November 13, 2022
Blue Skies (2nd Breakfast)
Today we had our first “2nd Breakfast” since the pandemic began. After a potluck breakfast, Jess and Alex introduced a “Blue Skies” exercise to imagine how we might all be most interested in getting more involved.
November 6, 2022
Rooted in the Way of Jesus
Walter used the painting that arrived recently from Krista Heide to talk about our commitment to being “rooted in the way of Jesus.” The powerpoint shows some pictures from the SSU week at Camp Chiputneticook, which Walter used as an example of the importance of rootedness and commitment.
October 30, 2022
Blessings on Imperfect Saints
We had our first communion liturgy service (downstairs). You can hear the readings and listen to Jess Williams share some reflections on All Saints Day with the help of Nadia Bolz-Weber and some responses from those gathered (you may have to turn your volume up to hear some of them).
October 23, 2022
Diversity, Inclusion and Interdependence
Jess Williams begins sharing about the four “core longings” that the Imagination Team heard from those that they interviewed on their hopes for the SCC community. The first is the longing for continued growth in diversity and inclusion, and Jess connected our need for diversity with Jesus’ emphasis on including the marginalized and on the interdependence that is named for us so well in 1 Corinthians 12.
October 16, 2022
Transitions & Thresholds
This morning, as we began a new season for SCC, Jess shared some thoughts on transitions before Rachael led us in a lectio divina exercise with a John O’Donohue reading on thresholds.
October 9, 2022
30th Birthday Celebration
This Sunday marked the 30th anniversary of St. Croix Church. It was also Thanksgiving Weekend and the day that Peter and Mary Ellen Fitch chose as a retirement date. All of these things were celebrated with songs, an open mic for people to share what the church has meant to them, and a potluck time with cake.
The audio podcast this week is limited to the middle hour of the time together but includes all of the open mic sharing. The video contains the complete service.
October 2, 2022
A God I Can Trust
Brad Jersak talks about the humility of God that’s bigger than the Christian brand. God comes to some people anonymously, but in the wounds of Jesus we find a God who suffers with us — a God who accepts us as we are and shares our experience.
September 25, 2022
Put Your Faith in Love
After a beautiful worship service led by Raymond Funk, communion was offered to all. Alex Henderson shared his experience on the Imagination Team and his thoughts on the the upcoming transitions. The service concluded with a talk by Jessica Williams, who invited us to behold who we are in a loving way. Courageously, she demonstrated what this looks like for her.
September 18, 2022
Visits to Home
Today Carole Way led music, with help from Teena Brown and Rick Coates, and Jeff Way talked about his visit in the early summer to Eden Children’s Village in Zimbabwe. The Ways have loved this orphanage/community for a long time and go there whenever possible. They have given talks about Eden in the past but today’s talk was very encouraging because of all the developments that have taken place since they first got connected. Before Jeff spoke, Julie Kelly and Rachael Barham shared about their involvement in the Imagination Team that has been leading the way forward for St. Croix Church as the Fitch’s retirement draws closer.
September 11, 2022
All Shall Be Well
Today, after a music set led by Teena Brown and Rick Coates, with additional help from Pam Manzer, we had several things to focus on. First, Paul Dupuis spoke about his new book, Pauper of Misfortune: Living with a Concurrent Disorder and Being Reasonably Happy in the Face of Adversity (available from him or from Amazon). Then Jessica Williams introduced Kendall Kadatz as he shared about his role on the Imagination Team. After that, Peter Fitch led prayers for the memorial service for Tony O’Leary, scheduled for that afternoon. Then Peter spoke about Julian of Norwich and her radical vision of God’s love.
September 4, 2022
New Direction
After a music set led by Peter and Zoe Fitch, with help from various musicians, Walter Thiessen and Jessica Williams laid out the plans for how St. Croix Church will move forward after Peter and Mary Ellen retire next month. Then Peter gave a short talk about recent discoveries in trauma theory and the ways that we find to move from a state of “freezing” or paralysis to “fight or flight” and, finally, to “social and rest”, a happier state by far. Then he compared this to coping mechanisms in religious language like “praising the Lord” that may actually serve a similar purpose. After this talk, the band closed the time with one more song.
August 28, 2022
Fruit of the Spirit
After Peter’s talk last week about “Seeking first the kingdom,” Walter explored another of the simple, foundational understandings of our faith in affirming the “fruit of the Spirit.” He talked about how slowing down and being reminded of our human mortality can help us make room for the Spirit.