I've Been Meaning to Ask ...

Did you know that more than 30 people have become members of Spirit of Life in the past three years? What a gift that God has called these folks into this community! What a gift that we have come through the Covid-19 pandemic and emerged as a community in Christ that continues to be a place of invitation and openness.

Now as we continue on the path that God has set for us, how can we all get to know God and each other better? How can we become a community that prioritizes belonging and celebrates the diversity and quality of people God has gathered? These are the questions we are asking ourselves in this season.
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- Church leadership is currently reading the book Belonging, by Lutheran scholar Karoline Lewis.
- New efforts are underway to support and encourage the Little Doves Children's Learning Center staff, so they too grow in their sense of belonging and connection.
- As a whole community, we'll be part of this series, I've Been Meaning to Ask, by implementing curiosity, courage and connection to listen to each other, create space for compassionate dialogue, and dream about what belonging looks like at Spirit of Life. 

We begin on Sunday, September 8, with a special worship service, Conversation Church. (More on that in the next blog entry.) This one-time worship event will offer a chance for you all to get to know each other better through scripture, fellowship and conversation. We will focus on John 15:9-17 to lead our conversation that day. To be followed by ice cream sundaes!

The following four Sundays we will return to our regular worship format, and consider these questions:
September 15: I've been meaning to ask, where are you from?
(Scripture: Genesis 2:4b-15 and John 1:35-51.)
September 22: I've been meaning to ask, where does it hurt?
(Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-18 and Mark 5:21-43.)
September 29: I've been meaning to ask, what do you need?
(Scripture: Job 2:11-13  and 2 Timothy 4:9-18)
October 6: I've been meaning to ask, where do we go from here?
(Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22 and Acts 10)

May this series help us to behold each other as images of the divine. May it help us strengthen our capacity for empathy and compassion. May it remind us of the power of asking unassuming questions. May it show us that courage is rooted in the heart. Through vulnerability and authenticity, may our courageous conversations lead us to glimpse hope, joy, and beauty—and to become the community God created us to be.

In Peace,
Pastor Marietta