Weekly Outlook - Fantasy Football at church? 🏈

Dear readers, I will somewhat sheepishly admit that I occasionally listen to audiobooks while I work, especially if my task is mostly design or formatting-focused. As I built today's newsletter, I turned on my current read: The Women by Kristin Hannah. It is a fictional story about a young woman who serves as a nurse in Vietnam. I'm still early in the book, but a character recently summarized some of America's societal tensions during the '60s, including protests against the war, sexism and racism. The subtext of this character's reflection was a larger question: "How can there be a future when our country is so divided?" I don't know about you, but that question feels really familiar.  In some ways, I see the stories in today's newsletter as a response to that timeless question. Our top stories include a wide range of focuses: repairing historic harms, Christians responding to racist attacks, Advent resources, and the role of fun in building bridges. On one hand, it seems a bit odd to put all these articles on the same level of importance. Yet, at the same time, this is what humans have done for centuries. We've wondered if a future is possible while simultaneously walking in a forward direction. We can marvel at the growing chasm between us while loving our neighbor, building community and planning for the next season.  The future may seem unknown, but all around us, people are choosing to align themselves with their neighbors, to love, to hope. The ripples of Christ's resurrection are visible if we look for them. Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor

Building church community through Fantasy Football by Tracey Davenport ‘Haitians are not eating pets’: Springfield faith leaders stand with embattled migrants by Kathryn Post Repairing historic wrongs: Restoration, redemption and reparations in Lansing, Michigan by Gregg Brekke 2024 Advent devotional recommendations by Amy Pagliarella In case you missed it... Bread from the world: World Communion Liturgy Utilizing breads from around the world, this liturgy by Heather Prince Doss invites congregations into an embodied appreciation for diversity and unity. Moving into its implementation stage, the Unification Commission revamps its committee structure New committees will coordinate relationships, ministry and resources. — Mike Ferguson Westminster Presbyterian Church — Charlottesville, Virginia Westminster Church has started a program to pay 'royalties' for Negro spirituals. — Nadine Roddy Resources for disability ministry in churches Community Circle takes a ‘how’ mindset toward disability inclusion. — Beth Waltemath Stated Clerk responds to congressional inquiry on MRTI’s corporate engagement Stated Clerk Jihyun Oh's response underscores service to humanity, care of the environment, responsible investments, and engagement consistent with Christian witness. — Mike Ferguson The Last Human Job: The Work of Connecting in a Disconnected World "The crux of this labor involves seeing another person and conveying to them that they are seen." — Joyce Shin on Allison Pugh's new book Reparations and repairing the breach Dartinia Hull interviews Paul Roberts, president of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, on repairing the breach and healing our souls.