A huge need in people’s lives is to feel a sense of belonging. Jess, Lorna and Janell all share various stories where they have seen or felt this sense of belonging exist. They acknowledge its meaningfulness and how its goodness can trickle outward beyond an individual’s immediate communities. They further reflected on how communities of belonging create a dwelling place for God’s love and peace.
As we intentionally grow community together Marilyn encourages us to each reflect on how we can both give and ask for support – asking each other questions about what would be most supportive and reflecting so we can invite others to care for us.
Lorna talks about God’s generosity and gentleness in bringing healing in those areas of her life where she has most often felt fear and anxiety. She shares some ‘good news stories’ from a recent holiday, and the truth of Jesus’ familiar words in Matthew 11, that ‘my yoke is easy and my burden is light’.
As Walter’s sabbatical winds down, he shares some reflections from this time. Spoilers: he missed community and rants about AI and dopamine manipulation.
Jonathan Schut shares what he’s been learning about how MCC tries to heed the words of Isaiah 58 in its mission of “envisioning communities in right relationship with God, one another, and creation.” He particularly focused on what he learned on a recent trip to Guatemala.
During our Second Breakfast Potluck, Jess shared a selection of readings about practicing rest, and opened up a conversation about what gets in the way of prioritizing rest in our lives.
Walter used Beethoven’s example of finding joy in the midst of suffering to talk about the value of celebrating joy even when times are hard. (He was going to start listing all the ways in which we’ve been feeling hardship and loss lately, but the music got him too choked up.)
Walter’s homily shares a conversation that resonated with Jesus’ promise in John 14 that the Advocate would teach us everything. He went on to leave us with the paradox that God is in us and beyond us.
Mark explores a story of Jesus’ encounter with a man cast out by a well-off society–a clear illustration of how bringing someone to safety costs someone else their comfort. The gospel story is a challenge particularly to the comfortable: stop protecting our own peace at the expense of others… and start creating safe space, even when it costs.
Today at 2nd Breakfast, Teena shared some thoughts, videos, and quotes, and invited us to wonder about playfulness.