Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion University City

This week on the Forum: our rector is in conversation with our consultant, Hannah Shanks who has been working with Grace Gathering since the Rev. Laurie’s departure. Grace gathering is a welcoming worship experience for people of diverse ages, abilities, and faith journeys. It is a place where families and caregivers worship along-side those they care for in a service that makes room for wiggles and shouts.

This Mother's Day, an unconventional sermon. The rector invited three mothers in the congregation to talk about their experience of mothering. We give thanks for Debbie Nelson-Linck, Karen Payne, Emilee Walker Cornetta, and all mothers and those who practice mothering virtues.

Our priest associate, the Rev. Marc Smith, explores the fundamental elements of faithful discipleship in "What Would God Have Me Do: Micah on Discipleship."

The early church in Acts encounters God’s Spirit working in people who are unlike them, that perhaps may even offend them, and as they do, they are invited to convert all over again to the way of God in Christ. Beholding the unconventional, but also unquestionable work of the Spirit, they face the question: are you ready?

This week on the Forum: We revisit a forum from 2019. The Rector leads a forum about faith, ecology, sustainability, and climate change. What does it mean for our faith that humans are the factor most influencing our climate today?

This, friends, is the radical dream of Jesus: that his followers would exercise a different kind of power. Jesus imagined a world where power was exercised differently, where we understood power differently. In the Kingdom of God, or as Dr. King translated, in the beloved community, power is measured in compassion, in healing. Power is measured by justice.

This week on the Forum: How do Episcopalians approach evangelism? The Rev. Canon Whitney Rice talks about the need for Episcopalians to reclaim their work as evangelists, and to tell the good news in real vulnerable relationship with others.

The Rev. Marc Smith explores doubt and belief in the context of Jesus' resurrection and our work for social justice.

This forum is part of our ongoing discussion around housing policy. Professor Todd Swantrom has studied housing policy and justice throughout his career. He came to St. Louis, in part, to study the "most depopulated city in the world." He talks about the concept of gentrification and asks whether St. Louis is actually experiencing its effects.

Click here for the slides :https://holycommunion.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GentrificationPresentation.4.13.21.pdf

This story is a miracle. Thomas, like so many before him, is healed by Christ's touch. Healed of his grief, of his disbelief. Easter tells us there are Truths which are universal. There are Truths which outlast even the worst news. There is Truth worth believing.