Blog

Melvin Bray on broken truth, hope and grace

In love, 1 plus 1 doesn’t equal 2. Matthew Russell sees resurrection in places of pain where it doesn’t’ make sense for love to grow. Maybe God is making all things new.

 

Block confesses that his book, Flawless Consulting, was given its title by the publisher in order to sell more copies, but the quick selling of grace and healing can be detrimental to the community and church. Bruggemann and Block speak about what it means to restore our humanity and our communities.

To the question, “How do we flip the script and learn to be human again,” Block says, “We want to restore our humanity…the interdependence, our connection to each other is how we are going to sustain ourselves.”  What does restoring our humanity look like?

 

Father Greg Boyle talks about creating God in our image and ripping off roofs to be with those outside.

 

Every year, Americans bury enough metal in the ground to rebuild the Golden Gate Bridge, says Vashon Island coffin maker Marcus Daly. His simple, handcrafted wooden coffins are an economical and environmentally friendly burial alternative. But Daly believes a coffin’s most important feature is that it can be carried. Here’s why.

 

The Coffinmaker from Dan McComb on Vimeo.

Although we still had snow this week, summer and Sterling’s sabbatical are right around the corner! Last summer, Tabernacle was awarded a Lily Foundation grant that provides for a three-month sabbatical for Sterling and a time of renewal for the church.  The theme for the sabbatical is “Coming Home for the Very First Time.” During the summer, Sterling will “come home” to his family for some much needed rest and rejuvenation. He will also “come home” to the Holy Land and to Burma – trips that will enrich and inform his ministry for years to come.  

While Sterling is gone, we at TBC will be having fun interpreting the sabbatical theme in worship each week and engage in enjoyable, meaningful theme-related renewal activities.  Decide which of the activities and dates below look interesting to you, and make plans to join us as we “come home” together.

“Come Home” with us for three church-wide Fellowship Opportunities:

•  June 8^th  Church-wide picnic –good food and fun activities for all ages
• July 9^th  Ice Cream social plus age-specific book discussions (children, youth, adult)
• August 20th Movie night – The Wizard of Oz: popcorn plus conversation about “coming home”

“Come Home” with us for three Creative Arts Opportunities:

• after worship on June 15^th
• after worship on July 13^th
• after worship on Aug. 3^rd

Join us as local artist and minister Suzanne Stovall Vinson leads us in creating unique and versatile themed stoles and banners for worship.  We will also make some new Chrismons for our Christmas tree. Get to know new and longtime church members during these inter-generational creative arts sessions!

 

“Come Home” with us as we attend some home team sports events:

• Baseball with The Richmond Flying Squirrels
• Soccer with the Richmond Kickers.

We will buy a block of tickets for church members to use.  Stay tuned for dates and details.

 

Finally, as we move toward summer, please pray for the Severns Family and for TBC as we celebrate and prepare for this special season of our life as a church!

 

Harrison Higgins builds furniture made to last literally hundreds of years. In this short film, the Virginia woodworker describes the theology behind his furniture-making—and the beauty revealed when we treat the creation as more than a resource or even a social cause, but as a sacrament.

 

Ellen Davis’ thoughts on heaven and God’s work in the divine economy.