The Urban Bridge book club resumes for fall 2009 with the book, “Colors Of The Mountain”. If you like reading and discussing good books in community, the Urban Bridge book club is for you.

This meeting will be held at the home of Dorothy and Randy Ritz at 11344 66st at 6 PM

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

Thanks to Aaron Vanimere for capturing the excellent images from our time with artist Lewis Lavoie a few weeks ago.

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

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.

Calling all artists!

City Centre is putting on another art show at the end of this month, and we have the opportunity to get involved.

They are looking for filmmakers, photographers, painters, singers … all artists really … who’d like to show their art at this event.

You can get more details on their website at

The Book Club meets at various homes at 6 PM on Saturdays.

NEXT BOOK CLUB

Our next meeting is at 7 pm on Sat. Jan. 24th. It will be held at Beth McLachlan’s home which is located at #21 (third floor) 11906 104 St. Ring buzzer #21 to get in. In case you need to phone her, you can do so at 780-868-0312. We will be discussing “The Kite Runner” and Beth will also be serving dessert. See you there!

Down the Road

Watch for the next meeting March 28.

For more information contact Jeff Hamm jv.hamm@gmail.com or 780-998-7898

Karla and Gary Adolphe and Caleb Friesen are more than a band to Urban Bridge – they are a bit of our extended family.

You can read more about our ongoing relationship on this page.

This coming week, we get to have a family reunion! If you’ve not yet met Karla, Gary and Caleb (I know, the name thing can get confusing – ask them about it!) this is a great time to really get to know them.

The crew will be with our church all week, starting the 15th, and there will be many different settings to meet up with them. Here is the schedule for the week …

Friday, Aug 15 – 7 PM – Jacob and Lily Concert at The Carrt
Saturday, Aug 16 – 9 AM – Creative Design Team meets with Karla, Gary and Caleb
Sunday, Aug 17 – 10 AM – Karla and Gary Adolphe will lead our regular morning gathering
Sunday, Aug 17 – 12 PM – Karla, Gary and Caleb join us at the Von Bieker’s for lunch
Tuesday, Aug 19 – 7:30 PM – Karla and Caleb meet with the Songwriters’ group at the McLachlan’s home

If you can make any of these events, don’t miss your opportunity to hear the heart of these innovative “arts missionaries”. After all, that’s just another term for bridge builders.