Michael Kim-Eubanks accompanies Ally - the woman who crashes an all-men party and who we will name because the Bible does not - as we learn from her example of agency and generosity activated by Jesus' presence. How might we be companions in the wilderness with them: to share in vulnerability and see each other when forces exist that seek to erase us?

Guest speaker Rev. Alicia Crosby Mack invites us to venture into the wilderness as a surprising place of possibilities and embrace what we find there with Jesus. She challenges us to name what we need from the wilderness - to seek, to hold, to discard, to process through, to reckon with, to negotiate - to go on to do whatever we're meant to do and be whoever we're meant to be.

Guest preacher, Erma Sinclair, preaches from the lectionary on 2 Peter, and explores the difference between knowing and understanding. She positions faith as not just a cognitive process of understanding, but also a deeply embodied experience of knowing, and talks about Jesus as one who knows the realities of imperial violence and suffering by entering fully into it. How might our faith grow deeper as we embrace new stories beyond understanding?

Pastor Michael continues our Epiphanytide series by exploring how Jesus invites his listeners and followers to reject the violence of casting others aside, and to both give and receive the work of making things right.

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series for Epiphanytide on the lectionary, and looks at the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount regarding kingdom identity. Through examining Jesus' teachings in Matthew 5: 13-20, she discusses how Kingdom identity is rooted in collective power and guided by God’s Law that is meant for life. 

It feels like we have been here before. Mass shootings, police violence, protests, critical analysis, and organizing. But the violence keeps going. How do we continue in the onslaught of violence? 

In this Sunday's sermon, Barnabas Lin continues our series on Epiphanytide and navigates us through The Beatitudes. He subverts its use as spiritual platitudes, grapples with whether religion is the opiate of the masses, and shows how Jesus is forming a people who are able to recognize, trust, and participate concretely in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Pastor Erina continues our sermon series on Epiphanytide and preaches from Matthew 4 about the beginnings of Jesus' ministry. Through reflecting on this story, she gleans a couple insights for Jesus-following communities and shares some hopes and questions for our church community in 2023. 

How might we foster community as a church in this moment, despite all the barriers we face? And how might our church steward our selves, resources, and energy to participate in the healing and liberative work of Jesus for our communities?

Guest speaker Barbara Hüfner-Kemper invites us to preach collectively through a decolonized and liberative engagement with the Bible called Bibliolog or Bibliodrama. Join us in exploring the story of the wedding at Cana as we embody and be curious about the characters and the manifestation of the divine, present in the here and now. 

Guest preacher, Erna Kim Hackett, shares her reflections on the Magi for Epiphany Sunday. By reflecting on the Magi's unexpected journey toward Jesus, she invites us to reclaim cultural practices, embrace community, and be gentle with our own evolution while reckoning with the undeniable opposition that will come from Empire as we journey.

How might we make more room for stars and dreams and unknowns as we search for Jesus, knowing that we, just like our pursuits, are sacred and beautiful?

On Sunday, January 1st, we had various artists from our community share some of the creative pieces they worked on during the Advent season, inspired by and engaging with the Magnificat. 

Eric Chan shared about his woodworking project, creating a two-sided spoon that is inspired by Mary's declaration: "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." Nancy James shared a poem in which she pictures Mary under a really black, night sky, and what the stars would have looked like to her.  Cindy Chan shared about an art piece she created, in which she reimagines the Magnificat, fusing the influences of Chinese brush painting and modern iconography while using markers. Finally, Pastor Michael shares an original song he wrote, which is a responsive dialogue to Mary in response to the Magnificat. 

Hear about each piece through this audio, and check out our IG page (@bethelcommunitysl) to see some images capturing each work.