On 6.4.17 Jenna Perrine helped us lean into God with our grief and write a lament based on the nine movements of a biblical lament.
On 5.21.17, we announced the very sad news that June 25th will be the final Practice gathering.
On 5.14.17, we explored the mothering images of God in Scripture. It was a beautiful night leaning into our nurturing creator and accepting God's invitation to rest and play.
On 4.30.17, David Fitch helped us explore how walking with Jesus and participating in the Eucharist forms us to tend to Christ's presence in one another.
On 4.23.17 Sibyl Towner led us in an exercise of listening for the presence of God in our stories.
On 4.2.17, Curtis Miller helped us explore how we can turn away fear and engage the world from a place of sacrificial love, and Erin Feffer led us in the spiritual discipline, Lectio Divina.
On 3.19.17, Ashlee Eiland shared with us a framework for dying to our false selves and knowing our true selves. Listen as Ashlee teaches us to embrace knowing, inspecting, and pruning.
On 3.12.17, Frederica Mathewes-Green helped us explore an Eastern Orthodox perspective ofGod's constant presence.
On 3.5.17, Jason Feffer helped us to craft a simple rhythm of life grounded in our desires and the spiritual disciplines.
On 2.20.17, Kellye Fabian helped us understand that God's response to humanity's sinfulness is blessing. We are called to be a blessing, to see, speak well of, and sacrifice to share the love of God with the world.
On 2.12.17, Curtis Miller taught us that we were each created to demonstrate the image of our loving, triune God in community.
On 1.29.17, Shauna Niequist helped us understand that "the love of God is the purest nourishment.
On January 22nd, we offered two prayers for President Donald Trump: (1) Fr Michael Sparough, SJ, wrote and prayed a priestly prayer, (2) Claudia Heinrich wrote and prayed a prophetic prayer, and then (3) we all stood and prayed The Lord's Prayer. This very short podcast is the live recording of those prayers.
Friends, please join us as we pray...
On 1.22.17, Jonathan Martin helped us explore our images of God and left us with a provocative statement. "God is not loving; God is love."
On 1.15.17, Jason Feffer helped us identify how our deepest longings draw us to God and how a rhythm of life helps us make our home in Jesus.
On 12.11.16 Curtis Miller led us to identify our longing for new beginnings, and the promise that our hope is fulfilled in God's holy the presence.
On 12.4.16 Jerusalem Greer helped us enter into the longing of Advent. This season that begins the church year does not begin with the birth of Jesus. It begins in pain, fear, and longing. It is an invitation to open our hearts to the whispered promise of hope.
On 11.20.16 we explored the eighth Beatitude, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Clary and Jason teach the life Jesus invites us into is one of radical love. There is a cost to loving like Jesus. This cost keeps many of us from loving sacrificially, but Jesus promises that those who lose their lives will find it.
On 11.13.16 we lean into the seventh Beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
Rabbi Evan Moffic framed a biblical understanding of shalom for us. Members of our community shared how they have leaned into peacemaking. And Aaron challenged us intentionally resist the temptation to retreat and take tangible steps toward being instruments of Shalom.
On 11.6.16 Mark Scandrette led us in the sixth beat, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God."
We are told to wear masks; to hide things we think and feel inside. But Jesus promises we were created as unique and beautiful people, and he invites us to live with undivided and pure hearts.
On 10.23.16 musician/writer Stu G came to share a few songs, stories, and teachings on the Beatitudes--specifically digging into what it means to give and receive mercy. A tender and powerful night.
On 10.16.16, Meredith and Curtis guided us brilliantly into Jesus' words "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled".
After naming our deepest ache for the world ("I'm hungry and thirsty for a world where...."), we explored Christ's invitation to join God in redeeming and restoring all things, and the lies that hold us back. Finally, Curtis taught us a new practice to help choose one meaningful action this week.
On 01.09.16, Sibyl Towner invited us deep into the beatitude "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." We are told that our value is based on comparison; I must be either better than or less than. But Jesus promises that we each have equal dignity as beloved children of God.
On 09.25.16, Jason Feffer explored this beatitude by inviting us into the story of his life. From deep pain...to masterful avoidance...to discovering the presence of Christ in lament, Jason's story helped us begin the journey from the pain of Blessed are those who mourn to the promise of For they will be comforted.
On 09.18.16, John and Lori invited us to explore and begin practicing the first beatitude: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. At the end, Jason Feffer shares his story and then invites us into three practices for the week.