've gotten settled into our new digs in Corktown, done a lot of exploration of the greater neighborhood, joined the Corktown Citizen's Patrol, vacationed in Northern Michigan and mid-Georgia and kicked off a fundraising campaign. And we're just getting started. Here's a bit more in depth look at what else is going on.

Church Work

July 1 officially kicked off Dean's year as Parish Integrator at His Church Anglican (formerly Anglican Church of Livonia). He'll be working with the pastor and other leaders in the parish to engage the members in the body of Christ. This will have a variety of facets, with some of the early work involving meeting with certain parishioners to try and gage where we are at. It will be an opportunity for Dean to observe ministry in a difference style as the past and will hopefully produce opportunities to serve more in Detroit as well.

Train Station Cleanup

Over the past couple of weeks, volunteers (under the guidance of the Ambassador Bridge Company) have been cleaning up the site at Michigan Central Depot. This is an exciting time for Corktown and greater Detroit because MCD is a jewel in the community and there is overwhelming support in the community for the preservation and resoration of the station. As the Moroun family and others take the lead on this project, we will continue to lend a hand while we are able and try to make a difference in our community in this way. For more on the Roosevelt Park/MCD cleanup projects, check out Dean's personal blog story.

Fundraising Campaign

Thanks to a great kickoff gift, our fundraising for 2009 is well underway. We're looking to raise $1000.00 for a variety of projects and plans for our community. We've set up a ChipIn page with more detail about what we're planning to do with our fundraising. We're also going to try to get some stories from neighbors and some of our supporters to post their reasons for supporting our efforts. We're all about working together in the Body and want to encourage that as much as possible.

In the meantime, check out the above-mentioned page for more information. If you'd like to talk about a monthly pledge support, please drop us a line through the contact form. We would love to have as many pledge partners as possible but realize that everyone is at different life stages right now (Thanks also goes to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew at His Church Anglican for their support and encouragement).

As always, be sure to check us out over on Facebook, on Twitter and join us in the Two Shirts revolution.

Peace from sunny Detroit,

Dean & Giles

Issue #2: Moving, Shirts, Flint, and More

Submitted by Dean on Tue, 2009-05-26 16:15

Greetings!

Today's newsletter comes from our apartment in Novi, in its final days as our residence. Most of our belongings are in boxes or have been successfully delivered to our new home in Corktown. It's an exciting a busy time for us, but the beautiful weather has made for a fantastic May in all of metro Detroit.

June

We will be spending most of June wrapping up our move, settling into Detroit and visiting our families in two different states. We're planning some possible gatherings for June and July, but most of our time during the J summer months will be spent acclimating ourselves to our new surroundings and helping out with various projects being facilitated by the Corktown Resident's Council. They have scheduled a neighborhood work week in mid-July with a block party to wrap things up, so we're going to try and get our hands dirty as much as possible.

Two Shirts

Imagine an ecomony where everything don't want can be taken and used by someone who can put it to good use, or better yet, really needs it. That is the idea behindTwoShirts.org, an innovative community-driven website that resembles the newspaper Freebies section on steroids. Users may post items they want and items they have to giveaway. Inventories are searchable by geographic area (the site is international now!) and users are encouraged to join groups (we set up a New Way Corktown group on the site here). Here are some suggestions for items to giveaway:

  • Electronics: Who doesn't have an extra CD player, an old iPod, or a bunch of CDs from 5 years ago that we don't listen to anymore?
  • Books: lots of old books aren't worth money on eBay, but have plenty of knowledge-value for our neighbors.
  • Clothing: there are places to donate clothes, but perhaps you have a neighbor in need?
  • Kids Stuff: many parents are strapped for cash and children can be expensive: TwoShirts provides a way for your teenagers' old games and clothes to be put to good use.
  • Everything else! I've seen some crazy things on TwoShirts, but where there are needs...

Preaching in Flint

We have been asked to visit a small missional congregation in Flint in July and share our vision. The date is July 12: more information is on the blog and will be coming soon as well.

Be sure to follow things on the blog as we start to get things hopping this summer. Please be sure to let us know how we can get to know you better: we'd love to meet everyone for coffee or a beer so drop us a line!

In Peace,
Dean
dean[at]newwaycorktown[dot]org

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The Inaugural Issue

Submitted by Dean on Fri, 2009-03-20 23:37

Greetings!

We are very excited to send you this first issue of Corktown in an Email. You can expect to find the latest information about upcoming events, news and opportunities to assist us, whether you live near Corktown or on the other side of the globe (or anywhere in between!).

In this issue, we want to take a moment to share with you a few things about us and what we hope to see come to fruition in Corktown.

  • We seek to be both intentional and missional.
    • We choose to live lives in the Body of Christ, making sacrifices for our brothers and sisters. Following the Great Commission and the call to serve "the least of these," we will constantly strive to serve God and our neighbors.
  • We're not reinventing the wheel.
    • We're borrowing advice from sources as varied as St. Patrick, St. Francis, Stanley Hauerwas, and Dallas Willard. We'e desire to become a living, breathing, local expression of the global, historical body of Christ, and these examples (along with many others) have provided great insight on the topic.

How You Can Help

There are many ways that you can get involved. Consider these options:

  • Financial Support.
    • There are costs to what we are hoping to do. We're told that the Jesus broke bread with the tax collectors and the sinners, as well as the disciples. Unfortunately bread is not free. Things like local outreach, the publishing of materials, and space rental (when it is needed) all have a dollar figure attached to them. Please consider donating a one-time gift or a longer-term Partnership. You may visit our Support page for more information.
  • Prayer Support.
    • As with any undertaking like this, there is a lot of risk involved, so please pray for all of us that God would be glorified through us and that his glory would be seen in Corktown.
  • Relocation and Internships
    • We would love it if you would join us in Corktown. If you're open to the option of moving to Corktown, please contact us. We'd love to talk with you more about it! Also, beginning in the spring of 2010, we will explore internship possibilities with students looking to spend the summer ministering in the city of Detroit.

Finally, be sure to spread the word about New Way Corktown. You can also check us out on Facebook!

In peace,
Dean
dean[at]newwaycorktown[dot]org

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