A Generous Response to a Scarce World: In many ways, the world today feels like it’s lacking something essential. Call it reason, call it temperance, call it grace, call it what you will, this lacking “something” tends to put the most vulnerable people at the most risk of losing what little they have. We’re seeing it in Ukraine, in the housing market, in healthcare, and in the climate crisis.
As I typed the word “scarce”, my auto-correct wanted to substitute “scared” and without that “something” in place, it’s easy to retreat into fear. But the other auto-correct substitution that came up in my own mind was “sacred.” There is something sacred in meeting scarcity with the practice of Generosity. This week in worship, and in the presentation following worship, we’ll explore teachings about generosity from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim perspectives. (Hint: The words of Jesus on this topic may make your head explode.)
Please join us for the midpoint of our Lenten season, “Deep Calls to Deep” as we enter into Deep Generosity as a spiritual practice.
The spiritual practice of fasting accompanied by prayer can move us to be more open to the will of God in our lives through slowing down and letting go. During Lent this year, UCC Missoula invites you to try a “fast from carbon,” that is, to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses you put into the atmosphere.
Everything Changes
In our sermon series we are exploring how our brains were designed to be suspicious of change, and for good reason–homeostasis in good measure helps us thrive, protecting us from danger. But if we look closely at what the Creator set in motion, we find that change is the most constant part of life and necessary for animating our spirits as we find renewed purpose throughout life. Jesus advocated for changes that would keep us moving toward greater goodness! “Everything Changes” John 12:20-26 In our scripture this week Jesus asks us to let go of life “as it is” in order to create and multiply the love that is eternal. What feels like the chaos, or recklessness, of change is the breaking-open of possibility and the sprouting of new life. This is what it means to follow the change-maker Jesus and serve his purpose of more love in the world. -Pastor Courtney
Pastor Jennifer and Rabbi Mark reflect upon the challenges of commitment. Sunday March 13, 10:00 a.m.
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We worship whenever we are together, but we gather formally for worship Sunday mornings at 10:00 am.
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