A Vocabulary of Suffering: Satan

In the deconstruction of violent and dominion Christianity we necessarily tear down that which does harm. However, this process can leave us bereft of language that assists us in making sense of our lives and world. This sermon series intends to thoughtfully reconstruct a Christian vocabulary of suffering that can help us to ponder, name, and discuss the very real difficulties that we face. Our hope is that by reconstructing a vocabulary of suffering we can enter more deeply and honestly into that which causes us sorrow and pain. For truly, it is by entering into death that new life is made possible.

A Vocabulary of Suffering: Sin

In the deconstruction of violent and dominion Christianity we necessarily tear down that which does harm. However, this process can leave us bereft of language that assists us in making sense of our lives and world. This sermon series intends to thoughtfully reconstruct a Christian vocabulary of suffering that can help us to ponder, name, and discuss the very real difficulties that we face. Our hope is that by reconstructing a vocabulary of suffering we can enter more deeply and honestly into that which causes us sorrow and pain. For truly, it is by entering into death that new life is made possible.

Reclaiming Christian Language for Suffering

In the deconstruction of violent and dominion Christianity we necessarily tear down that which does harm. However, this process can leave us bereft of language that assists us in making sense of our lives and world. This sermon series intends to thoughtfully reconstruct a Christian vocabulary of suffering that can help us to ponder, name, and discuss the very real difficulties that we face. Our hope is that by reconstructing a vocabulary of suffering we can enter more deeply and honestly into that which causes us sorrow and pain. For truly, it is by entering into death that new life is made possible.

Transfiguration

This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, the last week in Epiphany before we enter the season of Lent. This special feast commemorates the miraculous change in Jesus’ appearance when he unveiled his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. As the fulfillment of Epiphany’s longing, the transfiguration reveals not only the glory of Jesus’ way of life in the world, but it also casts vision for all that we can become, in the midst of what we are. 

 This Sunday we get to hear from Pearl member Jen Johnson. At the culmination of the season of Epiphany, celebrating the light of Christ, we pause at this mysterious moment where the light gets very very bright, and yet we’re not quite sure what we’re looking at. In this mystery, we explore how we can hold space for these tender moments of “becoming” in our own lives and the lives of others.

The Transformation of God

In Epiphany the church basks in the light of Divine Love that is revealed in the incarnation of Christ. This incarnation of the Infinite is full of surprises. Perhaps most surprising is that we see God, in Jesus, not being served but serving; not being sacrificed to but becoming sacrifice. Rather than seeing God as a guest who we attend to and serve, the incarnation encourages the sight of God inviting, feeding, and befriending—climactically providing a supper of self-giving for every person. The way of Jesus, then, invites us into similar transformation—from guests who find warm welcome at Jesus’ Common Table to partners passionate about making warm welcome for others.