Dear People of Hope,
There’s a phrase that the late Christian writer Rachel Held Evans would often say: “On the days when I believe…” It is a phrase I love. It acknowledges that doubt and questioning is a part of our journey. There are days when we “believe,” and there are days when we don’t. There are days when we feel secure in what we believe, and there are days when it is hard to say what we believe.
And whether we grew up in the church or not, we likely have all kinds of questions that show up for us in worship, Bible study, and life. They are not always questions of doubt, but a desire to understand with more clarity and greater knowledge. Sometimes they are questions we are afraid to ask – doesn’t everybody else know the answer??? (Chances are lots of people around us are wondering the same thing.) They may be as simple as, “why do we do that thing we do every week in worship?” Or, get more nuanced: “What is salvation?” They may be questions of theology (what we say about God), or anthropology (what we say about humans), or the Bible, or ethics, or day-to-day living. So many questions! So many possibilities!
For the season of Lent, we will be meeting around a meal on Wednesday nights to explore questions. We still have some time before Lent begins, but I share this with you now so that you can share your questions with me. In the narthex (Why do we call the space outside the sanctuary “narthex”? That’s a good question!) is a box with index cards. I invite you to write down your questions and place them in the box. What are you wondering about? What would be good to discuss with others? We may not get to every question in Lent, but we will get the conversation started!
Seek and you will find. Questions are a gift. They help us grow. May we be a courageous space where we are welcome to ask questions and receive the companionship of fellow seekers along the way.
Peace,
Pastor Liz
There’s a phrase that the late Christian writer Rachel Held Evans would often say: “On the days when I believe…” It is a phrase I love. It acknowledges that doubt and questioning is a part of our journey. There are days when we “believe,” and there are days when we don’t. There are days when we feel secure in what we believe, and there are days when it is hard to say what we believe.
And whether we grew up in the church or not, we likely have all kinds of questions that show up for us in worship, Bible study, and life. They are not always questions of doubt, but a desire to understand with more clarity and greater knowledge. Sometimes they are questions we are afraid to ask – doesn’t everybody else know the answer??? (Chances are lots of people around us are wondering the same thing.) They may be as simple as, “why do we do that thing we do every week in worship?” Or, get more nuanced: “What is salvation?” They may be questions of theology (what we say about God), or anthropology (what we say about humans), or the Bible, or ethics, or day-to-day living. So many questions! So many possibilities!
For the season of Lent, we will be meeting around a meal on Wednesday nights to explore questions. We still have some time before Lent begins, but I share this with you now so that you can share your questions with me. In the narthex (Why do we call the space outside the sanctuary “narthex”? That’s a good question!) is a box with index cards. I invite you to write down your questions and place them in the box. What are you wondering about? What would be good to discuss with others? We may not get to every question in Lent, but we will get the conversation started!
Seek and you will find. Questions are a gift. They help us grow. May we be a courageous space where we are welcome to ask questions and receive the companionship of fellow seekers along the way.
Peace,
Pastor Liz
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