During our 2nd Breakfast potluck, the Leadership Collective shared some thoughts on the new teaching theme. Together, we reflected on what it’s looked like to “be rooted in love together” these last months, and shared a few thoughts on what we’ll begin to explore as we consider “the roots of resilience” individually and communally in the season ahead.
Walter introduced the next season’s theme for SCC, “The Roots of Resilience,” by talking about the gift of deep trust that we all need, arising from a variety of sources like a secure attachment to our parents and/or a healing encounter with God’s ever-present Love (and most assuredly not from Divine threats of eternal abandonment).
On Trinity Sunday, Rachael explores (with the help of contributions from her parents!) the mystery of the Three-in-One as less of a doctrine and more of a relational, experiential reality to live in, and live into.
On this Pentecost Sunday, good friend and frequent guest at SCC, Bradley Jersak, gave some background on the Holy Spirit and then shared how the outpouring of the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts 2 created a unity based on respectful listening and speaking that preserves diversity as opposed to the monolithic and proud empire of Babel. He closed by inviting the Spirit to transform our own listening and speaking today.
During our Second Breakfast Potluck, Jess led us in a conversation about asking for help. Together, we considered the barriers we encounter when we need help, and shared our own experiences of giving and receiving help in times of need.
Jess Williams shares what she’s been learning about letting go. She considers the ways our culture glorifies independence, success, and getting by on your own, and how this is the opposite of the good life Jesus invited us into. Jess encourages us to let go of the things that keep us isolated and alone when what we need is the help and support of a loving community.
Renate shares with us the beauty and mysticality of abiding in God and God in us as we love one another.
Mark continues where he left off in his last talk (on the temptations of Jesus – “Give Up Like Jesus “) after he shares some of his thoughts on how to read the Bible in a way that might make you more interested in being a Christian. Then he draws our attention to why it was important that Jesus started by building community with some fishermen.
At our Second Breakfast potluck, Janell shared about the variety of intergenerational connections she’s had throughout her life, and continues to enjoy today. From growing up in a close knit church community, to moving to St. Stephen, and now working as a piano teacher and fitness coach for older adults, Janell has experienced the value and joy of nurturing relationships across the ages, and helped us all think about this as a way of being rooted together in Love as a community
Walter uses a story to make the point of how the political methods of Jesus were not at all on the same page as others – and this remains true to this day. The church that follows Jesus has only one approach to politics: to be communities of compassion, generosity and joy.