VergeNow

Created to Create: Giving Up and Giving In.

Could giving up and giving in be the key to success and happiness?

In the lectionary text for this Sunday (Genesis 21:8-21 and Matthew 10:24-29) two stories are told about giving up and giving in.

In the Old Testament, Hagar is at the end of herself. Having been mistreated so badly she is hopeless and ready to give up her life and that of her son when God comes to rescue them both and give them new life and a new destiny.

In the New Testament, Jesus gives the mystifying "secret of life;" that in order to really live we must give in to an identity that is full shaped by God.

Whether you feel like giving up or you need to give in, this video invites you to give in to the music of your life that you were born to create.

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The Cultural Mandate of Genesis 1 insists that we are to form a culture, not simply allow it to happen to us. Yet, without conscious attention, we are left with a serious deficit of artistic and creative practitioners in our faith communities leaving us ill equipped to take on the task of culture making. How and why must we prepare those who would take on the vocation of artist?

In this series we are invited to consider our responsibility to curate and create culture not only in our churches but in our world.

Production: Dan ABH

Script/Narration: Lisa Smith

Original Score: Jay Smith, www.Jmusic.us

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What if we believed Jesus as much as we believe in Jesus?

Learning to See: Fermentation

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus describes a process of complete transformation akin to fermentation; a process by which old ideas, habits and patterns are overturned and new insights are introduced to strengthen and ensure our flourishing.

In this meditation series from Convergence on learning to see through the eyes of God, you are invited to consider the ever present mystery and symbol that points to something bigger than immediate circumstances.

Check out the video mediation of this episode at www.youtube.com/vergenow

Production: Dan ABH.

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Right now, we are all left "looking up to into the sky" just like the disciples; watching and waiting. "Drowning Process" is an invitation to go with it. (Acts 1:6-14) Why not accept this forced break as a time to catch your breath? Why not observe (perhaps for the first time ever) this holy week in the church calendar to wait and pray with the disciples for that breath to arrive?

In this series from Convergence on learning to see through the eyes of God, you are invited to consider the ever present mystery and symbol that points to something bigger than immediate circumstances. Video Editing and Production: Dan ABH. Meditation/Narration: Lisa Smith. Original Score: Jay Smith.

Subscribe to Convergence Newsletter to learn more and stay connected: www.ourconvergence.org 

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For Mature Audiences Only from VergeNow, suggests that sometimes we may be asking the right questions but, are unwilling or unable to listen for the right answers.

Are we trained well enough in our sensitivity to the symbolic to really see where God is at work in our world? (Acts 22:17-31)

In this series from Convergence on learning to see through the eyes of God, you are invited to consider the ever present mystery and symbol that points to something bigger than immediate circumstances.

Production: Dan ABH. Meditation/Narration: Lisa Smith. Original Score: Jay Smith

Subscribe to Convergence Newsletter to learn more and stay connected:

www.ourconvergence.org

www.vergenow.org

A Surveyor's Map considers the well worn paths of our daily lives as an opportunity for reflection on memory as a composite of all that has been, is now, and that is still to come.

In this series on learning to see through the eyes of God, you are invited to consider the ever present mystery and symbol that points to something bigger than immediate circumstances.

Meditation/Narration: Lisa Smith; Music: Jay Smith; Production: Dan ABH.

www.ourconvergence.org  www.vergenow.org 

"Imagine the world and all that is in it as enchanted, haunted by the Holy Spirit and the presence of grace.” Andrew Greely. Explore the idea of "God's Word" as an invitation to seeing the presence of God in every aspect of life and nature.

Meditation: Lisa Smith; Music: Jay Smith; Production: Dan ABH. www.ourconvergence.org  www.vergenow.org

Please consider supporting Convergence and all the great online content we are creating for you during this time by becoming a regular giver. You can make a donation here: www.ourconvergence.org/donate.

Thank you for helping us create better together!

This week, Pastor and artistic director Lisa Cole Smith at Convergence leads with a mediative exercise and thoughts based upon a song written by musician/artist Sufjan Stevens.

"We Christians believe that God is worthy of worship, but I wonder how many of us are secretly uncomfortable with this idea that it is our sole reason for existence. I often find myself preferring to believe that God exists in order to help me with my life. To make it easier or make me feel better. God exists because I need someone to call on in times of need. Yet, if this is the case, the atheists are right. That kind of faith is a fantasy of sorts. In that faith, I am fashioning a God to fill my needs

- Lisa Cole Smith

"All The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands" written and performed by Sufjan Stevens 

Our "Gather" series continues this week with a LIVE conversation from our Gather 2019 conference with our good friend Dr. Elise Edwards on the topics of ethics, architecture, and convening difficult conversations in Church.

Dr. Elise Edwards teaches courses in Christian ethics and theology at Baylor University.  She earned her Ph.D. in Religion at Claremont Graduate University in California, where she studied Theology, Ethics, and Culture.  Prior to pursuing a Ph.D. in theology, Dr. Edwards worked as an architect in Washington D.C. and she still maintains her license to practice architecture.

VergeNow's newest podcast series "Gather", is a current case study on re-imagining worship and gathering well in soulful community. For more episodes visit www.vergenow.org/podcast-2

The "Gather" series continues this week with Brian Kirby and our conversation about Taize and contemplative service gatherings. 

Dr. Brian Kirby graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry in Theology and the Arts. He has pastored in Europe, Asia, and the US. Dr. Kirby is a musician and snowboarder who minsters in the Washington D.C. area as the Senior Director for Community Life at Community Church.

VergeNow's newest podcast series "Gather", is a current case study on re-imagining worship and gathering well in soulful community. For more episodes visit www.vergenow.org/podcast-2