What is our communal interpretation and incarnation of the life of Jesus? Christopher Mack continues our series on Participation by reflecting on how we might navigate enduring hopelessness with our beloved belonging and collective creativity. [1 Corinthians 12:1-3, 27-31 and Jeremiah 32:17]

Reflection

1. Is there someplace you have been silent where you can begin praying for wisdom on how to speak out?

Resources

1. Moonage Daydream Director Brett Morgen on Meeting David Bowie and Capturing  the Artist’s Spirit by Luke Hicks

How does liturgy (“the work of the people”) invite us towards Christ’s embodied vision of the church community? Weylin Lee continues our series on Participation by considering collaboration that is expansive, inclusive, sustainable, and mutual. [1 Corinthians 12:12-26]

Reflection

1. What presence and voice can each of us bring to litury?

Resources

1. One Church Many Tribes: Following Jesus The Way God Made You by Richard Twiss

What does it mean to be invited to participate? Gena St. David begins our six week series on Vox’s value of Participation by reflecting on where we have been to imagine a collective future where each of us is essential. [1 Corinthians 12:4-7]

Reflection

• What makes you essential to our community?

Resources

• Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo

All of our life is participation in the Divine, which means all of our life is in participation with creation & community. Christopher Mack reflects with the psalmist for communal comfort & challenge this Labor Day weekend. [Psalm 139:1-6; 10-18]

Reflection

• How does it feel to be fully seen by God and companioned by One who knows you so completely?

Resources

• New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton

How does relating with God impact your fear? Gena St. David explores how the focus of our fears often fail to materialize, and how we might navigate the challenges that do emerge. [Hebrews 13]

Reflection

• How does your relationship with God impact your fear?

Resource

• Plowshare Prayer by Spencer LaJoyet

On Austin Pride weekend, Christopher Mack looks through the Gospel of Luke’s portrayal of a woman bent down to ponder what it looks like to stand up in solidarity for the marginalized. [Luke 13:10-17]

Reflection

• How might you allow your formation in the Divine Womb to shape your identity?

Resources

Pride 2022 Research & Resources

Books

• “Beatitudes for a Queerer Church” from The Backwater Sermons: Poems by Jay Hulme

Prayer

• A Prayer: We Are Holy. We Are Sacred. We Are Divine. By Rev. Theresa Soto 

Documentary

• My Name Is Pauli Murray

Lauri Raymond reflects on how embracing contemplative prayer opens us to the Love, Wisdom and Wholeness of God that transforms us individually and collectively. [Ephesians 3:14-19]

Reflection

1. What is getting in the way of vulnerability and trust?

Title: Does Fear Keep Us From Heaven?

How might fear keep us from experiencing heaven here and now? David Wallace examines how our commonly held fears impact our spirituality. [Luke 12:32-40]

God’s Love gets on eye level with us and God’s Liberation lifts up the marginalized. Christopher Mack shares how Hosea pictures God as a loving caregiver who we can mirror in our own life through steadfast solidarity and working for the common good. [Hosea 11:1-11]

Reflection

• How might you reflect on who you are called to be in the world and who we as a faith community are called to be?

Praying can be an act of naming that invites us into creative responses of redistributive justice. Gina Bastone-Trevino wrestles with the Lord's Prayer and a familiar parable in ways that stretch  us during times of crisis. [Luke 11:1-10]

Reflection

• What surprising strangeness can you find in re-reading the Lord’s prayer?

Resources

• Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community by Pádraig Ó Tuama: 
  • “Prayer is words and shape and art around desperation, and delight and disappointment and desire. Prayer can be the art that helps you name your desire. And even if the desire is only named, well, naming is a good thing, surely. Naming is what God did, the Jews tell us, and the world unfolded. Or perhaps naming is what the Jews did, and God unfolded. Either way, I’m thankful. Naming things is part of the creative impulse. Naming the deep desires of our heart is a good thing, even if those desires are never satisfied.”

• New Zealand Anglican Lord’s Prayer | He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa  
  • https://newzeal.salvationarmy.org.nz/church-community/women/resource/god-our-father-and-mother-free-printable-%C2%A0new-zealand-anglican-lords-prayer