99 CHURCH

When most of us think of Mary, a certain image comes to mind. We imagine this mild, meek, and passive motherly figure, who doesn't have much to say. In many ways, our culture has silenced Mary, seeing her merely as a vehicle for Jesus to come through. But if we read the Scriptures, we come to find that Mary wasn't really silent at all. She has a bold, distinct voice. She has a message and a story to tell. This week, we explore Mary's song found in Luke 1, otherwise known as the "Magnificat." What could Mary's song teach us this Advent season? And how could we join in her song today?

An important part of our vision as a church is to pursue shalom in San Francisco. Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. But it's not the kind of peace that's simply the absence of conflict. Shalom is so much more. This week, we explore the meaning of this word shalom and how God calls us to participate in His work of justice here in our city.

In the church, we place such a strong emphasis on belonging. And while it's important to focus on where we belong, it's also important to consider who we are to become. When rebels and runaways come home, they don’t stay rebels and runaways. They become something more. This week, we explore who God is forming us to be and how we can be intentional in the process of becoming.

For our anniversary gathering, guest speaker Dave Gibbons shares about how beautiful life can be once we make space to hear and see God's voice in our lives. What would it look like to live every day in anticipation of God's wonder? What if we looked for God in the unexpected and unfamiliar people He's placed in our lives?

When considering Christian faith and practice, we regularly ask, "Is it true?" or "Is it good?" But the question we don't ask enough is, "Is it beautiful?" What if we did more than just try to convince people of the truth or boast moral superiority? What if the church could be a place where people can discover the beauty of God? This week, we continue unpacking our vision as we explore the necessity of beauty in our faith.

Why do people run away from God? Why do people rebel against Him and try to go their own way? At the heart of every rebel and runaway is a misconception or misunderstanding about who God is and what He's really like. And more often than not, it's the church who's misrepresented Him to the world. Jesus came for the outcasts, the misfits, and overlooked, and the marginalized. The people that the religious leaders excluded, were actually the ones welcomed in by God. What would it look like to be a home for the rebels and the runaways, where people can begin to see God as He truly is?

Why does 99 exist? What do we mean when we say that we're a church in San Francisco for the rebels and the runaways? We're beginning a new collection of teachings exploring our vision as a church community. This week, Pastor Mickey shares the story of 99: how we came to be and where God is leading us.

In somewhat of a bonus teaching from our Seasons collection, we spend time this week talking about the importance of staying rooted in togetherness as we navigate through the different seasons of life. What does it look like for a community to move toward one another in love? And how can deepening our relationships with one another actually deepen our relationship with God?

Autumn is a season of change and transition, reminding us that our lives are in constant flux. We are brought into a deeper awareness that we live in a continual state of dying and rising, of ending and beginning. How does God call us to posture ourselves in the bittersweetness of this season? This week we conclude our Seasons collection with a look at the season of Autumn.

Summer is a season marked by joy and abundance. It's a sweet season where our senses come alive to the goodness of God all around us. How does God call us to posture ourselves during this delightful season of the soul? This week, we explore the season of summer and how we can expect God to move during these times.