Goodness Weekly 3.28.22
“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” -Thorin, The Hobbit
A message from Jess
Richard Rohr writes, “The ego moves forward by contraction, self-protection, by saying no…this fear-filled movement locates all its problems as ‘out there’ never ‘in here.’”
We heard this in our friend John Suk’s message as what he called the “yeah, buts.” When considering the perspective of the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son, it’s easy to find ourselves deep down saying, “Yeah God loves all people, but what about (fill in the blank)?”
This is our own ego telling us that somehow when God’s love finds someone and calls them home it means that there is less for us.
Instead, there is more–more wine, more dancing, more feasting, and more music. It means another, even bigger party like the one the father threw for his lost son.
We have to have the courage to find home within ourselves–God with us, God in us, and God through us.
When we choose fear over love, we turn away from Home. When we look at someone else as anyone other than God’s beloved, we, like the older brother, stand outside of Home refusing to step back inside.
God’s love is not contractive but an expansive, wide-ness and wildness that opens up and invites everyone to the big party. Our invitation is to allow that love to open in each of us.
May we be people who can look inside ourselves and take a brave step back Home where God is sitting on the porch, patiently waiting for us with open arms.
Who might you open your arms to this week? Often we say we need to give someone space but maybe what they really need is to be brought closer in. Reach out to someone who is on your heart.
What's Good This Week
The Neighborhood Yard Sale was simply the best day! We got to meet so many neighbors and we raised $6,600 to help build the new neighborhood park!
It was also so exciting to see the vision boards that our landscape architects, Caleb and Kaiden with Coral Studios, put together for everyone to vote for their favorite potential design elements.
Invite to Workshop & Supper Church
Join us this Sunday at 3:15pm for this month’s new workshop on Waste led by our community partner and Terrell Heights Neighbor, Kate Jaceldo, the founder of Compost Queens. Using Jen Hatmaker’s book, Simple & Free as a guide, Kate will lead us through ways to reduce our waste with an emphasis on simple and mess-free ways to compost organic waste at home!
Stick around after the workshop to join us for Supper Church at 4:30pm where we’ll prepare a meal and break bread together. All are welcome to join, including children!
Upcoming Events
Sunday, April 3rd, 3:15pm Workshop with Compost Queens
Sunday, April 3rd, 4:30pm Supper Church in the courtyard
Sunday, April 10th, 4:30pm Stations of the Cross begins
Sunday, April 10th, 4:30pm Chapel Liturgy & Worship
Morning:
God, you call me beloved and I forget
I look to the world to tell me who I am
while you wait patiently for me to come back home.
Some days I lie, and fake, and claw my way through this life to earn something that you give me freely.
Some days I judge, curse, and hurt
those you made in your image.
Today help me remember that you wait for me
Arms wide open
Running & ready to welcome me home
Help me to do the same for all people.
Amen.
Evening:
I rest in the arms of my beloved tonight
Knowing that nothing I do, nothing I’ve ever done
can stop you from loving me.
I know this is true for everyone I meet.
Help me to show more mercy tomorrow than I did today.
Help me to show more goodness, love, and grace the way you have lavished it on me.
Amen.
