Jubilee – a Full Stop

July 10, 2020

I have so much gratitude for our faith community, particularly now, in these challenging times. This community is so vitally needed, especially now, to bring forth greater equity and inclusion.

On Sunday, July 5th, in the spirit of freedom and the inherent worth and dignity of us all, we joined together for part 2 of our virtual Annual Meeting.

Thank you all for an engaging discussion about our ministries!

My deepest thanks to the team of organizers: Carolyn Noble, Jane Medema, Nancy Taylor, Catherine Kessler, Philippa Pegram, David Guerra, and Mirtha Ninayauer.

It is our hope that this becomes on ongoing conversation, not only among the service team leaders, but among us all as we continue in the spirit of this great spiritual migration together. For those of you who were unable to attend, we encourage you to review the slides, to learn more about our accomplishments and goals together.

Even more we encourage you to share with us, what do you hope for? Where do you see yourself? What are your priorities for our wider, external mission, in this time and place?

This Sunday and the week ahead:

Towards that end, join us for worship this Sunday where we will explore the need and value of Jubilee. It was a practice within ancient Judaism, held every fiftieth year, designed by God for the people to have a full stop, a complete re-set to restore one another; time to restore families, time to eliminate debt, time to forgive, time to reset. I believe that is what we are in right now, not only in our 50th year worshiping at Skyline sanctuary, but more importantly in the world. I believe that circumstances are making it clear that it’s time for a full stop. Specifically, it’s time to stop trying to make things work that are broken at the core. We will focus on the need for a Jubilee from debt and wealth inequality, for people of color, of rest for the earth and a jubilee from the religion of what Cornell West calls, “gangster religion”.

After worship this Sunday, July 12, at 11:30, Jane Medema (scholar, teacher, ordained minister, and counselor), will facilitate a virtual discussion via Zoom based on Brian McLaren’s book, The Great Spiritual Migration. In the discussion she will draw forth our universal values as an evolving faith community on a spiritual, theological, and missional migration journey. Please review appendix 2 prior to our meeting or just join us!

Then, next Tuesday, July 14, at 10:30 am, you’re invited to join us by Zoom or phone for a conversation, led by Charles Holmes, an author, poet, seeker, a scholar, and a wise and caring man, entitled, ‘COOL THOUGHTS FOR OLDER FOLKS” Last week (July 7) , we focused on the themes of mental conditioning, stress, best self, understanding and caring, drawing from various sources, including poetry, quotes, and a time of reflection and sharing on the themes of growing in wisdom. On Tuesday, July 21 at 10:30, we will focus on the theme of centurions reflecting upon the secret to their longevity.

May this be a time of reflection, creativity and renewal for us all,

Pastor Laurie

Categories : Uncategorized