Weekly Outlook - Joy as resistance — and a spiritual practice

Dear readers, In June, I turn 33. My husband and I haven't decided yet if we will call it my "Jesus year" (since Christ reportedly lived to be 33) or my "hobbit year" (since J.R.R. Tolkien notes that hobbits come of age at 33).  When you attend a mainline church as someone in their 20s and 30s, you can be seen as a unicorn — the oracle for your wayward generation with little interest in traditional religious life; The person with the secret answer to bring in more young people. The trick is, many beloved church members want to bring in Millennials and Gen Z so that the church can keep functioning the way it always has. Church loyalists are open to change, but they're most open to changes that don't affect them: hiring a youth director, developing a presence on social media, adding inclusive language on the website, etc. None of these choices are wrong, per se. But what about changes that cost something? What about changes that stir discomfort but result in love?  If your church is interested in hearing from a young person about the challenges of loving the Presbyterian Church, I recommend you read "A letter to the church I love" by Marissa Duffield (they/them). One person cannot speak for their entire generation. At the same time, something is always gained by listening to others, particularly when they share, in love, the ways our actions impact them.   Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor P.S. The Outlook is hiring! We're looking for a WordPress & SEO specialist for a 100-hour contract project. The work is remote, and our hire will work closely with me as we seek to make Presbyterian theology more digitally discoverable.

A letter to the church I love: Comfort or covenant? by Marissa Duffield The complexity of joy by Lakisha R. Lockhart-Rusch Called to wash feet: A Maundy Thursday prayer for humility by Savannah Demuynck Do justice, love mercy, bring the stuffed tiger by Andrew Taylor-Troutman In case you missed it... Curiosity over fear: Healing body and soul at an onsen A visit to a public bath in Japan led to unexpected healing for Karie Charlton. Six impossible things before breakfast Nadine Ellsworth-Moran explores how imagination is essential to faith, hope and community. Presbyterians join push for ‘moral budget’ in Washington Repairers of the Breach and supporters want to preserve safety net for children and other vulnerable members of society. — Darla Carter Dobson to retire from PPC; Green to take helm Presbyterian Publishing Corporation President and Publisher David Dobson will retire this spring. Current Vice President and Editorial Director Rev. Dr. Bridgett Green will serve as Interim President and Publisher during a national search. — PPC On the evening before a hearing on a religious freedom lawsuit, people of many faiths gather for a vigil in the nation’s capital The PC(USA) and more than two dozen other faith groups are suing to overturn the recission of a policy that protects immigrants. — Mike Ferguson In a joyous service, McCormick Theological Seminary inaugurates and installs its 12th president The Rev. Dr. Maisha I. Handy is the first African American president in the seminary’s 195-year history. — Mike Ferguson A theology of the pack: Lessons from a dumb, beloved dog Andy Greenhow reflects on Presbyterian intellectualism, discipleship, and the unexpected wisdom of his three-legged dog, Melody.

In a world that frequently promotes hatred, hostility and division, discover Revelation’s call to embody God’s grace, generosity and forgiveness. In four sessions, “Revelation: Professing Christ Today” by Mark D. Hinds seeks to create an inclusive environment for discussing and reflecting on the political ramifications of following Christ.