The Seventh Story – Week 3 (3.3.24)

Teresa and Chris (from Palestine) share thoughts on the third story in our series — the Story of Purification.

The Seventh Story – Week 4 (3.10.24)

Teresa leads us through the Story of Isolation.

We Choose….Boldness (2/4/24)

We are choosing to be bold — to take risks, to purposefully keep a compelling vision close to our heart, and to lean into each other.

We Choose….Inclusivity (1/21/24)

Jesus is our example, and at every turn Jesus extends welcome to all. Those on the margins, those society considered ‘last’, those disregarded are all included.

Within the community Jesus creates, we find significant difference (socio-economic, political, gender). This is by choice. Jesus chooses to include those who he knew would disagree — those who would see the world very differently — those who the world would say should be opponents, if not enemies.

What happens when we choose to include? What happens to us? What happens to the world? We consider these questions together.

We Choose – Humility (1/7/24)

Who do we want to be?
Who will we choose to be?

These are questions often asked at the beginning of a new year. And while related, they are not the same.
We may want to be many things — or to change much — but without a choice (likely, many, daily choices) those desires will go unrealized.
We must be intentional – purposeful.

Together we consider three choices Jesus invites us to make. This week, that choice is humility.
Luke 18:9-14

Christmas Eve – There is Always Room

From moving trucks to our hope for reconciliation to an inn (or house) in Bethlehem, it often feels like there is no room. No room for repair. No hope of things getting better. No space for this or that group. But the Christmas story reminds us that God is able to make room, to make the last first, to find space for all, to open our often-closed hearts.

Advent – Week 4 (12.17.23)

For the final Sunday of Advent we consider the power of song – especially the way in which it can help rekindle hope.

As we sing multiple carols, hear poetry and consider what lyrics to our own song of hope might sound like, we work together to find strength and resolve to move toward the lives and world we are invited to by God.

Advent – Week 3 (12.10.23)

As we considered last week, it is possible for joy to surprise us and show up at any moment, in any circumstance.

This week, Elliott shares the story of the days following John the Baptist’s birth – a story in which Zachariah’s muteness ends and he breaks into a song of sorts — a blessing for the world and for his son.

In this story, awe and wonder are prevalent. In fact, they are prevalent in all of the stories surrounding Jesus’ birth. What do we make of this? Is there a connection between awe and joy? And is it possible to cultivate awe in our everyday lives?

Advent – Week 2 (12.3.23)

“Choose joy!” This phrase has become an anthem of sorts, but is it true? Is joy something we choose? Can we, therefore, do certain things to create or manufacture joy?

We look at the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah and explore these questions, working to clarify what joy is and how it arrives in our lives.

The good news is that joy can be present in any circumstance, at any time. Even when we are weary and worn.

Advent – Week 1 (11.26.23)

Our theme this year is “how does a weary world rejoice?”.

We’re borrowing that line from the Christmas carol, O Holy Night. It’s a line that holds tension and hope. Tension because both weariness and joy are present at the same time and hope because…well…weariness and joy are present at the same time.

This morning we consider the ways in which we doubt joy and even resist it. We explore the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth – a story of both weariness and joy — and let it inspire us to consider how we might more and more become people ready to receive joy when it sneaks “into the cracks of our imperfect life”.

What is Mine to Do?

Teresa follows up on the conversation we had about Israel/Palestine (on 10/29) by asking the question – what is ours to do? How do we move toward wholeness in the face of so much that is wrong; in the face of constant pressure to perform; in the face of a belief that we should be able to fix all things?

Q&A on Israel/Palestine

After our gathering we had a discussion on the current war, the decades of conflict that have preceded it and what it might cause us to wrestle with in our own lives here and now.

Two things I’m wrestling with as I watch the war in Israel and Gaza

The attacks by Hamas, as well as Israel’s response, have created so much pain and destruction. Our hearts are heavy with the weight of this war and the decades long conflict that has preceded it.

What are we to do in the face of such violence and loss? What can we do, if anything?

Chris shares some of his wrestlings from the last few weeks and invites us to wrestle too — not just with this war on the other side of the world, but with the way vengeance and demonization can easily took root in our own lives.

After our gathering, we had 30 minutes of Q&A, which can be found here

Core Values – Week 5: Courageous Creativity

This is a moment in history full of change, questions, uncertainty and loss. So much is shifting so quickly — including what it means to be Christian (not to mention…if…I want to be Christian).

A moment like this calls for courage. Courage to dream new dreams; to allow our imaginations to be reignited. To admit our limitations let go of old patterns that no longer work. We are committed to being that kind of a community.

Core Values – Week 4: Purposeful Presence

Presence is one of God’s greatest gift to us, and in turn, it is one of the greatest gifts we can offer to each other. We consider this core value — an intentional choice we can make to be present in our world, here and now.

Core Values – Week 3: Relational Grace

Listen here for Week 3 in our Core Values Series. This week, we talk about Relational Grace.

Core Values – Week 2: Inclusivity

Listen as we continue our conversation on our Core Values. This week, we talk about inclusivity and what that means for our shared life together.

Core Values – Week 1: Partnership

Listen as we begin our Core Values series. This week, we will talk about partnership and what that means to us as individuals and to us as a faith community.

Acts – Week 11 – 8/27/23

Our final Sunday in Acts considers the last chapters of this book – chapters that show us the promising reality that God’s Spirit is given to us precisely in our gritty, messy humanness.

Acts – Week 8 – 8/6/23

One of the consistent themes in Acts (and the Bible) is conflict. From the very beginning of the story (Acts 6), we find rumblings of discontent.

How do we overcome difference? Acts 15 doesn’t give us a 1-2-3 step plan, but it does offer insight to steps we can take to help conflict become something that grows us.