Reimagining a Community of Peace: Consumerism

The scriptures tell a story that begins with God placing two people in a garden and instructing them to multiply, to steward creation, and to cultivate the land. At the end of the story, the very end, these two have multiplied into a throng of humanity, and all of creation—which began in a garden—is cultivated into a heavenly kingdom marked by peace. It is a world in full bloom.

But how exactly do we help move the world forward, toward the peace of God? This sermon series will address obstacles that hinder movement toward a world in full bloom. However, rather than focus on obstacles alone, this series will seek to elevate ways of being that help to nurture a community of peace, into which Christ invites every person.

Equity

Four years and eight months ago we began dealing with the difficulty of a president who preferred cynicism, marginalization, othering, and violence as means to leading our country. Eighteen months ago we began dealing with Covid 19 and the havoc it’s wreaked on our world and individual lives. And fifteen months ago we began newly waking to white supremacy and systemic racism in our country. In the midst of it all, we’ve marched, screamed, voted, scoured for toilet paper, sown masks, choked on smoke, experienced power outages, and felt, perhaps more than ever before, at the end of ourselves. In light of all that we’ve been facing, many of us are feeling untethered and are wondering, “What is this?” and “Where am I?” and even “Who am I?” When life feels like a ship riding out a wild storm, we risk being tossed to and fro, without any sight of the end. However, below the surface, at the soul level of who we want to be is the clear and steady guidance of our values, which reflect the life of Jesus who invites us into his way of being in the world. It’s our sincere hope that this sermon series on our community’s values can cast an elevated vision for the kind of life that we desire to embody, no matter what we face in life.

Integration

Four years and eight months ago we began dealing with the difficulty of a president who preferred cynicism, marginalization, othering, and violence as means to leading our country. Eighteen months ago we began dealing with Covid 19 and the havoc it’s wreaked on our world and individual lives. And fifteen months ago we began newly waking to white supremacy and systemic racism in our country. In the midst of it all, we’ve marched, screamed, voted, scoured for toilet paper, sown masks, choked on smoke, experienced power outages, and felt, perhaps more than ever before, at the end of ourselves. In light of all that we’ve been facing, many of us are feeling untethered and are wondering, “What is this?” and “Where am I?” and even “Who am I?” When life feels like a ship riding out a wild storm, we risk being tossed to and fro, without any sight of the end. However, below the surface, at the soul level of who we want to be is the clear and steady guidance of our values, which reflect the life of Jesus who invites us into his way of being in the world. It’s our sincere hope that this sermon series on our community’s values can cast an elevated vision for the kind of life that we desire to embody, no matter what we face in life.

Transformation

Four years and eight months ago we began dealing with the difficulty of a president who preferred cynicism, marginalization, othering, and violence as means to leading our country. Eighteen months ago we began dealing with Covid 19 and the havoc it’s wreaked on our world and individual lives. And fifteen months ago we began newly waking to white supremacy and systemic racism in our country. In the midst of it all, we’ve marched, screamed, voted, scoured for toilet paper, sown masks, choked on smoke, experienced power outages, and felt, perhaps more than ever before, at the end of ourselves. In light of all that we’ve been facing, many of us are feeling untethered and are wondering, “What is this?” and “Where am I?” and even “Who am I?” When life feels like a ship riding out a wild storm, we risk being tossed to and fro, without any sight of the end. However, below the surface, at the soul level of who we want to be is the clear and steady guidance of our values, which reflect the life of Jesus who invites us into his way of being in the world. It’s our sincere hope that this sermon series on our community’s values can cast an elevated vision for the kind of life that we desire to embody, no matter what we face in life.

Peace

Four years and eight months ago we began dealing with the difficulty of a president who preferred cynicism, marginalization, othering, and violence as means to leading our country. Eighteen months ago we began dealing with Covid 19 and the havoc it’s wreaked on our world and individual lives. And fifteen months ago we began newly waking to white supremacy and systemic racism in our country. In the midst of it all, we’ve marched, screamed, voted, scoured for toilet paper, sown masks, choked on smoke, experienced power outages, and felt, perhaps more than ever before, at the end of ourselves. In light of all that we’ve been facing, many of us are feeling untethered and are wondering, “What is this?” and “Where am I?” and even “Who am I?” When life feels like a ship riding out a wild storm, we risk being tossed to and fro, without any sight of the end. However, below the surface, at the soul level of who we want to be is the clear and steady guidance of our values, which reflect the life of Jesus who invites us into his way of being in the world. It’s our sincere hope that this sermon series on our community’s values can cast an elevated vision for the kind of life that we desire to embody, no matter what we face in life.