Guest preacher Rev. Dr. Jana Childers imagines Jesus’ encounter with the kyophotic (bent over) women. Since he looked her in the eye and touched her, he must have gotten very low and in a humble position in order to heal her. There is no overstating the tenderness of God’s love, she asserts. Rev Childers is…
We meet outside for our annual Blessing of the Animals near St Francis Day. Great music, adorable animals, and further realization of the blessings among us.
Pastor Elisabeth explores the ways Jesus used empowerment to be a change maker, and ways we can,too. He often called out the person in the back, asked about them, and in blessing them empowered their healing. Likewise, he empowered the disciples to go among the crpwd to seek food, and they found it to feed…
Using the lectio divino method, we consider again the feeding of the 5000 as showing Jesus as a creative Change-maker. Pastor Elisabeth also tells the story of the Japanese woodcarver who sees the sculpture in the tree before he can begin as an example of the creative imagination. Likewise, Jesus saw the person in each…
Pastor Elisabeth explores being Change-makers by being collaborative as part following Jesus in this 4 part series. He taught the disciples to go out together, and showed them how to collaborate with the people in the feeding of the 5000.
Pastor Elisabeth explores being change-makers as part of following Jesus in this 4-part series. Jesus taught by example and words how his disciples can be change-makers by being compassionate.
Pastor Elisabeth discusses ways joy can be an antidote to the pain and suffering causedby oppressive systems. She tells have Jesus recognized joy, and describes the Estonian “Singing Revolution” that defied the Soviet system. Joy often comes from serving in surprising ways, and energizes service and resistance.
Pastor Elisabeth continues to explore the everyday ways we resist the injustices of the world. She recalls the story of Jesus healing the women on the Sabbath as a political act against an oppressive system, and she emphasizes that we too are part of the healing of the world in collaboration and communion with others.
Guest preacher Rev Ann Jefferson of the City of Refuge church in Oakland presents. ways music has been used as a form of resistance. She decdes several gospel hymns that help reisist slavery and inspired freedom movements.
Pastor Elisabeth begins a July series on the theme of maintaining hope, energy, and inspiration for the work as disciples of compassion and justice in harsh times.