Romans — “Reading Someone Else's Mail”
Romans may be one of Christianity's most influential—and most misused—books. Before turning individual verses into universal rules, we're going to remember something surprisingly easy to forget: we're reading somebody else's mail. Paul wrote to real communities living in a particular historical world. Who were they? What was happening in Rome? And what changes when Romans becomes a letter again instead of a collection of isolated verses?
METHODIST MOMENT — THE DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY
For centuries, Christian theology was used to justify European claims over lands already inhabited by Indigenous peoples. The Doctrine of Discovery gave religious and eventually legal cover to colonization and dispossession. The United Methodist Church has repudiated it. We'll ask what happens when the church recognizes that theology helped create real harm—and what repentance requires after the apology.
KIDS — BRING SOMETHING FOR THE RAINBOW RUG!
Our kids are part of the community, so instead of adults always preaching a children's sermon to them, the Rainbow Rug gives our kids a chance to share their own little sermons with us. Kids are invited to bring a favorite toy, stuffed animal, book, rock, drawing, something they made, something they found outside, or anything else they'd like to show us. Childcare is available after the Rainbow Rug, and children are also always welcome to remain in worship. Wiggles, noises, questions, and moving around are part of having children in a community.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Whatever makes you feel comfortable being you. Dress up because you love dressing up or come in jeans, shorts, a T-shirt, bright colors, makeup, no makeup, or whatever feels right to you. There isn't a Mosaic version of what you're supposed to look like at church. Come comfortable. Show us your true self.
