Zao MKE Church

Rest Creates Fertile Ground

Guest sermon by Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom, Senior Minister at First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee

Stillness has a relationship with movement, just as the notes of a piece of jazz are punctuated by silence. As opposed to silence, stillness can be a frame for music, creativity, and teeming life. Stillness can serve as the ground for creativity, the rest that creates the next thing. Join us for this worship service that explores the relationship between rest and creativity.

Independence or Liberation?

Each 4th of July weekend, churches across the country wave flags and sing songs of patriotism. But is this commitment to national identity faithful? Or do we have other opportunities to celebrate alternative American histories that align less with colonizing empire and more with the Gospel message of freedom from oppression?

Sacred Rhythms: Can I Face The End?

When we come to the end of the Spiritual life cycle, we are invited to reflect on what we've learned. Where have we come from, and how are we different? Can we accept that this path is not what we thought it might be when we set out?

 

We'll look to Jesus on the cross, facing transition from life to death. Though he will rise again in just 3 days, even Jesus must face the end of this cycle. How can we learn to accept where we have been to transform through spiritual ends into new beginnings on the other side?

Sacred Rhythms: Be A Good Ancestor

In the middle of our spiritual cycles, we can find ourselves in a bit of existential crisis. Does any of this even matter? God invites us to turn from ourselves in these moments to see that we are part of something larger and more lasting - and that our contributions matter!

Sacred Rhythms: Am I Loveable Just As I Am?

Happy Pride weekend! This week, we'll be entering the part of the spiritual life cycle concerned with identity and love - who am I? Can this new version of myself love and be loved authentically? Learning from the Biblical story of young lovers David and Jonathon, we'll see how stripping off the expectations of others and pursuing your true self can lead you into deeper and truer love - for yourself, for others, and for God.

Sacred Rhythms: Can I Risk It?

At the beginning of every spiritual cycle, we ask ourselves, "Can I risk it?" We wonder whether we are truly capable of embarking on a journey into the unknown. Is it safe? Who must I rely on, and how much can I trust myself on the new path?

 

To give us hope and a model of how to leap into the spiritual unknown with abandon, we'll look to Jesus in his own childhood, putting his trust entirely in God as his heavenly parent, to break free from cultural norms and the expectations of his family. Jesus the child can teach us what it means to move boldly into the unknown, trusting that God is with us always.

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Sacred Rhythms Series:

 

The human life cycle brings various stages of development, gifts, challenges and questions - childhood invites us to explore our capacities and vulnerabilities, adolescence has questions of identity and love, middle age challenge us to examine our legacy and impact, and older adulthood offers reflections on acceptance and lessons learned. But what if we experience these cycles in our spirituality, as well - perhaps over and over again as we live many different spiritual lives?

 

This season, join the Zao community in an exploration of the Sacred Rhythms of spiritual discovery - from asking questions like "Can I trust a new spiritual path?" to "How can I love and be loved by God and others?" and even "Is my spirituality healing me or do I need to find a new path at this time?"

 

As we reflect on our spiritual rhythms, we can bring awareness to our journey and strengthen our muscles for whatever is to come next.

Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers

Jesus asks his followers to stay awake, which begs the question: Stay awake to what?

 

Join us for a special sermon from Tyler Sit, who is a queer POC friend of Zao, church planter and author of the new book, Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers. We'll explore how we can stay awake, show up for justice and transform the world around us by first transforming ourselves.

Not Your Abomination: What If We're Wrong?

Sometimes we're plagued by doubt, even if we're *mostly* sure that God affirms and celebrates LBGTQ people. So what if we're wrong? Come hear a word of hope in the midst of uncertainty - our earnest, imperfect pursuit of the Gospel is holy and good. Even if we're wrong.

Not Your Abomination: Un-Clobber

This week, we'll unpack the handful of single verses that have been taken out of context to harm LGBTQ people. What's an abomination anyway? Do these scriptures actually reference consenting relationships between adults at all? From Leviticus to Romans, we've got you covered, verse by verse.

Not Your Abomination: The Real Sin of Sodom

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah has been wielded against queer people for so long that some of our anti-queer words and laws are references to this scripture. But what if the Sin of Sodom isn't about LGBTQ people at all?

 

TW: service will contain content related to sexual assault