Something special happens when instead of meeting indoors, under the glow of artificial lighting, we gather for worship outdoors in the summer. Yes, it’s a little less formal and we can enjoy the sun shining on our faces. But, also, the ancient stories in the scriptures feel a little less distant as we, like our spiritual ancestors before us, seek the transcendent as we sit among the trees.
This summer, Roots will once again gather for worship outdoors for our Teaching Sundays and Lovefeast Sundays in June, July, and August. This time, we’ll be gathering at Phalen Park on the Eastside of St. Paul, and we’d love for you to join us.
As we situate ourselves physically among the trees, we will also turn our attention to the stories of six figures from the Bible whose stories prominently feature an encounter under a tree (or bush, or vine). These fellow “misfits” didn’t fit into predefined boxes—they were too much, not enough, or just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But if we pay attention to their stories, we may discover how they encountered the divine while under the trees.
• Eve — under the tree at the center of everything God had made (Genesis 3)
• Elijah — exhausted and done, under a broom tree in the wilderness (1 Kings 19)
• Jonah — sulking under a vine, arguing with God about mercy (Jonah 4)
• Hagar — alone in the desert, seen by a God she didn’t expect (Genesis 16)
• Nathanael — sitting under a fig tree when everything changed (John 1:48)
• Zacchaeus — up in a sycamore tree, trying to see without being seen (Luke 19:1–10)
Rather than tidy morality tales, these stories are messy, honest, sometimes funny, and sometimes devastating. They have a lot to say to anyone who has ever felt out of place in their own life, their own faith, or in their own skin.
In addition to Pastors Osheta and T. C., the teaching team will also be joined by a very special guest preacher, Dr. Gary F. Green, author of Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance Beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Social Transformation, and Director of Racial Intelligence Systems at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. He brings a wealth of wisdom not only from the classroom, but also from his experience as an elite athlete. We’re genuinely thrilled to have Dr. Green bring his voice and scholarship to our community under the trees.
As a community, we welcome our kids to worship with us. And to help our littlest misfits connect with the stories, Pastor Osheta has invited the trees themselves (played by Roots members) to join us for a “Between Two Ferns” style segment in which we’ll hear the insider details that didn’t make it into the official record.
So, join us this summer for worship. We will make space for a wide range of emotions, from curiosity to grief, lament to stubborn hope. You don’t have to have yourself all sorted out, you just have to be willing to show up.
As always, misfits welcome.