United Church Gatherings Trevor Grindle

The world is filled with possibilities that we have yet to consider. Doubts can either push us towards opening our mind towards what is possible or they shackle us to the status quo. Jesus opens our minds. He invites us to see into the beyond, doubting together what we see, inviting us together into a beautiful new reality.

We’re told that doubts are bad, that they destroy our faith, that they push us away from God, and leave us feeling empty and alone. But what if doubts are actually good? What if doubts actually press us closer to God? What if this journey, if taken together, can actually lead us into beautiful, wide open spaces of possibility?

Lectionary Text: John 20.19-31

The beloved community was forged in a crucible of fear. It began with tears, locked doors, and doubt. And yet Jesus emerged from the grave, revealing a new world of hope and possibility in front of us. The resurrection changes everything, and together we help each other see a new possibility just beyond the horizon as we follow after this resurrected Jesus.

Lectionary Text: John 20.1-18

This week Eunice invites us to take a look at John 12 and the triumphal entry. Jesus calls us to follow him, which goes beyond just listening to what he says, but also doing what he does.

Too many times over the course of our nearly three year existence as a church, we have been called together in unity and in love to denounce hatred and an insidious form of white supremacy that is present and active within our culture and given safe harbor within white evangelicalism. Enough is enough. May we forge a new and better path forward where all are truly welcome and all are truly invited. Christ have mercy.

Text: John 12.20-33

This is our 53rd week a part. 53rd week since we have met together in person. 53 weeks. It’s a lot to take in, a lot to realize and recognize, a milestone that feels like a weight of grief and pain that we’d just rather ignore than truly understand. There is so much that has happened in this season that we need to mark, that we should mark, that we can bring into the light of the day and know that while the days have been dark, the light is still winning.

Text: John 3.14-21