What does it mean to recognize “that of God” in yourself? What sacred responsibility or opportunity is implied by this affirmation? How is God growing your Love? How do we thwart the full expression of “that of God” in others, personally and systemically? How can I participate in the expression of others’ Love, whether through active support, through receptivity, or through simply getting out of the way?

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

When have you put in the work to learn something new that would help you better love some person or group? What competencies are you feeling nudged to develop, for the sake of Love? To what does the work of inclusion call us? In what ways do you recall Jesus practicing inclusion?

Included in today’s audio are Matt’s “First Word” (first 5 minutes) and his intro to Extended Open Worship (next 8 min), which includes a reading of the names of the victims of the Buffalo and Uvalde shootings.

What, in your life, has helped you to find the courage to say “yes” to healing?  Who or what inspired you to make that choice? What breakthroughs in understanding or shifts in thinking made healing more attainable or meaningful for you? What do you think about when Jesus said “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”  Is that a reassuring phrase or does it sound scary?

We are living in a time of division - politically, religiously and (for many of us) personally. How does the love of Christ call you to unity? How do you resonate - either positively or negatively - with Paul's command to "work out your salvation in fear and trembling"? What  do you hear in the story of Katherina Schutz Zell from the 16th century that can guide you in the 21st century?