This issue of my monthly-ish newsletter includes a reflection on churches that function as cliques versus cultivating true community, and not one, but three announcements!
Congratulations, Michelle! I love the book title and cover, look forward to reading it, and yay for a new grandchild! Wonderful news! I'll check out Salt and Ink - sounds interesting. Happy New Year, Michelle!
Oh man, Michelle. I love the cover of your book and can’t wait to read it. And as a member of your original (?) cohort, I’m so happy to see y’all picking this back up again. It played such a huge role in my journey. And not just my writing journey. I’ll never forget finishing and first assignment and almost audibly hearing God tell me that I needed to write from a different *place*…and realizing the (gut-wrenching) real life implications for that. Even though I’ve still been writing, most of my energy the past four years has been about becoming oriented in that new place.
Which brings me to the first part of your newsletter—the part I was originally planning to respond to. The pastors of the congregation my family joined four years ago have repeatedly told us something significant for the past four years: the pastoral staff voted for 3 different candidates in the presidential election. Because our allegiance and our identity is to the Kingdom of God…and that isn’t the same as the kingdom of the USA. Rather, the vast span of Kingdom tzedekah may result in brothers and sisters in Christ emphasizing different facets of it on our ballots. And that’s okay. We’re still brothers and sisters in Christ. And the Kingdom of God doesn’t rely on American political outcomes. I was already there theologically, but seeing it (sometimes messily) lived out is such a gift.
And so now I get to write from a place of expanded community and a rich network of relational and ministry support…right in my little hometown, amongst friends I see multiple times a week. My husband and I co-lead a home group, I teach a weekly homeschool Bible class, and I’ve been leading a women’s Bible study. Oh…and last year? I led communion for the first time and preached my first official sermon.
And your cohort created a gateway for all of that. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes out of this next iteration (and look forward to hopefully joining at some point!)
Amber, it is so good to hear from you and get this update. You have landed in a spacious place, as a healthy community always is. I am so happy for you!!!
Thanks for your thoughts on community, Michelle. I think it's something the church talks about a lot, with good intentions, but doesn't always live out well. Recently I watched a YouTube video from a local church; I wanted to watch it because a woman I was once friends with was speaking that morning. She talked about developing "inclusive communities" and gave the example of ... her own birthday party. Her own carefully curated, invitation-only, as-exclusive-as-you-can-get birthday party. I hope God's vision for community is a bit bigger than that! :-)
Congratulations on the new grandchild, and also thanks for the updates on the book and the initiative with Marlena! And since you asked -- I went to the theatre and saw Small Things Like These. It was so lovely; it didn't get a lot of hype so I'm glad I didn't miss it.
Oh my gosh. That video you referenced is the kind of dense discussion that leaves the rest of the world OUT. She has the social capital to stage a celebration that enfolds all those in her clique. But that is a million miles away from community, as you observed.
And now I am about to Google Small Things Like These. I've not heard of it, but am curious!
It's based on Claire Keegan's book of the same name - a very short, very lovely & powerful book. Her (also short) book Foster is beautiful as well. She's a great writer and the movie really did her book justice.
Congratulations, Michelle! I love the book title and cover, look forward to reading it, and yay for a new grandchild! Wonderful news! I'll check out Salt and Ink - sounds interesting. Happy New Year, Michelle!
Thank you! We'll be in Chicago a lot more often as a result of this happy news. :)
Oh man, Michelle. I love the cover of your book and can’t wait to read it. And as a member of your original (?) cohort, I’m so happy to see y’all picking this back up again. It played such a huge role in my journey. And not just my writing journey. I’ll never forget finishing and first assignment and almost audibly hearing God tell me that I needed to write from a different *place*…and realizing the (gut-wrenching) real life implications for that. Even though I’ve still been writing, most of my energy the past four years has been about becoming oriented in that new place.
Which brings me to the first part of your newsletter—the part I was originally planning to respond to. The pastors of the congregation my family joined four years ago have repeatedly told us something significant for the past four years: the pastoral staff voted for 3 different candidates in the presidential election. Because our allegiance and our identity is to the Kingdom of God…and that isn’t the same as the kingdom of the USA. Rather, the vast span of Kingdom tzedekah may result in brothers and sisters in Christ emphasizing different facets of it on our ballots. And that’s okay. We’re still brothers and sisters in Christ. And the Kingdom of God doesn’t rely on American political outcomes. I was already there theologically, but seeing it (sometimes messily) lived out is such a gift.
And so now I get to write from a place of expanded community and a rich network of relational and ministry support…right in my little hometown, amongst friends I see multiple times a week. My husband and I co-lead a home group, I teach a weekly homeschool Bible class, and I’ve been leading a women’s Bible study. Oh…and last year? I led communion for the first time and preached my first official sermon.
And your cohort created a gateway for all of that. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes out of this next iteration (and look forward to hopefully joining at some point!)
Amber, it is so good to hear from you and get this update. You have landed in a spacious place, as a healthy community always is. I am so happy for you!!!
Congratulations on all the good things! I'm still hoping to get to the theater to see Wicked this week. : )
I might have to break my "once a year in the theater" rule for Wicked. I've heard nothing but raves about it!
Thanks for your thoughts on community, Michelle. I think it's something the church talks about a lot, with good intentions, but doesn't always live out well. Recently I watched a YouTube video from a local church; I wanted to watch it because a woman I was once friends with was speaking that morning. She talked about developing "inclusive communities" and gave the example of ... her own birthday party. Her own carefully curated, invitation-only, as-exclusive-as-you-can-get birthday party. I hope God's vision for community is a bit bigger than that! :-)
Congratulations on the new grandchild, and also thanks for the updates on the book and the initiative with Marlena! And since you asked -- I went to the theatre and saw Small Things Like These. It was so lovely; it didn't get a lot of hype so I'm glad I didn't miss it.
Oh my gosh. That video you referenced is the kind of dense discussion that leaves the rest of the world OUT. She has the social capital to stage a celebration that enfolds all those in her clique. But that is a million miles away from community, as you observed.
And now I am about to Google Small Things Like These. I've not heard of it, but am curious!
It's based on Claire Keegan's book of the same name - a very short, very lovely & powerful book. Her (also short) book Foster is beautiful as well. She's a great writer and the movie really did her book justice.
Thanks, michelle!
Congratulations, congratulations, and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Thank you, thank you, and THANK YOU! We're delighted!