After celebrating 20 years as a community we’re circling back to our core values.
This five week series will reflect on what we are committed to prioritize and live out.
January 17 – Partnership
January 24 – Inclusiveness
February 1 – Purposeful Presence
February 8 – Relational Grace
February 15 – Courageous Creativity
This Advent, we’ll be considering four stories from Jesus’ birth narratives.
Sanctified Art, whose poetry and art we will use throughout the series, outlines the series this way:
Luke’s Gospel begins the story of Jesus with this opening line: “In the time of Herod…” This detail may seem minor to modern readers, however, it reveals layers of information about the fearful world Jesus entered, one filled with rampant oppression, economic disparity, uncertainty, and instability. A world not so unlike our own. And yet, throughout the stories of Christ’s birth, the whispers of angels deliver a surprising message: “Do not fear.” In our own time, we might ask: is it even possible to be fearless in a fearful world? When Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi are each called into God’s redemptive story, they do not deny their fears—they move through them. They ask questions, hold fast to courage, trust
in good news, and say, “Here I am, Lord.” When we find ourselves in fearful times, can we acknowledge our fears while also insisting on hope?
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for daily posts that asks important questions, share beautiful, provoking artwork, and offer encouragement to press on.
November 30 – In the Time of Herod, We Long for God to Break In
December 7 – When We’re Running Out of Hope, God is at Work
December 14 – Even in Our Fear, We Are Called Forward
December 21 – When You’re Afraid, Give Me Your Hand
December 24 – Good News is Louder Than Fear
Our Christmas Eve gathering is at 5pm
On November 9 we invited the community to join us a local pizza shop to consider The Future of Christianity.
A pdf version of the slide deck can be found here.
An audio recording is on our podcast.
One of our topics Sunday night was Empire. Interestingly, I’ve had a number of thought provoking pieces come through my inbox in just the last couple of days. They challenge us to rethink — and retell — the story of Christianity. I hope you find them helpful.
Peace-
Chris
The Garden and the Empire: on gilded halls and golden toilets by Christy Berghoef
“The future we need is one patterned after the wisdom of ecosystems, not empires. A future where the measure of a life is not how high you climbed, but how well you belonged. Where prosperity is shared, is regenerative, and is circular. Where wealth is not a fortress but a common place. Where children inherit not ash, but orchards.”
Empire is not Beautiful by Diana Butler Bass
“We aren’t a Christian America. Not even a little. We’re the opposite. And genuine Christian faith — the entire message and ministry of Jesus — is counter-cultural resistance to all of this.”
Beyond Algorithms and Empires by Kaitlin Curtice
“Why am I writing about algorithms and empires? Because they are everywhere, controlling and restricting us, making monsters out of us, polluting our very souls. We exist in a heavy and difficult time, and I need us to hold space right here, right now, as we dream of what’s ahead.”
With surprising regularity, humans choose to live in a way that harms others and/or themselves, not to mention the planet. And no one is immune. Every. Single. Person knows what it is to “feed the compulsions of selfishness” (Galatians 5:16, The Message).
Today, we see all too well the poisonous outcomes of such a choice (in our own lives to be sure, and also in the ways those in power exact cruelty and harm as they act out of selfishness).
But there is another way. A way that changes us so profoundly that we begin producing life-giving fruit.
Called ‘the fruits of the Spirit’ in the New Testament, these nine virtues change us so that we can join in the work of changing the world.
We do not need to be ruled by shallow self-interest. There is another way. Join us as take this journey together.
Starting September 7…
The Love We All Need
The Joy We All Need
The Peace We All Need
The Patience We All Need
The Kindness We All Need
The Goodness We All Need
The Faithfulness We All Need
The Gentleness We All Need
The Self-Control We All Need
Summer has a different rhythm in Michigan.
We lean into this unique time by gathering on Sundays in different ways during the summer.
A member of our community, Dale Hulst, started a company and has been building a net-zero home on the NE side of the city. This home is cutting edge in its construction – and has been visited by local and state-wide politicians, building groups, architects and others passionate about climate change.
On Sunday, the 24th, we won’t meet at the building, but instead will meet at this home – 720 Eastern Ave. NE.
We’ll hear the house’s story, take a tour, and learn steps we can take (in whatever type of home we might live in) to limit our energy impact.
These two Sundays offer a number of options to folks. Children and students are welcome and encouraged to participate in any of the choices below.
We spend the first 15 minutes of these mornings in the sanctuary together, and then we split into various groups for 45 minutes before coming back together for a brief conclusion. On 6/29 the options include:
We’ll be making frozen dinners for AYA – one of our partnering organizations. All ages are welcome to participate.
Caring for God’s creation and serving our community our deeply held values at The Branch. We’d love for you to join us!
Join us the week of June 16 from 6:30-8:30 pm for a week of creativity and fun! Classes will be in session Monday-Wednesday. We’ll take a break Thursday night in observance of Juneteenth. And then we’ll come back on Fridya night for a party to celebrate creativity! Friends and family are invited to see what the kids have been up to all week, as well as an opportunity to join in the creative fun! Games, ice cream and pictures from the week will be a part of that celebration.
CREATE is an art camp for kids entering K-8th grade. Each child chooses one age-appropriate class to attend. They spend their time creating, getting to know one another and having fun. We love coming alongside kids as they tap into their own unique creativity – even when they don’t even know that creativity exists! Scroll down for the list of classes.
For the latest updates, be sure to like our facebook page (facebook.com/CreateGR).
Class Options for Grades K-1:
CARDBOARD CREATIONS: A chance to explore different artistic skills (paint, drawing, color combination, engineering, and design) all with cardboard! Participants will create objects to both admire AND play with.
NAILED IT!: Love baking? Horrible at baking? Awesome! Baking can be tough. Let’s celebrate fun and failure!
Class Options for Grades 2-4:
TINY GARDEN VILLAGES: A magical art class where creativity meets nature! Kids will design and build their own enchanting garden communities, crafting miniature houses, play areas, and tiny structures perfect for little mythical creatures or small backyard critters. Using a variety of materials—natural elements, recycled items, and colorful craft supplies—each child will bring their unique vision to life.
PHOTOGRAPHY: It’s more than ‘point and click’. Learn photo skills and turn your pictures into art, not just snapshots! Gear needed: Digital camera with removable media (SD Card, Compact Flash, etc). DSLR preferred.
TRASHIN’ FASHION: Let’s create wearable works of art from the recycling bin! One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!
Class Options for Grades 5-8:
DYEING TECHNIQUES: Learn and explore different techniques to dye paper and fabric.
INTRO 3D PRINTING&MODELING: Learn the basics of 3D design by creating your own model and learning how to print it.
CHARACTER DRAWING: Character art is used in media like gaming, animation and manga. But it doesn’t stop there. Learn tips and techniques to bring your characters to life.
FELTING: Felting is a creative craft that involves sculpting shapes and figures using wool. Discover techniques that will allow you to create amazing creations with just a few supplies.
Do you have a favorite number, a child’s birthdate, anniversary? Pick as many numbers as you want! We have squares numbered from 1 to 125, with each square priced at its corresponding number. For example, Square 1 costs $1, Square 2 costs $2, and so on, up to Square 125, which costs $125.
Each square you purchase provides you with tickets for prize drawings. The larger numbered squares earn you more tickets. For example, Squares 1-5 provide one ticket, Squares 6-10 provide two tickets, and so on, up to Squares 120-125 which provide 25 tickets.
We have a total of about 40 prizes. We will have a live event of prize drawings on Sunday, February 23 immediately after our Sunday morning service. You will be provided with your tickets at the event and will have the opportunity to use those tickets to enter a drawing for prizes. You can put your tickets into one drawing or as many as you want (given that you have enough tickets ).
If you are unable to attend the live event, no worries! You can send us an email (admin@thebranchonline.org) and let us know which prize drawings you want to use your tickets towards. Here are some examples of prizes:
For the full list of prizes, click here.
Improving Livestream: $3200
In the last four years we’ve found that the first step people are taking when considering a church is to watch online. Our current equipment is very basic; these funds would provide new cameras, control board and monitor.
Refreshing the Cafe: $3000
We’re working with an interior designer to create a welcoming, comfortable space by replacing the 20-year-old furniture, painting the walls and refreshing the design.
New furniture for meals and events: $2500
We currently don’t have enough chairs for shared meals, and the tables and chairs we do have are from the 1950s. This will give us adequate and functional furniture.
New sign on 28th St.: $3600
We’re looking to not only replace CCGR’s portion of the sign, but also communicate something about who we are to the thousands who drive by each day.
In November, we gathered at a local pizza shop to hear from a licensed therapist on how we might better understand and integrate our emotions. We had a lot of great feedback, but we also knew we had just scratched the surface. In response, we’re taking part of time during three Sundays in January to consider this topic more deeply (the conversations will be led by licensed therapist Bethany Ackley DeBlaay (MA, LLP, SEP).
Join us at 10:00am on 1/12, 1/19 and 1/26 for conversation relevant to all of our lives.
(children 5th grade and younger are released to our children’s ministry about 15 minutes into our gathering and rejoin their families before we’re finished for the morning)
October 6 – Alternatives to Christian Nationalism
What happens when a growing number of Americans believe that the United States was and should be a Christian nation? That being a Christian is important if you want to be a real American? We’ll look at the roots and dangers of Christian Nationalism, and share thoughtful alternatives from some of today’s thought leaders.
November 3 – Understanding Our Emotional Selves
Registration opens October 7
This conversation offers a chance for participants to consider how their upbringing and past experiences impact their current emotional understanding and expression. Using a lens of science and cultural norms, Bethany Ackley DeBlaay (MA, LLP, SEP) will explore how to increase self-awareness and connection.
On Sunday, September 1, we’re meeting at Garfield Park for a morning of slowing down and reflection. We’ll begin our time near the parking lot off of Madison Ave. at 10am.
Younger kids will be able to spend time with one of our staff, playing on playground equipment and considering a story from the Scriptures while other kids and adults will walk through the park and adjoining nature reserve, reflecting and discussion questions based on Matthew 6 and Psalm 65.
Please invite anyone who might be interested.
Please register by clicking here.
After spending over a week in Palestine and Israel as part of a twenty three member, multi-denominational delegation, Chris and Josh Vis will share stories and reflections from their time in Palestine and Israel.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine — which has now been going on over 70 years — has reached an unprecedented moment. We have are living through a pivotal, historic event and while it may feel like there is little we can do, the truth is that as Americans we have more potential influence than anyone else in the world.
Learning about the facts on the ground will not only inform but inspire us to do what we can to move toward justice and peace.
You can either join us in person or on Zoom.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85066828752
Meeting ID: 850 6682 8752
If your are coming in person, parking is available on Madison, south of Burton.
Stories help us make sense of the world and our place in it. Some stories are adopted by entire cultures (i.e. the story of the rugged American individual), while some even transcend time and place. This Lent, we look at seven stories common throughout humanity and ask: where do they show up in our lives, how do these stories shape us and what story do we choose to live by?
February 18 – The story of Domination
February 25 – The story of Revolution
March 3 – The story of Purification
March 10 – The story of Isolation
March 17 – The story of Victimization
March 24 – The story of Accumulation
March 31 – The Seventh Story (Easter)
On Ash Wednesday we are marked on our foreheads with a reminder of our mortality. The same palms we raise up and wave on Palm Sunday each year are made to know the sting of death – we burn them. And the following year, in an ever-curious act, we pick up the ashes and we mark ourselves with them.
What does it mean that we don’t just talk about the ashes, or even reverently observe them, but that we physically smear them across our faces? Perhaps, in the marking, we approach solidarity. We remember that the same fate that haunts you, haunts me. The same beauty that birthed you, lives in me. And that this comes as a mark on the body, I think, reminds us that the Lenten journey of self-examination is deeply entwined with the physical world.
from Black Liturgies; Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human
Join us Wednesday, 2/14, at 7pm as we begin the journey of Lent together. Our hour long gathering will be a time of reflection on both the challenges of our world and our lives as well as our hopes for the future.
As we begin a new year, our conversation on Sundays will center around an ancient practice and rhythm of rest called Sabbath — a practice we’re pretty sure most of us are unfamiliar with, but need nonetheless.
That said, this conversation is not first and foremost about developing a 24-hour period free of any work. That may be a very good goal, but given the pace of most of our lives it is likely not a realistic target to immediately aim for.
Instead, we’re asking two questions: what is the Sabbath meant to teach us about things like time, work, and relationships, and what are steps we can take right now to move our rhythms and patterns into alignment with what God teaches us through the Sabbath.
We look forward to the conversation together.
Here’s our holiday schedule as we celebrate Christmas and welcome in the New Year!
Christmas Eve – 5-6pm
Update 12/24 1:00pm: please note, we are still meeting in person tonight, but because of conditions encourage people to choose what is best for their circumstances. We will be streaming on YouTube as well. We look forward to being together!
Christmas Day – we will not be gathering
New Year’s Day – Brunch @ 10am! Bring something to pass and enjoy a fun (and delicious) start to the new year.
We’re headed back to Garfield Park for most Sundays this summer (the last Sunday of each month we’ll meet at the building)!
Bring a chair to sit in. Our BranchKids program will be available each Sunday we’re in the park (except for July 3).
We will continue to stream on YouTube regardless of location.
Here is our summer schedule:
June, July and August
After our gathering at the park, we’ll dive into some good food.
Sign up for something to bring. We’ll cover place settings.
Evenings of July 11-13
Partner with us to serve kids in grades K-8 by creating spaces to
explore, discover, and stretch their God-given creativity. Be sure to like our Facebook page (facebook.com/CreateGR) for the most up-to-date information.
July 27, 6-8pm
After a two year hiatus, we’re gathering all Partners — those who are currently one and those who might be interested (a Partner makes an explicit decision to join us in our mission of renewal).
Heading to the beach? Taking a bike ride? Grabbing ice cream?
Share it in the GroupMe app. Join our group on the app (email teresa@thebranchonline.org) and you’ll get alerted every time someone is planning something fun and social.
Making a map requires at least two points: where you are and where you intend to go. With all that has happened in the last two+ years, we’re taking the month of February to discern together where we find ourselves today, and where we hope to be in the future.
February 6: Over the last three years, we have focused on three areas: Embrace, Grow and Contribute (or Participate). These areas remain relevant and important, but how we live them out might look different given all that has changed in the world and in our own lives. We’ll reflect on John 4 and consider where we currently find ourselves, both as individuals and families, but also as a community of faith.
February 13, 20 and 27: These three gatherings will look different than a typical Sunday morning as we plan to use most of our time for reflection and discussion. Each week we will go in depth on one of the three areas (Embrace, Grow and Contribute), spending time in small groups brainstorming and then coming together as a large group to process.
Whether you have been at The Branch for years, or are new, we deeply hope that you will join the conversation and help us chart a course together. Your input and perspective is important and needed.
We’ve got a great summer planned! There are chances to (re)connect, serve and grow for all ages! Click on the link below for the flyer!
