Join us on Sunday, March 31st at 11a as we gather together to celebrate the wonderful gift and invitation of resurrection. Doors open at 10:30a for hellos and coffee, the gathering will start at 11a with music.

Once a month we step away from our typical weekly gathering to seek a new perspective. We intentionally stand in new places, roll up our sleeves, and consider new ideas with the hope of loving and seeing our neighbors and city more clearly. We aspire to listen, learn and serve together. This is a family event so kids are welcome. There will be a nursery available for kids 3 and under.

On Sunday, March 24th, under the leadership of the Canvas Youth and Dave Lawson, we’ll seek to learn from and serve Journey Besides Mothers. This event will feature several ways to get involved from bringing donations, to organizing, to the possibility of visiting and serving a single mother in her home. In pursuit of making this event a success for all involved, we’re asking everyone to RSVP by filling out the form below. We will be in touch with updates and new details as we plan.

This event will begin on Wayne Street at 11a with prayer, vision casting, and a bit of coaching. Following a brief time of orientation, we will break into small groups to serve in various ways. This event will conclude by 12:30p.

For donations: Last names starting with A-L bring a package of diapers size 5 & 6. Last names starting with M-Z bring a package of pull-ups size 4-5.

To ask questions about this event, call or text Dave at: 260-446-2383.

We’re thrilled to be holding a concert for Nashville, TN based singer songwriter, Taylor Leonhardt on Saturday, March 16th. To purchase tickets, click here.

On Sunday, February 18th, we’ll come together in the HiFi to for a Listen, Learn, & Serve centered on the formative power of art & poetry. We’ll spend some creative time in reflection, making, and prayer together. And, we’ll consider the goodness of sharing these gifts with others. This is an all family event so kids are welcome. There will be a nursery for kids 2 and under.

On Sunday, February 11th, at 11a, we’ll hold space to experience, observe, and participate in baptism. Baptism is an ancient, sensory rich sacrament of surrender, an experience of grace where all present witness the wonderful and mysterious presence of God awakening us and making things new. If you’d like to learn more about this opportunity, and/or would like to opt-in and plan to be baptized, fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch. Thanks!

Once a month we step away from our typical weekly gathering to seek a new perspective and engage our faith on a tangible level. We intentionally stand in different places and take on acts of service in hope of seeing and loving God, each other, and our neighbors more deeply. We aspire to listen, learn and serve together.

On Sunday, January 21, at 11a, we’ll gather two groups. One group primarily consisting of adults and kids 6th grade and up will meet at Associated Churches (602 E Wayne St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802), the other group will meet at First Wayne Street. The work at Associated churches will consist of sorting, boxing, organizing and cleaning. At First Wayne Street we will be painting on the third floor. There will be a nursery available and organized play for kids.

Please let us know you are coming by using the form below and we will be in touch with you about which location to attend and how to prepare. Thanks!

On Christmas Eve we’ll gather at 7p on Wayne Street to sing, wonder, and pray. This is a family event so kids of all ages are welcome and will stay with parents. We’ll end our time together around 8:15p by lighting candles and singing silent night. Questions? Send an email to: canvascommunityinfo@gmail.com

First Wayne Street UMC is located at 300 E Wayne St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. For easy access, park in the parking lot behind the church located at the corner of Washington and Lafayette and enter through the door on the corner of Lafayette and Wayne.

On Sunday, November 19th, our LL&S gathering will consist of several opportunities for our community to provide tangible care and express encouragement.  We will put together gift bags for the people we encounter on the streets asking for help. We will stock our food pantry and we will write encouraging notes.

This is an all family event. Kids will have a chance to help, color, and make encouraging notes. If you’d like to request childcare for a nursery age child, please send us an email at canvascommnityinfo@gmail.com

How to Help
Everyone who is able is invited to bring some donated items in support of our goal. In attempt to intentionally create gift bags stocked with a diverse mix of items, we’ve created requests based on last name. Of course, if you happen to have items listed below you’d like to donate that don’t fit your category, feel free to bring them.

 Last Name A – H: bring granola bars, small snack size individual wrapped beef jerky (Slim Jims), and small pocket size hand sanitizers.

 Last Name: I – P: bring small individual snack size fruit snacks, small packs of personal hygiene wipes, and bottled water.

 Last Name: Q – Z: bring McDonalds gift cards ($5 each), hand warmers.  

In addition to the list above, everyone is invited to bring an item or two for our food pantry. Suggested items include small individual wrapped snacks and cans of food or soup that only require minimal preparation.

For inquires send an email to: canvascommunityinfo@gmail.com

The Practice of Sabbath

On Sunday, July 30th, instead of holding a gathering, Canvas is inviting everyone to participate in a community wide practice of sabbath.

Note: If you find yourself alone and in need of some interaction with others, feel free to reach out by sending an email to canvascommunityinfo@gmail.com for group connection opportunities.

 
The heart and soul of Sabbath is about intentionally creating space for deep and true rest in God. It is about taking a planned break from work and being productive in order to recreate and receive.

 
Traditionally, following the pattern set in the creation account (Genesis 2:2-3), the Jewish and early Christian practice of weekly rest lasted a full 24 hour day. However, with intentionality, the spirit of sabbath can be engaged in a couple hours, or half day. If it’s possible for you to carve out a lengthy stretch of time for rest, we encourage you to go for it. If not, that’s ok :) engage whatever time you have deliberately. Our focus will be less upon fulfilling a particular length of time and more upon learning to identify and practice what provides deep and true rest. If possible, try to set aside 2 hours (minimum) for this practice. If you have more time, a half or full day, all the better. What matters most is bringing a spirit of intentionality, humility, and openness to whatever time you have. Remember Jesus words (Mark 2:27), “The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath.”

In preparation:

Short article: Blessed Boredom by Joy Clarkson

Short article: 7 tips for Sabbath / Rest Preparation by Nancy Sleeth

Short article: Sabbath is a way of life by Dallas Willard

Podcast: Sabbath with families & young children

Ideas for creating an environment of rest and recreation:

• Set an intentional break from phone and screen use.

• Make a pre-set plan for having healthy, nourishing foods available.

• Engage in an activity that brings you a sense of childlike joy. Hint: this might be something you enjoy but can’t seem to make time for very often like: singing, dancing, playing an instrument, reading fiction, or creating artwork.

• Walk leisurely outdoors.

• Linger in beautiful outdoor spaces like Franke Park, Lakeside Park, Foster Park, Bicentennial Woods, etc.

• If you have music on in the background, choose music that promotes a restful, meditative mood.

• Work on a puzzle or play a game that promotes teamwork.  

• Have art supplies set out and available for sketching, coloring, painting, etc.

• If your mind races with urges to be productive or get things done, take a few minutes to get as many of those thoughts and feelings out as possible by journaling. Next, make a to-do list you can engage with the next day or whenever you are done resting and ready to be productive.

• If your kids are at a challenging age or stage which makes rest feel elusive, is there a family in a similar stage who you could arrange a 2 hour back to back babysitting trade off with? Or, perhaps you and your partner could trade off for a couple hours?

Common Prayer (from Christ Church London)

God of rest,
Today I make the active choice
To enter into your rest,
And to join with you
In delighting in this good world you have made,
And dreaming of the perfect world you will remake.

I choose to tune out,
Of demands and deadlines,
Of performance pressures,
Of flickering screens,
Of that which robs my soul of joy,
And the ways in which the world
Seeks to define and shape my identity.

I choose to tune in,
To your affirmation and love,
To the celebration of freedom,
To worship and your word,
To the enjoyment of that which fills my soul with joy,
And reminds me of my identity in Christ,
As a deeply loved child of God.

Amen

A liturgy for a focused time of prayer, journaling, and reflection:

 A prayer for Sabbath (Christ Church London)

Quotes for inspiration, meditation, and wonder:

Sometimes I have loved the peacefulness of an ordinary Sunday. It is like standing in a newly planted garden after a warm rain. You can feel the silent and invisible life.
― Marilynne Robinson, Gilead

Most of the things we need to be most fully alive never come in busyness. They grow in rest.
― Mark Buchanan

Sabbath is not a reward for hard work. Sabbath is a gift that precedes work and enables us to work. (…) As with God’s Grace, rest is never a reward; it’s a gift.
― Rich Villodas

Our sense of being enough isn't something we achieve, it's something we receive. It's not something that we create, it's something that's conferred upon us by another.
― Ken Shigematsu

Ultimately, rest is an act of resistance against the siren calls of our idols to work for them. By stopping, we take up arms against the great Western gods of achievement, money, and self-determination.
― Adam Mabry

Unless one learns how to relish the taste of Sabbath … one will be unable to enjoy the taste of eternity in the world to come.
― Abraham Joshua Heschel

On Good Friday, April 7th, we’ll create a quiet space on Wayne Street between 6:30-8a, 12-1p, and 5-6p for those who would like to reflect and pray through the stations of the cross. This is an open house for individual prayer and reflection so the experience will feel both communal and personal. This is an experience that could be honored in about 15 minutes or one that could be lingered over for an hour. To learn a bit more about the art we are using, as well as a little history of the stations of the cross, check out this short video made by the artist (click here).

On Palm Sunday, April 2nd, we’re trying something new. Rather than holding one gathering on Wayne Street, we plan to hold several small gatherings in homes. These house church gatherings, hosted by Canvas participants, will feature a shared meal, and common liturgy for prayer, scripture reading, reflection, and discussion. Please opt-in using the form below by Wednesday, March 29th. We will follow-up with you by email with info related to what to bring, what to expect, and where to go. Questions? Drop us an email at canvascommunityinfo@gmail.com or call Dave at 260-446-2383

Click here to open the Canvas Palm Sunday Liturgy

Once a month we step away from our typical weekly gathering to seek a new perspective. We intentionally stand in new places with the hope of loving and seeing our neighbors more clearly. We aspire to listen, learn and serve together. This is a family event so kids are welcome!

On Sunday, March 19th, we’ll meet up at Gateway Woods for a Listen, Learn, and Serve field trip. Gateway Woods is a unique and multifaceted ministry that exists to provide support, help, and healing to troubled children and families. While we’re there (4-5:30p), we’ll learn more about their work, we’ll bless and pray for them, and we’ll have a chance to help them with some hands on projects. To make this a great experience for all involved, we’re asking everyone to opt-in ahead of time so we know how many people are coming. Please fill out the form below :)

For those who would like a closer look, Gateway has room for a limited number of people to join their host families (and houses) for dinner from approximately 5:45-6:30p. Space is limited to 20 people total. If you are interested in this option, check the box below and we’ll follow-up with more information.

For questions / inquiries related to this event, contact Leslie Ringger at: (309) 826-1101

Opt-In:

On Sunday, February 19th, our Listen Learn & Serve event for the month will bring us together to explore the role of art in worship and advocacy. There will be chances to observe art created by those in our community in response to Phil. 2. and we’ll create space to participate in creativity as an expression of our meditation. If you are interested in sharing a piece (poem, painting, drawing, sculpture, song, etc.) contact Leslie Ringger at 309-826-1101. All physical artwork will need to be dropped off at Leslie’s home by the end of Friday, February 17.

In the 1960’s the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner famously insisted that, “the Christian of the future will be a mystic or will not exist.” Today, as distortions of Christianity which emphasize culture wars, certainty, and tribalism increasingly alienate those looking for something curious, rooted, and integrated—perhaps Rahner’s insight is materializing? In response, what if recovering the forgotten ways and sensibilities of the faith could lead to a creative renaissance within the sacred ordinary?

To learn more and to register for this event, click here.

On the first Sunday of the month we hold a family dinner after our 4p gathering. Feel free to stay on your feet for a quick bite, or settle in at a table for conversation and dinner. Plates, utensils, and drinks will be provided. Everyone is invited.

On Wednesday, June 22nd, at 7p, we’ll hold space in the Mezz for communal lament, prayer, and protest related to gun violence. Using flowers, we will create a tangible visual installation in memorial of the children who have been killed this year. If you would like to contribute flowers, please send an email to canvascommunityinfo@gmail.com

This Sunday, May 29th, we’ll come together for an outdoor gathering at Lakeside Park, which is located just around the corner from Crescent Avenue. We’ll gather in the grass somewhere close to the corner of Vermont and California. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for sitting on the ground and if you’d like to hang around afterwards, BYO snacks / drinks and lawn games. As usual, the gathering starts at 4p.

This April, MISSION HOUSE lead by Jess Ray & Taylor Leonhardt, will host a series of evenings to gather in-person and sing with communities across the nation. After a wearying two years, that left many of us feeling unanchored and tempest-tossed, these nights will offer light, peace, joy and connection to all who attend. Canvas Community is thrilled to be hosting Mission House in their gathering space on Crescent Avenue.

To purchase tickets or view more details about this event, click here.

QUICK DETAILS:

Premium Admission DOORS OPEN @ 6pm

General Admission DOORS OPEN @ 7pm

MISSION HOUSE @ 7:30pm

We will abide by current, local COVID-related restrictions at each event.

PREMIUM TICKET EXPERIENCE // Q&A:

In addition to early entry and some MH swag, premium ticket holders are invited to an exclusive pre-show hang with Jess & Taylor, that will start with a meet & greet, followed by a conversation on song-writing and worship-leading and close with Q&A.

On the evening of Ash Wednesday, all who are interested are invited to enter a space for connection, reflection and prayer. We will take a moment to ponder the significance and wisdom of Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. In order to make this time of reflection as accessible as possible, it will be held on zoom and will last only 30 min or less. Click here to enter the meeting at 8:15p.

For personal reflection, here’s a document containing info, scripture, a prayer, and some reflection questions: page 1 / page 2

We believe processing our difficult experiences is so important, not only for our individual health and healing, but for our community as a whole. On the evening of February 23rd, at 7p, we will create some space to share and reflect upon hope for healing wounds that have come from bad experiences with the Church. This service will create guided space for naming what has been lost and also what has been found. Whether you would like to process an issue from the past or something more current, you are invited to come and take a step towards healing.

To register for this event, click here.

On Friday, December 24th, we’re holding a Christmas Eve service with the Crescent Avenue UMC community. This service will feature Christmas songs, readings, a short message and an opportunity to light and hold a candle in community. Location: 1232 Crescent Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Masks recommended.

On the mornings of Tuesday December 7th and 21st from 6:15-7a we will facilitate a time of prayer and contemplation in the sanctuary. This time will include silence, prayer and some guided reflection on Advent themes. Anyone who is interested is invited to attend. Please enter through door #1 at the corner of Crescent and Tennessee.

Over the next month, our Sunday gatherings will focus on the celebration and wonder of Advent in preparation for Christmas Day. Doors open at 3:30p for check-ins, candle lighting, and hellos. The gathering starts at 4p. Afterwards, the mezzanine will be open for hanging out and enjoying appetizers and drinks together. If you’d like, bring a dish to share with the group.

We’re so stoked to be hosting an intimate, backyard show for one of our favorite singer songwriters, Taylor Leonhardt. On the evening of October 15th, Taylor will sing songs and tell stories in support of her soulful new album, Hold Still. To reserve your tickets for this special event, click here.

How can compassion and kinship transform Fort Wayne? The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation and the University of Saint Francis invite you to an afternoon with Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries. To reserve your free ticket to this talk, click here.

Join us on Sunday, August 15th, as we rally in support of the Crescent Ave neighborhood block party. There will be games, music, food, and horseplay. For more info, or to ask questions, send an email to: canvascommunityinfo@gmail.com

Join us for a night of story telling, hope, and imagination. ICFMEP and Canvas Community welcome Sarah Nahar and Jonathan Brenneman to share peacemaking stories from the front lines. Space is limited so please rsvp by sending an email to: Limonadason@yahoo.com.

Sarah Nahar is a nonviolent action trainer and interspiritual theologian. She is a PhD student in Religion at Syracuse University and in the Department of Environmental Studies at State University of New York. Sarah was a 2019 Rotary Peace Fellow working at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Atlanta, GA, and was Executive Director of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). She attended Spelman College, majoring in Women’s Studies and International Studies. She has an MDiv from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, in her hometown, Elkhart, Indiana (Potowatomi Traditional land). Sarah is married to Jonathan Brenneman.

Jonathan Brenneman comes from a long line of Mennonites on his father’s side, and a prominent Palestinian Christian family on his mother’s side. Before attending Huntington University, majoring in History and Philosophy, he participated in a Mennonite immersion program in Northern Ireland. After graduation, he served with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)-Palestine in Hebron, working on the ground with Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers. Jonathan received an MA in Peace Studies at Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute, which included a six-month internship in Cape Town South Africa, advocating for more just land policies. He has worked for the Mennonite Church USA, coordinating the denomination’s Israel-Palestine program, and as Communications Director for Friends of Sabeel North America, a Christian voice for Palestine. Jonathan is married to Sarah Nahar.

Community groups bring people together around the table, in the park, or living room to build relationships, to create space for being known. Community groups are spaces of sacred possibility. Spaces where we might acknowledge what’s going on in our lives, cultivate deep friendships, support, and pray for each other.