Foundation News

Following God does not mean staying still

Queer Jesus

THIS SUNDAY, 7PM

Who is ‘Queer Jesus’? How much certainty do we need around our conceptualisation of God in human form?

The glorious Paul will be leading this Sunday, a service full of discussion, reflection, silence and questioning. Expect to have a couple of assumptions dislodged.

Finding Home: a Eucharist on lent and refuge

NEXT SUNDAY, 7PM

Wonderful Phil Manning will be leading us in a Eucharist service exploring ideas of home and belonging, using the story of the prodigal son and a beautiful family quilt.

I know ‘home’ as a concept can often feel more messy or complicated than it’s ‘supposed to’. Bring all of that with you, and we’ll explore and reflect on finding home inside and outside of church, and how lent (and mothering Sunday) can help us see more what home means to us.

Following God does not mean staying still

I want to start by acknowledging that the irreplaceable Mary Lazo has left Foundation to move closer to her lovely family, which we’re so happy about, even though we will miss her terribly!

Wonderful Isaac will also be away for a long while, hopefully doing a PhD, but there’s a possibility he’ll move back.

The Bible is full of people moving around and changing things to seek better for themselves; God’s people, regularly making (sometimes risky or scary) choices to improve their life and the outcomes for them and their family.

Maybe the most famous one is Jacob (Israel) wrestling all night with the angel: refusing to let them go until they blessed him.

There’s this line in You’ve Got Mail (again, forgive me) where the main character chooses to accept a massive change that she absolutely didn’t want. Her dear friend, arguably too nonchalantly, suggests it is a good thing, because, “you are daring to believe you could have a better life.”

Obviously I want everyone to stay in Foundation forever (and ever, amen), but I am always so glad when people make choices for themselves, take balanced risks or seek change, to improve their lives. That’s good, right, and holy.

Following God does not mean staying still. You are allowed to seek healthy happiness for yourself. That shouldn’t be a radical theology.

I’m gutted to be missing Queer Jesus! I’ll be in Brighton reading bad romance novels by a pool. Be gentle with yourselves this week, and I’ll see you next Sunday.

Love,
Andy