Awaken Community

In the final installment of the series, and the final week of Lent, Micah guides us through the adult monarch phase of the butterfly and the end of Moses’ life. What can these parallel stories and processes show us about our current situation?   Sign up for the Awaken Weekly to receive resources developed by the Awaken staff for you to use however you gather at home.

This week we look at the Israelites in the book of Numbers as they come out of the chrysalis of the wilderness and before they enter the promised land.  For something new to emerge or something new to be born, there's always struggle.  Original songs by Jon Sunde and Melody Olson along with the Song of Blessing and the Lord's Table.  We hope it's just what you need.  Here's a link to the Awaken Re...

This week we look at the Israelites entering the chrysalis of the wilderness.  As they do, not only does God meet the basic needs of food and water, but then brings out "dessert" in the for of the first Shabbat celebrated in scripture by the people of God.  Also, click this link to get the Awaken Sunday Resource 

In light of the Corona Virus and an effort to #flattenthecurve, the people of Awaken met in their homes with family and friends.  This third week of Lent and our series entitled Metamorphosis, Micah explores the stage of Transition as the Israelites leave Egypt but are not to their destination of the Wilderness yet. 

The stage of the caterpillar is all about growth and mission. It is singleminded in its path. Similarly, Moses was on a mission to free the Israelites from slavery. In both there is a clear mission and vision and fruit as a result of their work and effort.  Each week, Micah has worked hard to boil down the phase to a single question. This week's question to consider: Can you trust what you've hear...

Over the course of the season of Lent we'll be looking at the process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly alongside the story of Moses in the view of spiritual formation. This week, Micah leads us through the egg phase.  

For those that weren't able to make it to our Ash Wednesday gathering this year, we recorded the service so you can experience some of it with us. Micah mentions some paper we have for you to write down what God is inviting you to during this season. We will have the paper available this Sunday as well so you can participate. Our service included an original song by Jon Sunde as well as an origina...

In the last chapter of Galatians, Paul finishes his letter with a reminder and an encouragement. A reminder that you reap what you sow and an encouragement to not grow weary of doing good. And a musician from our community, Jon Sunde, is invited up to share his story of how he's learning to not grow weary of doing good.

In chapter five of Galatians, Paul gives an overview of three distinct ways of living: Nomism, Libertinism, and freedom in the Spirit. Micah continues with the question from last week and brings it back to our current situation and what it might mean for us today.

The fourth chapter of Galatians can be summed up in one question: "What happens when something that was good and bore fruit no longer serves you and no longer bears fruit?"  

Micah opened the gathering with a poem from Langston Hughes. It beautifully illustrates this section of Galatians where Paul writes "...in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus...

Pastor Micah uncovers an interesting fact about the translation of Galatians 2:15-16. In a world of binary thinking, which can sometimes be helpful for survival, there are other times it can cut out the third option. "Is the answer A or B?" "Yes, and..."  

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul insists that adding anything to the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected changes the very nature of the good news and then, Christ died for nothing. As we celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Micah reminds us that the work of justice related to race is not an addition to the gospel but is connected to the heart of the gospel.

We were privileged to have guest speaker Scott Austin with us this week. He spoke on the first five verses of Galatians, encouraging us to not skip over the preamble as we are often tempted to do. Even in the seeming niceties of Paul's letter to the Galatians there are important points to note.

Join in as Micah introduces the Galatians series as we step into the new year. 

This week Pastor Micah continues our advent series exploring the difficult experience of Joseph in the midst of the Christmas story.

Pastor Micah continues our Advent series with an exploration of Matthew’s visit from the Magi.  It seems that like Herod, the Magi and the teachers of the law, we’re all a mix of light and darkness. The song is always playing and the invitation is always happening, the question is whether we can hear it. 

Micah continues into Week 2 of the Advent 2019 series and looking at the Hidden: Zechariah in scripture.

Micah kicks off the Advent 2019 series entitled "Hidden - What Lies Beneath the Christmas Story" with the Shepherds of Luke 2.  What does Jacob, David, Bethlehem and Migdal Eder have to do with the Christmas story and just who were these shepherds? 

Pastor Micah wraps up the Awaken Values/DNA series teaching about justice. He used examples of injustices from current day alongside what scripture says about justice from the very beginning in Genesis through Amos and the new testament to educate, illustrate and stir in our church what his hopes are for us as we step into this value.  

Continuing our conversation about the DNA of Awaken, Worship Arts Director, Melody Olson, share about true beauty. She illustrates the difference between how culture defines beauty and how scripture invites us to see beauty. 

We enjoyed a word from Pastor Dave Johnson, formerly of Church of the Open Door, this Sunday. He spoke about what it means to be awakened - what it means to wake up to who you are, whose you are, and why you're here.

Continuing our conversation about the DNA of Awaken, Pastor Micah delves into the practice of hospitality. When we provide hospitality, we let others know we've been thinking of and planning for them. And this invitation is open to all of us - we're all able and responsible to be involved in our own way.

Week 3 of our DNA/Values series - Pastor Micah discusses the value of Authenticity by studying the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel.  As the first woman in scripture to take her struggle with infertility to God, we learn a lot from Hannah about what it means to be authentic in our lives and spiritual journeys.