Reaching Out | Reaching Up
Hope in the Wilderness
Have you ever felt excluded or left out? Have you ever felt like people would talk about you but not with you? History and the biblical narrative are full of wilderness stories of people being kicked out, excluded and abandoned. The Gospels tell a different story: "Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened." (Luke 11:10) During the season of Lent, we will explore life on the margins and how our community can reach out and reach up to bring hope to an exilic community.
March 1st
Driven Out, Making Good Choices
Genesis 2:15-17; 3-7 (CEB) & Matthew 4:1-11
Eve and Adam end up outside the Garden of Eden , a result of knowing both good and evil. No longer living in paradise, they must toil to survive. Jesus, immediately after his baptism, ends up being tempted in the wilderness. It is not easy living in exile. It's tempting to be mad and full of revenge. How can we reach out and reach up to make good choices in the wilderness?
March 8th
Sheli Massie will our guest preacher. She will be introducing the Goldfinch Cafe.
March 15th
On the Edge, Seeking Answers
John 3:1-17 (CEB)
Jesus tells us that whatever and whenever we seek, we will find what we need. It is in the darkness that we find our answers. For everyone who questions or doubts, we embrace you as a whole person. When we reach out and reach up, our whole way of thinking and being is accepted and we are transformed.
March 22nd
In the Desert, Quench Thirst
John 4:5-42 (CEB)
Have you ever avoided someone or a group of someone's? The struggle to live without experiencing fear guilt or accusations is real. Is there anywhere we can go to be welcomed, included, and loved just as we are? When we reach out and reach up, we build a community that lives out revolutionary love.
March 29th
Kicked Out, Speaking Truth
John 9:1-41 (CEB)
Sometimes the pain we experience helps us to see God's truth. Those who harm, who inflict pain and sin without repentance do not listen to God's truth. They would rather kick people out than be confronted with the Gospel truth. When we reach out and reach up, we speak truth to power. The week become strong.
April 5th - Palm/Passion Sunday - Liturgy of the Palms
Being Humiliated, Riding Tall
Matthew 21:1-11 (CEB)
Here Jesus sits, on top of a donkey, entering through the backroads into Jerusalem. Not what we pictured. But this is the road for those who are marginalized, pushed out and humiliated. Jesus has always chosen the road of the exiled, sitting tall so that all of God's people might be welcomed and included. This is radical solidarity. This is revolutionary love in the flesh.
April 9th - Maundy Thursday
We will host a worship and potluck, inviting people to bring to church anyone who is feeling isolated and excluded. More details to be worked out.
April 10th - Good Friday 7pm
Driven Out, Making Good Choices
Genesis 2:15-17; 3-7 (CEB) & Matthew 4:1-11
Eve and Adam end up outside the Garden of Eden , a result of knowing both good and evil. No longer living in paradise, they must toil to survive. Jesus, immediately after his baptism, ends up being tempted in the wilderness. It is not easy living in exile. It's tempting to be mad and full of revenge. How can we reach out and reach up to make good choices in the wilderness?
March 8th
Sheli Massie will our guest preacher. She will be introducing the Goldfinch Cafe.
March 15th
On the Edge, Seeking Answers
John 3:1-17 (CEB)
Jesus tells us that whatever and whenever we seek, we will find what we need. It is in the darkness that we find our answers. For everyone who questions or doubts, we embrace you as a whole person. When we reach out and reach up, our whole way of thinking and being is accepted and we are transformed.
March 22nd
In the Desert, Quench Thirst
John 4:5-42 (CEB)
Have you ever avoided someone or a group of someone's? The struggle to live without experiencing fear guilt or accusations is real. Is there anywhere we can go to be welcomed, included, and loved just as we are? When we reach out and reach up, we build a community that lives out revolutionary love.
March 29th
Kicked Out, Speaking Truth
John 9:1-41 (CEB)
Sometimes the pain we experience helps us to see God's truth. Those who harm, who inflict pain and sin without repentance do not listen to God's truth. They would rather kick people out than be confronted with the Gospel truth. When we reach out and reach up, we speak truth to power. The week become strong.
April 5th - Palm/Passion Sunday - Liturgy of the Palms
Being Humiliated, Riding Tall
Matthew 21:1-11 (CEB)
Here Jesus sits, on top of a donkey, entering through the backroads into Jerusalem. Not what we pictured. But this is the road for those who are marginalized, pushed out and humiliated. Jesus has always chosen the road of the exiled, sitting tall so that all of God's people might be welcomed and included. This is radical solidarity. This is revolutionary love in the flesh.
April 9th - Maundy Thursday
We will host a worship and potluck, inviting people to bring to church anyone who is feeling isolated and excluded. More details to be worked out.
April 10th - Good Friday 7pm