Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)
One of the ways we discern what the Spirit is saying to the churches is by paying attention to the primary themes that emerge from the Scripture readings in the lectionary and how they correspond to life in our time. These passages are being read, contemplated, and taught all over the world. What might God be saying to the churches through them?
Over the next several months, a few primary themes are evident:
- God’s creation of a diverse and beautiful world God loves (e.g. Psalm 8, 104, and 148)
- God’s complex identity as “Father” “Spirit” “Wisdom” even “Trinity” (e.g. Proverbs 8:1–4, 22–31; John 16:12–15)
- God’s inclusion of diverse people groups (e.g. gentiles) into God’s covenant people (e.g. Acts 11:1–18; Rev. 7:9–17)
- God’s outpouring of gifts and empowerment on the Jesus community (e.g. Acts 2:1–21; Rom. 8:14–17)
- God’s dream for a new covenant and new creation (e.g. Rev. 21:1–6)
In addition to these primary themes, the next few months include Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Pentecost Sunday, and Trinity Sunday. These themes and holidays directly confront us and our world at a time when “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” or “DEI” has been in the headlines because it is under attack from lawmakers and politicians. As a “community of misfits” following Jesus, Roots is living into God’s dream of diversity, equity, and inclusion, no matter what the ‘rulers and authorities’ command!
Which is why we will explore these themes and celebrate these holidays in our uniquely Jesus-centered, Moravian, and Spirit-led way.