Note to ACT class participants (Sept. 29)

Please also visit the new site for Fall 2007 and beyond:
www.faithontap.net

Hi, folks.
Brent and I were glad to have you in class on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007.
In case any of you are seeking information that isn't posted here, please e-mail me!
swhisler@synodsun.com
I haven't taken time to update the site with all the behind the scenes details.
Please ask and be patient. I didn't tell you Saturday that I was in a car wreck Thursday and am moving slowly.
Peace,
Shane

NEW: Faith/On Tap - Welcome!

Please also visit the new site for Fall 2007 and beyond:
www.faithontap.net

Fall 2007 - 7p Third Mondays, same great place.

We're branching out... U2, Beatles, Indigo Girls and maybe Johnny Cash for starters.

Join us in the back room of Bailey's from 7-8p Aug. 17, Oct. 15 and Nov. 19 and Dec. 17 for Faith/OnTap.

Hear some music, see images, lyrics and explore the spiritual side of music from well-known artists.

Come early and order dinner if you care to. The great staff will keep a tab for you or your group and you pay them at the end of "class."

We are Presbyterian-flavored spiritual folks who welcome all flavors of faith and agnostic people!

Questions? Contact Brent at brent@northridgepc.org.

Professional childcare is available for free by calling Melanie at the church anytime the week before: 214-827-5521.

Last Spring's Welcome Message

See what Lakewood-Now.net says.

Uno, dos, tres...

7p Mondays (Spring 2007)
(same topics for 9:30a Sundays the day before)

1. April 16 - FAITH & VERTIGO
2. April 23 - FAITH & GRACE
3. April 30 - HOPE
   
4. May 7 - HOPE continues
5. May 14 - LOVE
6. May 21 - LOVE & JUSTICE
   

UPDATE - Join us 7p Monday, Sept. 10th as U2/OnTap re-emerges as FAITH/OnTap!

After the September kick off, we'll gather monthly - THIRD MONDAYs of the Month, starting Oct. 2007.

Whether you love the spiritual depth, the call to social justice or simply great rock-n-roll music, join us at one of our discussion sessions.

The churchy version is called All Because of U2 and meets 9:30a Sundays at Northridge PC.

The casual version is called U2/OnTap which meets 7p Mondays in the back room of a popular sports bar and grill called Bailey's 1st and 10. You don't have to like sports or even beer to enjoy the sessions here! And child care is available by calling ahead.

Please visit the Sundays or Mondays topics to learn more about the differences and similarities. Faith, hope and love will be overarching themes as we travel through the six sessions. But the journey may turn out differently than we expect.

And even if you can't attend either version between April 15 - May 21, 2007, we'd love you to share how U2 has moved you in spiritual ways here.

FUN & MUSIC:

John Kenny, who's played for our sessions,
is performing his own work June 30, 2007 at
Opening Bell Coffee

VERTIGO USA (tribute band)
in Dallas: July 20, 2007

Questions/Comments: mailto:%20Shanenahs@U2.com

1 - FAITH & VERTIGO

Sun. April 15 / Mon. April 16

Please share your comments, critique and questions from the first session here!

Sign it with your first name and which day you attended (optional).

It was great to see 40+ folks Sunday morning sharing in the multimedia session.
And 30 attended Monday night.

The most important medium of communication is yours (your words and interpretations).
Please ask questions here as well. We'll try to start a FAQ topic for those answers.

Peace,
Brent & Shane

The review below gives an idea of what we discussed and heard.

Session 1 review: FAITH & VERTIGO

Set list:
Vertigo
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
40

vertigo. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vertigo (accessed: April 14, 2007).

Vertigo
I’m at a place called Vertigo
It’s everything I wish I didn’t know
but you give me something to feel

How do you experience vertigo in life?

RESPONSES from participants:

• News is maddening, don't know how to react to it.

• "Donuts" in the neighborhood (vandalism with cars)?

• One person literally suffers from vertigo.

• High school seniors: No time to think. So much to do in little time.

• Sandwich generation's empty nests – losing parents and children moving out.

• So much violence

• Parent/child decisions – which college? What are right decisions on any issue?

• No easy answers.

• Disillusionment at dismantling parents' home, deconstructing their lives – finding out so much of what we thought was (true), isn't.

• Too many places to go, not enough time...

• Being the only person in a 4-person house with a job (overwhelming responsibilities)

• Too many responsibilities - How to priorities?

• When your pushing 85 and every time you forget something, thinking you have Alzheimer's.

• I'm pushing 57 and feel the same way.

• Having unrealistic expectations – getting disappointed.

• Turning attention away from anything that isn't God (turning away from God)

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one
Bleed into one.
But yes, I'm still running.

You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame
Oh my shame, you know I believe it.

But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for.

What kind of faith is this?

RESPONSES from participants:

• Constantly being evaluated – measured at the time.

• The faith of every day life.

• One person said he experienced this kind of faith at age 17 when a friend who was very religious and a positive influence on his faith talked of committing suicide. He was able to help talk his friend out of it.

• Faith and doubt.

• Faith is a journey... I don't usually see until looking back, that I found what I was looking for.

The opposite of faith is not doubt:
It is certainty.

-Anne Lamott, April 27, 2005 on Salon.com

40

I waited patiently for the Lord.
He inclined and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay.

I will sing, sing a new song.
I will sing, sing a new song.
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?

How long—believing is not the hard part, waiting is the hard part.

How long this vertigo?

"How long" is also in two other songs “Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "The Saints are Coming."

But notice people of faith never stop singing.

Songs of thanksgiving and imagination—that’s faith.

Songs of lament and waiting and pain—that’s faith.

Faith is keeping the song going.

Faith as singing the new song.

Faith as not forgetting about the painful songs.
Faith is the voice that never stop singing.

2 - FAITH & GRACE

Sun. April 22 / Mon. April 23

Set list for Class 2 is complete. We will explore at least an excerpt of the following songs.

Sunday Bloody Sunday
Peace On Earth
Numb
Love and Peace or Else
Kite
Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Walk On
Grace (performed live by John Kenny)
Silver and Gold (Rattle and Hum version)

3 - HOPE

Sun. April 29 / Mon. April 30

This week we turn to the topic of "hope in the music of U2." We will be discussing "The Streets Have No Name" which is the first song on Joshua Tree, "Drowning Man" which is the fifth song on War, "Walk On" which is the fourth song on All That You Can't Leave Behind, and "Revelation 21:22-22:6" which is the last book in the Bible.

One thing that might be fun to do is purchase a copy of the Bible called "The Message." It is a contemporary version of the Bible put together by Eugene Peterson. This is the Bible that at least three of the members of U2 read most often and some of the words of their songs come directly from this version of the Bible. Someone asked me the week before Easter what version of the Bible they should read and I told them the "New Revised Standard Version" for the mind, and the "The Message"
for the heart.

4 - HOPE continues

Sun. May 6 / Mon. May 7

Hope...
Do you find it in U2 lyrics?
... in unexpected places?
... in organized religion?

We'll explore Psalm 77 and these songs:

Beautiful Day
(lyrics link)

Wake Up Deadman << size="2">(lyrics link)

All Because Of You
(lyrics link)

5 - LOVE (May 14)

Sun. May 13 / Mon. May 14

Love and relationships... temporal and spiritual

Set list:

All I Want Is You*

Kite

Pride (In the Name of Love)

*performed live by John Kenny

6 - LOVE & JUSTICE (May 21)

Sun. May 20 / Mon. May 21

The big finale is upon us!

The set list:

A Sort of Homecoming (performed live by John Kenny)

Sunday Bloody Sunday

One

Window in the Skies

Through these songs we will explore the biblical concepts and of love and justice.

A guest from the local chapter of the ONE Campaign will not be able to make it, but we will have the author of a new book being published by the United Nations. It is called Bridging Fear and Peace: From Bullying to Doing Justice. Thank you Jerry Middents for joining us.

Join us Monday, Sept. 10, 2007 -- when we re-emerge as "FAITH ON TAP" 7p at Bailey's in the back room!

After the September kick-off, we'll meet 7-8p the first Mondays of Oct., Nov., Dec. 2007 and in 2008: Jan., Feb. March, April, May.

About Us

The sessions are led by two 40 year old Presbyterians (Brent and Shane), but we're not pushin' religion.

Our illustrations and stories will come from a Christian (Presbyterian-flavored) context, however, we welcome diverse perspectives. Really! And without judgement. This is not a "revival." You will not be coersed or manipulated.

We believe that respectfully exchanging thoughts among people of differing faiths is an act of peacemaking. Besides, when U2 is the common ground, it's bound to be a meaningful treat!

Most folks there have connections to Northridge Presbyterian, but friends, guests or walk-in visitors. Join in or be rather anonymous as your comfort level allows.

These sessions are not Bible studies, but we will have them on hand as we find overt or implied connections with passages in some songs.

Please add your comments/questions here
or send to Brent and Shane: ShanenahS@U2.com.

Child care

We are glad to offer child care for the Monday night sessions at the church, several blocks from Bailey's 1st & 10.

Child care is always provided Sunday mornings at Northrige PC, no reservations needed.

For Mondays, it is important you call Melanie Towb (long "o"), Christian Education Director, at Northridge on a weekday by 4p.m. if you need child care. She will tell you what time you can bring and pickup your children.

We have experienced, qualified professionals to care for your children. They've cared for ours too. A donation basket may be setting out but there is no cost to use this service paid for by the church.

Melanie Towb: 214-827-5521 (office - by 4p)

or e-mail her for general questions:
melaniet
@
northridgepc.org

Favorites & Why

Still hadn't found what you were looking for when you first heard that song?
Did you get a history lesson on April 4 or Bloody Sunday?
Sometimes feel lost in Zooropa?
Does One make sense in your heart but your tongue can't speak it?
Ever gone back to the Discotheque when you should've cooled your heels instead?
Did a Beautiful Day make feel like you could change the world?
Does the news induce Vertigo?

Share a thought here of what you heard, what mattered, in the music...
(click comments to add yours)

Mondays

Welcome to time and space to experience vertigo, spirituality or inspiration drawn from the music, lyrics and activism of U2.

Join us at 7p to 8p Monday nights April 16 - May 21 at Bailey's 1st & 10. (This link has old menu prices - ask your server in the restaurant).

Join us online and/or in person.
Join us if you love U2.
Join us if you're confused by U2.
Baptists and Buddhists alike are welcome.
Bring your own concept of God if you like.

There's no propoganda (okay maybe a little, but just the good stuff like this).

Bailey's is a popular sports bar and restaurant, Mockingbird @ Abrams
(NE corner behind the 7-11 store). The menu has no prices.
Most items on the menu are from $6 to $9.

You are welcome to come early.
Enjoy the taco bar in the main room.
Or order food and sit in backroom where our sessions are held.

The sessions are led by two 40 year old Presbyterians, but we're not pushin' religion. Our illustrations and stories will come from a Christian context, however, we welcome diverse perspectives. Really! And without judgement.

We believe that respectfully exchanging thoughts among people of differing faiths is an act of peacemaking. Besides, when U2 is the common ground, it's bound to be a meaningful treat!

Please add your comments/questions here or send to Brent and Shane: ShanenahS@U2.com.

See you 7p Monday at Bailey's 1st & 10. You don't even have to like sports or beer to be welcomed to the backroom for U2/OnTap!


FOOD & DRINK: You may want to arrive early and order and eat in the backroom. The staff at Bailey's will run a tab for you which can be paid at the bar in the backroom at the close of class. We may need to shuffle table layouts to see what works best for this session. If you have questions other than child care, call Shane 214.240.5418

Sundays

All Because of U2 - 9:30a Sundays
April 15 - May 20, 2007
Room 1o1 of Northridge Presbyterian Church

If you enter the back door off the parking lot, you'll soon hear the music immediately inside at Room 1o1.

This photo shows the back door entrance.

Enter other doors, simply ask "Where's the U2 class?" or look for the signs pointing the way past the office and preschool rooms around the corner at the end of the long hall near the back door.

You are welcome to join us even if you don't know a single U2 song or don't get Bono (the front man) and his activism.

Caution: We have large stereo speakers and know how to use them.
"Hey, turn it down in there," might be the most popular request from people NOT in the class. But wait, we'll have unplugged music sometimes too, thanks to musician and member John Kenny.

We'll also be referring to a popular version of the Bible called The Message.

See the Favorites & Why topic to share which songs inspire you. See you Sunday.