The word apocalypse means "unveiling." Sometimes, what is unveiled is what sits at the heart of our closest relationships, a common enemy. Jesus said he came not to bring peace, but division. What could that really mean? In this message, Mark Pratt-Russum wonders if Jesus came to undo the healthy ways we build and sustain relationships, via a scapegoat, or a shared enemy. Sometimes, the unveiling is too hard for us to fix the relationships that have depended on certain expectations. But, might restructuring our relationships around compassion be possible?

Visiting Friend from Adelphi Friends, Mackenzie Morgan, gave a message also about Matthew 25. She shared about a vision she had of Christ on his hands and feet, which she shared with her Yearly Meeting in discussions about Quaker silence in regards to racism. In the spirit of Matthew 25, her queries were asking us to reflect how we see Jesus as a POC in current day:

When did we hear you being disparaged or disrespected and "keep the peace" by ignoring it?

When did we see you on the playground at recess and conclude it was a bad school?

When did we see you moving in next door and worry about the neighborhood and our property values?

When did we see you walking or jogging down the street and decide your mere presence was suspicious?

When did we hear you calling out for your life to be valued and respond with cliche?

When did we see you dying and do nothing to stop it?

When did we hear you mourning your son and say he was no angel?

When did we hear you crying out for justice and demand you keep a calm, even tone if you want to be taken seriously?

When did we see you angry at injustice and death and show we value possessions over your life?

When did we see you lash out in anger at the murder of your siblings, as you lashed out at the economic injustice in Temple courtyard, and treat it as equal to or worse than 400 years of imprisonment, enslavement, rape and murder?

Klarissa shares a message about why it matters that we shine our light in the world, and offers three ways we can embody radical welcome in our lives.

Holly Dhynes gave a message about the way staying at home has made her think of the spiritual opportunity to come and stay home and look in the mirror. Yoga has been a way into that spiritual exploration and it got her thinking about God as a consuming fire. She went way, way back to the pictographs used in earliest versions of Deuteronomy Chapter 4.

Mark Pratt-Russum reflected in his message that it's been nearly 10 years for him at West Hills Friends! This disruption in routines has made him think about how the days leading up to Jesus' resurrection must have been extremely disorienting and lacking cohesion in Jesus' disciples. Mark has been retreating to his hammock on some days where the unfathomable scope of the pandemic is limited to what's right in front of him. He realized it is okay if he's caterpillar soup right now. As a butterfly fluttered by him, he knew that resurrection is always breaking through. Helplessness and resurrection exist together. We are Easter people, and we are beacons of Light just by being willing to show up. How are you experiencing the ups and downs of this Easter season? What does resurrection look like for you? What are you noticing about yourself during this time?

For his message, Mark Pratt-Russum considered the two crowds that gathered during Holy Week. One crowd witnessed provocative anit-empire theatre and cheered, and then just five days later another crowd formed and pressured a reluctant ruler to execute the man riding the donkey. Queries: Put yourself on the streets of Jerusalem. What are you feeling in this moment? What is swelling in your heart?

Mica read us the book, "The Rabbit Listened" by Cori Doerrfeld and shared thoughts about what being the warm presence of listening and comfort looks like, even within moments of discomfort.

For our second meeting for worship via Zoom, Mark shared a message about how meeting our most primal need, to be fed, can be the most structure we can expect of our lives right now. Jesus instructed us to pray, "give us this day our daily bread." How might listening to our bodies direct us through this time of uncertainty and struggle?

Using the framework of Rumi's poem "The Guest House" Mica offered a message to all of us gathered via Zoom during this time of social distancing during Covid-19.

West Hills Friends expresses deep appreciation to Martha Wood for he tim as our Interim Pastor. Peg E. offers this blessing to you, Martha, as you transition into what's next.