Following a warm and festive Second Breakfast potluck, Lorna Jones shared some wise words of her own and others on reclaiming peace in our interior lives. She invited us to consider what keeps us from peace and what we might do to reclaim, recreate, and cultivate peace in ourselves and in the world
With an invitation to an Honest Advent, Jess shares some confessions that begin with her own reluctance to welcome advent this year. She reflects on how speaking the truth in this way can help clear the air, and perhaps even make a little room in our hearts to welcome a Saviour. Then she considers why advent begins with apocalyptic passages about the end of the world, and connects this to our current context and how we might stay awake in this season — as we watch  and wait for Christ’s arrival today.
Reflecting on today’s lectionary readings and her father’s life and legacy, Wendy shares a vulnerable and compelling message on the extravagance of God’s love, and how messed up theological assertions of a God who elects some and rejects others really is. Weaving together stories and experiences from her own life, and her commitment to a gospel that centers on our belovedness above all else, Wendy offers a powerful alternative to passages in scripture that would suggest anything else.
Walter continues in the theme of “Being Human Together” by sharing thoughts from Jung, Romans 7-8, and 1 John on the importance of our getting to know our Shadow so it can be transformed by love and grace and grow up to be a part of our whole personality.
During today’s Second Breakfast service, Jacob Rose shared about his participation in Movember, and opened up a beautiful, vulnerable conversation about masculinity and men’s mental health. Together, we discussed societal pressures placed on men/masculinity, and the negative impact this has on everyone.
Rachael shares about the challenge of just being herself, the vulnerability of being honestly, messily human with each other, and how the truth that “we are members of one another” invites us to new ways of being together for the sake of our broken world.
Jess Williams offers some reflections on her own journey of deconstruction that grappled with suffering/theodicy and conflicting views of God. She shares how letting one view break apart helped her discover and cling to a guiding principle that spans faith traditions: loving your neighbour as yourself.
Bradley Jersak was with us this Sunday, and he shared the incredible example of Palestinian Christians who have chosen to walk the Jesus Way of choosing hope and peace instead of giving in to hatred and the inevitable cycles of violence that result.
Today David Moore (friend of SCC for 18 years!) shared a prophetic invitation to see and remember Hagar and Sarah as well as the God who sees those who need a well in the desert.
After enjoying a Second Breakfast potluck together, we turned our attention toward gratitude and celebration in recognition of SCC’s 31st birthday and Thanksgiving weekend. Jess and Walter reflected on some of the markers of SCC they’re grateful for, recognizing the work and growth/change that has transpired over the years.