The Week’s Events
Jubilee
Ordination Candidate Forum
About a month ago, a few of us went to hear Kathryn Tanner speak on the ways that finance intersects with our Christian commitments. This was not your average stewardship discussion. While I disagreed with some of her premises, the questions she was asking were fascinating. It just so happens that they intertwine with our Eastertide consideration of Jubilee. Primarily, Dr. Tanner was asking: what kind of people we become when we participate in the finance system? And what kind of people do our Christian commitments call us to be? What kind of economic system might we design that would allow us to answer that call? Perhaps Jubilee offers some possibilities.
Last week we discussed how the idea of Sabbath arose from the Hebrew narratives of creation and liberation. God created the world, the land, the people, and the law so that life might flourish. Sabbath is a way of reconnecting to and reviving ourselves in that dream. But it requires more than rest; it requires thought and action, courage and wit.
Specifically, Jubilee calls us to an alternate social possibility. Living in slavery, the Hebrews were obviously quite critical of the social, political, and economic arrangements in which they found themselves. They cried out and God heard them. God called them to a land flowing with milk and honey, a land where all could prosper. The Hebrews set out from Egypt determined to live into this alternate social possibility in the land of Canaan. In their liturgy, in their politics, and in their law they enshrined the hope that everyone would have plenty if they just cared for one another.
Please join us this Sunday, 11am at Kidd Springs Rec Center, as we talk about the social, political, and economic realities of our world and how we might imagine an alternative that forms us into people of God.
Grace and Peace,
Scott
Obviously, it has been a terrible week. It seems like every time I check Facebook, someone is offering prayers for another city hit by tragedy. I scramble to find out happened and I almost wish I hadn’t. Our prayers go out to all the people of Boston, that they might find peace and that someone will make peace in our world and in our hearts. But the tragedy that hits closest to home is that in nearby West, Texas. I’m not sure I’ve met a Texan that hasn’t stopped at the Czech Stop in West at some point while traveling between Dallas and Austin. If you’d like to help, Texas Baptists Disaster Recovery is collecting money and needed items for the people of West. Please give as you can.
Thanks to all those who came out last Sunday for Jubilee! Thanks to our musicians for their lovely accompaniment, to the cooks for delicious food, and to the Kittos’ for hosting. Most of all, thanks to all those who contributed to the Rolling Jubilee! We collected $1467, which will pay off about $15,000 in medical debt for a person in need. We will continue to collect a special offering throughout Eastertide, so please consider what you can give. What if we could get to $2000?
I met on April 10th with members of the church to talk about ordination. There were great questions. It was good to articulate some of what ordination means to me. We will have a second session this Sunday morning, April 21st, at 10am. This will allow full two weeks for people to consider before the vote scheduled for the May 5th community meeting. I look forward to your questions as we discern ordination together.