Seeing Beyond Our Own Stories |
|
Northminster Family,
Right now, many of us are living stories of us-vs-them, and as 2020 throws new challenges our way, our knee jerk reaction is to retreat further into those stories until they are all we can see. However, at the heart of the great wisdom traditions is the truth that life is more than our stories. Our work is to realize that we do not see the world the way it is, but the way we are.
These stories we project and confuse for Reality are often the shadow sides of ourselves, the things we refuse to face in ourselves, so we project onto others. We manufacture entire false identities around these denials and projections, around our grief and the anger we use to mask it. We have to learn to question those stories - to courageously ask if they're really true.
Is that person really a villain, or are they reacting to the pain the world has doled out at them in the best way they know how?
Is that person really attacking me, or are they struggling to meet their own needs that have nothing to do with me?
Here's a not-so-fun exercise from teacher Byron Katie: Any judgment you want to make on another person... spend some time turning it around and see if the turnarounds are truer.
For example: That person says cruel things.
Such a judgment turns around to I say cruel things. Is that true? How? Can I reconcile with that part of myself?
It also turns around to That person doesn't say cruel things. Is that true? Could it be that, in their story, their words aren't cruel but just or righteous? How do we proceed from there with empathy?
Or, it could be Others say cruel things to that person. Is that true? Could this person be responding to the cruelty they've received in the most skillful way they know how?
In order to proceed on this journey of reconciliation, lovingkindness, and justice, this work of inquiry is something we must practice. It takes a great deal of courage to try out loud, and a great deal of self control to let go of our stories and projections... but this is the work. It's what it means to die to ourselves and let Christ live through us. It's the work of resurrection.
Peace and All Good Things,
Zach
|
|
The Prayers of the People
An opportunity to celebrate and pray alongside siblings in our community.
|
|
We pray alongside...
Miranda Seal, as she recovers from her recent bout with COVID-19.
Andy and Meg Stubblefield, Claire Helton's brother and sister-in-law, as they quarantine at home in Florida with a mild case of COVID-19.
Debi Chandler, as she recovers from her recent bout with COVID-19. We also pray alongside Debi's father, Hugh Chandler, as he recovers from a hospitalization for kidney stones.
Gail Ray, sister of Mark Windham, who is recovering from back surgery on Wednesday.
Rhonda Fox, sister of David Culp, who is now in a rehab hospital for physical therapy related to a chronic medical condition.
We celebrate alongside...
Amy Higginbotham (19th), Marianne Wilcox (19th), Claire Helton (22nd), Damon Mayfield (22nd), Hal Mayfield (25th), and Ella Mayfield (26th) as they celebrate their birthday.
Morgan Meyer, who won 3rd place in Senior Women / Classical Division in the regional NATS competition (National Association of Teachers of Singing).
Preston Anderson, who won 1st place in Sophomore Men / Classical Division in the regional NATS competition.
|
|
If you have concerns or celebrations you would like us to add to the newsletter, please call the church office or email office@northmin.org.
|
|
The Work of the People
How we are responding to the Spirit of Love
|
|
What Manner of King is This? |
This Sunday, the last Sunday in Ordinary Time, is often known as "Reign of Christ Sunday," or "Christ the King Sunday."
And what manner of king is Jesus? In the spirit of this question, we'll take this Sunday as an opportunity to drink deeply from the well of Jesus' wisdom by listening to his most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, in its entirety as the sermon for the day.
If you're looking for a way to deepen the experience further, we invite you to read through Matthew 5-7 in advance of Sunday's service, to re-familiarize yourself with the passage, and prepare to join with the multitudes of believers through the centuries who have found their way to abundant life through the wisdom, challenge, and hope Jesus offers in this sermon.
|
|
|
We live in a culture whose economy is dependent on selling us one particular narrative:
We don't have enough. We need more.
This story, of course, is not true... but it's so easy to forget.
These past 8 months, so many of us have been living out of that story:
We believe we won't have enough...
That we're not safe enough....
That we're not worthy of respect, and our neighbors aren't worthy of ours....
Things are never quite right and there is never quite enough.
This is a story of scarcity, and one key to escaping it, to opening the door to stories of abundance, is the practice of gratitude.
So, join us this Sunday afternoon at 5pm over Zoom for a service of gratitude.
We'll spend time considering what we're grateful for and sharing stories of gratitude and abundance.
In one another's company, entering into one another's stories, may we glimpse the truth:
There is always enough.
|
|
No Christmas Without Her:
Advent Sunday School Series
Begins Nov. 29th
|
A trickster who subversively sought her own justice. A sex worker who bargained for those in her care. An immigrant whose passionate faithfulness echoes down to the present. A survivor who would not be silenced, even by a king.
These are the women who made it into the genealogy of the Messiah. Join us Sunday mornings at 10am to dive into the stories of the 4 women named in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1.
|
|
|
Holy Ideas
How might we respond to the Spirit of Love?
|
|
In this new season of social distancing, we need holy ideas to help stretch our imaginations for what is possible within this community more than ever.
Since we can't make use of the physical "Holy Ideas" board in the hallway, we'll maintain it virtually and keep it updated here in the newsletter. If you have an idea for a way the church can be church in this season, or if you see an idea you'd like to support to help it become reality, email the office.
|
|
Giving to Northminster
Support Northminster's Work
|
|
We are sensitive to the reality that financial uncertainty is one of the side effects of the spread of the coronavirus. However, if you find yourself in a position to continue or increase your contributions to the church, know that your donation will be greatly appreciated. We have made the decision to honor our commitments to all those on our payroll (ministers, staff, choral scholars, childcare) who are relying on this income in an anxious time, and we cannot do that without your continued support.
To support Northminster financially, you can click here, or scan the QR code below with the camera on your phone.
|
|
|
Sunday 11/22
10am - Sunday School
10:45am - Preludes and Online Chat
11am - Sunday Morning Liturgy
After Worship - Narthex Chat
5pm - A Service of Gratitude
Wednesday 11/25
6:45pm - Digital Choir "Rehearsal"
|
|
Worship This Week
The text this week is Matthew 5-7.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
