The Loop / November 26, 2024
Catch Up with the Last series:
This Week’s Announcements:
BELIEVE // CLOSING THOUGHTS ON THE BEATITUDES THIS YEAR…
On Sunday, Paul shared the closing sermon for our Beatitudes series. At the end, he encouraged us to close our eyes and reflect on his interpretive reframing of these verses. If you were there on Sunday, it was a powerful moment… and if you missed it (or if you would just like to read these words again), this is what he shared:
Poor In Spirit
You will hear others say that the way to have it all is to be self-reliant, deferring to no one. But Christ says being poor in spirit gives you a heart for the downtrodden and oppressed.
Mourn
You will hear others say you have it all when you shake off loss and pain (never let them see you sweat!). But Christ says embracing mourning as part of life slows you down… and it allows others to care for you in your bad times, too.
Meek
You will hear others say that the best way to get your way, or to get what you want, is to be aggressive, to use power and force. But Christ says restraining your power is the “long game,” where you will earn respect and realize the greater rewards of a life well-lived for others.
Righteousness
You will hear others say to put yourself first, to demand your rights. But Christ says to pursue right relationships and justice for others if you truly want to have a fulfilled life.
Merciful
You will hear others say to retaliate or reject those who have done you wrong. But Christ says to show them mercy and give them a safe place in your life. knowing that you, too, may be in need of mercy yourself.
Pure In Heart
You will hear others say truth and personal integrity are negotiable if it helps you get ahead. But Christ says being willing to have an open, honest heart is the only authentic way to understand God.
Peacemaker
You will hear others say you have to vanquish your enemies, “fight like hell,” and always seek to win. But Christ says being an agent of peace is the best way for others to see you are different because of your faith.
Persecuted
You will hear others say you deserve to feel superior and honored for your Christianity. But Christ says how you handle persecution will be a witness to your faith.
We want to thank Paul for sharing! We also want you to know that you can revisit any of the sermons in the Beatitudes series this year (or any series!) by listening to them again, either on the Messages page of the Revolution website, or through the Revolution Annapolis podcast. You can also revisit manuscripts for sermons Kenny wrote on his blog HERE.
BECOME // ADVENT IS ALMOST HERE!
Kenny here. This coming Sunday, December 1, we will be starting our Advent series for 2024. If you’re new to Revolution, Advent is a special time for us: our services are more stripped-back, we use a more traditional liturgy… and we sing lots of Christmas songs! This is a special season for all Christians, and it is a great time for us to draw comfort from the traditions of our faith as we also intentionally practice waiting together. As we remember the patience of our ancestors in the faith, who awaited the arrival of a surprising Messiah 2000 years ago, we can also meditate on what we are still waiting for: the emergence of God’s Kingdom on this earth, and the return of our Savior, Jesus, who will lead us into the life and world we are designed for. We are excited to share this season with all of you. It’s my favorite time of year, and it will be wonderful to spend it with this community!
We also want to share some Advent devotional resources with you, if you would like to spend more focused time in reflection and prayer this year. There are two resources in particular we are highlighting: a downloadable daily devotional guide from The Bible for Normal People, and a book called Honest Advent by Scott Erickson. Both are sincere, plain-spoken, and encouraging tools for you to use, if you would like.
I also want to offer my time to you: if you would like to meet up to talk, to walk, to vent, to cry, to pray, to ask questions… just let me know. I would love to spend time with you, and you can reach me by email at kenny@revolutionannapolis.com, or by phone at 803.727.8500.
See you soon,
Kenny
BECOME // PRESENTS FOR THE GIVING TREE
It's time for the annual Giving Tree! Each Christmas season, we partner with our friends at Lighthouse Shelter here in Annapolis to provide Christmas gifts to children in our community. If you want to help, pick up an ornament from the Christmas tree we will have at church on Sunday, buy the gift written on the back, and bring it back with you on December 15! Our volunteers will load everything up and take it over to the Lighthouse after church. This is such a wonderful way to show everyone in our community that they are important and their hopes matter to their neighbors! Help us be a blessing to Annapolis!
BELONG // REVOLUTION WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Women’s Retreat! It was so wonderful to have so many of you there. For our next event on Friday, December 13th, we’ll meet at Sarah Kramer’s house from 6-9pm. Please sign up HERE to give us an idea of the headcount… that will help us let you know how many cookies to bring for the cookie exchange! These will be our dessert for the evening, next to the wonderful dinner Sarah is going to make for all of us. We’re also going to do a White Elephant ornament exchange! So please bring one for the occasion. Let Sarah, Maggie or Emily know if you have any questions–we hope to see you there!
BECOME // GIFT CARDS FOR THE LIGHT HOUSE: THANK YOU!
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the gift card campaign to benefit Lighthouse Ministries. We raised $600! It is a joy to be a part of a community that is working to take care of our neighbors… in big and small ways.
What’s next? The Holiday Shop at Mills-Parole!
From December 16-19, Mills-Parole Elementary will be running a shop where students can purchase gifts for their families from a national vendor. This event is run by the school, and it serves as a school fundraiser… but it relies on volunteer support. If you would like to sign up for a shift, let Cathy Miller know!
BELONG // INTEREST SURVEY: WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A LOCAL GROUP ON KENT ISLAND?
David Pinkham is exploring interest in a new group for folks who live on the “other side” of the Bay Bridge. If that community includes you, please take a moment to fill out THIS SURVEY to let him know what kind of group would most interest you (or folks you know). We are grateful for David’s efforts to humbly expand our community in this direction… and your feedback makes all the difference!
BELIEVE // COFFEE, ANYONE?
Do you have questions? Doubts? Would you just like to talk through things with someone? Kenny is also always up for that, too! Just send him an email (kenny@revolutionannapolis.com) or text (803.727.8500).
BECOME // SUPPORTING REVOLUTION CHURCH
At Revolution, we believe that our church needs to be a witness to God’s bottomless love and an example of what it means to wrestle and grow with our faith together. Following Jesus isn’t easy! But even in our doubts, if we take the things we are struggling to believe and put them into practice together, we learn to ask better questions and live in ways that are more beneficial for others.
If you want to join us in this mission, you can be a part in a few different ways:
First, you can commit to presence: it is our sincere hope as a church that you find real purpose and meaning in being a part of our services and groups at Revolution. They exist for you! But have you ever thought about what you have to offer those gatherings in return? Your unique perspective, hopes, experiences, and struggles are part of the bigger story of our church. You have an important part to play here, and that part begins by making faithful presence a priority!
Second, you can commit to generosity: we want to imitate God’s generosity by looking for ways we can share what we have been given with others to bring hope, justice, and safety to our neighbors. One way you can practice that generosity is by supporting our ministry here at Revolution financially: we are a non-profit organization committed to maintaining a Christian ministry in Annapolis, forgiving the debts of our neighbors, and financially supporting both church plants and existing churches in our area. Your gifts help keep this commitment going! But we also want to make sure you know that giving is important no matter where you do it: find a non-profit, charity, or aid organization whose cause you support and make a plan to be faithful and generous towards them! God can do more with our resources than we can… and giving is one of the practical ways we put our trust in what He can do.
Third, you can commit to service: here at Revolution, we are in need of all sorts of volunteers to keep our ministry going. If you are available to help out on any of our Sunday morning teams, or with any of our groups or other outreach ministries during the week, we need you! This is a great way to contribute to the church… and to make new friends.
The city of Annapolis needs help, too! If you are able, make time in your week to participate in a routine act of service for our community. There are multiple food pantries we support, all of whom need help, as well as opportunities to work with kids in need of tutoring, care for unhoused residents in our city who need assistance, and serve as an advocate for a variety of justice-seeking non-profits working to make Annapolis a more equitable place to live. For help a place to serve, just talk with Kenny (kenny@revolutionannapolis.com) or our Community Engagement Lay Leader, Cathy Miller (cathygrowinghealthy@gmail.com).
BELONG // STAY IN THE LOOP ALL WEEK LONG!
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