Zao MKE Church

What if our most powerful breakup is with empire itself? Come hear how the first Palm Sunday was a powerful rebuke of the Roman Empire, and what we can learn from it now.

Once you've broken up with your old life, how do you *stay* broken up? This week, dance your way into a new life, one day at a time.

How many of us have tried to satisfy our hunger for love with lesser substitutes? Breaking up with the life you had means getting real about what you really need - and what you need to walk away from.

Ever feel like scream-singing along with Kelly Clarkson: "I'm so moving on!"   Righteous anger is an important part of every breakup. How can we process the rage and hurt we've experienced during times of loss? And how can we make sure that anger doesn't swallow us up?

"well, i've been afraid of changing, cuz i've built my life around you...."   Every human suffers through breakups, whether the relationship is romantic, a friendships, your family of origin, or even addiction. Breakups can be some of the most heartwrenching moments of our lives. But what if finding your best life requires you to breakup with the life you have now?   Introducing The Breakup Album,...

Humans were not made to be alone! God created not just a garden for us to play in, but playmates to play with. Show up for your community as we consider together the divine call to collaborative play as both spiritual practice and the work of communal liberation.

Can we learn to take play seriously? Prioritizing play in our lives is not just a choice, it's a commitment. How do we make play into a discipline without taking all the fun out of it?

Faith can seem so serious. But all our relationships - including with God - come alive when we play. How would your life (and faith!) feel different if you thought of God as your ever-present playmate?

How do you feel about the word "traditional"? It depends on the lineage of your traditions! Though empire claims that it's the only legitimate arbiter of "traditional" ideas, spirituality, and culture, we are actually called by God to foster and pass along alternative traditions. Let us keep alive the traditions that topple empires and bring liberation!

This week, Pastor Jonah and Pastor Cameron answer questions directly from the community about God, faith, and more! Find their podcast, Christian Queeries, on Spotify or Apple Podcasts .

Here we go again - a new year! Whether you're riding the highs of 2023 or still licking your wounds from a rough year, now is the time for a new start. God's given you everything you need to thrive this season.

Sermon from Zao's 2023 candlelight Christmas Eve service

How can our hope in the coming and present liberation of God's people fill us with joy here and now?   Come hear about Mary's fiery song of God's justice and love.

This time of year, we hear messages of peace in the midst of active war. If the promises of peace through violence have proven themselves bereft, can we hope for something different from the Prince of Peace?

So many of us are waiting for a word of hope, reassurance, or direction. This season leading up to Christmas, we're paying special attention to the divine messages surrounding Jesus's birth. The first angelic visit is surprising, confusing, and utterly unbelievable. Come find out why, and what it means for us this season.

In a world of scarcity, how do we embody a the revolutionary kingdom economy of generosity?

Guest sermon by Rev. Afi Dobbins-Mays Drawing on imagery of the night as the unknown, scripture calls us to be awake, alert, to be "children of the light." How can we find, follow, and amplify the goodness of God in the midst of the unknown?

Our imaginations are limited by the world we are in now. How can we dream beyond what is, so that those who come after us can imagine even greater things?

What can the impact of those who came before us teach about how to live our lives now?

What's in a reputation? Jesus said "this is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other," but also "woe to you when all speak well of you." He was called Messiah by some but Drunkard and Heretic by others. So what kind of reputation are we called to build as followers of Jesus?   How are you known?

Kinship is when we are seen as our truest selves, loved in our complexity, and recognized as family. What happens when our families of origin cannot be kin to us?   Luckily, we are able (and called!) to make family, choose family, and find family in the kinship of God.

Eternity can feel like, well.... ETERNITY. Our God is not slow to answer the promises of love, liberation, and redemption of all things. But Their timeline is much, much different than ours.   How do we hold the fire of our passion while cultivating the patience of eternity?

Whether you're loving the #sweaterweather, mourning the end of summer, or doomsday prepping for the coming Wisconsin winter, the change of seasons comes for us all. What does the shift of creation toward darkness this season have to offer our faith?

Whether you know it as the "Lord's Prayer" or the "Our Father", this one way to pray has gotten a lot of attention because it came directly from the teachings of Jesus. What's behind this prayer, and what can it teach us today?

Jesus calls us to love with all our hearts - but what if "heart" means something different in his context than ours?