a place to grow, learn, and be part of what God is doing in and outside of the refuge

• wonder what you're really passionate about?
  
• do you already know and want to consider how you can use that passion for the Kingdom?
  
• want to be more a part of the refuge community?
  
• longing to learn more about what is happening in the bigger church community and how you can be a part?
  
• want to feel more connected to others, build some more relationships here?
  

join us on tuesday february 24th at 6:00 pm at the grange hall. join us on tuesday, february 24th at 6:00 pm (5:30 pm for pizza) at the grange hall for an evening with our very own helen drexler, organizational development consultant. she will be facilitating some really important team building & community exercises as we enter into 2009 and cultivate the 3rd year of the refuge community. come at 5:30pm for pizza dinner & then we’ll start right at 6. if you need childcare, email actressgirlleavitt@gmail.com. rsvp so we know how many to set & plan for food for, therefuge@therefugeonline.org

refuge infusion is a beginning of some regular gatherings to gain continued vision and focus for us individually and as a community. it'll be part leadership training-part vision-part community. really, it's about coming together as a community and learning about ways we can have greater impact as people & as a faith community. all are welcome, whether you have been here from the beginning or are just starting. if you have been coming to the refuge and believe in what we are doing, want to be a part of moving forward as a community and develop your heart & gifts for the Kingdom, then join us for refuge infusion. this will be a learning lab, a place to be challenged and connect to our passions both in and outside of the refuge.

questions, email kathy or call 720.270.1298

the thing i love the most about the refuge is…
• small community
• the genuineness
• the faith of the refuge
• i belive it looks like the Church (Bride) of Christ
• all the people
• the lack of authoritarian structure
• fun, accessible pastors
• acceptance
• it’s home
• the openness, honesty and support
• acceptance of others
• community, laughter, equality, love
• community
• the people and the love

the thing that drives me crazy about the refuge is…
• the chairs
• trying too hard to be ultracreative each week
• many still expect to be served by a staff
• timeliness—not ending but starting. need diversity
• not having more time to set up, practice, etc so things actually have more power as pieces all work together
• when you live at a hospital, you’re always surrounded by sick people. sometimes this encourages healing, sometimes not.
• timing
• we’re not more wealthy, famous; we should be! hahahaha
• sometimes the not so structured part
• the chairs
• not knowing if we have our meeting place, sunday nights
• filling out these papers (hahahah)

i think we’re really good at…
• gathering with a purpose
• being honest, reaching out to the needy
• honesty
• role modeling the church as Christ would want it.
• loving, challenging
• letting people have a voice
• loving people
• not getting stuck in a rut
• community – being there, up close and personal
• accepting people where they are
• reaching out
• helping each other and serving others , loving people where they are at.
• truth, helping other ministries
• living people

but not so good at…
• organizing
• building friendships or meeting needs of those who aren’t so obviously “needy”
• communication sometimes
• racial diversity, i worry for my children
• smooth communication, we communicate, but maybe could do it more smoothly.
• flowing with all gifts, times of silence, prayer, tech know-how
• consistency. you never knjow what to expewct, which can be fun sometimes but also lacks security.
• giving TO the refuge
• keeping things going
• organization?
• the offering
• enfolding all who come

my favorite thing we did this past year was…
• tent outdoors with casper & ?
• word in art
• the word in art showcase
• christmas eve service (just started attending in august)
• jim and casper, start communion
• anything participatory
• move to a new place that’s more “ours” and artists showcase
• refuge Xperience
• arts stuff sunday
• changes that heal at the escobars
• i really enjoyed christmas eve service
• the camping trip
• camping trip

when i tell people about the refuge i tell them its…
• my church and part of my christian community
• an unorthodox church that is into being real
• real church the hard way
• very different—for some folks i would say they would be very comfortable because its very unchurchy. because some like church, i tell them to be open.
• real, “not like church, but it is church”, a true community
• different, community-building
• part church, part ministry to people that have been burned by “church”
• you never know what to expect
• totally different than anytihng or any plain ol’ church they’ve ever been to.
• open to all sort of styles, people, etc.
• silly, loving, spontaneous, serv ing, jesus with skin on.
• different every week
• a big messed up but loving family

the need the refuge has helped meet in me is…
• to offer my gifts
• being free to be me without judgements
• freedom
• opportunity for serving
• growing, becoming more me, getting to be loved and to love
• a place of expression
• a place i’m needed and fellowship with a few key people i can relate to
• community
• being real, being who i am in real-time – and still being loved…even liked sometimes. i have had more headway in therapy all year long.
• knowing who i am and being interested in me
• a place to start working with youth
• so many, its too many to count—counseling, financially
• helping me keep my insurance, new friends
• being part of a community

the part that feels missing for me is..
• lots of cool tech toys
• still needing connection
• more freedom/balance/healthy boundaries
• friends and intimate relationships, but hope to develop
• a place to be involved with spiritual mentoring, working with other creatives more, prayer times
• nothing that i can put my finger on yet
• freedom to use spiritual gifts!
• seems like i haven’t had any close contact with people here.
• time with other men
• in the last year i have learned that God is here and it doesn’t have to be a huge place to have God.
• healing community

i hope this year we…
• get better financially
• make more friends whose voices help us grow
• ALL find ways to serve christ—all of us regardless of our circumstances need to share the good news.
• keep pushing envelopes, keep changing and yet stay us and true to our community
• get into a facility that suits us, have more discussion about philosophy of church, would love to be part of/start/facilitate arts group
• i’ll be in town for the camping trip
• see healing
• get even deeper on this path with each other, our lives getting entangled here and there in a really sweet, healthy way.
• bring back/report that things that worked—changes that heal, special speakers, special musicians
• continue to grow and show the world what GOd intended people to be like
• bbq often, move to saturday
• will have some money to expand our outreach

ADDITIONAL:
• it’d be nice to have a retreat.