Sadness & Pain: Softness and Connection
Today, as part of our new theme of “Being Human Together,” Walter shared on how music and lament can help us experience our sadness in order to become softer and more connected with others.
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Fall Updates (2nd Breakfast)
After some lively chatting over 2nd Breakfast, the Leadership Collective gave some updates as we begin the journey into the fall season together – there’s lots happening over the coming weeks and months!
Listen to the Longings of Your Heart
Jess Williams reflects on home and the longings of the heart that led her to St. Stephen. She talks about loving her heart for leading her well, and how her (sometimes messy!) life, and belonging to this community is teaching her to let go of perfectionism (fear!) and trust that our belovedness has nothing to do with what we are able to achieve or perform.
Bible Trigger Warning vs. Transformational Wisdom
Rachael considers what trigger warnings we might want the Romans 12 lectionary reading to come with in light of the harmful ways it’s sometimes been interpreted and used, and then how a “renewed” interpretation can offer us transformational wisdom for our real lives and beloved selves.
Friendship & Connection
Our well-being benefits greatly from healthy mutually beneficial relationships. In this conversation Marilyn and Virginia explore knowing what you need from connection and thoughts on how to intentionally work on getting our needs for community met.
Gardening in Community
Today, Walter interviewed Ray Funk about the value of gardening in community. Listen to some of the history and hopes and outcomes of our community garden – Victoria St. Community Garden
Jesus: New And Old
In the lectionary readings this week, we read how Jesus explained the Kingdom of God as “the new and the old.” Mark Groleau focuses on how polarized Jesus’ time was – just like today. But Jesus’ “new way” was compassion, and the conviction that he had started a new age of healing and equality among his followers.
A sheltering tree (and a shaping river)
Rachael shares some summer story-telling from her month in England, featuring an ancient oak tree and with a guest appearance from a moorland river. Woven through the personal stories are reflections and questions related to the nature of prayer and God
Gathered Listening (2nd Breakfast)
Laurens van Esch shares some experiences with silence, connection and listening in the Quaker and Plum Village Traditions.
Don’t Grow Weary
We were joined today by Passionate Ncube, Atlantic Rep for MCC (Mennonite Central Committee). He encouraged us “not to grow weary in our resistance to injustice.
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