Fallen, Fallen

The past weeks have been disruptive, in ways both difficult and sad, true and good. As our nation has grappled with its embedded, systemic racism, as we have mourned and listened and protested, we want to do more than sign petitions, hold signs, march or post anti-racist messages on social media. But what?

Facing down racism in America will take all of our creativity in all our many fields of expertise and spheres of influence, including within Christian theology and practice - and so over the next two weeks we begin a short series in Revelation (which, it turns out, is a wonderful text for those seeking to overturn oppressive systems). This Sunday, we'll begin by exploring how Christian history created the conditions for white supremacy and racism in America, by drifting from the subversive teaching of Jesus toward the seductive pull of Empire (or, as Revelation calls it, "Babylon"). Then next week we'll begin to build a new imagination for how Christianity can again become a signpost toward the good, peaceable city God is building in the midst of the human family.

Lament as Liminal Space

The Book of Lamentations provides a helpful framework for processing one of humankind’s strongest emotions—lament. Although Lamentations specifically addresses the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in 587BCE, its use of words to describe lament and its progression of ideas that shape lament transcend Israel’s particular cataclysmic event.

Today we lament the effects of a world-wide pandemic. Today we lament the recent violence against people of color. Today we lament the light that this violence shines on our country’s injustice and inequality. Today our hearts are outraged, confused, afraid, and sad, to name just a few prevalent emotions.

This sermon series therefore invites us into the ancient and holy process that is lamenting cataclysmic events. More so, this sermon series will explore how lament can give shape to effectual change through the lives of people marked by brokenness, sorrow, suffering, and death.

Lamenting the Dead City, continued

Preaching: Mike Roth

The Book of Lamentations provides a helpful framework for processing one of humankind’s strongest emotions—lament. Although Lamentations specifically addresses the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in 587BCE, its use of words to describe lament and its progression of ideas that shape lament transcend Israel’s particular cataclysmic event.

Today we lament the effects of a world-wide pandemic. Today we lament the recent violence against people of color. Today we lament the light that this violence shines on our country’s injustice and inequality. Today our hearts are outraged, confused, afraid, and sad, to name just a few prevalent emotions.

This sermon series therefore invites us into the ancient and holy process that is lamenting cataclysmic events. More so, this sermon series will explore how lament can give shape to effectual change through the lives of people marked by brokenness, sorrow, suffering, and death.

Lamenting Individual Sorrow

The Book of Lamentations provides a helpful framework for processing one of humankind’s strongest emotions—lament. Although Lamentations specifically addresses the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in 587BCE, its use of words to describe lament and its progression of ideas that shape lament transcend Israel’s particular cataclysmic event.

Today we lament the effects of a world-wide pandemic. Today we lament the recent violence against people of color. Today we lament the light that this violence shines on our country’s injustice and inequality. Today our hearts are outraged, confused, afraid, and sad, to name just a few prevalent emotions.

This sermon series therefore invites us into the ancient and holy process that is lamenting cataclysmic events. More so, this sermon series will explore how lament can give shape to effectual change through the lives of people marked by brokenness, sorrow, suffering, and death.

Lamenting Divinity

The Book of Lamentations provides a helpful framework for processing one of humankind’s strongest emotions—lament. Although Lamentations specifically addresses the destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in 587BCE, its use of words to describe lament and its progression of ideas that shape lament transcend Israel’s particular cataclysmic event.

Today we lament the effects of a world-wide pandemic. Today we lament the recent violence against people of color. Today we lament the light that this violence shines on our country’s injustice and inequality. Today our hearts are outraged, confused, afraid, and sad, to name just a few prevalent emotions.

This sermon series therefore invites us into the ancient and holy process that is lamenting cataclysmic events. More so, this sermon series will explore how lament can give shape to effectual change through the lives of people marked by brokenness, sorrow, suffering, and death.