November 12, 2023
Movember, Men’s Mental Health & More
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.
November 5, 2023
The Pain & Promise of Being Human (Together)
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.
October 29, 2023
Reflections on Loving God & Others
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.
October 22, 2023
Choosing the Jesus Way
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.
October 15, 2023
Remembering Justly
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.
October 8, 2023
Gratitude & Celebration (2nd Breakfast)
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.
October 1, 2023
Incarnational Faith: The Vulnerability of Becoming FleshÂ
Alternative title: “I Don’t Want To Be Here” courtesy of Raymond Funk. Today, Jess Williams continued our theme “Being Human Together” with a talk of many titles, and two of them made it to the final cut!
September 24, 2023
The Art of Kvetching
Renate responded to this week’s lectionary passages with thoughts on complaining and lamenting in the spirit of “Being Human Together.” She touched on listening to the unspoken lament within our unfiltered grievances and the potential of kvetching to be artful, fun and meaningful when thoughtfully shared with friends.
September 17, 2023
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.
September 10, 2023
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!
September 3, 2023
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.
August 27, 2023
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.