a safe, loving, and radically inclusive
worship space-time
in Utah
worship space-time
in Utah
Feb 20, 2021: This past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, we talked about the traditional refrain "you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The first impression of this phrase is...well, bleak. If we're not careful, that phrase can lead us to think that this life doesn't matter, because we all die anyway, right?
Death is inevitable, yes; we hope in life everlasting beyond death, yes; but our lives here and now are still important and precious! Genesis 2 recounts a telling of creation of the first human: "In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens...then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being."
The dust from which we were created was not nothing, but a part of creation! Nor are ashes simply trash, but a spiritual and physical cleansing agent, and also a product of fire, which we associate with none other than the Holy Spirit.
So when we hear "to dust you shall return," can we go beyond the sadness of mortality? Can we come to the epiphany that - no matter how isolated/alone/individualized we may feel now - we will indeed return to being an undeniably intertwined part of creation?
We know that this Divine vision is at the root of the work that Jesus conducted during his ministry, which we are all commanded-and-invited to continue!
As we celebrate the season of Lent by preparing our hearts and minds for the coming of Easter, I invite you all to join me for a journey focused on restoration and rededication to the Divine vision.
Specifically, let's spend the next 6 weeks with a deep dive on kyriarchy and white supremacy culture in the church world and in society at large. These intersecting forces of oppression - including racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, homophobia, classism, and more - harm our neighbors, our relationships, our larger community, and even ourselves.
We'll spend time looking at some of the nuances and characteristics of oppression, from perfectionism to hyperindividualism to professionalism standards and beyond. The concepts of oppression and -isms and systemic harm can feel so intangible, but identifying and naming specific characteristics are a key step to dismantling them.
To be clear, this is a huge part of our call to love our neighbor. It is big work, but Jesus' life, death, and resurrection teach us that we are not captive to sin. So throw off the chains and let's work for that Divine love and justice and liberation!
Hope to see you on Sunday at 5pm for this Lenten journey 🕊️
Peace,
Jen
Death is inevitable, yes; we hope in life everlasting beyond death, yes; but our lives here and now are still important and precious! Genesis 2 recounts a telling of creation of the first human: "In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens...then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being."
The dust from which we were created was not nothing, but a part of creation! Nor are ashes simply trash, but a spiritual and physical cleansing agent, and also a product of fire, which we associate with none other than the Holy Spirit.
So when we hear "to dust you shall return," can we go beyond the sadness of mortality? Can we come to the epiphany that - no matter how isolated/alone/individualized we may feel now - we will indeed return to being an undeniably intertwined part of creation?
We know that this Divine vision is at the root of the work that Jesus conducted during his ministry, which we are all commanded-and-invited to continue!
As we celebrate the season of Lent by preparing our hearts and minds for the coming of Easter, I invite you all to join me for a journey focused on restoration and rededication to the Divine vision.
Specifically, let's spend the next 6 weeks with a deep dive on kyriarchy and white supremacy culture in the church world and in society at large. These intersecting forces of oppression - including racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, homophobia, classism, and more - harm our neighbors, our relationships, our larger community, and even ourselves.
We'll spend time looking at some of the nuances and characteristics of oppression, from perfectionism to hyperindividualism to professionalism standards and beyond. The concepts of oppression and -isms and systemic harm can feel so intangible, but identifying and naming specific characteristics are a key step to dismantling them.
To be clear, this is a huge part of our call to love our neighbor. It is big work, but Jesus' life, death, and resurrection teach us that we are not captive to sin. So throw off the chains and let's work for that Divine love and justice and liberation!
Hope to see you on Sunday at 5pm for this Lenten journey 🕊️
Peace,
Jen
Join us as we gather together each Sunday even while physically apart during the COVID-19 pandemic! Even if you've never attended, or if it's been a while - you are wholeheartedly welcome & invited.
Virtual Recovery: Sundays at 5:00pm (mountain time zone)
To join by computer or smartphone, go to: bit.ly/virtualrecovery
To join by phone audio only: dial 424-282-9589
when prompted, enter passcode: 184 688 050#
Missed a week, or not able - or quite ready - to join live? Check out previous recordings on YouTube or click "Worship Materials & Videos" in the top navigation. Not every week is uploaded, depending on the nature of the discussion and desired privacy, but most are!
Virtual Recovery: Sundays at 5:00pm (mountain time zone)
To join by computer or smartphone, go to: bit.ly/virtualrecovery
To join by phone audio only: dial 424-282-9589
when prompted, enter passcode: 184 688 050#
Missed a week, or not able - or quite ready - to join live? Check out previous recordings on YouTube or click "Worship Materials & Videos" in the top navigation. Not every week is uploaded, depending on the nature of the discussion and desired privacy, but most are!
American Christianity is grossly intertwined with white supremacy, nationalism, super-individualism. Related violence, oppression, and fascism have long been committed while using the cross and the names of God or Jesus as props to support hateful rhetoric and actions.
As a church, we will continue to work hard to deconstruct and dismantle harmful theologies that lead to individual bias and systematic oppression within ourselves, our church, and larger communities.
Anti-racism is not a trend. We reject racism and white supremacy, and continue to put in work to dismantle systemic oppression and forms of individual bias within ourselves, our church, and larger communities.
We celebrate Pride, in June and year-round, and celebrate its multifaceted nature as a dignity-affirming jubilation rooted in rebellion against oppression.
We recognize the intertwining, intersecting nature of different forms of oppression and marginalization. We acknowledge and reckon with the fact that many of us are simultaneously members of both oppressed and oppressing groups. We reject society's tendency to step over someone else in order to get ourselves to a position above them.
"Black lives matter." "God is love." "Love is love." "All are welcome." "God makes room."
These are not just social media hashtags or feel-good catchphrases.
We proclaim that we were all made in the Divine Image, made in Goodness and Love, connected to each other through what we call the Spirit; and that our faith(fulness) is both an invitation and a responsibility to help each other learn and continue the anti-oppression, anti-empire teachings and work that Jesus demonstrated.
As a church, we will continue to work hard to deconstruct and dismantle harmful theologies that lead to individual bias and systematic oppression within ourselves, our church, and larger communities.
Anti-racism is not a trend. We reject racism and white supremacy, and continue to put in work to dismantle systemic oppression and forms of individual bias within ourselves, our church, and larger communities.
We celebrate Pride, in June and year-round, and celebrate its multifaceted nature as a dignity-affirming jubilation rooted in rebellion against oppression.
We recognize the intertwining, intersecting nature of different forms of oppression and marginalization. We acknowledge and reckon with the fact that many of us are simultaneously members of both oppressed and oppressing groups. We reject society's tendency to step over someone else in order to get ourselves to a position above them.
"Black lives matter." "God is love." "Love is love." "All are welcome." "God makes room."
These are not just social media hashtags or feel-good catchphrases.
We proclaim that we were all made in the Divine Image, made in Goodness and Love, connected to each other through what we call the Spirit; and that our faith(fulness) is both an invitation and a responsibility to help each other learn and continue the anti-oppression, anti-empire teachings and work that Jesus demonstrated.
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