Just like our favorite fantasy stories and myths, Jesus’ message of the “Kingdom of God” is an invitation to us to leave our ordinary worlds, and step into a bigger reality that is outside our comfort zone and includes threats and danger, BUT will transform us into all we’re meant to be if we stay the course.
Read MoreEnjoy the audio (music, readings, and reflection) from our Christmas Carols Service.
Read MoreMost of us spend a lot of time being self-critical or self-punishing, and that sucks! Vince shares about his number one self-kindness practice over the last 5 months: contemplative prayer, how that helps him “get out from under the waterfall” of his endless thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and how the simple words “of course” can revolutionize your prayer life.
Read MoreKyle takes us to some familial conflict from the life of Jesus, and suggests some ways we can learn from and experience healing from the God who knows what it's like to come from a family.
Read MoreIn three big ways, Jesus can help Americans talk about race in a meaningful, productive way that (1) doesn’t put all the burden on people of color, and (2) both challenges and calms the nerves of white people at the same time.
Read MoreEntitlement is in us all. Gratitude is too, and that is so much more joyful and wonderful to live out of, but why does it feel like entitlement is the default for so many of us? According to Jesus in Luke 17, privilege may have something to do with it. At this church, we take that idea super seriously -- especially when it comes to religious privilege.
Read MoreOverly-simplistic or overly-certain interpretations of why some headline tragedy or horror occurred hurt people. In Luke 13, Jesus responds to two tragic headlines of his day with humanity and with solidarity shown to those most affected by the suffering. Vince unpacks what we can learn from Jesus here both in terms of how we respond to others’ suffering, and how we respond to our own suffering.
Read MoreDoes the encouragement to “serve God” from the Jesus and Biblical tradition mean we’re meant to approach God like the servants from Downton Abbey approaching the Crawley family? It seems not, according to the picture the Gospel of Luke that paints about “serving God”. According to Jesus, God is himself a servant, so, in some way, to serve God is to let God serve us…
Read MoreDrawing from the story of Jesus activating the generosity of Zacchaues the tax collector, Vince offers some ideas from his own experience of Jesus helping him move past me-centered thinking — ranging from interpersonal resentments to engagement with public policy and politics.
Read MoreNo one can do life alone. Vince shares some examples of how people care for each other in this community, but also shares about the reality that, like most good things, a community of care doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentionality, effort, overcoming obstacles, and above all, considering how the flow of love into us (from God and from others) is linked to the flow of love out of us.
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