As we continue our look at our Core Values, we consider Purposeful Presence.
We look at a story from Luke 17 and conclude by reflecting on examples of people – including those in Minneapolis — who are purposefully choosing to show up for each other.
Our second core value is Inclusiveness.
This morning we consider together three different passages connected to this value and what it means to not only extend belonging, but to receive it as well.
Our series begins with the value of Partnership.
The Scriptures are full of accounts of God’s people relying on each other. Even Jesus did not go it alone.
The first Sunday of the New Year is traditionally the week when we turn our attention to the story of the Magi. These visitors are not what anyone would have expected — and they create a stark contrast when held up against Herod and the religious leaders. Ultimately, it’s a story posing the question: empire or shalom? A question relevant to us today.
Teresa invites us to consider Mary’s “yes” as a model of courage in the midst of fear — courage that arises in knowing she is not alone.
The second Sunday of Advent traditionally focuses on the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry. Today, Chris invites us to consider the end. There, in prison, with his life hanging in the balance, John asks a question many of us know well: was the sacrifice and pain and risk worth it? Jesus’ answer invites John, and us, to look and listen with new eyes and ears, and in doing so, find our ‘yes.’
Our final week in the series has us considering what fruits we have received from others or from God’s good world?
We also reflect on what fruit is currently being born in us and what fruit we’d like to see in more abundance.
As we bring the series to a close, we consider larger principles about virtue development, including the unity of all virtue and the motivations behind our virtue.
We consider the final fruit in the list: self-control.
Is this fruit simply a pulling back and restricting – or is it something more?
Bethany invites us to see gentleness from a different angle — a purposeful moving toward.
There’s lots of good stuff in this episode. Enjoy!
Teresa leads us through the fruit of faithfulness – a fruit that both grounds us (because God is faithful) and calls us to be steadfast with one another.
Our second week with these two virtues considers not just the definitions of goodness and kindness, but the nonsensical example we see in Jesus.
We take two words this week – kindness and goodness. These “sister” virtues begin not by giving them away, but by receiving them.
Chris invites us to consider the fruit of patience – a fruit many of us desire to have in greater abundance.
Patience carries with it the idea of integrity, making patience a fruit that helps us stay true to our values even in the midst of suffering.
Steve leads us in a reflection on peace — a fruit that is more than a lack of conflict, but a force that brings wholeness.
All the fruits of the Spirit find their grounding in the first: Love.
We begin a fall series on the Fruits of the Spirit — fruit we — and our world — desperately need.
This week is an intro, considering our role in transformation: tending the soil.
We conclude our series in Amos, taking a look at the transformational process the prophets exhibit and invite us to join.
We also hear the courageous journey of Lynee and Trevor Gilbert as they have navigated the difficulties of long Covid (begins at 22:10)
We’re nearing the end of Amos. Teresa leads us as we consider anger’s role in our transformation.
We also hear from Phil Ackley starting at 17:45.
