As always this Summer, we’re busy planning for the year ahead at WellSprings! Our Fall message series begins on September 7th – but you can scroll down to get a taste of the conversations we’ll be having (on Sunday mornings, in YouthSpirit, in our small groups, etc.) all throughout the year…
Known By Name our Fall Message Series
Is there a story behind your name? Does it hold a grand tale of family migration – or a tribute to an ancestor long gone? Maybe your name reflects the lifelong journey of your relationships. Maybe you chose your name, all by yourself. When we are known by all these treasured stories behind our names, we are seen for who we are. Yet so often we lose ourselves in boxes and categories that fall short of capturing it all. This Fall, join us as we learn what it would it be like – and how might it change our world – if we truly had enough time and space for each other, to be known and loved by name.
Love The Zone our Holiday Message Series
There’s an idea you might be familiar with – or feeling the effects of – these days. It’s called “flooding the zone,” and it happens when the headlines are loud, and terrible, and everywhere. In a flood, landmarks and signposts go underwater. Sometimes, so do we. But nobody makes it through a flood by taking water in. We make bucket brigades, and we pour out – love, quiet, time, peace, balance, and joy – into the world around us. This holiday season let’s rejoice and bolster each other’s spirits, to hold back the rising tides together.
How To Have An Enemy our Winter Message Series
It’s against our religion to give up on each other – yet these days, it’s tempting. We nod along when the pastor says “all are beloved” but… what do we do with the neighbor who hates us? How do we respond to the powerful voices that tear us apart? When we name our enemies, we tell the truth about ourselves: what we value most, and who we are at our core. Confronting an enemy helps us practice our ethics and become more of who we are. With practice, when it’s finally time to square up and fight, we won’t lose sight of our enemy’s humanity – or, of our own.
By Our Fruits our Spring Message Series
No matter what you believe, the metaphor from Christian scripture rings true: that “you shall know them by their fruits.” The consequences of our beliefs – the impact we have on the people around us – matters more than what we put on paper. Seeking the “fruit of the spirit” is like testing for the presence of the sacred. (Plus, it helps us gauge whether folks who say they’re “religious” are acting in good faith.) This Spring we’ll go searching for traditional spiritual sustenance – like love, peace, kindness, and gentleness – and maybe sow some new, wholesome seeds of our own.
Not All Heroes our May Message Series
They say that “not all heroes wear capes.” What other surprising things are true, about the heroes in our lives? Are they always tall and strong? Rich, powerful, all grown up? Is the hero of the story always the best at everything – the team captain, or the star of the show? Do heroes even… always win? In our all-ages series this May, we’ll share true stories of bravery and courage with each other – and take inspiration from the real-life heroes who surround us, right here and right now.