Weekly Messages
Race-Neutral Legislation . . . That Wasn’t (part 2)
How shall we be Christian? One important direction our tradition points us . . . repair broken systems that break people. We've been saying in this lesson: our broken systems stay broken . . . because they stay invisible. Thus this history section in our lesson Today...
Race-Neutral Legislation . . . That Wasn’t (part 1)
History shows us how things got broken -- so we know what needs to be fixed. The systems wounding our society are often invisible . . . but they roll along, year after year, consistently advantaging one group and disadvantaging another. To help us see how to untangle...
Access Denied
When we take a look at the shadowy historical roots of our society's invisible systems – financial, employment, political, educational, penal – they stop being invisible. Unseen, our systems consistently advantage one group and disadvantage another. This is the very...
Our Unsightly Blind Spots
It's a sad thing... but our blind spots are embedded right in our science and religion. That's what has made our national sin, racism, so tough to handle. The unquestioned credibility of these institutions created blind spots which allow us to remain in an ignorant...
A Few Guilty. All Responsible.
We're not guilty of the past. We weren't there. But if we understand Jesus, we see we are -- all of us -- responsible to make right what has gone wrong, and systematic racism . . . has gone wrong! Jesus also taught us where much is given, much is required. From a...
Recalculating… Course Correction Required
As our unpaid debts of history tug us from behind, we must collectively turn from the path we've been on, and consciously choose a new one upon which ALL are seen, heard, and afforded the opportunity to prosper.
Some Good News for the Discouraged
To get us ready for our upcoming lesson, "Rethinking Race," here are some of the ways our community has been getting ready to step into our role as a repairers of the earth. It is a long list and it's good news! We also explore specific opportunities within our city...
Announcement: Please Join the Contacts List
During this time, one of the best ways that we recognize and interact with members of our community is via the Contacts list. Please take a moment, go to the website and add yourself if you have not already. https://commonthreadchurch.org/add-me-contact-list/ Under...
Loving-Kindness Meditation: Why, What and How
As we continue our training to become repairers of the earth, we explore Loving-kindness Meditation as a means to move from reacting to observing and responding – with compassion for both ourselves and others.
How can we better follow a diverse Jesus and be an "activist" Christian? – John Pavlovitz
by John Pavlovitz Jesus told his disciples a story about sheep and shepherds; the sheep know the shepherd's voice and He referred to himself as the gate through which the sheep enter. After I first went into ministry, I was pressed with deep theological questions that...
The Enneagram – Robin Camu
We have our annual one-day seminar on the enneagram coming up (always the first Saturday after Labor Day). We'll be forming our enneagram groups the, to carry us through May. To get us ready, today Robin Camu speaks on how powerfully the enneagram, in the context of...
OK, white people. Let’s talk about Charlottesville.
What shall we do after that? How shall we practice our religion now? What does it mean to be Christian today?
Ready, Set, Forgive
This is the culmination of our series on the pathway to forgiveness. We discuss the granting forgiveness and the subsequent choice to renew or release the relationship.
Hatred Won’t Overcome Hatred – Breaking the Cycle
Forgiveness is a bedrock of the spiritual tradition tradition. If we don't take it up, who will? But, forgiveness is tough! To be actually able to do it, requires a training regimen. We must till the soil of our wounds with small-step practices. One first-step...
Finding Freedom in Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a skill that must be developed. It takes courage and strength, but when you engage in the process, you give yourself the gift of freedom – freedom from bitterness, freedom from allowing an incident continually harm you. Listen as we explore the 4-fold...
You Can’t Go From Hatred to Love
It is nearly impossible for us to go directly from hated to love. The usual path is to go from hatred to resentment while telling ourselves that we should be loving. A healthier path is from hatred to non-hatred, from non-hatred to understanding, from understanding...
Who IS the Enemy Jesus Said, "Love?"
Following on the idea last week, that the very notion of an enemy may be an illusion, we try to define clearly what makes an enemy.
Spirituality 401: Loving The Enemy (Prerequisites Required)
Loving our enemy. Was Jesus serious? We Christians generally ignore this verse because we simply cannot see our way there. We are encouraged to begin this 1000-mile journey with a single step. We enable ourselves through a process of working our circle of spiritual...
The Devastation and the Discipline of the Wilderness – Scott Bass
By Scott Bass We have a saying in our community that "It is our way to lose our way..." Losing our way is sometimes a good thing. The mystical experience is not part of most Christian's journeys these days. We don't see "the wilderness" or aimless wandering as a...
Lessons I’ve Learned from Being a Father – Chris Thomson
by Chris Thomson Fatherhood changes men as people and changes our spiritual walks.
Is Your Faith Holding on to a Rickety Cossack? – Chris Graebe
by Chris Graebe Everyone has their own story about how they got to NRCC. Everyone's wilderness journey is also a bit different, and many of us are still on that journey. Here is a bit of my own journey and what NRCC means to me.
On Adulting: Honoring our High-School Graduates
Today we honor our young adults who have completed their high school educations and listen in as they get some advice that we can all do better by heeding it.
Temporarily Out of Service
A commitment to service is one essential part of a healthy spiritual ecosystem. But service absent discernment can, at best, waste resources, at worst, cause harm. For many years the discernment was that NRCC was to focus upon building the other parts of the...
Mything the Point: Sophia and Her Daughters
The ancient myth of Sophia and her daughters illuminates a deep truth. The Way of Wisdom (Sophia) gives birth to the daughters, Faith (Fides), Hope (Spes), and Charity (Caritas). When we apply ourselves to the Way of Wisdom -- when we take up the spiritual practices,...