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.
On 09.11.16, our friend Mark Scandrette returned to cast a big vision and invitation into The Beatitudes. He offered four insights to why these nine statements of Christ are a path of healing and recovery, and he invited us on a "journey back to reality" over the next three months.
Pastor Michael Rudzena teaches a Theology of "the other" and invites us into a profound and provocative practice. Based on Jesus' teaching in Matthew 9 ("But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’") and modern research on the human experience of disgust, Michael helps us move beyond the barriers to love our friends, neighbors, and enemies as ourselves.
Jason Feffer guides us through a powerful process to discern God's invitation for this summer, name our deep desires and potential roadblocks, and craft a personal summer experiment to engage over the next 6 weeks.
This Sunday marks the fourth and final week of our Living the Liturgy series in which we dive into the sacred ritual of passing the peace and the benediction we practice each and every week. Jenna steps in for Kellye to share how being blessed is the foundation for blessing others and John leads us in a practice of receiving the words of blessing we deeply need to hear from God in imaginative prayer.
Old friend of The Practice Jonathan Martin is joined by our newest friend Nichole Nordeman to continue our Living the Liturgy series with a closer look at the practice at the center of our gathering, the Eucharist. Jonathan leads us to the table with deep insight into how it can nourish us in every season and Nichole leads us into the heart of this great mystery through her music to prepare our hearts.
This Sunday our Living the Liturgy series continues with John & Jenna Perrine as we explore the sacred practice of confession and assurance in our weekly liturgy. Through Christ we know we are forgiven forever - so why do we still practice this ritual and how does this communal practice contribute to our growth and spiritual formation? This practice includes a time of guided confession and assurance.
Curtis Miller begins our Living the Liturgy series by examining the weekly practice of communally ready scripture together on Sundays. Learn we us how the sacred rituals we practice on Sundays, shape us in our daily lives.
The past four weeks at The Practice have been an incredible journey into resurrection, and we have heard some powerful stories in race, religion and Iraq testifying to the power of Christ to bring about new life. This Sunday, we are even more excited to bring the conversation closer to home and get personal with one another as we share stories of resurrection in our very own community. This podcast includes the vision and invitation for why we share and listen with one another, as well as our listening guidelines for our practice time.
Friend of The Practice and founder of The Preemptive Love Coalition Jeremy Courtney joins our Stories of Resurrection series to shape his story of Resurrection in Iraq. Includes a contemplative practice time of having eyes to see resurrection in our lives and in the world.
Author Sarah Bessey joins The Practice tribe to share her story of resurrection in the context of religion, discovering new life in a faith that was beginning to feel like death. This podcast includes a contemplative practice time to have eyes to see resurrection in our lives and the world.
Racial reconciliation advocate, musician and gifted producer David Bailey of Arrabon joins the practice to share his story of resurrection in race as part of the Kingdom of God. Hear David's passion and call to reconciliation in our modern day Jerusalems, Judeas, and Samarias. Includes a contemplative practice of having eyes to see resurrection in race.
In view of Easter, this Sunday begins a five week journey called "Stories of Resurrection: Cultivating Eyes to See & Join God’s Redemption Everywhere." This Sunday, our very own Aaron Niequist led us into the vision and invitation of this good news, and set us up with a framework for the journey ahead. This podcast includes a reflective practice time of having eyes to see resurrection in our lives and the world around us.
This Sunday, Jenna Perrine invites us into a practical vision for how we can make lament a part of our daily lives, before leading us through a holy workshop in the practice of 9 steps to writing our own lament before God. Friends, this is where the rubber meets the road. This is where we learn how to put the idea of lament into practice.
In week two of our exploration of lament in Lent, Curtis Miller helps us answer the key question, "What Is Biblical Lament?" sharing both a biblical framework and a vulnerable insight into the power of this practice. This podcast includes a practice of lamenting with pictures led by Kellye Fabian, which you can follow along with using our handout.
Beloved guest of The Practice, Jonathan Martin kicks off our corporate exploration of the Lenten theme and practice of lament, exploring why this often forgotten practice is so important for our Spiritual lives. This podcast also includes a full Lectio Divina of Psalm 6 led by our dear friend Fr. Michael.