May 23 is a day of action for our church, as we talk about justice for the unhoused, and organize a way that we as individuals can each provide relief to our neighbors experiencing suffering due to homelessness.

Acts, MatthewVincent BrackettMay 25, 2021Comment

Reintegrating Wisely

Expectations and hope (and also maybe some fear and anxiety) are building as more of us become fully vaccinated and life’s many calendar invites for in-person gathering begin to return. Kyle wonders if we can take this as a “blank slate” opportunity, and offers a prayer/meditation practice for helping us wisely reintegrate into a less social-distanced life.

MatthewVincent BrackettMay 18, 2021Comment

A Mother's Day Conversation - Cheryll Hanawalt & Kyle Hanawalt

For Mother’s Day this year, we’re thrilled to welcome special guest Cheryll Hanawalt, mother of our co-pastor Kyle. Kyle interviews his mom about motherhood, God, healthy spirituality, and community.

Vincent BrackettMay 11, 2021Comment

Let experience show you what God is like

In relationships, it’s experiences above all that build trust. The same is true for relationship with God, so we want to consider together: what personal experiences have shown you God might be all-loving? If you grew up religious, you may have been taught that you can’t trust your experience, because you’ll just make God in your own image, and that’s why you need a strict set of beliefs. We hope to show you otherwise!

Galatians, Psalms, Romans, GenesisVincent BrackettMay 4, 2021GraceComment

How do we reconcile violence in the Bible with an all-loving God? (3 Responses)

For some of us, who grew up being taught "the Bible is without error", the violence attributed to God in the Bible presents major cognitive dissonance. For others of us, it doesn't feel quite so major, but it still doesn't make sense! If the Bible is a resource to the modern spiritual life and the pursuit of love and justice in the world (and we believe it is!), what on earth do we do with its violence?

Ezekiel, Exodus, LukeVincent BrackettApril 27, 2021GraceComment

How can judgment be good news? (2 Responses)

For black and brown Americans, the judgments of authorities too often lead to harm and mistrust (even death, as in the shootings of Daunte Wright & Adam Toledo). On the surface, the God of the Bible can seem just as cruelly authoritative, but what if God is actually the opposite? In our culture obsessed with determining guilt vs. innocence, judgment becomes a weapon people use against each other. On the surface, the God of the Bible can seem just as judgmental, but what if God is actually the opposite?

Psalms, Revelation, MatthewVincent BrackettApril 20, 2021GraceComment

There's more than one satisfying response to hard questions about faith - Hayley Larson, Vince Brackett, Kyle Hanawalt

We collected awesome, honest questions from people in our community about how it’s hard to believe in an all-parts loving, no-parts punishing God. Hayley, Kyle, and Vince (our pastors) have found there ARE actually satisfying responses to these hard questions, that can free us up to feel spiritually alive and active. Even better: there are a number of them. We don’t all have to come to the exact same conclusions…

1 Timothy, Ephesians, Romans, JohnVincent BrackettApril 13, 2021GraceComment

The All-Parts Loving, No-Parts Punishing God - Vince Brackett

Much of conventional American religion paints a split personality picture of God (part loving, but part punishing). This leaves many struggling with self-punishment and perfectionism. For Easter Sunday this year, Vince paints instead a consistent picture of the God Jesus shows us (all loving, no part punishing) who helps us have more grace for ourselves, not more punishment.

JohnVincent BrackettApril 6, 2021GraceComment