Subversive Peace: Reading Romans Backwards
Romans isn’t a theoretical, systematic theology; it’s a letter written by the apostle Saul/Paul to a specific set of house churches in the city of Rome in the middle of the first century. Far too often, Romans has been taught as if its teaching can be abstracted from time and space. But that’s not how Romans is best understood. Instead, Romans is best understood as a loving, pastoral epistle to real people who were learning how to follow the Way…
New Series: Time to Be Human
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11.28) How are we to imagine accepting the rest Jesus offers in a fast-paced world filled with distractions and stress? “Time to Be Human” is a new teaching series on Sabbath, the ancient rhythm of life practiced by Jewish people and followers of Jesus. Sabbath is not just a day off, but reconnection, centering, surrender to the care of God, and resistance to…
Welcome Pastor-in-Residence Der Lor!
Yesterday, during the worship gathering of Roots Covenant Church, we proudly welcomed Der Lor onto our pastoral staff as he pursues a Bi-Vocational License with the ECC. Der and Alice came to Roots over a year ago after they moved to St. Paul from Los Angeles, where Der graduated from Fuller Seminary. The community of Roots is honored to have him minister among us and are grateful to God for the gift he is.
New Series: “DTR” Exploring Relationship Dynamics
“DTR,” our new sermon series, is all about exploring relationship dynamics. We’ll hear from our diverse teaching team: T. C. Moore, Osheta Moore, Emily Morrison, and Der Lor, on a wide range of relationships: family, friendships, marriage, and more. We’ll dig into the scriptures, drawing from lived experience and trusted scholarship, to find wisdom on how to navigate our relationships with Christ-like love.
Loving Our Muslim Neighbors & Resisting the Powers of Racism, White Nationalism, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
On Friday during prayers, 50 Muslim worshippers in two mosques were murdered in a mass shooting and act of terrorism in Christchurch, New Zealand. These worshippers, ranging in age from over 70 to under 4, were gunned down by high-powered assault rifles and shotguns. 50 human beings, women and men, elders and toddlers. The one who has been arrested for this atrocity is a 28 year old white man who wrote a very long “manifesto” declaring his White Supremacist and…