WS Update: Good Friday and Easter
In her book about Jesus’ death on the cross, Fleming Rutledge wrote: Christianity is unique. The world’s religions have certain traits in common, but until the gospel of Jesus Christ burst upon the Mediterranean world, no one in the history of human imagination had conceived of such a thing as the worship of a crucified…
WS Update: Easter and Sacrificial Giving
At the heart of the gospel is a generous and self-giving God who gave everything that was dear to him – even his own life – to heal us from our broken condition and restore us to wholeness. As one biblical translation put it: “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and blood, and moved into the…
WS Update: Vulnerability and Being Seen
Vulnerability is a central part of a meaningful relationship. Despite the risks, opening ourselves up to others is how we can experience the transformative power of grace and truth as we build authentic connections within a Christian community. Our upcoming conference speaker, Curt Thompson, writes, “vulnerability is not something we choose to be; it is…
WS Update: Confession and Community
Yesterday’s sermon from Psalm 32 focused on the spiritual practice of confession. One of the reasons why the regular practice of confession is so important for Christians is that real community isn’t possible without it. In his wonderful book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone… Sin…
WS Update: Growing in Generosity
The most amazing act of generosity was God sending his Son, Jesus, so that we might live through him (1 John 4:9). One way that Christians respond to God’s generosity is to live generously themselves. To give sacrificially of their time, their energy, and their money to honor God and to serve others. On Sunday,…
WS Update: Repentance
Yesterday was the first Sunday of Lent. Throughout history, Lent has been a season during which Christians and churches engage in spiritual self-examination and renewal. Lent invites us to see the real ugliness of our sin and, even more, the wonder and beauty of Jesus’ amazing grace. Over the next few Sundays, our sermons will…
WS Update: Our Neighborhood through God’s Eyes
A few years ago, I joined my Community Group for a prayer walk in the Upper West Side, and I was surprised by my experience. I thought I knew my neighborhood well, but I was learning to see it differently – not just through the eyes of a consumer. I started to notice people and…
WS Update: Community Restores Our Mental Health
We are designed to be known and loved. Yet since the fall, we often hide in shame—from God and one another (Gen 3:7). On April 5, renowned psychiatrist and author Curt Thompson, MD explores how the experience of being known and loved within a supportive community can profoundly restore mental health and wholeness. He’ll draw…
WS Update: Gotham Fellowship Info Session
One of our church’s enduring convictions is that your work matters to God and God matters to your work. As Lauren Gill, Senior Director of the Global Faith and Work Initiative, reminds us, “work” in this sense is Any activity that is not rest and not leisure, paid or unpaid. God uses all of our…
WS Update: The Prayers of Jesus
Right now, at this very moment, Jesus is praying for his people: Christ Jesus who died–-more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8v34). Most of us would readily admit that we don’t pray as much or as fervently as we should.…