Goodness Weekly 3.7.22
“Joy is the oxygen for doing hard things.”
—Gary Haugen, CEO of International Justice Mission
Message from Jess
I laughed last night—like, really laughed. It was that good kind of belly laugh that brings tears to your eyes. I noticed how this foreign feeling of really laughing made my body feel. Sure I laugh regularly and smile a lot, but this laughter was strange to me. I wondered—when was the last time I laughed this hard?
When was the last time you laughed?
In her latest book Good Enough Kate Bowler writes, “Under the weight of our grief, our shame, our pain or that of the world, we can convince ourselves that joy is the enemy; that to celebrate or feel happiness somehow mocks pain.”
As we move through this Lenten season and a war-torn world we embrace the practices of lament and repentance, and we take a cue from our Christ who turned water into wine at a party in the midst of the rule of the Roman Empire. We are complex enough to allow joy and pain to coexist.
What might spark joy for you this week? How can you spark it for someone else? Maybe it’s an impromptu dance party or giving something special away to someone who needs its joy.
How can you choose to create more joy in your life?
What’s Good
This weekend we were thrilled to have the International Women’s Day Market hosted by Rose Hip Coffee and DEZYNR Jewelry in our parking lot.
Women makers from all over the city set up booths and hundreds of people came to support these small business owners.
We loved getting to see our space full of beautiful humans sharing in community & supporting local women together!
We are so excited to announce that Noelle Lowry has joined our team.
Noelle brings a degree in Business Marketing from Texas A&M University and experience in event planning, marketing, social media, administration, and organizational leadership to her new position as Collective Coordinator.
Adding to her current work in social media for both Charis & Sunset Ridge, we can’t wait to see all the great things to come with our new Charis Team friend!
Good Neighbors
If you are able to meet any of these needs please send us a note at: hello@chariscollective.org
Ongoing needs from Afghan families:
Bicycle for 10 year old boy
Pressure cooker (regular, not Instant Pot)
Swing for baby (2)
Larger area rugs
Large stock pots
Cookware
Action From Workshop
How will you simplify your possessions this month to
love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself?
Upcoming Events
Sunday, March 13, 4:30pm Worship & Liturgy in the Chapel
Sunday, March 20, 4:30pm Outdoor Worship
Saturday, March 26, 8am-2pm We're hosting a Neighborhood Yard sale! Donations of gently used household items are currently being accepted for the sale. Proceeds will support the Charis Park project. More details at chariscollective.org/yardsale
Morning:
God, I love that you lead me into that tender space
where I can see sadness for what it is,
and I can see also what makes me want to fight hard
for what I love.
We are in this together, so dance me through it.
Let’s find some light in this day.
Let’s create some light in this day.
Lead me to where I feel closer to you in my sadness
and remind me that I never walk alone.
Help me to remind my neighbor of that truth too.
Amen
Evening:
God, I can’t deny it, the way that sorrow catches up with me and forces me to pay attention.
There is much to grieve, so much to lament in the world, in my life, in the lives of those I love.
Reveal what delights I can share, and sadness I can ease.
Do it again, Lord.
Fill my heart with love for life and for others.
I rest in you and in the place where joy and sorrow meet.
Amen
