Friday…
Took another crack at young adult community drop-in cafe (The Mix)… Hardly anybody showed up from our people (except for Blair & Missy - Thanks guys!) and nobody came from the community. [sigh] On the upside the music was really good! Great jazz in the first set from C-Bert and Dilbert and the second set was edgy folk by Matt Epp. Just wish they had an audience to play to!
The day ended on a high though, as Sherry and I headed downtown around 11:30 to the Outworks gallery for the opening of “Fever” which our dear friend Amy E had a photograph in (best piece in the show, by the way)
Saturday…
Had a unique experience. Was the guest speaker for another church’s young adult event. Was much more sermon-like than the discussion format I usually use at Stir. So I was nervous but it was fun to stretch myself and do something new… and to meet great young adults from another church. Had really positive feedback on the talk. In fact I got an honourarium which I wasn’t expecting… my first thought was “Wow… I am an official guest speaker now!”… my second thought was “Man I wish I’d done a better job for them!” 
Sunday…
Just got to sit back and take it in. It was pulpit exchange Sunday where 26 pastors from around the city trade pulpits with each other for the morning. The “import” we got did a great job though we’re about 3x the size of his regular church. Didn’t miss a beat when a thunderstorm blacked out the sanctuary for the last 10 min of his sermon… in fact it totally enhanced the sermon illustration he was in the middle of… which was to have a brave volunteer hold a dart board while he was about to throw darts at it.
Pulpit exchange is part of our annual 3 weeks of Love Winnipeg. (Recognize Sherry and I on the main graphic? - I made that site but didn’t choose that pic.) Love Winnipeg… 26 pastors… baptists preaching to charismatics… pentecostals preaching to conservatives…. mainline to non-denominational and vice verse. Love Winnipeg… 78 churches becoming 1 church - the church of Winnipeg - for three weeks and taking to the streets of their neighbourhoods to express the love of God. I love Winnipeg. I love Love Winnipeg. I love “the church” in Winnipeg. How sweet it is when brothers dwell in unity.
nooc
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May 31, 2006 at 3:40 pm
obahsomah
I can see why you love Winnipeg!
May 31, 2006 at 4:39 pm
V.
Hey Greg,
Way to go at getting through the second MIX! Have you thought about ‘hanging out’ at some of the places where the people you want to come hang out? There is always a whack of people outside the bowling alley on Henderson - I think there is some kind of career class that takes place there…
..there must still be some cool bars in that end of town too? Been awhile since I’ve frequented them(!) but they probably still exist….how about setting up a music set in the parks - transcona - elmwood et al? or in parking lots like outside of DQ? I’m not talking anything fancy…just a guitar, maybe an amp and a few ’starters’ who start the crowd for you…
..just thoughts to hopefully help…
Keep on Nooc-ing !
June 1, 2006 at 1:51 pm
nooc
Hey Viv,
Great ideas! …I’ve been having alot of those same great ideas! ;P
but here’s the thing… unless I haven’t found the “hang outs” yet (which is possible), my current understanding is that the young adults go outside the community to hang out. And I almost never see anyone under 40 frequenting the local bars. It seems popular bars for the young adults are elsewhere.
This makes it challenging to find/meet/build relationships with young adults in Elmwood but it also points to the potential of “The Mix”… if it really caught on it would be “it” in terms of a young adult hangout in Elmwood. THE place to go… which is my heart and vision for it.
The people you see on Henderson are on smoke break from the telemarketing firm on the second floor of the old Cue Club Cafe building. We posted a poster right on the wall where they all stand. But you’re right there is potential there and I have been thinking about possible approaches.
nooc
June 2, 2006 at 8:05 am
jaydee
Friday was great Greg! The music was awesome, and those italian sodas sure hit the spot! Don’t get discouraged, it’s summer and it takes time to build momentum… Stir rocks!