Our theme this year is "a weary world rejoices".

We're borrowing that line from the Christmas carol, O Holy Night. It's a line that holds tension and hope. Tension because both weariness and joy are present at the same time and hope because...well...weariness and joy are present at the same time.

This morning we consider the ways in which we doubt joy and even resist it. We explore the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth - a story of both weariness and joy -- and let it inspire us to consider how we might more and more become people ready to receive joy when it sneaks "into the cracks of our imperfect life".

Teresa follows up on the conversation we had about Israel/Palestine (on 10/29) by asking the question - what is ours to do? How do we move toward wholeness in the face of constant pressure to perform, achieve and fix all things?

The attacks by Hamas, as well as Israel's response, have created so much pain and destruction. Our hearts are heavy with the weight of this war and the decades long conflict that has preceded it.

What are we to do in the face of such violence and loss? What can we do, if anything?

Chris shares some of his wrestlings from the last few weeks and invites us to wrestle too -- not just with this war on the other side of the world, but with the way vengeance and demonization can easily took root in our own lives.

After our gathering, folks stuck around to ask questions about the current war, the larger Israel/Palestine conflict and what it might mean for our lives.

This is a moment in history full of change, questions, uncertainty and loss. So much is shifting so quickly -- including what it means to be Christian (not to mention...if...I want to be Christian).

A moment like this calls for courage. Courage to dream new dreams; to allow our imaginations to be reignited. To admit our limitations let go of old patterns that no longer work. We are committed to being that kind of a community.

Presence is one of God's greatest gift to us, and in turn, it is one of the greatest gifts we can offer to each other. We consider this core value -- an intentional choice we can make to be present in our world, here and now.

Week 3: Relational Grace

Our first week on our core values considered the value of Partnership.

Week 2 considers the core value of Inclusivity.

Our final Sunday in Acts considers the last chapters of this book - chapters that show us the promising reality that God's Spirit is given to us precisely in our gritty, messy humanness.