“If you hold a newborn in your arms,
All at once you will understand
The crook of your elbow
And the cup of your palm
As never before—
Ordinary curves of the body
Transformed into a resting space.
You were designed for love.”
— Excerpt from “Hold” by Rev. Sarah Are
From the Again & Again poetry collection by @sanctifiedart
“We might expect the long-awaited Messiah to greet his new followers like the kings before him have—with a pompous coronation, with hunger to exert power and control over his populus. Instead, Jesus steps in line along the river’s edge, blending in with the crowds, joining in solidarity with those around him. Jesus doesn’t demand any…
“Maybe by the time you’re reading this,The day will have comeFor all God’s people to be gathered at Table.Maybe by the time you’re reading this,We will be eating together.Maybe we’ll be hugging.Hopefully there will be dancingAnd laughing and kissingAnd leaning in to tell stories,And throwing our heads back to laugh.But until that day,I will wiggle…
For personal devotion, we have the Stations of the Cross set up in the courtyard, and we have a set in the sanctuary if you would like to follow the journey of Jesus to the Cross inside after worship. The Stations of the Cross will remain up through Holy Week for you to follow as…
“In this image, I wanted to freeze-frame the destruction Jesus ignites, forcing us as viewers to focus on the process of dismantling and destroying an oppressive system. For those who willingly or unwillingly benefit from systems of oppression, it may feel threatening and terrifying to see them all come tumbling down. But for those held…
“There is vulnerability in being fully seen. We risk being defined by our blemishes. I trust few people with that picture, and only because I know they love me. And there it is: love. Again and again, God’s love calls us into its redeeming phos.Can we trust this love enough to draw the drapes of…
“Gracious God, Scripture says that you are my keeper, which floods me with images of cradling hands softly catching me. I imagine I could slip through your fingers if I wanted to—the freedom is there. However, as long as I want to be here, you have me. What a comforting idea that is. I think…
