4.21.24 Message – Dare to Dance: The Dance of Love

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How do we know that the rhythm and dance of our lives is faithful? Drummer of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart, wrote: “To fall in love is to fall in rhythm.” It is love for each other by which we know we are followers of Jesus. In the face of societal rules and attitudes that strive to foster “everyone for themselves,” they will know we are Christians by our love.

How can we listen to the music that draws us together, “falling in rhythm” with neighbor in order to build up the whole?

4.14.24 Message – While in Their Joy: Dancing Sure

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Luke 24:36b-48

Sometimes we are unsure about our steps in this world. Even the disciples, joyful as they were at seeing Jesus post-resurrection, they still had disbelief and wonder at his return.

However, we are also reminded in scripture, that even though we may not know our next steps, we can be sure in them because we are beloved children of God, and we will be like the one in whose steps we can surely follow — the resurrected Jesus.

 

3.24.24 Message – Good Enough: Palm Sunday

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We stand at the precipice of Lent and Holy Week. This day moves from shouting and praising to a time of crying and lament. The drama of the story of Jesus’ last week reads like the book of our lives. Feeling hopeful one moment, we plummet the next as we deal with disappointment, danger, and grief. God’s incarnation on earth was not immune from this roller-coaster we call life.

One thing we know, when the going gets rough, the last thing on our minds is climbing the ladder of self-improvement. We just want to survive, to be comforted, to have our pain known and embraced. And so we turn from the isolation of perfection and turn toward deep love. It is never too late to nurture the garden of relationships, for we are all a group project.

 

3.17.24 Message – Good Enough: We Are Fragile

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Good Enough: We Are Fragile (John 12:1-8)

Life is fragile. And we won’t be around forever. Although we’d much rather pretend that we will. We don’t want to think of how fragile and brief everything really can be. It makes us uncomfortable; remembering our fragility lays bare the precious nature of the present moment. Jesue knew this, and that his own death would be soon. He asked his disciples to start to think about what life would be like without him…and to the surprise of no one, they didn’t want to. Much like we don’t want to think of the death of our loved ones.

But what if instead of denying the inevitable we embraced our limited time, savored it, and admitted our vulnerability to one another? How might this impact how we live in the present moment?

3.10.24 Message – Good Enough: We Often Believe We Are the Problem

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We can be pretty hard on ourselves when things don’t go as planned. Guilt, shame, and fear of being seen as a failure can make us our own harshest critic. It’s this fear that can keep us from being creative or trying something new. We will make mistakes, and that’s okay. Mistakes can help us learn, and none of us will ever be perfect at anything. Our ideas of a perfectible life keep us disappointed in ourselves. Truth is, life is a big risk every single day and facing whatever each day holds is not only good enough, but worthy of love and grace.

2.25.24 Message from Shawnee Community

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Good Enough: So Much is Out of Our Control (Luke 13:31-35)

Have you ever tried herding chickens? It’s impossible. Even if we don’t know anything about chickens that much is clear. Trying to control others behavior–trying to make them do what we want when we want is next to impossible too. It can be frustrating when folks don’t do what we’d like–even Jesus had his moments of frustration when folks didn’t do what he wanted.

But what if we let go of needing all things and all people to be exactly what we want and instead learn to go with the flow of that which is not ours to control?

 

2.18.24 Message – Good Enough: Ordinary Can Be Holy

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Good Enough: Ordinary Can be Holy (Luke 4:1-13)

We find ourselves hungry for many things that we believe will satisfy us. What one of us wouldn’t be tempted to jump at a chance of glory, fame, or a quick fix if it was offered and guaranteed to us? Jesus himself was tempted by these things. Yet, he was able to resist them and continue to live in a way that was real and authentic to who he was.

What temptations catch your ear, singing out promises that your life should be more special than it is? What if your ordinary life is already holy—as is?

2.11.24 Message: Who Do We Want Jesus to Be?

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Who Do We Want Jesus to Be? (Mark 9:2-9)

So often we take the Jesus we read about, hear about, preach about, pray about and we try and fit him into neat little boxes we’ve created for him. Often we try and limit Jesus’ teachings to what we’re comfortable with and what’s acceptable to us.

Jesus’ teachings were compassionate and loving, but at the same time, they were radical, uncomfortable, and demanded that his followers grow and stretch to follow him…

Trying to fit Jesus into a theological or denominational box is one way of trying to control Jesus’ message. But what if Faith isn’t supposed to work that way? What if Jesus is asking us to let go of our illusion of control and instead have our faith stretched in new ways?

2.4.24 Message: Jesus Practiced Self-Care

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Jesus Practiced Self-Care (Mark 1:29-39)

We hear a lot about the importance of self-care and how and when we’re supposed to practice it. Many things folks can do are named “self-care,” but what is it really? And how does it impact our spiritual self if we regularly practice it or not? Jesus practiced self-care (although it’s not named exactly that way) and we see him taking care of himself time and time again…what does it look and feel like when we follow his example?

1.28.24 Sunday Message from Shawnee Community

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