Save the date for the third annual Bridge Songs on June 5th 2010. This year the theme is Faerie.

When: Friday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 p.m.

Where: Birch Bay Ranch (51505 Range Road 215, Sherwood Park, AB.) You can check out directions here: http://www.webhome.look.ca/~birchbay/page25.html

Who: Anyone who is currently involved or would like to be involved in the worship ministry at UBC.

What: The purpose of this weekend is to allow an opportunity for all the people involved to grow together as a team, gain a greater understanding of leadership, and have an opportunity for spiritual renewal as we worship and pray together.  We will also spend time writing worship songs for our community and being challenged by a guest speaker.

Cost: The whole weekend will be $40/person including food.

Please bring: Pillow, sleeping bag/bedding, your personal stuff, and your instrument (if it can be transported)

“We are hoping that as many people as possible will be able to participate in the UBC Worship Retreat.  If you plan to attend, you need to let me know by Sunday, October 18.  If you are only able to attend a portion of the weekend, please let me know as well, so that we can let Birch Bay know our numbers for meals.

I am looking forward to all that God has in store for us for this retreat.  I encourage you to prepare for this weekend by praying and asking God to show us his dreams for this important ministry.

Kirsten”

To save a spot, or for more information, you can email Kirsten at kirstschmidt@gmail.com.

Every year I look forward to new surprises, risks, experiments and community at the Bridge Songs music and arts night, and every year, my expectations are exceeded.

There is something so beautiful about art in community. The risks and rewards, the last minute mad-dashes and finishing touches. The revelations of how the world looks through the eyes of another. The talents and gifts you never saw until now. The blur-speed pace and the connection between a room full of living breathing souls. And then it’s all done.

Bridge Songs 09 felt like my wedding day. Months worth of planning and anticipation poured into a few hours that moved too quickly to be captured. But after a few weeks, we can look back, break it down and in our remembrance, savor it.

There were many highlights to savor.

First, the process of getting there. Our theme, Be Not Afraid, played itself out in our lives as the artists involved took many risks, some performing, showing and recording for the first time. And it poured out onto our canvases and lyrics as well. Through our exploration of fear, we discovered it’s antidotes. Honesty, openness, courage and community. Faith and perfect love. The individual stories of such discoveries will be what I remember most.

And then there was the event itself.

Lewis Lavoie’s involvement broadened the live arts aspect as he created a picture of a dragon slayer while Andy Mulcair and others performed a live electronic soundscape. TJ McLachlan and my own adventures into the realm of Camera Obscura proved fruitful indeed. There were 60 odd minutes of irreproducible magic that night as our actresses (thanks Stephanie and Sarah) portrayed the destruction and recreation of self image, projected upside down into an 8 foot blackened cube. It was a combination of video, performance, nature and construction that’s hard to explain – you’ll have to check the photos. The art gallery brought many new talents into the light and challenged old ones to bring forth new works. Edward Van Vliet’s figure drawings inviting the audience into the creation process as dozens approached a table and created their own mini-pieces reflecting on the theme, Be Not Afraid. Joseph Gurba, “The Joe”, passionately recited verse and rhyme. Poet Michelle Earle added her own words to the frenzy. And for the final chapter, 9 songwriters performed 10 songs, written and honed in community, on instruments and genres ranging from hard rock to banjo to timpani (thanks to Dan Sabo!).

All of this took place in a venue that we will likely call our new Bridge Songs home; the Avenue Theatre. Jonny and his crew were more than accommodating and the feel of the old theater was a perfect fit. It helps that it is in the heart of Edmonton’s newest arts district, Alberta Avenue, a place fast becoming one of Urban Bridge’s many homes.

There were things we learned and things we will do better next time out. For one, we are looking to create a more immersive gallery space. But overall, this was a fantastic, magical night. I can’t thank enough all of the people who pulled together to make this happen. Beth, Kristin, Dave, TJ, Tim, Jonny, Aaron, Cheryl, and by mentioning some I’m in danger of forgetting some, and certainly I have, so I apologize. The scope of an event like this is huge, yet not one of us felt overwhelmed or stressed when June 6 rolled around. This truly is a picture of what can happen when Christ’s Creative Body moves in step with Him, creating a light bright enough to draw in the waiting, watching world. For 180 brave moments, we created hope in the face of fear.

Watch for more information on Bridge Songs: Faerie, next year’s not-to-miss event next year. It’s shaping up to be pretty darn exciting.

View photos from Bridge Songs 09 here

It’s an Urban Bridge summer tradition – storytime.

This year’s tale takes us deep into the eyes of Doogal, a subterranean outcast with a special gift.

You’ll hear a chapter each Sunday until August during our Urban Abridged service (Sundays at 10 AM at the Royal Alberta Museum Theatre. The journey begins this Sunday, July 5.

Bridge Songs invites you to share your art with the community!

Art should be a meditation on the theme “Be Not Afraid”, and we are looking for many different angles and many different forms. To submit work(s), simply download and submit the form below. Your form can be emailed or brought to an Urban Bridge Church meeting any Sunday between 10 AM and noon at the Royal Alberta Museum.

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY SUNDAY, MAY 24th.

Download the Art Submission Form here

Find more information about Bridge Songs: Be Not Afraid here

Get your knit on Sunday 26 of April 12:30 pm.

Bring a lunch and come prepared to relax and enjoy your afternoon.

Location 7712-83 ave.

Contact Cheryl Muth cherylmuth@shaw.ca

April 24th – Dave Von Bieker at The Carrot
Time: 7:30 PM. Cover: $5.
Come hear some new songs and a new banjo!

Cora McLachlan and Dave Von Bieker are performing together at The Blue Chair

Time: 8 PM. Cover: $10.

A rare treat! Cora and Dave will be playing together on each other’s songs as well as doing some solo songs. Come for great food, atmosphere, community and of course music.