Dear St. Lukers,
It was a busy weekend at St. Luke’s with a calendar full of everything from discussion on Israel/Palestine with new friends from Jerusalem to religious nationalism to kicking off Christmas Concert rehearsals and the youth basketball season. As I moved through the weekend, I couldn’t help but notice the diversity of life all around me – different races, ages, genders, abilities, religions, ethnicities, languages, accents, as well as different economics, ideologies, politics, and experiences.
The picture of this weekend on campus is in direct resistance to the sound bites on the national news. While national voices and actions seek to polarize and divide, our campus is the power of God’s Kingdom being revealed. As we come together to learn, dialogue, play, worship, and use our diverse gifts in harmony, we are indeed practicing Incarnation. And that my friends, is the very act of resistance.
Miguel A. De La Torre writes, “Wherever oppression resides, one can always find resistance.” Coming together in all of our diversity to seek unity, is resistance to the oppression that seeks to make us fear and isolate in echo chambers of “sameness.” Resistance is the power we find in Scripture, with Daniel who we are studying, Mary who said, “Here I am,” or Jesus who resisted the temptations of this world and instead gave his life in sacrificial love and resistance.
One of the ways we continue to resist retreating into our corners of sameness is through our monthly PurposeFull Conversations gatherings. Each month, groups of people gather over a meal, serve the guidelines of community, and talk about differences while learning from each other’s stories and questions. This month our PurposeFull Conversations center on Hispanic Heritage Month. If you would like to learn more about joining a PurposeFull Conversations group or starting your own, you can reach out to Pastor Jad Denmark or Caryn Royer for more information.
Speaking of resistance, we will pick up Daniel’ story this week with chapters 2 and 4. Take some time to not only read the Scripture, but listen to Dr. Ryan Bonfilgio’s podcast (available wherever you get your podcasts) and listen for how God brings us opportunities to resist in ways we might not imagine. In the meantime, keep revealing the Kingdom!
Blessings and grace,
Jenn.