The Netzer Co-Op

New Website coming up!

Hey guys! we are updating the website! and until then for the most up to date current information please go to netzercoop.typepad.com

peace

bri

Co-Op Staff Announcement!!!

An Open Letter to Friends of the Co-Op from Tim Snyder, curator.

June 24, 2009

Dear Friends,

    This is both a difficult and yet exciting announcement for me. For the past month I have been engaged in some intense discernment. This past spring has been a difficult season -- with two intense vocations: seminary study and serving as developer at The Co-Op. At the initial request of my bishop, I began to discern the possibility of transitioning into full-time study. After lots of conversation with my family, close friends, mentors/pastors, and finally the Co-Op community, I've decide to move to St. Paul, MN in August to pursue full-time study at Luther Seminary.

    This decision comes with some deep grief. I have invested three years into this project we've called The Netzer Co-Op. It has come at a great cost to me personally, and yet I wouldn't have had it any other way. This community has changed me. While being a part of this community has been deeply affirming, it has also been a (long) season of much self-sacrifice. As I discerned this decision, one thing was clear to me: I have lots of public belonging, and yet very little social, personal or intimate belonging. It is time for me to move into a season that is more holistic.

    This decision does not come easy and it was never my plan to leave this community so soon. But God would have it another way. Frankly, I'm not sure why I was okay with the suggestion to pursue full-time study, other than to say, that it came from a deep place in my soul where I have yearned for a more simplistic and focused life. Of course, there is never a good way to say goodbye, and yet we all must follow where it is that God is leading us.

    In this transition, I will be taking some space to discern my involvement in all my other side projects. What has emerged in my discernment is that I am really being called to a season of focused simplicity. I'll be take the next several months to discern my involvement in a variety of side projects including Luthermergent, Generate Magazine, Emergent, blogging, networking, etc.

    But what is also clear to me in this decision is that I have always been surrounded by an incredible family, circles of friends and mentors, and a gracious community. I've been reminded just how blessed I am. The move to St. Paul brings with it incredible opportunities for me to learn, to study, to refine my own theology, to broaden and deepen my convictions and finally to be transformed by the crucible that is seminary.  I am very sad to leave, but leaving with a great sense of anticipation about where ever it is that God is calling me.

    As I prepare to leave, I am excited to join our bishop and our mission director in affirming and lifting up Brianna as an incredibly gifted and talented leader in this community. She will continue to serve as a Curator and she will lead this community to new places. She will take over many of the responsibilities that I had as Curator and the community remains committed to shared ownership and leadership. The Co-Op community will certainly continue under Bri's leadership and with the full support of our Board of Directors and the ELCA. As we transition together in the month of July, I hope to have many conversations to thank all of you in the community who've been part such an important part of my life. I will worship for the last time with the community on August 9th and will be moving that following week.

Though I leave this post as a developer of this community, I'm confident these relationship will continue for years to come. Thanks for everything...

-- Tim

Tim K. Snyder
Curator & Mission Developer

The Netzer Co-Op
Austin, Texas

THIS SUNDAY: Lucas Land @ the co-op

Only in empire are we invited and encouraged to pretend that everything is all right.
     - Walter Brueggemann, Old Testament Scholar

Throughout the month of May we have been focus on the theme: "Relocation to the Abandoned Spaces of the Empire" - a collaboration with the 12 Marks of New Monasticism (www.newmonasticism.org). Each month we are taking a mark and preaching it, teaching it, creating an original theodrama liturgy around it and acting on it.

This Sunday join us for a teaching dialog with Lead Learner, Lucas Land (intern, The World Hunger Farm) for a conversation on Re-orientation to the Abandoned Places of the Empire. Lucas has been working through many of these themes in both in writing and his music. Come here both starting at 5:30pm with a meal of all local, organic and empire-free food and engage the community dialog. We'll close the evening with a simple liturgy of evening prayer.

Meet Lucas Land & Family...

Update: Spring 2009

For many of you who've been following us at the Co-Op, you know of the many transitions that have come about over the last few months. In February, we moved the base of operations to Austin, Texas and began weekly worship there. As we begin to discern the "new thing" that God is up to with our community in this Easter season, there will be some significant changes to the Co-Op in 2009.

In a letter to the Co-Op community two weeks ago, the staff outlined some of these transitions and called for a time of discernment, response, conversation and prayer. Download Staff letter-4:2009

This past Wednesday, the Board of Directors met to address many of these changes. There are some final steps yet to be taken as we consult with our friends at the ELCA, however you will begin to see some of these changes unfold immediately.

+ We are proposing a new name for the community/organization - stay tuned for details
+ The Co-Op is pleased to welcome A.J. Costa (Dallas, TX) and Gwen Flory (Austin, TX) as new members of the Board of Directors. Both will serve 1yr terms. A.J. will help us focus on diversity and outreach while Gwen will represent First English Lutheran Church (our host congregation).
+ We are evaluating options for a budget shortfall around $10,000.00. This severely cripples our ability to fund programing and salary for staff. Details to come.
+ In May we begin a "Year of Commitment" focusing on the commitments we make as followers of God in the Way of Jesus. We'll be diving each month for the next year into the 12 Marks of New Monasticism as we begin to develop our "rule of life" together.

Please pray with us as these transitions unfold:

Gracious God -
You are the God of Easter, the God of New Life and the God of Incarnation.
Grant us that same sense of shalom as when you appeared to the disciples after the resurrection and said, "Peace be with you." Grant us that same sense of wonderment that caused the disciples to proclaim, "were our hearts not burning with in us" when they met Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. Grant us wise discernment like the council at Jerusalem as they shifted their movement far beyond the barriers of their own safe, and a sacred paradigm. Jesus, you come to be among us and to do a new thing. Guide us forward as we believe, now help our unbelief. In Christ's Name, Amen.

- Tim & Brianna

MacGyver Worship

So, what is it about the new worship gig in Austin. Liturgy | ATX is a bold combination of whimsical theodrama and alt. worship lite (until we can get those pews out of there anyways). This past Sunday's disaster turned creative absurdity has raised some laughter and buzz around the blogosphere -

Paul Soupiset in San Antonio had a fun re-working of my (Tim) email to him and Jonny Baker of Grace-London added us to his running list of Worship Tricks.

It is a strange thing to get acknowledged for our well...yeah.

A Pastoral Letter

Our Staff (Brianna and Tim) sat down to write a letter to the community about the future of the Co-Op and the talk about the transitions in front of us. We recorded the videos below to share with you what we are hearing and our own joys and hesitations. Click the document image for a larger version or download here: Pastoral Letter 1.20.09.

Peace,

Tim & Bri

Get your own - Open publication

Reflecting on last night...

Last night we hosted one of our most successful events so far - a house concert with friend of The Co-Op, Aaron Strumpel. The evening was special for us because Aaron's music has always been a part of our worship diet and because of our relationship with him. The evening was successful because so many contributed to the evening - thanks to: Michael, Brianna, Sara, Ryan, Chip, Carissa, Jonathan, Ashley, Dan & Maria, Terry & Jill, Bill and many others for making the event happen!

wow. 

People were touched deeply by our worship and by our community. I just got off the phone with Dan Harrington (elder) who said it well, "it was Church being church the way it is supposed to be." Praise God from whom all blessing flow.

Aaron - may God be Gracious to you in 2009. We'll see you again for sure.

Welcome to 2009 Co-Op community!

HOUSE CONCERT | Aaron Strumpel

The Netzer Co-Op is excited to once again be hosting friend of the co-op, Aaron Strumpel for a House Concert on December 30, 2008 @ 8:00pm. The concert will be a New Year's Eve Eve party and we'll be gathering for a community meal before hand at 6:30pm. The location is TBD - Coming ASAP! We promise. Check out this video in the mean time feature the song "Family" from his soon to be released second album: Elephants (Thirsty Dirt Records, 2008).

Announcement: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dear Friends,

Its been a long process this fall to restructure our community and the organization that will help us move towards sustainability and viability. Since September we've been in a process of nominating and confirming a five member board of directors.

It is with joy and excitement that I get to announce to you our new board:

Ms Donna Dodgen      Seguin, Texas.
Mr. Bill Knobles      Seguin, Texas.
Dr. Bill Russell      Seguin, Texas.
Mr. Bob Carlton      Austin, Texas.
Ms. Cindy House     San Marcos, Texas.

This is an incredible group of people who have so graciously been willing to help us guide our community's organization life forward. If you have a chance, please write them a comment welcoming them into our lives and onto our journey together.

Brianna Morris-Brock, curator.
Tim Snyder, curator.

"Future of the Co-Op" Dinner Party

Dear Friends,

I'm sure you're thinking you've heard to much from me lately, but I have a very special invitation to extend to you. Due to an unanticipated schedule conflict, we are not going to have our Shindig this Saturday. Shindig has been rescheduled for November 22 - 6:30pm at the Community House (212 S. Camp St. - Seguin).

INSTEAD I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO DINNER AT THE COMMUNITY HOUSE TO HAVE AN OPEN, ORGANIC CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE NETZER CO-OP. THIS CONVERSATION WILL FLOAT AROUND VISION AND IDEAS, CHALLENGES AND STRUGGLES. IT WILL BE A TIME TO DREAM NEW DREAMS, EXPLORE NEW POSSIBILITIES AND PRAY FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD OF US.

DETAILS:

who: ALL ARE WELCOME
what: Dinner on the Co-Op! and let's talk!
when: Saturday, Nov. 15 @ 6:30-9:00p
where: Netzer Community House - 212 South Camp Street, Seguin, Texas 78155

Come be a part of the conversation that will shape the future of this ministry as we head towards our second anniversary!

PLEASE RSVP by email or Facebook. Thanks!

Remember: the world (co-op) is shaped by those who show up...

Tim K. Snyder :: curator

The Netzer Co-Op
114 South Austin Street
Seguin, Texas 78155
tim@netzerco-op.org
830.305.0774 (mobile)

www.netzerco-op.org