entwine

Hey Everyone!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope you all had a wonderful one! And now, we head into our New Year with much joy and anticipation! I am so very happy to have spent so much time with you guys over the last few days.
The 3rd Annual Christmas Party was a blast. I got my favorite gift, the Napoleon Finger Puppet and Seung stole my second favorite item, the Buca di Beppa Gift Certificate! I WILL GET YOU BACK! HAHAHA! The 3rd Annual Christmas Day dinner and a movie was also a great time. If you haven’t seen Night at the Museum, you need to. It is such a great movie and there were so many times I just lost it laughing!

Which brings me to my next point. Don’t forget what this year is in the Tapestry. With the changing of the New Year in just a few short days, we will be changing our direction ever so slightly. This year will be the year of Play!

We have worked so hard over the last few years, that this year, we are going to have some major fun!

Whather it’s game nights, small groups, parties, refreshings, tours, missions, outreach, evangelism, bowling, prayer and praise nights, Starting a morning Service, traveling, hiking, camping, rock climbing, beach tripping, Continuing our Evening Services, changing facilities, walking the Reserve land, meeting new people or whatever, this year, we endeavour to have tons of fun doing it.

I challenge you to make this the year of memories!

Take more pictures,
Laugh More,
Give More,
Share More,
Hang with family More,
Relax More,
Serve More,
Play More,
Smile More,
Say Thank You More,
Get the Door More,
Be More Cheerful,
Say More Nice Things,
Give More Encouraging Words,
Stop Bad thoughts with Good ones,
Have more Joy,
See more troubles as Challenges,
Show more character,
Give more grace,
Remember more good times,
Forget more bad memories,
Forgive more,
Dance more,

I think that it’s time to start celebrating. GOD is moving and every day we see HIM, so let us join HIM more this year than ever with joy in our hearts and expectation in our souls.
This year, GOD is going to change the minds of a lot of people about what church is all about and HE is going to use you to do it!

I am proud of you Tapestry!

I love you all much and look forward to this exciting year with each and every one of you!

Blessings!

pd


dustinhedrick

Hey Guys,

I may have really just embarrassed myself in the biggest way, but all I have to say is that if I did, it’s because Jeanne made me! HAHAHAHA!

She sent me a link to this conversation on the Washington Post asking who Jesus is. Here is a link to the post. (CLICK HERE)

Just below you will find my post. I have to tell you, I HAD to do it. My heart is racing in my chest. I feel like back in the day when I used to preach in the middle of the open air of UNC Campus. It’s time to write the message as we live it. So, writers, get your pens ready. I have just jumped into the arena.

Blessings!
pd

Washington Post Question:
“Who Is Jesus.”

Dustin Hedrick’s Response:

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
- Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi

Can I just take a moment to apologize? My name is Dustin Hedrick and I pastor the Tapestry Church in Rockville, Maryland. I simply want to take a moment to apologize.

I want to apologize for the church that all of you know. I want to apologize for every pastor you have ever come into contact with. I want to say I AM SORRY.

I truly believe that the question that needs to be asked today is not, “Who was Jesus,” but why did the church ever stop demonstrating HIS life daily?

Your posts affected me today! I want to say thank you. Thank you for all of your critique, for your examination, for your responses and many of you sharing your pain and story. This is the kind of thing I need to hear and read. You guys are VERY honest. Sometimes I am not honest enough with myself.

Today I am faced with a brutal reality. And that is of my failure as a believer in this person called Jesus and his continued life as my Lord and GOD, because oftentimes my life is in stark contrast to HIS teachings.

You know, I believe that if I had spent the last 32 years of my life, living the message rather than simply speaking the message, things might have been a little different.

So, thank you. I am going to live different. I need to get some time alone today and think on these things and really dig into waht you all have said. I needed this.

You know what, the New Year is coming. This year, I am going to make my resolution to SHOW Jesus’ teachings and life more than SAY them. It’s time for my best message not to be my words spoken, but my life lived.

This year it’s time to give back, share more, love more, laugh a lot, encourage more people, care for the hurting, show kindness to those who need it, actually help the poor, visit, pray for and help the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, beleive for more miracles, be kind, turn the other cheek, listen more, talk less, run from crowds, pray alone, meditate, KNOW the Father daily, share wisdom, yet in humility, learn more, read HIS words daily in order to get to know His thoughts and ideas better, conserve more, consume less, help the homeless, not just give them stuff, but really care about them, smile, touch, care, weep with the broken, pray that the sick are healed, tell others about the Father and His love, fight for the underdog, visit the aged, help the widow, do more humanitarian aid around the world, spend more time in nature, sing, dance, shout, praise, take time to be with the disenfranchised, the outcast, the unwanted, love the unlovelies, hold babies.

I have so forgotten what it means when the story tellers of Jesus’ birth say, “he is Immanuel.” It means “God Comes Near.” he walked with us, talked with us, wept with us, felt our pain, lived with us, was tempted with us, stood firm for us, died for us and now lives daily knowing our trials, hurts, pains, fears and brokenness. He lived so that He could have compassion for us. That’s what this season is about. That’s what I have a forgotten. That the God of all creation would step out of the riches of glory to spend His first few human nights on earth with the stench of manure and the last few human hours on earth in utter agony. Not simply for the FUTURE that everyone says of going to an ethereal place called heaven, but to KNOW me. To understand me. GOD had come to be and feel with us. And the reason it’s important that He still lives, is because He is STILL WITH US! So, I am not alone. Never alone. You are not alone!

That’s Good News! Have you ever felt alone? He knows.

And now, the challenge that you all have given me today, the thing I have failed at for the last 13 years of my ministry apparently is to one person at a time, show this jesus through my life.

Thank you. I want to be the door for Immanuel today.

I really want to say thank you!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa and have a wonderful Chanukah DC,

Blessings!

pd

dustin hedrick
tapestrychurch.net

In an era when many churches are very quickly modernizing, casting aside traditions of the ancient Christian faith as dead weight or false beliefs, I am excited to say that we are revisiting some very special ones and starting some new ones.

It seems in this fast-paced, quick-changing, ever advancing era we live, we often make quick decisions about so many things including our spiritual lives and often irresponsibly cast things aside which should not be forgotten.

the Spirit of Christmas

I believe it’s time to build traditions, family, faith and values. One way you can do that this season, is to take time to make memories. Do things that are out of the ordinary this season and then do them EVERY year during this season.

Old Traditions:
This year, revisit some old traditions that are almost forgotten in your family. Take a few moments to think about the years past and your favorite memories of the season. Recreate them. Bring that spirit, that experience in your home today! Rekindle the joy and kindness of the season.

Some of my old traditions include:
1. Cutting down the Christmas tree out in the woods with dad.

(I will never forget the year he drug my brother and I through the woods as we attempted to help him carry the tree top! He literally took off running and Shannon and I clung for dear life! As dad flew through the woods at what seemed like 80 mile per hour speed limits, (Everything seems faster and bigger when you are a child), we were slung off and left to pick ourselves up and chase after the run away Christmas decoration!)

2. Putting the Christmas Tree up at Thanksgiving.

3. Eating TONS of food and the grandmothers’ houses!

4. Having enough snack food to last through the New Year!

(Mom always had the largest array of goodies you have EVER seen. Even during the tight years, we ALWAYS had goodies. Mom was amazing at finding a way to make Christmas seem special).

5. Trying to stay up all night and SEE Santa.

(Shannon and I were master Santa Trappers!)

6. Going to the Christmas Play at the church.

(I will never forget the year that our church decided to do a real, living Nativity. It was outdoors and had built props and live animals. It was enormous! Pudgie Collins and I weren’t able to see, so we decided to get a better look at the entire event by going to the second floor of the church. As I got over to the window and looked out, Pudgie, not thinking about what he was doing, turned the lights on! In moments, the whole outdoor pagent was illuminated! It seemed that heaven had opened up and shone a spotlight on the whole event. AAALLLLEEELLLUUUUIIIIAAA!!!

In my mind, I think you could almost hear Handel’s Messah ring out. However, it was anything but a glorious experience for those that were on the ground outside. Everyone in the crowd and in the play stopped what they were doing to see where this spotlight had come, looking up, they saw exactly where it had come from and they could see me standing at the window looking out! There was no escaping this one. I was caught! Needless to say, I got it when I got home. Yet, even now writing about it, I don’t see this as a bad memory. It’s not titled, “The Year I Ruined the Christmas Pageant.” I would call this story, “Spotlighting a Grand Tradition!” My mom would probably call it; “the Year Santa Almost Didn’t Come!” hahaha.)

7. Drinking Eggnog when we put up the Christmas Tree.

(Now, this is one of my latest additions, and I have to say that it is an old tradition in Lori’s family. But, this has quickly become one of my favorite traditions that we even do now as we put the tree up. When it’s all done, we turn off all the lights in the house and just leave on the Christmas lights and have a glass of eggnog while looking at our accomplishments).

8. Giving Home-Baked Goodies to the Neighbors.

(Mom would drive us through the country to each one of our Very distant neighbors to deliver goodies that we had made. She really knew how to make people smile!)

9. Helping those who had less than us.

(So many times, mom ran initiatives for the unfortunate and the unlovely. It was this faith tradition of compassion that led me to make this a part of our belief-set throughout the year at our church and in my family. But, I remember so many times she would find a family in the community, raise awareness and begin to take up donations and buy so much herself to give them a Christmas. Many times, throughout the year, mom would know what children in the kindergarten class she taught had needs and she would buy them clothes, shoes, and much more. She had a way of making sure that even during the tight years when we lived on a shoe-string budget, she was still able to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and encourage the hurting! I LOVE THIS TRADITION!)

10. Secret Giving

(You know, I think Saint Nicholas holds the corner office on this, however, there are a few others I would love to share with us: Mother Teresa, Jackie Pullinger, and the Secret Santa of Kansas City. I dare us to do the same! Just look at what Jesus said: CLICK HERE.

New Traditions:
I challenge you to start new traditions that breathe life into your holidays. Here are a few that we are doing and plan to do at the Hedrick Household. Maybe you want to expand on these or share others. Feel free to comment here and let your ideas be known.

1. Play Games & Put a Puzzle Together as a family.

(Lori and started this. We have a Christmas puzzle that we put together during the entire week. We leave it out and do it together. My love for puzzles came from my Granny Hass. She would often have a puzzle that she would leave out for a month and we would put it together in the afternoons when I rode the bus to her house after school).

2. Give to the Homeless & Needy.

(Well, we really do this all year long, because it’s something we believe in, however, it’s tons more fun to do it during this season. Right now, we are doing a coat drive and this month, we gave away scarves, gloves, sweaters, hot chocolate, candy canes, and much more. Monthly, we go play with the kids in the inner-city of DC. They just don’t get enough of that wholesome, adult interaction.

Weekly, we have groups that go to feed the homeless and we are always looking for new ways to reach out. Find someone or a family that you can spread cheer to by giving. Give them a McDonald’s gift card or something like that. Do it on purpose! GO LOOK FOR THEM! It’s so much fun to drive around looking for people to encourage!)

3. Try going to a mid-night mass at the local Catholic Church. It’s so BEAUTIFUL! This is something we LOVE to do especially in North Carolina. There is a precious Catholic Church there named St. Phillips and their Midnight Mass is the BEST!

4. Take a meal to a person that is shut-in. They LOVE the interaction! And it’s something we love to do. In this season, it’s good to remember the widow and the widower. Often, your smile is what they really need.

5. Light up your yard and your house!

(Share the season of lights with the whole community. Whether you think I am a redneck or not, it doesn’t matter to me. I LOVE LIGHTS! And the BIG blow up things are awesome! Right now in my yard, you will find a bush that is lit up, a huge blow-up snow man and a six-foot snow globe. The windows have candles and ice-cicle lights. I plan to do more next year just as soon as I am able to buy more on-sale stuff. And let me tell you, the neighbors LOVE IT! It’s all the things they would love to do, but don’t want to do to their yard! hahahaha).

6. Be nice to people working in retail and food service.

(REMEMBER! It’s their tough/busy season. So, show kindness. It means a lot to them. I like giving them a $5 Starbucks card. That cheers them up! I say something to the point of, “I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your hard work during this season… Have some Starbucks on me!”)

7. Let others have the best parking spaces.

(A new thing we are doing is parking far away and walking more. Hey, it’s not a big thing, but it will save your Christmas Spirit!)

8. TIME with family.

(Guys, this is time for family. Not, time for football. Just remember that you ONLY have maybe 100 of these your life and the average is less for men. However, you really only have 17-18 of these with you CHILD. And when they grow up, what traditions do you want them to repeat?! If you want the grandkids to visit when you are older, than take the kids to see grandpa and grandma now! Play together, eat together, spend time together, laugh together, make memories together. It’s these memories they will cherish when you are gone.)

9. TIME with GOD.

(THE REASON FOR ALL OF THIS IS JESUS! Let us never forget! GOD came and was with us as a baby. He left a throne for a stall, robes for rags, angels for shepherds and beauty for pain. So, take time EVERY Christmas to tell the story. As a matter of fact, the brand new tradition I have started is reading the story from Max Lucado’s book, “GOD Came Near.” I read the first passage every year at church and we talk about GOD coming to be with us. Take time to tell the story! Dad’s, I think you are a loser if you make the moms do this! So, get your lazy over-filled selves up and read to your kids.)

10. We go watch a movie on Christmas night. At the Tapestry, it’s become an annual thing. This is one way Lori and I make ourselves available to share our family with others in our area who don’t have family to hang out with. We go get dinner and watch a movie. It is so encouraging.

So, don’t do the same old same old this Christmas. MAKE MEMORIES! I believe that these memories will be the teachers of tomorrow. As our young ones grow, they will be constantly drawn back to the sites, sounds and experiences that made them laugh, that brought them joy, that stirred wonder and that made them fell fulfilled.

Make the most of your Christmas! Make Memories! Make Traditions!

Have a wonderful holiday season and may the Lord truly bless you and yours!

Merry Christmas!

Blessings!

pd


dustinhedrick

PS, Tapestry, we meet at 5pm at the PD & Lori’s house to go out for our 3rd Annual Dinner & a Movie. All are welcome! And we have no services on Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, 2006.

We have a Jam Packed holiday season for you! So, there is no reason in the world that any one of us should feel alone this Christmas!

Read on for Lori’s update letter that feature’s the Tapestry Schedule for this week!

Blessings!

pd


dustinhedrick

We have got a jam packed weekend coming up. If if doesn’t feel like christmas now, it sure will when this weekend is over. Please join us for all of it or just join us for a part.

Friday, December 15th, 2006

Dinner and a Movie

The showings are at 7 and 10 at Regeal. Later this week Rio will let me know their show times, so we might be able to find a 9ish showing. Dinner will be at any of the resturants beside the theater. More details to come! Because it is opening night, you MUST reply to this email by thursday at noon, to let me know are interested in attending so we can pre-order tickets.

The Pursuit of Happyness

Rating: PG-13 - some language

Cast: Will Smith, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Thandie Newton
Synopsis: Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a bright and talented, but marginally employed salesman. Struggling to make ends meet, Gardner finds himself and his five-year-old son evicted from their San Francisco apartment with nowhere to go. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, he and his son endure many hardships, including living in shelters, in pursuit of his dream of a better life for the two of them.

Saturday, December 16th, 2006

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree…..!

We will be going down to DC to look at the Christmas Tree. Afterwards, we will go to Su’s house for some light refreshments, egg nog and apple cider! Call and we can give you her address so you can mapquest it. Or there will be a carpool leaving from PD’s house at 3:30. If you would like to bring anything, you may bring your favorite holiday cookies. (Fidelis they cannot be sugar-free and they have to be homemade)

Sunday, December 17th, 2006

3rd Annual Tapestry Christmas Party with a Wacky Gift Exchange

We will have a shortened service this Sunday and then head on over to PD’s house for some yummy catered food as well as time to hang out with great friends and show our true colors once we start to exchange the gifts everyone brought. Please bring a wrapped unisex gift, without a nametag, and the value no more than $10.

If you have ANY questions, please feel free to email me: (Click Here)

If you are not able to make it to all of the events this weekend, my hope is that you will make it for the party at our home on the 17th.

Blessings on your day and week,

Lori

Also, please don’t forget guys, we WILL NOT be having service on Sunday, December 24, 2006. PLEASE enjoy time with your family and spend time sharing the Christmas story together! At the Tapestry, we want you to take time to be together, travel and make memories with your loved ones! So, this is a chance for you to slow down and spend quality time together! We WILL be having service on Sunday, December 31, 2006 and will return to regular schedule at that time! Blessings!

And Monday Night, December 25, 2006, after the turkey is finished, the gravy and mashed potatoes are done, the presents have been ripped open and the whole enchilada is coming to a close, we will be having our 3rd Annual Christmas night Dinner and a movie. We will be going to see the Nativity Story. This event is open to everyone, but is focused on all of us who are displaced during this holiday season away from family and who would like to do something with our church family!

OK, that picture is kind of funny, but the heartbeat of what we want to do is VERY serious!

The Tapestry is getting busy this season making sure that the homeless we reach out to all year long with our meals outreach will have coats for the winter. As many of you heard, this last week, a homeless person was found near the Discovery Building in Silver Spring after the temperature drop, having passed away.

Let’s remember in this season of giving, that they are people too! They are somebody’s momma, somebody’s daddy, somebody’s sister, somebody’s brother, somebody’s aunt, somebody’s uncle and if not that, somebody’s baby. Let’s treat them like they are ours! We believe that we have been placed here for a reason and that reason is to reach out to our brother and sister. So, let’s DO IT!!!

Here’s how you can help.

Please bring in any extra MEN’s coats, socks, gloves, sweatshirts, etc.

Starting NOW and going till it gets warm.

Blankets are welcome too!

All donations are tax deductible through “the Tapestry.” Just, be sure to ask for a receipt should you need it and one will be sent by the end of January for your tax records.

Thanks so much!

Blessings!

pd


dustinhedrick

…The traffic light change.

I mean, have you noticed just how slowly the traffic moves during Christmas? On Rockville Pike, I found out that they literally change the traffic pattern so that you get stopped more at the strip-malls and store-fronts. This year they said that they were starting the pattern change earlier than last year!

I mean, it seems we can’t hardly get through Halloween before we are rushing into the Christmas season. The Halloween stuff goes on sale for 75% off on November 1st and there right beside it are the Christmas trees! I feel sorry for Thanksgiving. That poor holiday seems to be almost totally forgotten! Oh, that’s not true. That’s right, it is a long weekend. Which brings me to the traffic coming home to Rockville after being in North Carolina or flying back after being in Georgia. UNREAL!

And here I am back at the traffic discussion again. So, why the bitter diatribe? It’s actually NOT a tirde, but an encouragement. I am actually on the other side of the computer screen chuckling to myself, encouraging you to step away from the computer, walk out of the mall, slow down the hurry and take moments to make memories.

I mean, if you live 90 years, you ONLY get 90 Christmases. And let’s be honest, you probably don’t remember the first 5. Don’t let this one pass you by.

MAKE MEMORIES
SLOW DOWN
LAUGH A LOT
HUG FAMILY & FRIENDS
Remember old acquaintenances
Tell stories
Sit by a fire or the fan, depending on which hemisphere in which you live.
Put up decorations
Make Traditions
Love
Live

And don’t be consumed by the pace, the glitter, the glamour and the over-spending of the season.

They call us consumers, but often it seems that we are the ones being consumed by a society frought with empty bellies, yet so much to eat. There is more to this season. It’s about Family, it’s about giving (and not giving until you are in debt for the rest of the year) and mainly about Jesus.

There was a child born in Bethlehem. He was and is called Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace. Do Not Fear, this is not for your harm. He will save all people from their sins and will cleanse from iniquity. HARK!

So, as you are caught in front of the stores and strip malls by the rediculous traffic patterns in your life, take a moment to break a pattern. Step out of the normal rush of the season and stop to spend time knowing HIM and getting to know others! Talk to HIM, Make Memories, enjoy the season.

And family, we look forward to seeing you here at the Tapestry on the 17th, but not the 24th. Because we want you to slow down and break the pattern of rush.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Blessings!

pd


dustinhedrick

I decided to write a short funny as our response to the Da Vinci Code phenomenon. It’s amazing how seriously we take ourselves in the church. I think the Lord wants us to have more fun this year and stress less. So, I wrote this to hopefully bring a little light and perspective to something that has been way overdone!

Click Here for the Whitepaper Article

Enjoy!

Blessings!

pd


dustinhedrick

I don’t know about you, but this morning, it felt just a little more like Christmas than usual didn’t it? Yesterday was the first Sunday of the advent season and I have to tell you, I was revived and encouraged being with you all!

Isn’t it amazing that the days get a little darker, the temperature drops, we hear a forecast of snow and all of a sudden, the spirit lightens, the stress from a busy fall fades away, school starting, work loads getting heavier and business year’s end seems a million miles away as you begin to think about Christmas parties, bonuses, raises, family, traditions, children, gift-giving, time off, relationships and much more!

So, as you find your heart strangely warmed by thoughts of Christmas movies and nativity scenes, let’s not overlook one very important part of the season… Helping others. St. Nicholas was not the first, but possibly the most well-remembered (Santa Claus) that focused on the giving of the season. If you would like to read more about his life, click here. And his life of secret gift-giving. You know, it was Jesus that said when we do our giving, we should do it in secret. The part I like about that verse is the implied, “when.” You know, he didn’t say “if.” He said “when!”

Giving is a requirement! And do you know what’s funny about this? This is NOT a sermon or a talk to encourage you to give to the church. Do you know why? Because Lori and I so believe in this church, that we are always willing to do what we did in the beginning and cover EVERY cost. It cost us everything to start and we are always willing to give what we have to keep it going and right now church, we are totally supported by your gifts. So, all the applause goes to YOU!

Actually, I want to encourage some secret giving this season. I know this may pull money for the ministry, but that doesn’t bother me at all. I want to encourage every one of us to do an equal if not double amount of giving this year off in secret that we do in public! That could also include your time.

I mean, there are tons of soup kitchens, homeless shleters, and outreaches that could use your time, old items and finance. Find at least one and do some extravagant giving!!!!

What about this? We have a ministry to the poor that feeds the homeless. What about contacting Seung and Hoang and saying, “Hey, I want to give to it. Or even better yet, I want to give my time to this!” And then go give!

What about finding a family in your neighborhood or that you know that might need a little pick-me-up during the season and making them a loaf of pumpkin bread or even just a visit?

What about visiting a retirement home and taking cookies or something. It doesn’t matter if they know you. Some of them don’t remember their own families, so any person is a good as the next. They simply NEED relationship!

And then there is one of my favorites. There is GSF. (Go Spread Fire). GSF will be doing outreach in Rockville and DC as usual this weekend. So, Saturday, I encourage you to come with us and let’s do something. Let’s give back. Hide out for a minute from the rush and flow of the season and come with us to pray, minister, do outreach (sharing smiles), do kid’s ministry in inner-city DC (making friends) and have a renewal service (renewing relationship) where we will reconnect with GOD together. Guys, it’s going to be great and you are invited. It starts at 8AM, but you are welcome to join us at any point during the day. Click here for a schedule and come. Let’s go together and Remember the reason for the season.

The Reason is Jesus! Didn’t he say that when you do it for the least of these, you do it for me? People in need don’t need us, they need Jesus. However, we need them so we can SEE Jesus! Let’s go look for where our Father is working and join HIM. Let’s go find Jesus. Let’s go give back to our Lord through kind acts to others.

Let’s GO!

You be the SANTA!

Well guys, have a wonderful Christmas Season. I look forward to spending some of it with you, especially for the Christmas party,(see last week’s post for details). You are the greatest family in the universe… the Tapestry! WOOT!

Blessings!

pd
dustinhedrick