Update

In this week’s gatherings, before turning to the book of Genesis, we shared a vision for our ten-year anniversary coming in April. Be sure to listen to the community update at the beginning of the episode to stay up to date. And then we turned to the strange and deeply human story of temptation in the garden, shame, expulsion, and coming home.

What’s Happening

• Join us for our Fall Picnic on October 11 from 11a-1p at Leeper Park. Sign up to give blood with the South Bend Medical Foundation or give towards the cost of the picnic.
• Support the ongoing work of SBCC by giving to the general fund. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Make sure to select the correct fund when giving.

In this week’s gatherings, before turning to the book of Genesis, we shared a vision for our ten-year anniversary coming in April. Be sure to listen to the community update at the beginning of the episode to stay up to date. And then we turned to the loneliness of Adam, the challenge of “helper” language, and the power of the Gospel to create a community.

What’s Happening

• Check out the Students Fall Schedule.
• Sign your family up for Family Dedication on October 18.
• Support the ongoing work of SBCC by giving to the general fund. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Make sure to select the correct fund when giving.

Jason Miller – Is your spiritual life too spiritual? If the incarnation of Jesus means anything, it’s that we don’t become holier by being less human. And the abundant life that Jesus came to share with us is one that involves our whole selves as we heal, grow and learn how to flourish. This series will explore some specific examples of a real world spirituality, shared from the experiences of our teachers who are working these things out in real time in their own lives. This week, we consider the power of reclaiming out attention in the digital age.

This teaching included some reflection questions:

• How would you describe your current relationship with your smartphone or other digital devices?
• Are you happy with the amount of time you spend on your phone or other digital devices?
• Do you think others ever feel that they’re competing with your devices for your presence and attention?
• What’s one structural change you could make this week to make it easier to disconnect from the digital crowds and reconnect with God, others, and yourself?

Benediction:
So, beloved friends—
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Divine’s face shine warmly upon you.

In the same way that you have been a refuge for me—a place of safety and truth.
May you know that same safety in one another’s arms, and may you offer it freely to all who enter through these doors.

In the same way that you gave me the freedom to be wholly myself—questioning, becoming, belonging.
May you continue to be a place where freedom is not feared but nurtured, and where becoming never ends.

In the same way that you showed me the goodness and faithfulness of Love—embodied, mysterious, divine.
May you carry that good and faithful Love into the world.

And may you know this:
I have seen the face of God in each of you.
I have seen more of God in myself because of you.
I leave more healed and whole because of you.

May grace and peace be with you,
Amen.

What’s Happening

• Join us on Discord! Make sure that your display name is your first+last name and add an “avatar” (profile picture). If you can’t see the collective and forum channels, you have not been verified. If you need help, email mariah@southbendcitychurch.com.
• Check out our volunteer opportunities, ranging from hospitality to communion to Kid’s Ministry to safety and everything in between.
• Support the ongoing work of SBCC by giving to the general fund. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Make sure to select the correct fund when giving.

Technologies are advancing at a swift rate, bringing with them profound possibilities and alarming liabilities. For the next four weeks, we’ll explore some big questions, theological frameworks, and practical approaches to our relationship with technology.

Ways to Get Connected
Register for our Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Panel Night (June 13th)
RSVP to the LGBTQ+ Table (June 27th)
Help us write our Father’s Day Reading by submitting before June 14th
Find more information or support The Tribune Project
Support the ongoing work of SBCC by giving. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

What does it mean to believe that Jesus will return and judge? And when judgement so often evokes fears of punishment, shame, and exclusion, are their other ways of understanding it? After we explore these questions, we spend some time reflecting on, praying through, and meditating on the questions we have and the hopes we have for the world. The reflections and prayers from this time were written by Cole Arthur Riley and published through her Instagram, @blackliturgies.

If you would like to donate to help us provide comfort food to the 6th graders at Jefferson Traditional Middle School, after the tragic loss of their classmate, T’yon Horston, you can visit our give page and make sure to designate it to the Jefferson Traditional fund. The money donated to this fund will help purchase the Chick-fil-a lunches and any money that surpasses that cost will be given directly to the school to be used at their discretion. As always, we have strict guidelines in place that our care funds cannot be accessed for other needs besides what they are designated for.

At the beginning of this episode, we gave an update on The Tribune Project as we reached the half-way point in the commitment period. If you would like to join us for our next work day, you can let us know by filling out this form.

Other Ways to Get Connected
RSVP to either our in-person (May 7th at 12:15p) or virtual (May 8th at 8:30EST) New to SBCC Table.
Let us know that you’re interested in baptism.
Help us write our Mother’s Day Reading.

The Apostles’ Creed gives a few short words to the event at the center of so much Christian teaching: the death of Jesus. What does Jesus’ death mean for us, and how has it been understood through history?  To jump directly to the teaching, scrub over to the 14 minute mark.

This weekend we also gave an update on The Tribune Project. If you want to watch the video version of this announcement, you can head over to our website. Want to learn more or make a financial commitment to the project? Head to thetribuneproject.com.

You can also support the ongoing work of SBCC by giving to our general fund at: southbendcitychurch.com/give. Just select the “podcast” option from the drop-down menu to let us know how you’re participating in the life of SBCC. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.