Westview Christian Fellowship

Will begins by introducing a story he wrote about heaven to the lectionary verses for May 9th 2021. Here he talks about finding the sacred in the ordinary asking us, like the angel asked the disciples at the ascension, why we look toward heaven? The important stuff, Will argues, happens in the substance of daily life.

Leaning on an insight by Casey Overton, an activist and contributor to enfleshed.com, Caleb reflects on how the song "Why Can't We Be Friends?" by WAR sheds light on the meaning of John Chapter 15. 

In John 15 we read:  “And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” So how do we know that you’re abiding in love, living the love commandment?  In this world, in Christ’s world, when essential workers ask for a living wage, they get it, when the homeless ask for better living conditions, they’d receive it, or maybe when addicts ask for a clean drug supply, it would be given to them.

Using the lectionary verses, Justin asks the question, “if we are to look within our own tradition to find the resources to love the land again, we must read the Bible with bent towards foundational teachings of harmony and care for all of creation.” Justin encourages us to find ways to include creation within our worship, not only as an representative for the divine, but as an active participant, guiding us into the love of Christ.

 

Cahoots Festival: https://www.cahootsfest.ca

Wild Church Network: https://www.wildchurchnetwork.com

Recorded on April 25th, 2021 Caleb discusses Acts chapters 3 and 4. Jesus replaces the question “Who is the Greatest?” with the question “Who is my neighbour?” In Acts we see the disciples continuing this story, embodying what it means to be Jewish followers of "the way." The healing of the cripple on the door step of the wealthy elite confirms  Jesus’ authority to (re)interpret the Jewish story. Being an act of true charity that addresses the root causes of inequality, the healing also continues Jesus' story by challenging oppressive regimes. 

 

Rather than false charity we, like Peter and John, need to pursue societal change that works to make poverty and oppression unimaginable. Acts of justice that challenges systems of oppression are always done in the name Jesus.

Recorded on April 11th, 2021: The ban is not widely practiced in our modern Mennonite communities anymore, but historically every Anabaptist group has practiced it in some form or another. Many of us might be inclined to see this history as irrelevant to our current lives. However, Tom looks at this and other histories that we might prefer to ignore and explores how our histories shape us. He shares his thoughts and experiences on how the historical practice of the ban is still relevant to our conversations about grace and accountability.

Recorded at Westview on April 4, 2021: The challenge for us is to recognize the resurrected Christ without the need to be confronted by the crucifixion, something the male disciples fail to achieve. We pray our eyes are opened to the ways we participate in systems that benefit some at the expense of others before this abuse brings our world crashing down around us. And we can start this work by putting aside our own expectations about how the world should look long enough to appreciate the complexities of addiction.

 

Rather than asking with the male disciples, "who is the greatest?" let's let the questions "who is our guest? who is not at the table? who is the one that serves?" guide the world we live in.

Recorded on March 28th at Westview's zoom service. Grazia shares from her heart, thinking through mystical hope, what it's meant to her this Easter, and how this Easter is different from others.

Recorded at Westview on Feb. 14, 2021: Mystic hope is difficult to grasp, but it’s more than simply a desire for good outcomes, it’s a way of being in the here and now that holds on to life, however fragile and vulnerable it might be. The woman who anoints Jesus for burial finds a way to hold on to life even when she knows it’s about to be snuffed out.

Recorded at Westview on Feb. 14, 2021 this episode featured Carol Penner. Carol Penner teaches and writes in the area of practical theology and after many years as a pastor in various Mennonite congregations, she joined the faculty at Grebel. Her research interests include feminist theology and Mennonite peace theology, and abuse issues. She has a popular blog of her worship resources at www.leadinginworship.com.

 

In this discussion, Carol asks “Why are Anabaptists so conservative when it comes to women?” In response, Carol outlines three aspects of Anabaptist theology that keep women in a subordinate role: suffering, obedience, and forgiveness. 

 

“We need a peace theology that really does bring peace to people, not just peace to the people in charge or on top, but peace to the people who suffer the most.”

During the Winter of 2021, we're taking some time to reconnect and reevaluate our Anabaptist heritage. Caleb continues the series by talking about a central doctrine of the Anabaptist movement called "The Priesthood of all Believers." Caleb reflects on how this doctrine has the power to level hierarchical systems of power. And how in John chapter 21, we see the potential for this doctrine to reach beyond itself, moving from a Priesthood for all believers to a Presithood of call creation. All of creation is called to be Christ.