The CORE website:
For all who may read this, fans and critics alike, we’re not going to try and “sell” you on anything or try to convince you to see things from our perspective. However, we do feel we need to clarify our stance on some things as there are far too many incorrect assumptions out there. And, since we cannot force people to put the best construction on our actions all we can do is make it very clear what we at The CORE believe and if people want to skew that or twist it then so be it.
Let’s start with this: We DO NOT believe there is anything inherently wrong with traditional worship. We are not saying that everyone has to worship the way we plan to. For some, an organ and a traditional worship space are wonderful. For others, however, that fails to connect with where they are at in their spiritual walk of faith. Would you force a mission congregation in the middle of Africa to worship in a traditional worship space with a pipe organ? We highly doubt it. You would allow them to make their culture a part of how they do corporate worship. Why then is it any different here? We will do worship with screens and a band because we believe there are thousands of Lost souls who need Jesus and that more modern music is a way to engage them so that we are able to share the Gospel with them.
If you have ever been to one of our worship services you know that the Law and Gospel are very clearly presented. There is no sugar coating or watering down the Word. Ski’s sermons slap you in the face with your sin and also offer you God’s grace and forgiveness through his Son’s death on the cross. We will regularly celebrate the Lord’s Supper together at an altar of sorts even if it may not look like the altar you have in your church and Lord willing will celebrate many baptisms at a baptismal font that also may not look like the one you have in your church. We don’t believe the early Christian’s worshiped with an organ in a building with pews, an altar, a baptismal font, and stained glass windows. Would you still call what they did worship? We certainly would.
Numbers in and of themselves do not equal success. But the fact that numbers represent souls who heard the Gospel at any given service? Now in that regard, they do represent success. Even if the only ones present were ourselves, the Law and Gospel preached in their truth and purity equals success. Can we do anything to add to that Law and Gospel? Most certainly not. However, we CAN do and often actually do a ton to distract people from the truth of God’s Word. Our unkind words and actions towards our fellow believers is a prime example of that.
We love that critics conveniently overlook the fact that we say over and over again “Christ is at the core of everything we do as a church.” That’s pretty hard to criticize now, isn’t it? If you are skeptical of what we do, we don’t blame you. However, before you criticize, all we ask is that come to a service and see for yourself what it is that we do. See that the Law and Gospel are preached; that we don’t have to compromise our beliefs in any way to reach people in a different way.
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.’” Acts 5:38-39
Janinne Skorzewski at 3:10pm February 21
Well said!
Pamela Plamann at 7:18am February 22
A BIG thank you to The Core for reaching out to those that are in dyer (sic) need of having Christ in their lives.
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Keep an eye on: The Big Picture
February 21, 2009
What's the issue: The state's only large-format theater closed its doors Oct. 15 after 19 months of operation.
The Big Picture Theater of Adventure and Discovery began operations at 215 E. Washington St. on March 19, 2005.
In an interview with The Post-Crescent, co-owner Jim Bork, president of Big Picture Concepts, said low attendance led to the closure, which put 13 employees out of work.
The building is for sale.
Why is it important: The $5.1 million, 300-seat theater opened showing educational films such as "Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West."
The top adult ticket price was $8.50. It was later reduced to $7.50.
In September, the theater played host to a Star Trek convention, showing films like "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan."
The local Wildwood Film Festival held its fifth annual event at The Big Picture in April.
The theater, which boasts a screen 80 feet wide and 60 feet tall, closed after a well-received foreign film festival.
The city had deeded the property, formerly occupied by a printing company, to Bork and co-owners Chuck and Donna Barnum with a promise the owners would repay a city investment in the property.
The city improved the property years before the theater project was proposed.
Bork told The Post-Crescent attendance was less than half of the 200,000 to 250,000 the theater needed annually to meet financial obligations.
By August 2006, the theater was $4 million in debt, including $1.6 million owed to the city of Appleton.
The theater made one partial payment of $74,724.46 on that debt. In its developer's agreement with the city, the theater was responsible for 14 annual installments in $118,400.
The city has not foreclosed on the property.
— By Steve Wideman
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Big Picture Could See Big Regional Draw
Marketplace , Jan 25, 2005 by Lebrun, Margaret
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Jim Bork and partner Chuck Barnum are after a "wow" factor when they open The Big Picture Theater of Adventure & Discovery in downtown Appleton in March. The state's second large-format film theater boasts an 80-foot wide and 6-story high screen and seating for about 300.
Under construction since last fall, the 19,000-square-foot, $51 million project has been a dream of Bork's for years. He recalls seeing largeformat films in larger cities across the country and being wowed" by the experience.
"I remember thinking that would play well in this area," says Bork, who spent 25 years with Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent) and the last seven years teaching business and social sciences at Fox-Valley Technical College. "The films are family friendly and they have a little educational value. This is a family area, and we're anticipating success here."
Bork and Barnum, who owned an Appleton nursing home, bought the 215 E. Washington St. site from the city of Appleton with a tax incremental financing arrangement.
The Big Picture's executive director, Ed Bisaillon, played a big role in bringing the Humphrey IMAX to Milwaukee in 1998. Bisaillon has also been involved in large-format theaters in Nebraska, Illinois and Ohio. In Hastings, Nebraska, the museum he directed more than quadrupled its annual 50,000 attendance when it added a large-format movie screen. He expects Appleton's theater to draw 250,000 a year.
"The fact that one of these large-format theaters is coming to Northeast Wisconsin is a real feather in the cap of the area," Bisaillon says.
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Big Picture’s name is no exaggeration
By Stefanie Scott
Walking into the lobby of The Big Picture Theater of Adventure & Discovery, the smell of buttery popcorn hits the senses and makes the stomach rumble.
From the framed movie posters on the wall to the box office where tickets are sold, it seems like a typical day at the movies.
But once patrons make their way into the theater portion of the facility, they immediately realize they’re not entering the local Cineplex. The immense movie screen hovers before them measuring 80 feet wide and six stories tall.
“It was just huge,” said Dvin Kohls, 10, of Winneconne, who recently viewed “Everest,” a dramatic true story of climbers who tried to make it to the summit of the magnificent mountain. “The whole thing was just great. If I had the chance, I’d come back all the time.”
Kohls and his buddies said they never expected the film to be so exciting, but that the action and special effects rival that of summer blockbuster movies.
The Big Picture, 215 E. Washington St., downtown Appleton, opened its doors in March providing family-friendly, non-violent films about science, nature and history.
“I was the dreamer behind this,” said Jim Bork, one of The Big Picture owners. “For many years, I wanted to bring this to the Fox Cities. The facility couldn’t have turned out better.”
The screen size and sound system create an immersive experience extending beyond the field of vision so viewers feel like they’re part of the film.
Doug Nelson and son Cody, 10, definitely felt like they had been transported from the streets of Appleton to the Himalayan mountains.
“When the woman slid down the rope and started spinning, I felt like I was spinning,” said the younger Nelson.
His father recalls a collective sigh from the audience as the picture panned over the steep cliffs.
In fact, the overwhelming quiet spoke volumes to the father who knows that kids only remain silent when they’re truly captivated.
“It was exciting because you never knew what was going to happen next,” Cody said.
Keeping with a complete theater experience, co-owner Chuck Barnum gets groups together to take a picture before the film. He climbs high on a ladder and gets a bird eye view for the visitors to take home as a memento, he said.
“When the kids leave, they always say they’ll be back,” Barnum said. “My motivation for being a part of this is to provide an exceptional experience and when they say that, I know we’re connecting.”
The theater shows three different large-format documentary films throughout the day. In addition to “Everest,” The Big Picture currently presents one or two other large-format movies.
A new film will replace an existing one every month and a half. “Speed,” a film about the human drive to go faster will debut in summer 2005. Shows typically last an hour, with seven showings daily.
The owners like to gauge audience reaction to the films. “In the pre-show, when they see some of the special effect, they’re just like ‘Wow,’ with their mouths hanging open – that’s really rewarding,” Bork said.
Theater management likens their films to programming seen on the Discovery and National Geographic channels. Topics for large-format films range from ocean creatures to car racing, many often crated in a first-person perspective.
“It gives kids a chance to experience history rather than just read it out of a textbook,” Bork said.
The local owners invested $5.1 million to make The Big Picture the second large-format theater in Wisconsin. While the Milwaukee Public Museum operates an IMAX system, the Appleton theater uses German-made Kinoton product.
The theater uses special, large film called 8/70 – a single frame measures four times larger than standard 35 mm and captures more details and boasts clarity, vivid detail and realism.
A 7,000-watt projector lamp brings brightness to the production. The system proves 3-D capable, a technology that filmmakers say they will be making more use of in the future.
Clear, crisp sound effects emit from the digital Dolby sound system.
Every one of the 298 roomy seats have been carefully arranged to ensure an obstructed view. Customers always get the best seat in the house.
The Big Picture has already received tremendous response from school and other youth groups. Now they hope the summer will bring more family outings and tourists.
“We really want to appeal to the family market,” Bork said. “This is the type of place grandparents, parents and kids can enjoy together.”
Sally Korn was excited to hear about the new facility because she had taken her three kids – ranging in age from 11 to 18 – to several similar theaters around the Midwest.
“We’ve always enjoyed these movies,” she said. “We’ve been going since the youngest was 3 years old.”
In addition to the exciting, edu-tainment that The Big Picture has already been showing, the management hopes to mix it up a bit this summer with a few classic Hollywood titles.
While the theater stands out for its ability to show large-format films, it can also present 5/70 film, the format in which many early Hollywood movies was shot. Although no specific titles have been chosen, Bork says “How the West was Won,” “2001 Space Odyssey” and “Sound of Music,” are just a few of the well-known films created in this format.
“We’re not interested in competing with area cinemas or making a steady diet of these movies, but we want to expose people to what’s available,” Bork said.
The facility offers assistive listening devices and wheelchair spaces with companion sitting on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Patrons should arrive about 20 minutes before a showing to ensure a seat. Refreshments such as popcorn, nachos, candy and soda are sold at the lobby concession stand.
The gift shop sells souvenirs from books to stuffed animals with an educational focus. DVDs of some of the other large format documentaries are available in the shop.
Tickets available online at www.bigpicturetheater.com or by phone at (920) 731-7700. The box office is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Prices are $8.50 for ages 12 to 59, $7.50 for 60 and older, $6.50 for children ages 3 to 11. Matinees offer a 50 cent discount. Stay for additional films for $4.50 each. Children under 3 should sit on the lap of parent.
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GJ - The Appleton area already has a surplus of WELS congregations, and many in the area are not happy with this new development.
It would be interesting to see the budget and who is paying the bills. A building that large is an energy hog, even before the 20 Sub-Woofers Behind That Screen! are fired up.
