The Freeway hosts many different events at our coffee house during the year. Many are not planned by us, but we provide the atmosphere, hospitality, etc. for other people/groups/organizations to have a successful event.

However, occasionally we do host our own events at the coffee house as well. One of those events that I get excited about is a learning party that we’ve been doing basically twice a year since 2005: Cultivate Gathering. It’s for those who are interested in creating and developing new and evolving forms of missional church in Canada.

We already have a pretty full house for the upcoming Cultivate Gathering on Saturday, March 20th, 2010 but if you sweet-talk us, we may be able to fit in a few more people. Check out the website for more details: www.cultivategathering.com

We will be “live blogging” the event here in this space with some guest bloggers, so be sure and tune-in on March 20th. And in case you miss it, we will be videotaping the presentations at the event as well and posting highlights here eventually.

Larry Strung is the Hamilton based photographer that created the much talked about art exhibit last year entitled Hamilton 365. For those of you who didn’t see our blog post about this project, the premise was that the artist would create a photo portrait of a different Hamiltonian for every day of an entire year.

After the 365 project was completed I remember running into Larry at a downtown street festival, we inevitably started talking about what was next for the artist who had dedicated a whole year to one subject. Larry had a couple different ideas but he was still looking for the right subject matter that he could immerse himself in.

Well it appears Larry Strung has found himself a new Hamilton based muse. The new project is called the: Stinson School Journal

A number of schools in Hamilton have been closed and put up for sale. Sadly many of these schools have not found new uses and remain empty and derelict. Because of this I am always happy to hear of any building being re-purposed and integrated back into the surrounding community (The Freeway Coffee House was originally a bank).

Developer, Harry Stinson (nicknamed the “Toronto Condo King”) purchased the Stinson School to turn the building into (you guessed it) condos. Larry Strung will be documenting the history of the school as well as the process of turning a collection of empty class rooms into homes. Pictures will be posted daily on the website: www.stinsonschooljournal.ca

Viewing some of the photos I can see why Larry Strung took on this project. There is so much Hamilton history and texture within the Stinson School Building. It will also be exciting to see the evolution of Harry Stinson’s vision for this historic Hamilton space.

As all change is in some way controversial, we would love to hear your comments about the Stinson School or any other re-purposed building.

“Neither our experience of God nor our experience of church seems to have adequately prepared us for creative engagement with the world. Not only has the comfortability of the church mediated our experience of God, it has also blunted our participation in the world. The church tends to make God predictable and the world enjoyable. This has much to do with the church’s social location. In the First World, the church is the product of the suburbs where men and women live anesthetized lives. God can therefore be seen as Comforter rather than Liberator, and the good things of the world can be enjoyed while we avoid its problems and pain. Consequently, our experience of God is mediocre and our involvement in the world is for personal benefit not social transformation. As a result, we are not at the forefront of anything. Because we don’t have an adequate vision for God, we can hardly have a great concern for the world. Because God is deeply concerned about our world, our worship of Him should always lead us back into the ideas of our time.”

Jacques Ellul

The Freeway is part of a great city-wide network of churches called TrueCity… “churches together for the good of the city.” Every year right around this time we gather together for a conference to celebrate what God is up to in our midst in Hamilton. This year the conference is happening on February 19 and 20 and there are basically three components to our gathering together:

1. “Stories & Song” – Celebrating God’s active presence in our city. (This takes place at Philpott Memorial Church on Friday evening.)
2. “Prayer” – A time to connect with God’s heart for our city through prayer. (This takes place at Philpott Memorial Church on Saturday morning.)
3. “In Concert Coffee House” – Great music and art and conversation. (This takes place at The Freeway on Saturday evening.)

In addition, there will be a 24/7 prayer room established at Philpott for one week: February 19 to 26. If you are interested in registering (or volunteering) for any of the events of the conference, please drop me a line: pernell@frwy.ca

“Silence”
February 2010 Art Exhibit
Featuring the work of: Scott Ireland

Opening Reception
Friday, February 5th, 2010, 7pm – 9pm
@ The Freeway Coffee House
Cost: Free admission (A “pay what you can” concert will follow at 9pm, featuring the music of Eric Hiedemen & Simon Fallon)

Scott Ireland’s Artist Statement:
The inspiration of my work initially came from urban telephone poles, used as advertisement for various reasons. These non-hierarchal examples allow my ‘posting’, the Bible, to intermesh into the fabric of life and society, infusing my thoughts and beliefs into my secular urban environment.

The process of my work includes the deconstruction and reconfiguration of the Bible. As I pull apart an antique book and staple it to the plywood, I restrict myself within the pattern of Renaissance wallpaper. Using this pattern, I feel alludes to past Renaissance artists who embedded Christianity into their neo-pagan art. By combining the wealthy Renaissance wallpaper pattern, with the message and physicality of the biblical text, allows me to comment on current changes and differences in culture and society.

The shiny staples relate to many aspects of the work; the words in the text, the sacrificial ideas behind its message as well as the ever pervading redemption story. In using the Bible, I am merely changing its package, still allowing for personal engagement and interpretation.

Saturday night’s Art of Sound music festival was amazing. And although we didn’t raise what we had hoped, we did manage to raise just over a thousand dollars for The Freeway (and some more for Haiti as well), which is totally amazing. The musicians were all top-notch this year… really good line-up. And the people who came really seemed to enjoy themselves.

A few BIG THANK-YOU’S:

• To all the musicians and our amazing DJ who shared their talent with us. Your music was inspiring and beautiful. Thank you for giving your time and energy to help support the coffee house. Can’t wait to see you perform again soon.
• To all the folks who helped clean the coffee house, prepare for the festival, and then clean again, thank you so much. I am always amazed at what amazing volunteers we have at The Freeway.
• To all our fine baristas and other coffee house leaders who worked so hard before, during, and after the event, thank you so much for all your work. We definitely have the best baristas anywhere in the world… and people notice.
• To the sound technicians who made the job of the musicians so much easier, thank you. And to the DWL Group, thank you for providing the sound gear for our lower level stage.
• To everyone who came to support The Freeway and local music, thank you, thank you, thank you.

I really can’t wait until next year… and I hope to see you all at the coffee house supporting local artists and our community commons soon.

On Sunday I had the privilege of talking about The Freeway being geographically “planted” in the Beasley Neighbourhood. As part of the evening I wanted to have a slide show of local  photos to help us think about the area that surrounds the coffee house.

I sent out a general call to The Freeway community to send me their neighbourhood photos and I got an email from  Maja Hipkin (who also contributes to this blog) with a link to her Flickr page. I am always excited to discover that somebody has a creative gift, and I would just like to thank Maja for sharing her beautiful and artistic photographs with us.

If you would like to check out more of Maja’s amazing photographic tour of Hamilton click here.

All photographs (c) Maja Hipkin

I sit staring at a blank screen, thinking of what to write.  But there are no words. None.

My response will instead be one of prayer and giving. And I hope you’ll join thousands of others who are also praying and donating – we can all afford to be generous.

If you’re wondering how to help, The Globe & Mail recently posted this list of groups accepting donations toward work in Haiti:

• Médecins sans frontières (Doctors Without Borders) is taking online donations here or by phone.
• World Vision Canada is taking online donations here or by phone at 1‑800‑817‑7790.
• The Canadian Red Cross is accepting online donations here, by phone, or at any Red Cross office.
• Save the Children is accepting online donations here.
• The Mennonite Central Committee is accepting donations, click here to donate or by phone.
• The Salvation Army in Canada is accepting donations here, by phone, by texting the word HAITI to 45678 from any Rogers Wireless or Bell Mobility phone, or in person at any of its locations.
• Unicef Canada is accepting online donations here or by phone.
• The Humanitarian Coalition, which is a joint effort between Save the Children Canada, CARE, Oxfam Canada and Oxfam Quebec, is accepting online donations here.
• The Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) is accepting online donations here or by phone.
• Development and Peace accepts donations here or by phone.
• Plan Canada has been active in Haiti for 40 years. Donations can be made here or by phone.
• The United Jewish Appeal is accepting online donations here or by phone.
• Mission Aviation Fellowship of Canada, which has operated in Haiti since 1986, is taking online donations here.
• Ve’ahavta: The Canadian Jewish Humanitarian and Relief Committee is accepting online donations here.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has compiled a guide designed to help the public avoid scams and ensure their donations are of maximum value.  The Canadian government will match monetary donations to support relief efforts in Haiti, to a total of $50-million. This means that donating $50 will result in a $100 contribution.  Read more information about the program here.

Please, be generous.

And beyond today, continue to pray and donate and work for Haiti.  There is long-term work to be done in response to not only the current destruction, but decades of injustice in Haiti. 

Pray for swift and effective relief.  Pray for healing.  Pray for safety.  Pray for justice.

The Something Beautiful Podcast featured a two-part conversation with me talking to my buddy from Scotland, Thomas, about The Freeway and other stuff.

You can listen to part one here: Click here.

You can listen to part two here: Click here.

The Art of Sound is coming up next Saturday, January 23rd at 6:00pm. Are you excited? I know I am. We have a great line-up of musicians and it’s looking like it is going to be the party of the year… and for only $10!

If you haven’t already done so, check out the Facebook event page and make sure you’re on the list to attend. Also, pass this on to any friends, relatives, workmates, or little old ladies on motorized carts… that you think might be interested in coming and supporting a great organization… and listening to some terrific local music at the same time.

We really hope to see you there.

And by the way, please consider making a donation to The Freeway if you are unable to make it to the event (or even if you are). We can offer a tax receipt for any donation over $10… and we really appreciate your support. Drop us a line if you are able to do so: info@frwy.ca

If you are part of a church that is thinking of starting a third place, and you have ended up on this site as part of your research (this happens for us now and again, it seems), allow me to suggest that you consider not starting a third place if any of the following things apply to you:

1. If there is already a third place in your neighbourhood.
2. If you are thinking of designating a room(s) in your church building for the third place.
3. If you are planning to create a third place as a way to evangelize, or grow your church.
4. If you are planning for this to be a place that is seldom/rarely open (ie. one evening per week).
5. If you think this will make you a bunch of money to fund your church.
6. If you think this is the new model for missional church… the next thing to do in church… everyone’s doing it.
7. If you have a hard (impossible?) time with living in tension.
8. If you feel the need to see results (quickly?) in terms of the number of people who join your church, find Jesus, etc. through the third place.
9. If you are not completely aware of the neighbourhood you are wanting to start the third place in. Do your homework. Live there for a few years.
10. If you have not gone through a process of discerning what the Spirit of God is up to / creating /doing in your neighbourhood.

It may sound silly, but I can’t tell you the number of church leaders who have approached us to “learn the ropes” and more than one of the above applied to them.

If you would like to arrange a time to chat with us further about third places, mission, or neighbourhood engagement, drop us a line any time: info@frwy.ca, or consider coming to our Cultivate Learning Party on Saturday, March 20 in order to spend the day learning alongside us.

Our current teaching series is entitled: “Our Life”. We want to take four week’s to develop a sense of who we are at The Freeway, and what we are going to be about as a community this year. Here’s how each week will shake out:

Week 1: “Our Life: Unearthed” – A reflection on where we’ve been as a community. Who are we? What are the narratives that have shaped us over the years, especially the past year or so?

Week 2: “Our Life: Planted” – An exploration of our address (postal code / context / neighbourhood). Why are we here in this neighbourhood? What are we trying to do? Why does / will it matter?

Week 3: “Our Life: Cultivated” – An exploration of our intention to form our lives together as a community: spiritually, relationally, missionally. What will we commit (covenant) to together?

Week 4: “Our Life: Rooted” – A proposal of what sustainable missionality may look for us. How do we take who we’ve been and who we are and follow Jesus into the future as a community this year?

Hey Readers! You may or may not know that The Freeway has live music every Friday evening. Some things you should know about Fridays:

• It is usually $5 at the door which goes to support our musicians.
• We have 3 performers per night and music generally starts at 8 pm.
• It is an all ages venue with a wide variety of music.

If you are a musician (or know someone who is) and you have a website or myspace or a way we can hear your tunes, email me at miranda@frwy.ca … Let’s see if your sound melds with our venue and if we can book you in the near future!

And for you music lovers who don’t consider yourself a musician – don’t forget this great space on a Friday night. Come out and enjoy delicious fair trade coffee, fresh baked goods, and quality local music!

“State of Beings”
A collection of new paintings by Karyn Black
January 6th – 31st, 2010 @ The Freeway Coffee House
Opening Reception: January 8th, 2010 |  7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Our featured artist for January 2010 is the very talented Karyn Black. Karyn’s sophisticated abstract paintings can be mathematically described as: 1 part beauty + 1 part style = 2 parts joy (as in a joy to behold)

You are all invited to come and meet this great local artist at her opening reception on Jan. 8th, 7-9 pm. It is a free event with a “pay what you can” concert happening afterwards featuring the music of Echo Mile and Either Day.

About The Artist
Karyn Black is a Hamilton-based artist. She attended McMaster University where she graduated with an honours degree in fine arts in 1998. Since then, Karyn has had the opportunity to work with many interior designers, creating custom canvases to suit the needs of their clients. The elements and principles of design, particularly line, texture, balance and colour are the inspiration for much of Karyn’s work. Currently, Karyn is focused on compiling a new body of work exploring modern symbols and stereotypes and is awaiting the arrival of adopted twins from Ethiopia.

On Sunday evening Adrian McFarlane and myself missed the gathering at The Freeway because our band 2x the Mono was on the road playing a show in Sarnia, Ontario called Empty Spaces. It was a great chance to catch up with former Freewayers Nathan and Rachel Colquhoun who have moved on to a community in Sarnia called The Story. We were introduced to an amazing cultural city that is off the provincial radar with many similarities to Hamilton.

First off, Empty Spaces (a monthly music showcase) was one of the best shows 2x the Mono has ever played. The crowd was electric and loved to dance. All the local Sarnia bands that played were amazing. Sarnia has a diverse underground music scene that reminded me a lot of all the local talent in Hamilton. Check out the band “Driving on City Sidewalks.” “Empty Spaces” also reminded me of The Freeway Coffee House’s weekly concerts and annual Art of Sound Festival (coming soon on January 23rd). Everyone in 2x the Mono said they felt so comfortable amongst Sarnia’s music scene, it was like a home away from home.

We also found out that Sarnia has a monthly art walk called “First Fridays” that is very much like  Hamilton’s  James Street North Art Crawl.

What excited me most was to hear from Nathan about all the things happening with his church community, The Story. The Story has recently moved into storefront property in downtown Sarnia. Nathan said that it has opened up all kinds of opportunities for his community to interact with local artists, musicians and the downtown small business community. The comparison to The Freeway in this regard was overwhelming. I have always thought that church communities belong in the downtown core of their respective cities, and I’m so glad to see The Story taking this path in Sarnia. I know that The Freeway could not be or do what it needs to if it did not reside in downtown Hamilton.

I wouldn’t want to leave Hamilton for anything, and I still think Hamilton is the best place to live, but if Hamiltonians ever get together to “Tar and Feather” me, sending me on my merry way, I think I’ll move to Sarnia.

You can see more pictures of the Empty Spaces show by clicking here.