Urban Village Church

UVC turns 10- wahoo! As we enter our 10th  year, we're living in a time defined by fear and sorrow, skepticism and suspicion. Even so, we continue to boldly trust in – and live by – God’s vision for UVC: to be bold, inclusive, and relevant.

 

This morning, guest preacher D'Angelo Smith centers in on UVC's second "ingredient" for community: being inclusive. Although God’s wisdom may seem foolish to the world, it allows faithful communities to turn oppressive structures upside down! God’s wisdom does not strengthen harmful hierarchies, but instead calls us to examine who in the body is celebrated and what parts of the body need to be celebrated more (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). 

As we enter our 10th year, we're living in a time defined by fear and sorrow, skepticism and suspicion. Even so, we continue to boldly trust in – and live by – God’s vision. Executive Pastor Emily McGinley reflects on how BOLD it was to start UVC and how that boldness continues to call us forward into a new and abundant future. We believe in the resurrection of Christ! Part of what resurrection does is rattle our logic and complicate our foregone conclusions- that's why "God math" is necessary essential. We aren’t afraid to imagine and claim that resurrection is here for us today and tomorrow. (1 Cor 15: 12-20)

Christian Coon, pastor of Emerging Ministries, leads us to reflect on God-given wisdom and discerning humility in how we apply that wisdom to our lives. We were empowered to believe our call as people of faith is to use our minds to deepen our faith - and like Dr. George Washington Carver - do so humbly. Our intellect is not meant to be put on a shelf to admire, but used for the benefit of others. This week, consider how you will use these gifts - the world needs it!

Juan Pablo, UVC's Church Planting Resident, leads us this week in our continued series “God and Science” to reflect on how ancient faith communities heard and interpreted the Creation Story. Instead of a scientific account, ancient Israel heard the creation stories in Genesis as a theological declaration about the goodness of creation. God’s love of creation invites us to be co-creators of God’s goodness on earth and to share that goodness in bold and innovative ways.

John 14:1-7 — Some folks imagine that science and faith are at odds, incompatible, or two ways of life to choose between. But in fact, the practices and promises of science can only enhance our faith, and our understanding of the extraordinary Creation we are a part of. In a time when science and reality are under attack, it is more important than ever to find our Christian call to be seekers, lovers, and defenders of truth wherever we find it. So let’s figure out how to do that, and how to seek greater knowledge, greater understanding, and greater wonder in Jesus together.

Psalm 44 repeats many of the themes found in Lamentations and Job. In our the series “God, What The F***?” we’ve explored lament, anger, confusion, sadness… but Psalm 44 also adds ways forward for faith and hope even amid hard experiences. First, the psalm roots itself in the ancestors and stories of the past. We can remember the past and all who came before us: what they survived, what they've done for us, and the ways in which God has gotten people through hardship. Psalm 44 remains convicted that when God is awake (and even woke AF), steadfast love is present.

Can I Be Mad at God? In short... Yes! Being mad at God is an act of faith which scripture invites us to do as a natural thing in the midst of pain, just as we're able to praise God in time of joy. This is all a part of living in relation with God. We cry out to God because we know God is real, God cares for us, and God suffers with us.

What does it mean to proclaim faith and live faithfully in times like these? What do we do with our anger, grief, disappointments and seemingly endless dead-ends? Pandemic or not, we’ve all had a moment when we have thrown our hands up in exasperation and asked God, “What the f***?” Now is as good a time as any to (re)visit this question with all the faithfulness of a man named Job and all the honesty of a community like ours.

This week Hannah Kardon covers "The Playful Spirit" in this weeks segment of Let's Play.

Jesus, playfulness, community, and communion: how are all these things connected? *We know that preachers pull from many resources in their sermon preparations and, if that's the case for you, we hope that this will inspire you as you prepare your message. Please be sure to cite and credit when appropriate. God bless you!