Dear friends and family,

What a time we find ourselves in.

Over the past month, we have sat with our children more times than we would like to, sharing with them the news of yet another life taken far too soon due to racism and injustice. As we move through these times, we have appreciated those of you who have reached out, checked in, taken action, and spoken up. For those who are unsure of how to take the first step, you are not alone in those feelings. It can be overwhelming to take that first step, to enter into discomfort, to not remain stuck in not knowing.

Ibram X Kendi wrote “Being an antiracist requires persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination.” 

We’d love to support you in doing this important work. Please consider refraining from asking Black people to do the educating for you. It is not their responsibility to do that heavy lifting, especially as they move through these days full of fear and trauma. Listen to their words, but save the questions for white people who are doing the work.

If you know how you learn best, what you want to dive into, and feel like doing the work independently, feel free to reach out and we will try to point you in the right direction to explore the multitude of resources available.

However, if you are curious about doing this work with a group of individuals, we invite you to join us. This group will be for white people who are ready to know better so they can do better. Although the group will be white participants, it will center the voices and experiences of people of color.  Together we will practice awareness, listen, learn, acknowledge, and take action.

Sunday mornings: two options

Zoom

Every week at 10am we’ll continue to use Zoom in the weeks and months ahead. Here’s the link (it is the same link every week): https://zoom.us/j/864871555

Option: Sunday Morning Watch Parties

• With winter bearing down, watch parties are on hold for now; however, if we get a warm weekend in the coming months — and we are holding hope we will! — we’ll offer watch parties on those Sundays. To stay informed on opportunities, please email teresa@thebranchonline.org and we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop.
• What is a watch party?
  • 2 or 3 households meeting together to participate in worship together over Zoom. 
  • Groups meet outdoors in someone’s backyard, garage or deck, do not share supplies and follow the 6 feet of separation guideline. 
  • We provide individually packaged communion supplies.

What can you expect on Sunday on Zoom?

• Our team will lead a time of prayer, reflection and music. We’ll also consider what the Scriptures have to say to us as we navigate this new world.
• We’ll leverage technology to offer opportunities to engage and interact throughout the morning.
• While we would love for people to turn on their cameras, it is certainly not required. You can simply log into Zoom and keep your camera off. You’ll still be able to hear and see everything that our team will be leading.
• Need help with Zoom? Check out a few tips here by downloading the file.

BranchKids

Because of current guidelines we are not currently able to offer in-person ministry for our kids. However, starting September 13, we invite preschool and gradeschool age kids to join us on Zoom at 9:45am for fifteen minutes of fun, teaching and connection (use the Sunday Zoom link above).

BranchStudents

BranchStudents met throughout the fall and early winter and have now taken a break during the holidays. We are planning to continue meeting again in January. We will have more details what that looks like in late December. Updates will be provided on our Facebook page and by email (our FB page can be found by searching “BranchStudents” and requesting to join).

This season we are about to enter is busy. Like, really insanely busy.

You’re invited to take an hour to step away from it all.
An hour to rest, breathe, connect.

Everyone is welcome – regardless of their level of experience with yoga.

The class meets at the Branch building at 7:30pm starting 12/1 and meeting 12/8 and 12/15 at the same time.

A suggested donation of $10 for each class is asked; however, money should not stop you from coming. If you believe this time would be a gift to you, please come.

A number of years ago my wife and I spent some time in Las Vegas. The city was remarkable. But we also knew we wanted to get to the Grand Canyon. Neither of us had ever been. So we got in our rental car and made a long day trip. After about four hours we had reached the first lookout point on the far western edge. It was beautiful.

Now…imagine that we didn’t go any further. Imagine that we stopped at the first lookout point got out, snapped a few pics and then headed home. You’d think we were nuts.

The Grand Canyon can’t be taken in from one lookout point. There’s so much more to experience and see.

Now, let’s be clear. Getting to the Grand Canyon itself is important, and it takes a lot of time and effort. But the journey doesn’t end there.

The same is true in life. We spend a lot of time and effort traveling the first half of life, which is focused on the pursuit of identity, importance and security. And those things are important. Very important. But they are not the end.

There is an entire second half of life to live. And yet, too many of us stay put.

Maybe we’re afraid of what the rest of the journey might be like. Maybe we didn’t even know there was more to experience. Maybe we don’t know how to get started.

That’s why we hope you’ll join us for seven weeks as we consider the two halves of life. Together we’ll look at the journey the Scriptures show us is possible – an adventure we’re all meant to live.

a·tone·ment: the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ.

We all know the image of the cross. It’s the symbol most associated with Christianity because Christ’s death is fundamental to Christianity.

And yet, what exactly does Christ’s death mean? What precisely ‘happened’ in his sacrifice? Believe it or not, different Christians would answer those questions differently.

Was Christ’s death a victory over evil? Or was it the way that God’s wrath was satisfied? Or was his death a model for how we are meant to live? Or something else entirely?

Now this may all sound well and good, but we might wonder, “What difference does it make? Does it matter how one views Jesus’ death?” We believe it does. From the songs we sing, to the way we talk about and understand God, to how we see our place in the world — all of the Christian life is shaped by our understanding of the cross.

So join us as we explore the mystery and meaning of the Christ’s death and let’s find together what it might mean for our lives.

Throughout the year, we worship with our sisters and brothers from Communidad Cristiana de Grand Rapids — and this Sunday (7/7) is one of those weeks! Join us at a different time — 11Am to noon — and stay after for drinks and snacks.

The Church is not a building. The Church is you and me. The work of the Church (you and me) is to bring God’s Kingdom more fully present to the places we live, play, work and worship. And so, we believe strongly in the importance of being good neighbors. Sometimes we do that together (corporately) and sometimes we do that individually. Here are a few ways that you can join in that mission this summer.

Get to Know Your Neighbor Challenge
We are challenging every person at The Branch to get to know a new neighbor, or get to know a neighbor better, by the end of June. Walk across the street as you see someone working on their yard and offer to help. Invite a neighbor over for a BBQ. Take a walk in your neighborhood and look for ways to connect. Or, throw a block party! Don’t know how? We’ve got you covered! Click here for a helpful resource.

Brookside Beautification Day
Join us on Saturday, June 1st from 9am-noon, as we help clean up and make improvements to the Brookside Elementary playground and park area! Then, celebrate a job well done with a meal together. Bring the whole family! This is a great opportunity for us to help our local elementary school and to get to know some Brookside families. Email katrinarookus@gmail.com to RSVP or with any questions.

Welcome New Neighbors
Do you ever see a moving truck in your neighborhood and wonder if you should go say hi? Do you wonder what to say? We’re putting together a group of people willing to welcome new people to their neighborhood. Bring a plate of cookies, or simply say hello and offer some a list of your favorite places in the neighborhood. Sign up here to join this group of people. We’ll get you a list of houses near you that have sold each month so you can keep your eye out for that truck!

StoryTime in the Park
Every Tuesday evening in the summer, Garfield Park hosts a free books and ice cream event. We are bringing a team to volunteer for this event on June 11, 6:30-8:30. Jobs will range from setting up to helping people register to reading a book to a group of kids. We need 10 people (13+ years old) to help. Sign up here.

Lent. A six week period that ushers us towards Easter. A time of reflection and surrender. A gift.

This year, we’ll use James Bryan Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Life to frame our conversation on Sundays. AND…we invite you to join with others for the six weeks of Lent in one of these three ways:

1. Grab a book and a few friends. Invite some neighbors, co-workers, or other Branch folks to meet in your home or at a coffee shop for the six weeks to discuss a chapter from Smith’s book (a schedule is below). Questions for each chapter are in the back. All you have to do is decide what ones you’ll use, and invite.
2. Join us on Thursdays for a meal and discussion. Every week from 5:45-7:15 one of our Missional Communities meets. During Lent, they’ll devote time each week to discussing the book. Email chris@thebranchonline.org if interested.
3. Join us on a video conference Wed. nights from 8:30-9:30pm. Teresa will host a conversation on that week’s chapter. Video conference is something new we’re trying — but we think it could be a way to connect in the midst of a busy week. We’ll hope you give it a try. Just click this link at 8:25 on Wednesdays! https://zoom.us/j/560656129

Here’s the schedule for Lent:

• March 10-16 – Chapters 1 and 2
• March 17-23 – Chapter 3
• March 24-30 – Chapter 4
• March 31-April 6 – Chapter 10 (please note the change)
• April 7-13 – Chapter 6
• April 14-20: Chapter 7

We all love something.

And whatever we love, we will pursue (i.e. worship).

Now, here’s the thing. We probably all know what we should love. But is knowing enough? (I may know that I should love foods low in fat, but…). Does just having the right information actually lead us to pursuing the right thing?

As we begin a new year we invite you to join us as we consider how to recalibrate our heart’s desires towards what really matters — to those things that are primary — to true north.

What Do You Want? (1.6.19)