Loop Church Chicago

A Liturgy made by Anne Fennema as we remember the events and invitations to serve and feed one another. 

For the Fourth Sunday of Lent we will be reading and meditating on Psalm 32.

-With the song "Svo Hijótt" by Sigur Rós from the Album Takk...

For the Second Sunday of Lent we will be reading and meditating on Psalm 27. 

-With the Song Avalon by Sigur Rós

 Sunday,  September 29 was the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost and Abuse Awareness Sunday. Our scripture reading came from Mark 10:46-52;  the story of Bartimaeus' encounter with Jesus read through the lens of identity, marginalization, restoration and faith.

Thank you to Tim for providing the original music. 

 Sunday, September 19, 2021 was the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost and the last Sunday of the 'official' summer season. 

Our scripture reading came from Mark 10:32-45, another pericope from the Gospel's 10th chapter that explores the themes of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, the disciples' desire for greatness, and the kingdom's insistence on service as an alternative to dominion.

The passage inspired Pastor Derek to write the following poem and our Musician, Andy, to set the poem to music. 


Astonished and afraid, 

Twelve disciples and a crowd,

follow Christ who leads the way,

Ain't no way to turn around. 

Up, Up, towards Jerusalem. 

The Holy Hill that boasts,

Temple Mount and Lynching Tree,

Life and death is now the toast.

Behind the Dead Man Walking,

Jesus told them where to go. 

Stay awake and pray he said, 

But even now eyes are closed. 

Sleepwalking in his footsteps,

Glory now is the intent,

To forget dire predictions,

They sing a song of ascent:

“Do for us whatever we ask,

Fill our empty spaces!

Do for us whatever we ask,

In Glory prepare our places!” 

Jesus now stops the march, 

and turns to face the two, 

Eyes wet with tears he asks, 

“What do you want me to do?”

“Up, Up, towards glory, 

We want to be with you!

So when the kingdom comes, 

Reward us with a view!” 

“Reserve two seats of honor, 

Give us prominent places!

People will look up to us, 

Let them see our faces.” 

The teacher’s reply was simple, 

“You don’t know what you're asking. 

My glory will be on a cross

Between two criminals I will be gasping.”

“That is the cup I will drink, 

The baptism in which I will drown, 

This water flows only one way

And that direction is down.” 

Down, Down, is the call, 

To become the last and least, 

Do not sit at the place of honor, 

Be the servant at the feast. 

Another way is possible, 

A cloaked and hidden glory, 

Dominion not through domination, 

But an alternative type of story. 

The least will be the greatest, 

At the front a Child will lead, 

Glory to the lamb who was slain, 

And all creation will  be freed. 

Love and liberation, 

This is the only way, 

Let go of your expectations, 

And join this passion parade. 

The Fifth Word from the Cross: "I Thirst" 

The following is a short reflection created by Tim Fuchtman  created for the Lenten Art series at Loop Church, Chicago, 2021. This series contemplates the last words of Jesus on his journey to the cross.   The call for the artist/maker/writer/singer is to put something together that reflects to you the way Jesus' words connect to your own journey.

In this piece Tim reflects on his hike down the Rio Grande Canyon near Taos and the words of Jesus on the cross, "I thirst."

This Wednesday marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent, a six-week journey of walking with Christ to the cross. On Ash Wednesday many Christians will be “marked” by a cross of ashes to be reminded of their mortality, humility, and intimate connection to the earth: “From the dust of the earth you were created and to the dust of the earth you shall return.” 

What do these ashes mean to you this year? 

The following podcast is a telling of the Christmas story taken from "The Jesus Story Book Bible" written by Sally Loyd-Jones, Illustrated by Jago, and published by Zonderkids. The music features the Piano Guys' rendition of "Angels We Have Heard on High" and Joshua Cele's instrumental of "Go Tell it on the Mountain." 

It is the Fourth Sunday of Advent and God draws closer wanting to be with us. The Holy Presence has a way of sneaking up and startling us: speaking to us, silencing us, spiriting  new life within us. The first Chapter of the Gospel of Luke retells the story of how God came to be with two Galilean women, Elizabeth and Mary. We hear that story again today, waiting to see how God will show up in our hearts and lives.

 "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."  --Luke 1:26-27

We are now approaching the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fortieth Sunday since we last worshipped together in the Sanctuary. What a season of waiting this has been! Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free!

This week the lectionary Scripture readings come from Isaiah 64, Psalm 125. A Big THANK YOU to Andy Deboer who put together an awesome soundtrack to listen and meditate on these Words from the Lord.

"The spirit of the Lord GOD has fallen fresh upon us, and this is our anointing: to go into the world and bring good news to all who are oppressed, to bind up all who are brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the incarcerated.  Let this be a proclamation of a new season, a new year, a year of the Lord's favor, a year of jubilee, and a day of justice unto our God."
--Isaiah 64:1-2