Earlier this week, I saw an article headline that instructed “Let Go of the People Who No Longer Serve You.” While I certainly understand the nuances around this, the notion of cutting the “dead weight” of people who “no longer serve” us lives in tension with what scripture illustrates for us about the nature of commitment. At the beginning of Ruth, we see the life of Naomi, a woman who had everything, completely dissolve. In short order, her husband and then two sons die and she is left with her widowed daughters-in-law. Her daughter-in-law, Ruth, refuses to leave her and build another life. I marvel at Ruth’s willingness to bind herself to an uncertain future! Certainly Naomi is no longer “serving” her. In the weeks and months ahead, we see how Naomi manages to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I wonder if, even this small effort was evidence of the slight trace of hope which still remained within Naomi that Ruth was able to draw out by her promise. Promises are deeply connected to our ability to sustain hope. And so, as Christians, what does it mean to commit ourselves to one another through the good and the bad? What does it cost? And how does it reflect something about God’s promise of faithfulness to us? Join us this Sunday, 10am (at the Russian Center or online) – and stick around for a crowd-sourced meal – as we continue to explore the Art of Belonging.
Faithfully,
Rev. Emily McGinley
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
September 15th - Rewilding Motherhood: An Eight-Week Exploration
Botanical Gardens East Gate Entrance, GGP | 8:40am-9:40am
"If we removed all the harmful human intervention, could motherhood rewild itself into a healing and nourishing space in which to dwell?" -- Shannon K Evans, Rewilding Motherhood
If mothering is a core part of your identity, no matter their age or how your children came to you, and you are interested in "reimagining motherhood as the spiritually empowering experience it should be", please join us! We will be doing an eight-week book study through the book "Rewilding Motherhood: Your Path to an Empowered Feminine Spirituality" by Shannon K. Evans. We will start and end promptly, meeting in a wild place on Friday mornings. Each week we will save time for learning and practicing spiritual practices that help us reach for the mystery in the middle of the ordinary. Spots are limited. No childcare is provided.
September 17th - Childhood Faith Formation or How to CRUSH Faithful Parenting
REGISTER HERE
Come join other City Church parents and caregivers in hearing the Good News of new research, learn Barbara’s Best Hacks, and how-to spot faith formation in the WILD. Suitable for all caregivers, best for caregivers of elementary and younger; bring your wisdom! We’ll meet to play and learn in Classroom #3 after a lovely Community Sunday lunch. Childcare available for all ages.
September 17th - Worship Roundtable
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What brings you joy in worship? When was a time that you felt a deep connection to God? Join Jason and Pastor Emily following our September Community Lunch for a first roundtable on all things Worship. This is an open invitation and space for us to take steps toward beginning to clarify our worshiping life values, discuss our theological, philosophical, and even ecumenical lenses regarding worship, and refine these as we cultivate transformative and inclusive worship services. This is the first step in a journey of learning and imaging together and we hope you’ll join us! RSVP so that we know you are planning to attend.