"2020 Vision" series - January 2020

By -


“2020 Vision” is a new series for the new year.  Life in our society is distorted by racial injustice, religious antagonism, environmental disruption, and economic disparities.  The series will explore the biblical vision that unites us to God and one another.  As a corrective lens, Walter Brueggemann’s book Tenacious Solidarity: Biblical Provocations on Race, Religion, Climate, and Economy (2018) will frame how to see each other with God’s eyes and look for solidarity across differences.

January 5 - Epiphany
RACIAL SOLIDARITY: In Isaiah 60:1-6, the prophet proclaims that people of all nations will be drawn to the Lord’s light.  On Epiphany, we celebrate the three kings from foreign lands coming to worship Jesus.  The light of Christ shines for all the nations.  When have you experienced the multiracial fellowship of the church? 

January 12 – Baptism of the Lord
RELIGIOUS SOLIDARITY: In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus comes to John for baptism.  The Sacrament of Holy Baptism unites Christians with Christ and one another.  How does baptism give you a sense of belonging?

January 19
ECONOMIC SOLIDARITY: In 2 Kings 4:1-7, the prophet Elisha reveals God’s abundance to assist a poor widow with her debts.  God does not turn a blind eye to the human cost of exploitative wealth but directs us to care for those who are vulnerable.  When have you needed help with a debt?

January 26
CLIMATE SOLIDARITY: In Hosea 4:1-4, God expresses anger when human exploitation causes the Earth to become sick.  People are interconnected with our environment, and human sin destabilizes creation.  What signs do you see of ailing life on the Earth?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Wholeness of Being" Series 2026

By -
Image
“Wholeness of Being” Series Summary for Eastertide (April 12-May 24) Easter reveals God’s commitment to the wholeness of the world.   T heologian Ilia Delio argues that science and faith are not rivals but essential partners in understanding the mystery of life and God's ongoing work.  She says: “We are one body, and we seek one mind and heart so that the whole may become more whole, more personal and unified in love” ( The Unbearable Wholeness of Being ).   Join us this spring as we explore connections between science and faith for a season of becoming whole so that we can live as agents of love’s unfinished future.  Apr. 12 | Easter 2 - Communion  LOVE IS COMMUNITY: One is the loneliest number, according to the 60s ballad.   In Luke 24:13–35 , Jesus accompanies the disciples to Emmaus and eats with them.   Resurrection is discovered in relationships, not isolation.   Delio argues that, in an evolving universe, Christ is found in communal belongi...
Read more

"Healing Wounds" Series 2026

By -
Image
  “Healing Wounds” Series Summary (Feb. 18-Apr. 5) What do we do with wounds that won’t close—grief that lingers, shame we carry quietly, a world that feels fragile?   In Lent, we will take those questions seriously through an encounter with Jesus, not as a distant savior but as a wounded healer who knows pain firsthand.   Guided by Erik Varden’s Healing Wounds and a medieval devotional prayer by Arnulf of Leuven, we will linger with Christ’s scarred body and discover how God’s love works not by erasing suffering, but by entering it and transforming it.   Each week, we will recommend a different prayer posture.   Join us this Lent for a season of honest prayer and surprising hope as we open ourselves to the promise that what hurts most can become the place where new life begins. Feb. 18 | Ash Wednesday AFFLICTION: We are wounded people living in a wounded world.   In Mark 8:31-35 , Jesus says that following him means taking up a cross rather than chasin...
Read more

“Faith and Film” Series 2026

By -
Image
  “Faith and Film 2026” Series Summary (May 31-June 28) Movies can be modern parables that reveal our deepest longings, struggles, and hopes. They not only reflect who we are, but they can also offer glimpses of God’s presence in our world.   In our annual Faith and Film series, we will explore how some of this year’s Oscar-nominated films speak to the human desire for healing, justice, and reconciliation.   The films that were chosen by Trinity Wilmette members include Hamnet , F1 Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, KPop Demon Hunters .   They reflect the stories that resonate most with our community. Join us in June as we engage these films through the lens of faith, discovering how they challenge, inspire, and point us toward God’s truth.   May 31 | Trinity Sunday HAMNET : In the wake of devastating loss, Agnes and William Shakespeare embody the disorienting, uneven journey of grief. Their story invites us to honor sorrow not as something to rush past, but ...
Read more