Goodness Weekly 5.2.22
“Relationships are our stories. I invite you to write often and edit well.”
– Esther Perel
Message from Jess
There was a beautiful children’s book our friend Annelise read to our kids during a summer camp years ago called The Invisible String by Patrice Karst. In the book, the mother tells her children that each person they love is connected to them by an invisible string that can reach anywhere in the universe. I love this idea that once we enter into relationship with another person we are connected to them no matter where they are.
There is nothing more important than our relationships yet often we put our work, our projects, and our agendas before people. I am filled with joy when I think about the people who I have had the privilege of knowing—the strings that are connected directly to my heart—many of whom I didn’t know just months ago.
It is easy to try to focus on growth, numbers, success, and things that we can measure—that stuff is in black and white, it’s data to be analyzed.
My challenge for you this week is to trace down some of these invisible strings.
Who do you call a friend now that you didn’t know before this year?
How has your story grown through the people who are writing it with you today?
Take a few minutes this week to tell those people. God has given us this gift of human relationship—may we be people who recognize it and actively cultivate it.
Supper Church Recap!!
Thanks to all the helping hands who came out to Supper Church yesterday! We all broke bread and joined in communion together over our bowls of delicious Enchilada Soup & Tortilla Soup. Join us the first Sunday of every month as we cook and share a meal together in our courtyard! All are welcome.
What’s Good:
Photo by @tessandthemess
A neighbor came by the Mother’s Day Market on Saturday and struck up a conversation with my mom and I about how she frequently walks to the chapel courtyard to enjoy a peaceful place to be in God’s presence. She said that, for her, the grounds feel like a space of healing.
She opened up and shared with us her story of recently having two near death experiences–being diagnosed with multiple tumors in her body and then months later having open heart surgery for a completely unrelated issue.
I told her how the chapel was originally built as an interfaith space of healing alongside the old tuberculosis hospital and she was amazed at how she has been so drawn to it as a space of healing for herself. To me, it was a small but powerful example of how God often works in quiet and personal ways.
– Taylor Bates
Good Work:
We’d love for you to jump into the work that is going on in our community! We have many different ways you can do this from joining a team, helping with worship, and much more.
Click the button below to fill out the form & we’ll reach out to you!
Blueprint Missions Camp!
Calling all youth for our return to Blueprint Missions Camp this summer! Last year, our amazing youth had the opportunity to grow in faith alongside other youth groups, while putting a new roof on the home of a local family, and even going the extra step to landscape & paint their home as well. We can't wait to go radiate the love of Jesus in our city in this special way!
Blueprint Missions Camp Registration
Dates: June 26th - July 1st
$200/student (Scholarships available)
Click the link to register now!
Upcoming Events
Sunday, May 8th, 4:30pm Chapel Worship & Liturgy
Sunday, May 15th, 4:30pm Outdoor Worship
Morning:
Thank you God for the morning air,
for the sunrise that greets me and the reminder
that we are in a new day together.
My heart is tired and I know that you strengthen me
with your steadfast love.
Help me to see the people I meet today
as a chance to learn and grow and love in new ways
Help me to see you in each one
And remind me that we belong to each other
Amen.
Evening:
As I close the day help me to remember you made me
to be in relationship with you, with the people around me,
all connected by invisible strings of love
Today I worked against that connection and made it stronger too
I failed to love and I loved well
For all of it I give you thanks
For my growth and learning
For the grace I’ve received
For the love I’ve experienced
Give me the strength to choose love more often tomorrow
And rest in the trust that your love never changes
Amen.
