Nov. 8th: Made for People

Hey everybody —

This Sunday, November 8, 10:00 a.m., at the Foster Theater. If you caught the email that went out Wednesday morning, you already know what's coming: Pastor Joel is preaching “Why I Am an Affirming Pastor.”

If you didn't catch it, here's the short version. Our leadership believes that Jesus is leading us to include and affirm our LGBTQTS+ siblings in every aspect of the life of this church. On Sunday Joel says that from the pulpit, out loud, and walks us through how he got there. The following Sunday, November 15, Josh Chen picks it up with a word on inclusive theology.

Where this is rooted

Joel is preaching from Mark 2:23–3:6. Two scenes, back to back. In the first, the disciples pick grain on the Sabbath and get called out for it. In the second, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath while people stand around watching to see if he'll actually do it, so they can use it against him.

“The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath.”

Mark 2:27 (NRSVUE)

And here's his big idea, in his own words:

“I am an Affirming Pastor because Jesus Christ has come to heal those for whom the system is not working.”

Pastor Joel Sommer

He'll be working through three things Jesus does in that passage. Jesus lets Scripture be in conversation with itself. He makes himself the final authority over spiritual practice. And he prioritizes what theology does over what theology says.

Room to respond

After the sermon there's an invitation to prayer, and here are ways people may choose to respond.

• Lament and repentance — for those who feel conviction about their own complicity in harm done to our LGBTQ+ siblings.
• Healing — for those carrying grief, or wounds from exclusionary theology.
• Guidance — for those struggling with this message, who are concerned, who are wondering whether this is still the church for them.

That third one is not a throwaway. We love you, let's seek God together.

Around the church

• This Saturday, November 7 — Contemplative Retreat. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at West Hills Covenant (5815 SW Gillcrest Ct). Self-guided and silent, $20, scholarships available.
• Tuesday, November 10 — Backpack Buddies @ Youth Group. **Second Tuesday of the month, so students come a half hour early to youth group to pack food for neighborhood kids. Parents and siblings welcome.
• November 13–15 — MUD Retreat. Our combined high school fall retreat at Cascades Camp, with Milwaukie Covenant and First Covenant. Julie and the youth group will be there, which is why you won't see them on the 15th.

More in the forum

There's always more going on than we can fit in an email, and most of it is the kind of thing you'd rather hear about firsthand anyway. There’s an immigrant neighbor who could use folks showing up for him, a new virtual group forming around a TV show, Joel's closing reflections on the Scripture Experience, and other comments and plans.

Go see what's there: accesscov.com/forum. Still can't get in? The how-to page walks you through it, and you can always email Jelani at jelani@accesscov.com.

One final thought

Joel ended his sermon notes with a one-line prayer: Lord, make our church a place of healing to those for whom the system is not working.

Notice what that isn't. It isn't a prayer to be right, or to win an argument, or to be on the correct side of a thing. It's a prayer to be useful to somebody who has been hurt. So here's a question to carry in with you:

Who do you know for whom the system is not working?

See you Sunday.

*Onward in the love and grace of Jesus, who as always, gives us Access to God.*