Praxis UCC

I realize this photo is not all that appealing (curse you, bad lighting!).  But trust me, friends, this was one tasty dinner.

We hand-rolled 100+ bean and cheese enchiladas Friday night for the guys at the local men’s shelter, cooked up a big pot of Mexican rice, and collaborated on a salad (thanks Marvin!).  Then we cleverly forgot to take pictures until all was devoured except the last half-pan.

Praxis is reading a book together!  Join us NEXT week on Thursday, June 30, for our first gathering to explore Shane Claiborne’s Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical–check out your copy at the library, or buy one online (used or new) or at a local independent bookstore.  We’ll meet for dinner at 6:30 (bring a dish to share!) followed by discussion at 7:30 at Chris and Leah’s place, 1093D N. Jamestown Rd.  Our first gathering will focus on the first chapter of the book, and we’ll meet for five Thursdays ending on August 4th.
Come out and join us for thought- and faith-provoking conversation, good food, and great fellowship!  All are welcome!

Synopsis of Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical

Many of us find ourselves caught somewhere between unbelieving activists and inactive believers. We can write a check to feed starving children or hold signs in the streets and feel like we’ve made a difference without ever encountering the faces of the suffering masses. In this book, Shane Claiborne describes an authentic faith rooted in belief, action, and love, inviting us into a movement of the Spirit that begins inside each of us and extends into a broken world. Shane’s faith led him to dress the wounds of lepers with Mother Teresa, visit families in Iraq amidst bombings, and dump $10,000 in coins and bills on Wall Street to redistribute wealth. Shane lives out this revolution each day in his local neighborhood, an impoverished community in North Philadelphia, by living among the homeless, helping local kids with homework, and ‘practicing resurrection’ in the forgotten places of our world. Shane’s message will comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfortable . . . but will also invite us into an irresistible revolution. His is a vision for ordinary radicals ready to change the world with little acts of love.

Last night we continued with our psalms study for Lent, lead by Mary Miller Brueggemann. We looked at different names for God, found in the psalms. The beginning of Psalm 18 was most interesting.

Typically the second verse is translated like this:

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

We are looking at multiple translations, so I turned to the Jewish Study Bible, where I found this:

O LORD, my crag , my fortress, my rescuer, my God, my rock in whom I seek refuge, my shield, my mighty champion, my haven.

The first use of rock is cela` and it’s translated as “crag” in the Jewish Study Bible. This is so much more evocative – not just a rock, or a stone, or even a boulder, but a high precipice. A mountain top. The second word for rock is tsuwr which could mean a stone, or a piece of rock, or also can mean a sharp edge, as in a rock that’s been sharpened and turned into a knife.

Seeing God as “my crag” reminds me of mountain climbing, of that exertion that it takes to get to the top, and then the beauty of the view. God is not only a solid mountain top, but firm footing from which to see the hills and valleys of life.

So much meaning in just two words that translators have frequently conflated into one. I’m looking forward to unpacking more of the psalms during Lent.

Following the coverage of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, it’s hard to contemplate the scale of how people’s lives are shaken and changed, and how difficult the road to rebuilding will be.  It’s even harder to cope with the “why” of this tragedy and where God can be found amidst the death and devastation of this natural disaster.  I have faith, however, that the Spirit of God works in the world, bringing people out of despair and towards a place of serving one another.

We pray for those who have lost loved ones, those who are rushing to save lives, and those who are striving to rebuild.  We also pray that we’ll find ways to do our part in meeting the needs of people that are hurting, even as we live on separate sides of the globe.

The United Church of Christ has already begun to partner with other churches and organizations in Japan, sending money from the “One Great Hour of Sharing” offerings and through its International Disaster Relief program.

Praxis has a commitment to give 25% of its offering to mission outside of the church, whether it is local, around the country, or around the world.  During our worship this coming Sunday we will be giving a quarter of our offering to support disaster relief in Japan.

For more information on how the United Church of Christ is involved in Japan and to donate toward the work of disaster relief visit http://www.ucc.org/disaster/japan-earthquake-2011/

Blessings and peace,

Chris

Come join us on March 20th at 5:30pm for worship at Praxis!

We have just started the season of Lent where we prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus’ resurrection. For many, this time is somber and reflective, a time where people choose to give up sweets, meat, or chocolate. What if we looked at this instead as a time to feed our spirits, to find a deeper, more joyful connection with God? Do we bury God’s Spirit beneath the weight of the world, or do we allow the Spirit to pull us upward, out from under that weight?

Following worship, join us for a community meal with good food and further conversation.

Children’s church programming and childcare is provided for children age 8 and younger during the service.

Praxis welcomes people of all backgrounds, sexual orientations, and ability levels as inherently valuable children of God. Everyone is welcome!

Our next worship features guest speaker Matthew Works. Matthew is an artist, writer, itinerant preacher, and activist who has spent the last fourteen years living on the streets, making art and speaking prophetically about the church’s relationship with the homeless. His art and stories have been featured in exhibits, on public radio, and in the book God’s Politics by Jim Wallis.

On a personal note, I’m really excited to see Matthew again. He is one of those people who radiate the love of God even amidst the chaos and challenges of life. I don’t think I’ve met another person who so easily connects with people from every walk of life. I marvel at how easily he makes others feel at home, even as he’s speaking prophetic works about being homeless.

Children’s church programming and childcare is provided for children age 8 and younger during the service. Following worship, join us for a community meal with good food and further conversation.

If you’re living near Atlanta, come join us on February 20 at 5:30pm. You won’t want to miss it.

We really enjoyed putting together a pickup choir for our service on November 21!  Thanks to everyone who joined us for this experimental gathering in the hour before worship. We’ll do more of this starting in January. Here’s video of the choir singing “Pictures of Jesus” by Ben Harper. Enjoy!

Pictures of Jesus – Our Pickup Choir from Praxis UCC on Vimeo.

Through the season of Advent we’ll be focusing on different aspects of humanity.  We’ll be following the traditional themes of the Advent candles – hope, love, joy, and peace.  How do these themes emphasize what it means to be truly human?  Tomorrow night we’ll start with the theme of  ”Love”.  What does love mean to us?  As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, what does love mean to God?

Come join us for dinner and small group discussions on Thursday nights.  Meal starts at 6:30, discussion starts at 7:30.

As you may already know, there is currently a shortage of shelters for people who are homeless in Atlanta.  The emergency freeze shelter at St John’s is opening up in the next few days to provide space for those who are homeless on the nights when it is freezing outside.  I’m really excited that Praxis has the opportunity to connect with the larger community in our area and do ministry with the members of St. John’s who is housing our worship services.

This Sunday, December 5th at 12:15 pm there is an informational session and orientation for those who are interested in this important ministry.  If you are interested in helping out please come this Sunday and see what it’s all about.  This is a rewarding way to make a difference and spread love in this time of Advent and Christmas!

Photo Credit: Michelle Friswell

Hello all,
We’d like to invite you to participate in Praxis’ first-ever “Instant Choir”! What is Instant Choir, you might ask? You show up about an hour before the service, we learn a song together, and then we sing it during worship. It’s easy, it’s fun, and there’s no mid-week commitment. We think of it as a great way to get more folks involved in the service and to try out having a choir as part of worship.
So if you are a singer, a would-be singer, or just want to have fun making music, please email Leah ASAP and let her know you are interested. We will meet at 4:15pm on Sunday, Nov. 21st (one week from tomorrow), and sing at the Praxis worship service at 5:30.
Come one, come all! Make a joyful noise to the Lord!

blessings,
Leah and Chris