Image ID: Two people lean into a hug in the corner of a small restaurant Big smiles in front of some empty plates, wine bottles adorn the shelf behind them. A cozy moment at the end of a long meal.
Look who came to visit Canandaigua last week! We're getting to the point in our community where we're gathering outside of working hours, it's such an honor to see yall grow into yourselves.
Winter days feel dark and oppressive at times, but don't forget that there are so many opportunities to create cozy joy. This week, see if you can break the mold and do something entirely new just for the hell of it. You've earned some fun.
~ Chaplain Sam
Worship Remix Tonight: Dinner Dialogue at Cantina & Grille
Cantina & Grille in Global Village
5:00 - 6:15ish
Let's gooooooo eat some food! PRISM is busy with another meeting (just this week) so let's grab a big table at Cantina. PCC will cover food, if you're in the mood for a big burrito or something else entirely, we got you.
We'll spend about an hour yapping about fandom: What's been giving you life these days, what media in your life has a spirit and hope to it? (I'm going to talk about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, watch out.)
~*~* Christianity is Magic*~*~
Bible study time! Warmup for next week.
So I was in a Facebook argument with a guy (bad idea, always) who made the theological claim that Christians need to "look after their own" before we think of caring for our broader community or neighbors. A PASTOR! Bless his heart. Everyone's a beloved child of God but my word, people are really twisting our Gospel around these days.
Through a number of comments he said the first obligation of a Christian is to their family and "people like them," caring for one's nation was far more faithful than a global mindset. He acknowledged that yes, charity could be a consideration to people of faith, but it was not a priority compared to, and I repeat, "taking care of our people."
I and a few clergy colleagues were all X_X and *_* and :O as we tried to adhere to the many many things Jesus said about radical charity and compassion being Christian virtues.
The Beatitudes!
The Parable of the Good Samaritan!!!
And finally this wildly pinko commie socialist exerpt from Acts Chapter 4, when the church was at its most vulnerable:
32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Christianity works when it works because it's a reimaginging of structures and powers beyond our comprehension. It's the most pure form of deconstruction through compassion many of us have ever encountered. And! The best part of our faith is that it's not there yet. We're still working on it. People who attempt to sell Christianity for profit betray the heart of the thing. Oof.
We can't pretend it's not about giving things away and caring for the stranger in our midst.
We're not that postmodern.
Coming Up:
- PCC Discord's coming! Thanks for your patience, it's been a real season huh?
- I'm taking ASL this semester, it's so fulfilling. Want to help practice and build some community? Let me know.
- Games Can Help has been rescheduled for Friday, March 28th! Want to join the leadership team? Tons to do.
- Drop-in Counseling hours are back from 2:30 - 4:30. We're keeping visits on the shorter side -- around 30 minutes -- to accommodate seeing multiple folks, here to help if you need.
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