Awaken Community

Judy Howard Peterson is with us for a part two discussion of last weeks message. This week she looks at Matthew 26:47-56, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?". There are so many biblical interpretations of this passage leading to every different aspects of theology. How do we hold the reality that Judas was one of the twelve that Jesus specifically invited? 

Guest speaker Judy Howard Peterson brings a prophetic word in the midst of a tumultuous season across the globe. She addresses Jesus question in Matthew 12:1-14 "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath will you not take hold of it and lift it out?" She invites us to experience life beyond the text and tradition.

Awaken's own Cathy Solomon delivers her first Sunday morning sermon in a perfectly Cathy way. She addresses Mark 10:46-52 when Jesus asks the question to Bartimeaus: "What do you want me to do for you?"

Our guest speaker this week is a former Awakenite Jae Bates who unpacks John 21:15-19 by looking at the narrative of Peter's life and the ways he has denied those parts of himself that Jesus has invited him to lean into and accept. In what ways are we invited to step into who we truly are?

Dr. Kelly Sherman Conroy discusses John 5:1-9 and the question "Do you want to be made well?" She navigates the complexities of healing work as someone with indigenous roots and brings emphasis to how we hold, honor and move through sacred wounds in colonized spaces.

Pastor Micah closes out the Encounters series by bringing us to John 21:1-17 and the moment Jesus meets Peter on the shore after resurrection. Peter, in the aftermath of his failure and shame is brought back into the mission Jesus invites all of us into; feed my sheep.

Pastor Micah continues the Encounters series by looking at Mattew 28:16-20. The disciples went to Galilee to the mountain to see Jesus and when they saw him, some worshipped and some doubted.

Pastor Micah continues the Encounters series with Acts 9:1-19 where Paul is confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus. Micah discusses the context of Paul's conversion and the significance of Ananias's actions and our invitation to embody peacemaking in a similar way.

Awaken opens up a new series called Encounters where we look at examples of people's interactions with the resurrected Christ and unpack what it means for us as a community. Micah begins with John 20:11-18 and Mary's interaction with the gardener who is revealed to be Jesus.

Awaken gathers for its first Easter Sunday in the new building. Pastor Micah discusses Matthew 27-28 and the subversion of expectations throughout the resurrection story, including the many holy bodies that are raised to life in verses 51-53.

Pastor Micah discusses Philippians 2:1-11 and the importance of love within a community. This passage connects back to the Garden of Eden and the posture of letting go as we enter into continued relationship with God and one another.

Wild Fig Network's Executive Director, Eugene Kim visits Awaken to walk us through the Israelites experience of empire in Isaiah 43. He points us to examples of resistance that have formed the basis of christian thought and God's heart towards all marginalized people.

Pastor Jenna takes the stage again to walk us through Luke 15 and the story of the prodigal son, this time highlighting the complexities of repair work when we experience brokenness in relationship.

Micah takes us through Isaiah 55 and the prophets reminder of the vision God has for the world around us, one of abundance and partnership in making that vision our reality.

Micah explores Genesis 15 and the meaning of the word "covenant" and why this word/idea is so important to the biblical story. Where can we find significance in the fact that God chooses to be in committed formal relational partnership(s) with humanity despite knowing the outcome and tendencies.

Awaken enters the season of Lent by bringing us into the wilderness experience Jesus has in Luke 4.

After a six week hiatus to focus on the big move, Awaken is meeting again on Sunday mornings. Micah brings us back to the story of Jacob and invites to consider how hope and imagination can pull us into a future we might not be able to see at the present moment.

Awaken ends its time at St James by discussing the role and significance of the altar in Jacob's story. What does it mean to mark a moment in time and how does God meet us as we set up our own altars in this time of transition?

This is the second to last Sunday at St James and Micah takes another approach to Genesis 28 by discussing the significance of being surprised by God's presence and staying curious about the places and people we will come into contact with in our new church home.

Micah kicks off a final series for our time at St James. He opens by discussing the ways God is with us in the midst of transition by looking at Jacob's life. Also, in classic Micah fashion he gives a beautiful illustration of fish.

Pastor Jenna brings our Advent series to a close in preparation for Christmas Eve. She walks us through the ways the evangelical understanding of longing can be counter productive to an otherwise important revealing that can happen through our longings.

Micah processes the importance of waiting and the through line that we can see through scripture. It's in the waiting that things are exposed and produced within us.

Micah discusses Exodus 1:1-18 & 2:23-25 when the Israelites cried out and God heard, saw, listened, knew them. In the same way that Jesus modeled what it means to be human, we are met by God in the moments when we can acknowledge and embrace our limitations and struggles.

Awaken begins a new series through our last Advent season at St James. Micah kicks the series off by discussing the significance of darkness and the ways God shows up alongside us as a midwife is present to those birthing new life into the world.

Micah closes out the Take Heart series by looking at Psalm 27 to help us navigate the difficulty of balancing hope for the world and the harsh realities we have to be reconciled to. 

Micah talks through the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3 and invites Awaken into the work of civil disobedience in the name of sacrificial love for others.

Micah brings us to Mark 6:45-52 when Jesus appears to the disciples in the midst of a storm on the sea. He points us to the ways that Jesus has proven himself a presence of peace and comfort to those in distress.

Awaken starts a new series this month as we find ourselves in a tumultuous political season. Micah kicks things off by adding context to Jesus words in John 16:33, "take heart for I have overcome the world". What does it mean to find peace in the midst of anxiety and uncertainty?

The Wells and Fences series comes to a close with a powerful message from Micah as we near Election Day. What does it mean to be a peacemaker? How do we do this for even those we might find ourselves at odds with? We can't make peace in the world if we haven't made peace within ourselves.

Micah is back at Awaken to talk through the concept of power and empire in scripture. How does power look in the kingdom of God and how do we integrate the ways Jesus has modeled what it means to hold power within the context of our own lives in this election season?

Awaken's Youth Director Trevor speaks for the first time on a Sunday morning and invites the congregation into the story of Jesus journeying through the wilderness. How does the human Jesus experience these tests and what example does it set for how we might find encouragement and grace in the midst of our own struggles?

Pastor Jenna takes the stage this Sunday and talks through the difficult reality facing our current political and religious climate. She brings attention to the language and ideology of white christian nationalism and how it finds itself at odds with scripture and the way Jesus held power.

Micah continues the Wells and Fences series by providing context for Jesus usage of parables in his teachings. The kingdom of God is not bombastic, but rather grows slow and steady like a mustard seed.

Awaken continues our series on wells and fences by inviting us to consider perhaps a more difficult message to absorb in this political season and climate. Micah discusses the dehumanization of others when we label them "enemies" and points to Jesus who offers a better way.

Awaken returns to a recurring series that has become a cornerstone of our community. Micah provides an intro to the Wells and Fences series and the importance of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

Awaken is back at St James for both gatherings to continue our formational targets series. Micah discusses the nuance of listening for God's voice in the midst of our own. 

As a community we take a moment to create space for all the hard things being held, both individually and collectively. In the midst of our grief, we hold fast to the promises of God, the comfort of the Spirit, and the hope found in Jesus.

Micah takes a look at the story of Thomas in John 20:19-29. While Thomas is often labelled as "The Doubter", this story is intentionally included in John's gospel as an encouragement to those with doubts. Even as Thomas expresses his doubts and makes his request known, Jesus moves towards him and meets him where he's at.

Micah looks at the character of Judas and the different accounts we have of his life and death. How does someone this close to Jesus make the decision to betray him?

Micah looks at Romans 13 and the instructions to the Church to submit to the governing authorities. What does Paul have in his pocket when he writes this to the Church of Rome? How are we to understand these verses for our time and our day?

In a follow up to last weeks message, Micah shares his thoughts on the trustworthiness of the Bible, and the position in which we hold the Bible as a faith community.

Joel Lawrence shares about the origins of the Bible, and offers his perspective on how this book came to be and its purpose as God's word and a revelation of God's self.

Micah looks at Genesis 27 and the story of Jacob and Esau, but also of Rebekah. Rebekah hears a word from the Lord and works within the systems of her time to move the story of God forwards.

Micah looks at Genesis 22 and God's request to Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.

We celebrate the high school students who have completed the first Confirmation Class of Awaken!

Micah returns to the Formational Target of Pilgrimage and shares about Awaken's experience on the Urban Camino. 

Sam Randall speaks on listening and the importance of asking good questions. What does it mean to be a good listener? What does it mean to listen and ask questions like Jesus? 

Micah wraps up our series on Generosity looking at John 8 and the generosity of things less seen. Will we be people who are generous with our assumptions, with our compassion, and generous towards ourselves?

Micah looks a few core principles about giving towards the church, or any organization. Do you align with the organizations mission, vision, and values? Do you trust the leadership? Does participating in the community bring value to your life? If so, do you invest in a way that is regular, proportionate, sacrificial, and cheerful?

Micah looks at Luke 14: 25-33 and Jesus's words about our relationship to our stuff. What Jesus is saying goes beyond dollars and cents, instead addressing the influence that Mine'ing has over our lives.

Micah looks at Ecclesiastes 4:5-6 and how we can choose to engage the world. Do you hold your hands open, ready to give, receive, and be present with all that is happening around you?