Awaken Community

Our brains tend to want to put all of life into categories - good/bad, saved/unsaved, in/out. But God's heart pulls us beyond the categories into a world of inclusion and welcome through the particular and specific work of the life of Jesus.

Continuing in Acts, we read the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in chapter 8 in a whole new light. It's as impactful now as it was then - a religious, ethnic, sexual outsider becomes the first named convert in the book of Acts. That's not by accident. 

In Acts chapters 6 and 7, Stephen speaks to those in power and show that God has moved beyond their temple and their law; that they've been holding God hostage in a box of their own creation. 

This week, Micah brings a new take on the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. After everything their community had gone through, they missed the point; they lied and withheld resources from each other. What do those actions mean for a community that was present for the death and resurrection of Jesus?

In Acts 4, Peter and John are being charged by the Sadduccees of mixing things up too much in the temple. Why are the Sadduccees going on the offensive? And what do they stand to lose if Peter and John and the gospel of the apostles, who were with Jesus, is heard in the temple? Like so much of the gospel, the way of Jesus is backwards and upside down from what is expected. He uses the unschooled and ordinary to speak to those that have power and influence. Sign up for the Awaken Weekly to receive resources developed by the Awaken staff for you to use however you gather at home.

As we make our way out of the Easter season, we begin a new series to think about the implications of the resurrection. This week, Micah starts with a question from the first chapter of Acts: “Why do you stand here looking at the sky?”

On this very different Easter resurrection Sunday, Micah speaks a word of liberation and victory. And even though it is difficult to not be able to gather together this morning, it is a joy to see the fruit of these echoes - presence, love, and peace - showing up in our community and in our lives. Sign up for the Awaken Weekly to receive resources developed by the Awaken staff for you to use however you gather at home.

The Good Friday Tenebrae service includes the seven last words of Jesus, meditations on those words by our staff, music and Eucharist. To participate in the service, gather seven candles and the elements for communion.

In the final installment of the series, and the final week of Lent, Micah guides us through the adult monarch phase of the butterfly and the end of Moses’ life. What can these parallel stories and processes show us about our current situation?   Sign up for the Awaken Weekly to receive resources developed by the Awaken staff for you to use however you gather at home.

This week we look at the Israelites in the book of Numbers as they come out of the chrysalis of the wilderness and before they enter the promised land.  For something new to emerge or something new to be born, there's always struggle.  Original songs by Jon Sunde and Melody Olson along with the Song of Blessing and the Lord's Table.  We hope it's just what you need.  Here's a link to the Awaken Resource Document. https://mailchi.mp/e5b0e44d3642/sp4cdervp1-2765061

This week we look at the Israelites entering the chrysalis of the wilderness.  As they do, not only does God meet the basic needs of food and water, but then brings out "dessert" in the for of the first Shabbat celebrated in scripture by the people of God.  Also, click this link to get the Awaken Sunday Resource 

In light of the Corona Virus and an effort to #flattenthecurve, the people of Awaken met in their homes with family and friends.  This third week of Lent and our series entitled Metamorphosis, Micah explores the stage of Transition as the Israelites leave Egypt but are not to their destination of the Wilderness yet. 

The stage of the caterpillar is all about growth and mission. It is singleminded in its path. Similarly, Moses was on a mission to free the Israelites from slavery. In both there is a clear mission and vision and fruit as a result of their work and effort.  Each week, Micah has worked hard to boil down the phase to a single question. This week's question to consider: Can you trust what you've heard and receive the moment and season for what it is?

Over the course of the season of Lent we'll be looking at the process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly alongside the story of Moses in the view of spiritual formation. This week, Micah leads us through the egg phase.  

For those that weren't able to make it to our Ash Wednesday gathering this year, we recorded the service so you can experience some of it with us. Micah mentions some paper we have for you to write down what God is inviting you to during this season. We will have the paper available this Sunday as well so you can participate. Our service included an original song by Jon Sunde as well as an original spontaneous composition by Aaron Fabbrini on pedal steel guitar and Dan Lawonn on cello. The poem read by Micah is Blessing the Dust by Jan Richardson. You can read it in full here.

In the last chapter of Galatians, Paul finishes his letter with a reminder and an encouragement. A reminder that you reap what you sow and an encouragement to not grow weary of doing good. And a musician from our community, Jon Sunde, is invited up to share his story of how he's learning to not grow weary of doing good.

In chapter five of Galatians, Paul gives an overview of three distinct ways of living: Nomism, Libertinism, and freedom in the Spirit. Micah continues with the question from last week and brings it back to our current situation and what it might mean for us today.

The fourth chapter of Galatians can be summed up in one question: "What happens when something that was good and bore fruit no longer serves you and no longer bears fruit?"  

Micah opened the gathering with a poem from Langston Hughes. It beautifully illustrates this section of Galatians where Paul writes "...in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."   I Dream a World By Langston Hughes   I dream a world where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn I dream a world where all Will know sweet freedom's way, Where greed no longer saps the soul Nor avarice blights our day. A world I dream where black or white, Whatever race you be, Will share the bounties of the earth And every man is free, Where wretchedness will hang its head And joy, like a pearl, Attends the needs of all mankind- Of such I dream, my world!

Pastor Micah uncovers an interesting fact about the translation of Galatians 2:15-16. In a world of binary thinking, which can sometimes be helpful for survival, there are other times it can cut out the third option. "Is the answer A or B?" "Yes, and..."