The Song of Christmas

We're into the final Christmas countdown - only 4 days left until Christmas! Our services at SJMC this weekend will have us reflect on the songs of Christmas. Not our usual Christmas carols, but the songs of the characters in Luke's gospel as they confront the mystery and wonder of God's promised child. On Christmas Eve we'll listen to Mary's song of praise to God as she feels the bumps and kicks of God's life stretching within her. On Christmas Day we'll encounter an old man named Simeon at the Temple where the baby Jesus is being dedicated. He recognizes Jesus as the promised child of God's salvation, and sings his own song of promises fulfilled.

Both Mary and Simeon, however, sing songs with a sharp edge. The birth of Jesus is a time for joy, for praise, for thanksgiving and for wonder at the miracle of God. But they both know that this child will also pierce their lives and their world in ways that will bring heartache and difficult choices. Mary sings about the pround being scattered, and the powerful brought down. She sings of the hungry being filled and the rich being sent away. Simeon says something similar - I find these words both haunting and thrilling: "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed." To Mary herself he says: "and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

The good news born on Christmas Day may be painful to embrace. It may tear us from what we know and what we love, causing as many to stumble as to be raised up. We cannot celebrate the birth of this child without embracing also the cross that awaits not far down the road. The song of Christmas joy in the coming of the long-awaited Messiah has teeth. The longing is serious, and so is it's fulfillment. For something really has happened in the birth of Jesus. All of creation turns to look, and will never be the same. Praise God, for this child is the Lion of Judah and the Lamb that was Slain. King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace and the Bread of Life. The Mighty One has done great things for us, and Holy is his name.

Detectives of Divinity

The children in Sunday school have been encouraged to be "detectives of divinity" as we prepare for our Christmas program this coming Sunday. We are looking for clues or glimpses of God - some tiny, some big - of God's presence and activity in the world.

Here is a glimpse of God straight from South Africa, written by Karen Suderman:


"The mother walking ahead of us looked tired and slightly frazzled, as almost any mother of three would look by the end of the day. I can imagine this was their last stop before going home for the evening. Pick n' Pay, the local grocery store, is the last stop for many on their way home from a busy day. Gathering and herding her children along, her blond hair blowing in the breeze of incoming rain, the mother was working at making this a quick stop.


Coming in the opposite direction, having completed her shopping, was another mother of three. She too looked tired, eager to get home. However, she had encountered a problem. The grocery cart was stuck on a lip of the concrete. Her young daughter pulled with all her might on the front of the cart, her brow furrowed with strain. The mother pushed from the other side of the cart, but to no avail. It was stuck. 


The first mother moved towards the cart and helped the young girl lift it over the lip. It was a simple act. Almost insignificant. But the look of gratitude from the second mother indicated that it was anything but small. 


I love to see moments like this - people reaching out and lending a hand to each other. This incident in the context of South Africa was also significant. It was a white woman who helped a black woman. 


It is wonderful to see these small acts of compassion here. In a country that has such a brutal history of division and oppression along racial lines, it is wonderful to see how people are reaching out in small ways to begin to change that."

And a couple of photos from Karen in South Africa too:

Mpophomeni, South Africa

Zulu homestead, South Africa

Thank you, Karen!

Wishing all of you a wonderful second week of Advent!

Repentance: Turning Towards God's Embrace

So what comes to mind when you think of the word "Repentance?" I tend to think about change away from sin or 'being bad' or 'doing something wrong' in some way. It can be a harsh term. There might be punniment attached to it or consequences that bear out in your life from what you have repented of.

Repentance is a word very much a part of this week's Lectionary passages for Advent II. John the Baptist comes to prepare the way for Jesus and preaches a repentance for forgiveness of sins (and many are baptized, confessing their sins). And yet he is quoting Isaiah 40 which puts those same words of 'prepare the way of the Lord' in the context of 'comfort, O comfort my people.' After reading all the passages, I was left with a different view of repentance. (I think this was my unexpected surprise this week) It seemed to be more about turning towards something, rather than away from something. The turning is towards God, towards the light, towards forgiveness, towards God's promises, towards a new heaven and earth... or as Alisha Martin (worship leader) and I decided to entitle the service this week "Repentance: Turning Towards God's Embrace" I am curious how this thought or idea will play out as we work on the service. What have been your experiences of repentance?

I decided to put excerpts from the 4 Lectionary texts into a reader's theatre that will be used this Sunday for the Scripture reading, so this may be easier than looking up all the texts (format comes out a little funny here):

Psalm 85:1-2; 8-13; Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8; 2 Peter 3:8-15 (excerpts)

All: The beginning of the good news* of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.*
Voice 1: As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,*
Voice 3: ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,*
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Voice 2 and 4: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’,
Voice 1: John the baptizer appeared* in the wilderness, proclaiming a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Voice 3: And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Voice 2: Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Voice 4: Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Voice 1: Lord, you were favourable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
Voice 3: You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin.
Voice 4: Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.*
Voice 2: Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
Voice 3: The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,* not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
Voice 1: But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
Voice 2: But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Voice 4: Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Voice 1: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
Voice 2: righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Voice 3: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
Voice 4: and righteousness will look down from the sky.
Voice 2: The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
Voice 4: Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps
Voice 3: He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.
Voice 1: I have baptized you with* water; but he will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit.’

Learning to pay attention

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent! Yes, already! I look out my window at the sunshine and green grass and it just doesn't seem like the end of November already. It doesn't look like what I expect it to look like to get me in the Christmas spirit.

That's the whole point of this year's Advent series. God works in ways we do not expect. The introduction to this series says: "God enters our world in many ways--some large and dramatic, others (maybe most) small and subtle... God's presence is disruptive and surprising, never safe or predictable."

Not too long ago, I thought I had pretty much killed a plant in my office from neglect. I was about to throw it out, when I noticed a shoot coming up from the roots. It immediately reminded me of the quote 'a shoot shall come up from the stump of Jesse...', from a popular advent text from Isaiah 11:1. It's for me a small reminder of God's in-breaking into our world.

As you prepare for Advent, be alert for God's in-breaking.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Isaiah 64:1-9

Mark 13:24-37

Heart of Mennonite Worship - End of Series (Summary Sunday School Class)

Last Sunday we finished the 4 week worship series on "The Heart of Mennonite Worship." It has felt like a rich series of exploring the meaning and purpose of worship. The series also included a baptism service for 2 of our youth and a meaningful time of communion. Last Sunday we sang our way through our SJMC music history from the Church Hymnal and Life Songs II (amazing octet!) to more recent hymnals and supplements (Hymnal: A Worship Book, Sing the Journey, Sing the Story) to jumping up and down for "Allelulia, praise ye the Lord" to Bryan Moyer Suderman songs to songs from Africa and South America. We have a rich musical heritage that continues to sustain us and challenge us. I am so thankful for the spirit of worship here at SJMC that draws on rich resources and foundations and yet is so open the new moving of the Spirit. This is a creative, adventuresome and grounded place where we meet and are surprised by God in so many ways. We have much to be thankful for.

For our last adult Sunday School class tomorrow morning (probably before anyone actually reads this... but please continue to ponder anyways), we want to review the series by reflecting on the 4 questions we gave one person each Sunday to share for 3 minutes. Take time to read these questions and ask how you would answer each of them. They were answered by Rebbecca Seiling, Curt Shoemaker, Ryan Martin and Ruth Bauman in provocative and engaging ways in the last 4 Sundays. If you any responses, feel free to add to the comments section below. We would love to hear what you think?

1. What happens to your spirit as you experience worship?
2. How does worship form and transform you?
3. What makes the Mennonite Church your worship home?
4. What happens to your spirit as you sing congregational songs in worship?


Mark Diller Harder

Eternity Sunday - Love Abides

For a few years now we have been celebrating something that we call Eternity Sunday at SJMC. Christian tradition has long maintained that the church-year begins at Advent, with our preparation for the coming of Jesus. So the Sunday before Advent is in a sense the last Sunday of the year. On this day we look back and remember the year that has passed - and in particular those people in our community and in our lives who this year have passed away into the eternal love and care of God. This Sunday we will be invited to enter this space of memory, grief and comfort once more. We will be invited to light a candle in memory of loved ones who have died as we experience together the assurance of God's love and the support of this community.

As I thought about a scripture text for this service, I kept returning to an unexpected place: 1 Corinthians 13 - the love chapter. Unexpected because this has become for most of us a wedding passage. "Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude..." And yet as you read on, the context shifts easily into our experiences of death and eternity. "Love never ends. But as for prophesies... tongues... knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part... but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end." And then the beautiful closing line of the passage: "And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."

Sometimes it's good to dislodge a scripture passage from its usual context. It helps us to see it fresh. What might it mean for love to abide, not only in life but into death as well? And what might it mean for us to love each other - whether in marriages or friendships or any other kind of relationships - with this same abiding love of eternity? The love that abides is, of course, the eternal love of God. This is the love that holds each and every one of us, and it's into the keeping of this love that we entrust our loved ones who have passed away. And this love we know in our earthly lives and relationships too - even if only dimly, in part, as in a mirror darkly.

We remember those whom we have loved because we love them still. Because the love that we have known in the God of Jesus Christ abides in time and in eternity. True love is a relationship not only with another person, but with love itself - with God. And this relationship cannot be severed by time, by death or by any wounds of life. Love abides, thanks be to God. And so we are invited to light a candle.

naming the hope

Reading for this Sunday: Amos 9:11-15 (feel free to read all of chapter 9)

Just a short reflection - late in the week this time. :)

Amos ends with a very hopeful message to the survivors of God's judgment. This remnant will once again experience God's covenantal blessings. In this section, Amos gives a vision of what is to come.

This restoration will include gardens, vineyards in abundance, cities - reconstructing the world as they once knew it. They will permanently occupy the land. There is a newness here - a new kind of relationship with the land, God, and each other.

On Sunday we'll reflect on where we are now, after reading Amos.

*Why does the book of Amos end like this? 

* What have we learned?


* What do we want to take away from Amos?


* How does it impact the way that we live?


* Are there specific actions we can think of - small steps - that would be in line with what Amos is calling for in this book?

The Heart of Mennonite Worship

Greetings all,

As Rebecca's class on Amos is finishing, we wanted to find a way to continue blogging on this site. It has been a near process. As pastors, we are going to try to blog in the next while and see how it goes. This is new for me at least, so we'll see how this goes. I don't even quite now how this all gets posted now - but I will trust that it shows up :)

Last Sunday we started our 4 week worship series on "The Heart of Mennonite Worship." This whole topic of worship is a real passion of mine, so it is exciting to be doing this series. I have the priviledge of being a part of the Bi-National Worship Council, the group that put the study guide together that is the basis of this worship series (we will also use it in adult study for the first 3 Sundays of November). It is neat to see it take form within a congregational setting.

This past Sunday we asked the question "What happens to your spirit as you participate in worship?" I loved Rebecca's sharing on Sunday during worship where she talked about the many places in worship where she gets surprised by God and where a light shines through the cracks (to quote Leonard Cohen). Corporate worship somehow does that - it allows the light to shine in - where we least expect it. This can happen on our own, in private devotion, in nature, etc, but there is somehow something more that happens when we gather as the body of Christ in worship together.

So I would be curious to hear how various people would answer that question of what happens to your spirit in worship.

Mark (like they say on radio talk shows - 'My name is Mark and I am a first time Blogger')

the visions

Reading for this Sunday: Amos 6-8


Amos 6 tells of the lifestyle of Israel - one of opulence, self-indulgence, pride, pleasure-seeking, security, and superiority. Amos points to expensive furniture, elegant dining, entertaining, drinking, and wearing expensive perfumes. In Amos 6:6, the most shocking pronouncement is that Israel doesn't care - they're not grieved over their own ruin (Joseph = Israel here).

God is judging the people because of 2 sins: injustice (6:12) and pride (6:13). They have suppressed the helpless and have found pride in their military achievements - ascribing their great accomplishments to their own work, not God's work through them.

Amos describes 5 visions. We'll look at the first 4.

Vision of Locusts (Amos 7:1-3)

Locusts were and image understood to represent God's judgment. In Amos 7:2-3, Amos intercedes on behalf of Israel, pleading with God. Verse 3 is interesting. Here, God relents/repents. This is an emotional response that tells of God's deep connection with Israel.

Vision of Fire (Amos 7:4-6)

Again, judgment is seen through a vison. Like the first vision, Amos pleads with God and God cancels the planned judgment.

Vision of the Plumb Line (Amos 7:7-14)

The plumb line was used in construction to make buildings truly vertical. In this section, Amos does not plead to God, and God does not back away from the judgment.

We looked at Amos 7:10-17 in our first week together. Basically: the priest at Bethel told the king that Amos is stirring up trouble, and should be sent back to his home in Judah. Amos persists and says that God told him to prophesy to Israel.

Vision of Basket of Fruit (Amos 8:1-14)

Here, Israel is pictured as a basket of summer fruit. It is addressed to the wealthy - those who do not think of the needy and who are not living out the covenant agreements in community with others. Judgment is pronounced. There will be an earthquake, a famine, and silence from God (vs. 12).

The first two visions concerned the common people. The third was speaking to the royal house of King Jeroboam. The fourth addressed the rich and powerful. All are visions of dying.

* What do these passages say to us about our lifestyles? Do our material possessions lessen our dependence on God?

* How do we intercede on behalf of others, just like Amos did after seeing the first 2 visions?

critiquing and energizing

We started out our study talking about the prophetic voice. I shared about Brueggemann's idea that the community of faith must hold an alternative vision of the world, and that the church's vocation is to critique the dominant culture around us and energize our communities by providing an alternative vision.

There have been some ideas shared in the comments that I wanted to highlight here. Then feel free to add more in the comments section below here.

* What is that alternative vision? The idea of "shalom" comes to mind - right/whole relationships with each other, ourselves, creation, and God. What scriptures come to mind when you think about this alternative vision?

* How can we critique the dominant culture?

Some ideas have been mentioned:
1. by living more with less
2. by questioning what it means to live at, or beyond our means - this includes our homes, our food, our transportation, ...
3. thinking through our connections to others (the use/construction of technology and the resources extracted from other countries was mentioned this past Sunday; the export of asbestos from Canada to India; native issues within Canada)

* How can we energize ourselves and our communities to move towards this alternative vision?


What are your ideas?


[more to come about our readings for this week]

worship + justice

Reading for this week: Amos 4:6-13 and Amos 5. 


In Amos 4:6-11, notice the refrain that repeats: "yet you did not return to me, says the LORD." In these passages, the Israelites are receiving the same kinds of plagues and punishments that Egypt received. The tables have turned, and it's like Amos is telling them: you have become like Egypt - the oppressor who isn't following God's ways.

Notice the number of times that the phrase "in the gate" comes up in chapter 5. The gate is the place where the elders sat to make court-like decisions and people gathered. It was an important meeting place.

If you've stuck with the readings so far, you'll be rewarded by some "good parts" in this chapter. In Amos 5, the word "seek" is repeated 3 times. In verse 4, "For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: Seek me and live." Then in verse 6, "Seek the LORD and live." Verse 14-15 reads,

"Seek good and not evil, that you may live; 

and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you,

 just as you have said. 

Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; 

it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, 

will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." 

The following speech is more well-known. 

"I hate, I despise your festivals, and take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; 

and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. 

Take away from me the noise of your songs; 

I will not listen to the melody of your harps. 

But let justice roll down like waters, 

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

And this, written by Martin Luther King, Jr. in "Letter from Birmingham Jail (April 1963)":

"Was not Jesus an extremist for love -- "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice -- "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the gospel of Jesus Christ -- "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist -- "Here I stand; I can do none other so help me God." Was not John Bunyan an extremist -- "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." Was not Abraham Lincoln an extremist -- "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." Was not Thomas Jefferson an extremist -- "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." So the question is not whether we will be extremist but what kind of extremist will we be. Will we be extremists for hate or will we be extremists for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice--or will we be extremists for the cause of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill, three men were crucified. We must not forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thusly fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment."

* What would God think of our worship today?

* How do we pair worship with acts of justice? 

* How are we looking out for the poor "in the gate"?

* Is this text anti-worship or anti-liturgy? Or is it the lack of connection between worship and life?

a witness to the nations

The reading for this coming Sunday, October 9th is Amos 3.

Amos 3 sounds a bit like a court case. The case is presented in Amos 3:1-2. Amos has some opening questions in Amos 3:3-8 - ones which seem to need no answer. There is a testimony of hostile witnesses in 3:9-10, then the verdict and sentencing in 3:11-15.

If we think of the relationship between Israel and God as a marriage, God has kept God's side of the bargain (covenant), while Israel has been unfaithful. God delivered Israel and selected Israel to be a special, chosen nation. But Israel has forgotten, and God is jealous. Prophets have tried to remind Israel, but Israel has failed to hear the prophetic word while living in the Promised Land.

The Israelites have lost their sense of integrity. This messages hits hard, striking again at Israel's secure, comfortable living. In the judgment proclaimed here (vs.11-15), altars in Bethel (meaning "House of God") will be eliminated, opulent homes will be destroyed, and there will be no grace.

God is holding Israel to a high standard, and judgment is coming because they "knew better." More was expected of them, and they have failed miserably. The covenant was an invitation to privilege, but also to responsibility. There are consequences for forgetting - and Amos is alerting Israel to this cause-and-effect relationship.

In the BCBC commentary, Guenther writes: "By summoning the nations to observe Israel's sin, God exposes their shame. The act of judgment vindicates God and preserves the divine integrity. As they witness God's punishment of that sin, his sovereignty and hatred of sin become clear to all. God's purposes were not to be thwarted, even by the unbelief and disobedience of his people. In this way the divine judgment becomes a faith invitation to the nations." 

* Is this "invitation" inviting? In what ways are we a witness to the nations of who God is?


* What is the image of God portrayed so far in Amos?


* How is our picture/image of God different from the ones portrayed here in Amos? Does our picture need expanding, or are we the "right" ones? Does Amos' picture of God need expanding?


* The church, like Israel, has a high calling. Read Isaiah 43:1-3 for a beautiful passage about Israel's/our chosen status. How are we embodying that calling? How are we claiming our "chosen-ness"?


* Is God silent today? If not, what messages are coming from prophets around us?

naming the evils

Our reading for this coming Sunday (October 2nd) is from Amos 1 and 2.

These are not easy passages, and your eyes might glaze over from all of the destruction and curses that are flowing from Amos' mouth.

Look at the way God's voice in Amos 1:2. God's message of judgment comes between two roars of a lion (Amos 1:2 and Amos 3:8). Judgment is proclaimed on 8 nations.

Compare the various judgments in Amos 1 and Amos 2. Notice which nation is most harshly judged.

I looked to the BCBC commentary on Hosea and Amos to help me understand exactly what the sins were for each nation. I've listed the sins beside each nation below.

The first nations mentioned are ones that share no recognized blood ties with Judah and Israel:
* Arameans (Damascus/Syria): greed, demanding revenue, extracting taxes
* Philistines (Gaza): selling an entire community into slavery (genocide)
* Phoenicians (Tyre): ruthless slave trade, failure to keep faith

The next ones are distant relatives:
* Edomites (Edom): vengeance, violence by the sword against his brother
* Ammonites (Ammon): invading other lands, killing, selling women into slavery
* Moabites (Moab): attitude of insult toward others

The final ones hit close to home:
* Judah: deliberately rejected God's laws, refused to keep God's decrees, pursued false gods
* Israel: debt-slavery, extortion (selling their neighbours to erase minor debts), oppressing the poor, sexual abuse, injustice and hypocrisy

These judgments follow a pattern. They begin with: Thus says the Lord. Then they state: For 3 transgressions of ... and for four I will not revoke the punishment. They state the charge of sinfulness "because they..." followed by the punishment "I will send..." They end with "says the Lord."

In the BCBC commentary, Guenther writes, "Israel's wealthy are preoccupied with accumulating goods; people and community are of little consequence. The conventional wisdom seems to be "Suppress compassion if you want to succeed." No one argues with success. No one except Amos." (p. 260)

* Imagine hearing these indictments against us today. Do any of them ring true?


* Which nations could you imagine being held accountable for sins today? Imagine a prophet today talking about nations that are far away from Canada, then ones who are closer, and then finally lacing into our nation, saving the largest list for Canada. How would this feel, especially if it were a foreigner and a common man like Amos delivering the message? This passage makes me think of another one: to whom much is given, much is also expected. (Luke 12:48)


* Can you name evils in our society today? What would they look like? Some might be subtle - like ways of thinking. Others might be more obvious - like our lifestyles or our government's policies.

* What evils would make God's voice roar today? Does it make our voices roar too?

introducing... Amos!

Since scrolls seemed to factor pretty largely in both Sunday school and the sermon on Sunday, I thought we could look at where Amos fits in the scrolls. Amos is found in the minor prophets scroll, near the beginning of the scroll.

Historically, it is thought that Amos is the oldest/first among the prophetic writings. So, in a way, he's breaking new ground.

But as far as the order goes, Amos is the 3rd of the minor prophet books. Here they are, in the order found in our Bible: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

If you have an introduction to Amos in your Bible, take a look at that. Let us know what strikes you as interesting.

It's estimated that Amos was written around 760 B.C.E. Times were good for both Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom). They had both grown prosperous and had powerful militaries.

Amos' name means "to lift a burden" or "carry." Amos was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore trees. He was from Tekoa, which was located near Bethlehem in Judah. He carried his message from Judah to prophesy to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

For our first reading, let's look at a little introduction to Amos in Amos 7:10-17. 


Amos left one comfortable vocation in Judah (herdsman) to follow an uncomfortable vocation in Israel (prophet). Amos, as we'll soon find out, did not deliver a popular message. It was hard and staggering. How would he have sensed that this was his calling? Have you ever struck out in a similar way - following God's calling to do something uncomfortable?

In The Prophetic Imagination, Walter Brueggemann writes about the alternative vision that the community of faith must hold. The church’s vocation is to critique the dominant culture around us and to energize our communities by providing an alternative vision. 

We'll talk more about prophetic voice on Sunday, and here are some more questions to ponder. Feel free to respond in the comments below, or save your response for Sunday.

sound your voice

* What prophetic voices have been silenced through the ages, or are silenced right now?

* What would be a difficult message to deliver to SJMC today?

* Who do you see as a prophet in our time?

* Prophets like Amos were keenly aware of current events and spoke out on issues of the day. How political are you?

* How is SJMC critiquing the dominant culture or injustices in our world?

* How is SJMC energizing our community by providing an alternative vision?

unleashing Amos

Welcome!

Perhaps you find the title of this blog a little curious. I do too. Unleashing scripture??? Is it like a wild animal or something?

Well, yes.

The Bible can be wild. Unpredictable. Uncomfortable.

And the book of Amos - which we'll be studying for the next 8 weeks - is no exception. Amos is a wild one. He's a prophet who says some pretty harsh things. Things that might make us squirm in our seats.

This coming Sunday (18th) we'll be part of a larger class led by Derek Suderman that will look at "The Beginning of Scripture." I thought that this would be a good introduction as he'll be giving some suggestions, hints, and things to keep in mind as we study the Bible together.