late night baking.

It is 11:26pm. 
Sitting on my kitchen floor,
I smell sweet bananas filling the air. 
My favorite place in my home is my kitchen.
People naturally gather here- around the table.
It is one of the most peaceful places for me.  
Tonight, I let thoughts of a busy day and things I forgot to do pass by. 
This place is a place of peace. 

...

Earlier this evening, my friends and I were chatting about what it would be like to open a bakery. I have always thought it would be fun, but I don't know if I could actually do it. It is moments like what I experienced these last 2 hours that I would not want to exchange for the chaos of opening a small business. Baking is one thing I do when I need to clear my mind. It allows me to be creative, but also have a definite ending. I know what will turn out when I put bananas, flour, vanilla, eggs, baking soda, and a handful of other ingredients together. Baking also allows me to try new things. It can challenge me when I have to figure out what I have to substitute a missing ingredient. The end product of baking is also great because it is food.

The word alive is something I have been thinking a lot about over the last 3 months. God continues to remind me that it is important to be doing things that make me feel alive. This year, I am going to focus on what brings me joy.

Baking and cooking in general is something that gives me life. More than that, however, it is what I do after I bake. I am able to share what I have made with people. Food always tastes better when you can enjoy it at a table with other people. Baking lends itself to be a wonderful way to gather people.

Being with people also makes me feel alive.

What makes you feel alive?

concert series- a third space.

This is my latest Source update. If you want to be on my email list, please email me at jillian.wilzbacher@gmail.com. I send out stories of my experiences, what is going on at Source and the Annex, event info, and prayer requests. 
 

Hello!

Have you ever had an idea that you were unsure about? Last June, my friend Jordan and I had the idea to start hosting monthly concerts at Source. He has many connections in the Minneapolis music scene, has marketing experience, can understand what it's like to be in a band, and would go to a concert every week if he could. I understand the ins and outs of hosting a Source event, enjoy going to shows, and have PR experience. Together we make a good team. Despite these positives, I was a bit nervous to take on this task. It would be another event to add to my schedule and I wasn't sure if we would be able to get many people to come. 

After more discussion and prayer, the Fallout Concert Series was created. 

There have been three concerts thus far. Hosting them has been hard. We have had long nights because of a small number of volunteers staying till the end. Money has not flown in. Communication with some bands has been hard.

With each concert, however, we have learned numerous things. We have only heard positive feedback about the venue. Bands have asked if  they could play again. There are attendees who have come to every concert. 
  
Again, in my mind, the positives outweigh the negatives. 

Our vision for the concert series is to be a third space. A first space is one's home. A second place is one's workplace. These are the two places people spend the most time. Third spaces have been called by Ray Oldenburg, "the 'anchors' of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction." To me, a third space is a place people can do life together. It could be a pub, a coffee shop, a music venue, a park, the neighborhood bar, etc. Third spaces are informal gathering places that become a home away from home.

www.facebook.com/events/644552228932374/

 We are still learning how to make the concerts a third space, but I see it happening. Please pray for us to find the right people to be on our monthly volunteer teams. Also, pray that we would be able to continue to build relationships with the band members and attendees.
The concerts are usually on the second Friday of each month, but this month we had to change the date. On Saturday, February 15, we are hosting a benefit concert for the Annex Network. You can click on the link to find out more information about the show.

I would love for all of you to come to this concert or another one to experience this third space. I would also encourage you to figure out what your third spaces are and be present at them. Get to know more than your barista's name, tip the waitress extra next time you go out, or become a regular somewhere. It will change your perspective on your social life and the people you interact with on a weekly basis.

Cheers!
Jillian