Awaken Community

Typically, our Lost in Translation series takes a difficult to understand or interpret passage and dissects is. This morning, we're doing it with an idea or concept - Justice. As a follower of Jesus, how should we define justice? It has often been misunderstood and construed. This morning, Micah takes a look at biblical justice, the Jewish definition of it, and the pledge of allegiance.

We're going back for more - round two on Psalm 137! There are more layers to this Psalm that we just couldn't fit into one teaching. This week, Micah looks at Psalm 137 from the view of the oppressed living under their oppressor. That filter reveals a completely different picture than what we talked about last week.

Psalm 137 pleads a case for honesty in our relationship with the Divine. It is a raw, unfiltered view into the lives of the oppressed. In exile, the empire did everything it could to strip the Israelites of their identities, everything that made them who they were; traditions, songs, language, religion, etc. In that context, the raw hatred is a lot easier to understand.

A time honored tradition at Awaken, we do our Lost in Translation series each summer to focus on parts of the Bible that may be confusing or difficult to understand. Our worship leader Melody kicks off this summer's series with Psalm 37. This Psalm somehow talks about justice and desire in one poem - how does that play out and in this case what do they have to say about each other? The answer adds deep, deep meaning to where we find ourselves right now.

How does bearing witness show up in the scriptures? It's a thread that winds its way through the people and parables of the Old Testament. And then Israel begins to worship idols and no longer bears witness of the love of God. Perhaps the stories of Acts is the way they find their way back to bearing witness to the good news of the love of God. 

This morning we take some time to lament the last week in the life of our city and also think about the prophet and the lament and the role they play in scripture and in our lives.

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.