Wellington Heights Community Church

This meditation uses Psalm 139:1-18 to prompt prayerful reflection and artistic reflection around God's abundant love for each of us and all people.

Jesus had a body, and he unapologetically cared for it. Join us as we dive into the importance of caring for , listening to and loving our body as act worship to God!

Ten days after the ascension of Christ and fifty days after his resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost symbolizes a new beginning. It celebrates the unleashing of the Holy Spirit on the world and the empowering of the church to be the hands and feet in demonstrating the Good News. Today, as a church, we express gratitude for the faithfulness of Christ in fulfilling his promise to send another counselor (in John 14:16) and celebrate the work of the Spirit in renewing all of creation and professing its confidence, knowing the Spirit is active among us.

On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for the divine gift of motherhood in all its diverse forms. Mothering is a gift to our community providing regeneration, healing, hope and community building. We recognize this day can be complex and filled with grief, disappointment and loneliness. May God’s Spirit be with each of you wherever you may find yourself this morning. A special thank you to all who celebrated and shared their time yesterday at the 4th Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Event - where we celebrated mother’s with free professional family photos and a meal from Carribean Kitchen Food Truck. A special shoutout to JSA for partnering with us to utilize their space and creating a community art project together! As we gather separate yet together in Spirit, I invite you to settle in, take a deep breathe as we pray together. This Prayer is written by Cole Arthur Riley, from their book Black Liturgies God our Mother, We thank you for grounding your character in the tenderness, protection and even sorrow of a mother. To know that no human experience - mother or child - is far from you gives us permission to uncover the particularities of how we were made to love and be loved. On this day, we’re reminded that we do not begin with ourselves. Our beauty, our pain, do not exist in a vacuum but are tethered to those who’ve come before us. We pray for the mothers who have protected us, who are weary, who have stayed, who have left, who are grieving, who are proud- understanding that the story of what it means to be a mother is not singular. And as children, would you remind us that it is okay to lament the ways we have not been loved well, while also celebrating the miracle and mystery of those who loved us fiercely. We are made of more than us. Help us to behold it. Amen. And now may we pray this prayer of Blessing over all those who are mothering in all of its diverse forms written by Pastor Stephanie Gracious God, On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for the divine gift of motherhood in all its diverse forms. Bless the women who care for and nurture others by leading people and communities toward hope Loving God, look gently upon mothers of newborn and young children, give them energy, patience and gentleness in these fleeting days of sticky hands, messy houses and ever flowing laundry. Bless mothers who are raising school aged children and teenagers, give them peace and joy in parenting in moments that seem both hard and wonderful all at the same time Bless mothers who from afar watch and wonder about their adult children, give them perspective and wisdom as their children make choices. Bless those who are stepping in as a mother-figure in numerous ways to those around them. Bless those who have chosen not to be mother’s and may feel shame or misunderstanding from our society. Healing God, comfort all those who mourn the absence of their mother today from death or illness or because of broken and challenging relationships. Comfort those who had hoped to be mothers, but have been unable to do so and those who continue to hope to become mothers. Ever present God, embrace and comfort those mothers who mourn over the loss of their own children. Gracious God, help us to recognize all the women who have guided us and loved us like mothers, shining forth as an example of the deepness of the love you offer to all people. Bless us and keep us today in that love and always. In your name we pray. Amen. See you next Sunday as we celebrate Graduating Seniors and Pentecost Sunday together as a community at the WHCC building. Your presence and encouragement is appreciated as we gather to pray for and honor the graduating seniors among us. Have a Happy mothers day and a great rest of your day!

Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is a woman of God gifted as a teacher and preacher and a leader in the international movement for peace and reconciliation. Her mission is to inspire, equip, and empower emerging Christian leaders to practice reconciliation in various spheres of influence. She is an Associate Professor of reconciliation studies in the School of Theology at Seattle Pacific University, where she also directs the Reconciliation Studies program. She also serves on the pastoral staff of Quest Church in Seattle, WA. Dr. Brenda is recognized internationally as one of the foremost reconciliation leaders and was featured as one of the 50 most influential women to watch by Christianity Today. She is the author of Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0, A Credible Witness: Reflections on Power, Evangelism and Race (2008), The Heart of Racial Justice: How Soul Change Leads to Social Change (2005), coauthored with Rick Richardson, Becoming Brave: Finding the Courage to Pursue Racial Justice Now and Empowered to Repair: Becoming People Who Mend Broken Systems and Heal Our Communities.

On this embodiment Sunday Pastor Keeyon and Nora Heaton discuss the Flourishing Neighborhood Index. Nora Heaton, the FNI Project Lead, will delve into the philosophy, timeline, our current progress, and ways for you to get more involved. Check out the website for more information: https://www.wellingtonheightscommunitychurch.org/flourishing-neighborhood-index

Join guest speaker Mari Hunt Wassink as she utilizes text from Genesis 2:4-22, CEB to speak about regenerativity as a spiritual practice. Mari Hunt Wassink is a farmer, educator, and activist. She owns and operates Black Earth Gardens, a small-scale regenerative farm that specializes in growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits that are culturally important to Black communities in Eastern Iowa, with a focus on dismantling food apartheid and expanding food sovereignty locally. She is also a Land Advocacy Fellow with the National Young Farmers Coalition, where she advocates for federal policies that promote equitable land access for beginning and BIPOC farmers. Mari grew up in Marion and graduated from Coe College. Today, she lives with her husband and their dog in Wellington Heights. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and calligraphy.

He is Risen! On this day we celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the grave. The broader season of Easter, or Eastertide, begins today and lasts fifty days in which we celebrate and look for God's liberating activity in our midst. Let us consider how we may embody the holistic Good News in our daily life. He is Risen indeed!

Good Friday March 29: On this day we observe the death and burial of Jesus.

Today is Maundy Thursday. It is part of the Triduum, or three holy days before Easter. Maundy is derived from the Latin word for "command," and refers to Jesus' commandment to the disciples to "Love one another as I have loved you." Link to video referenced by Pastor Stephanie: The Black Eyed Peas - #WHERESTHELOVE ft. The World (Video) (https://youtu.be/YsRMoWYGLNA?si=wkzhxmsEGPXQhj2R)

Hebrews 12:1-3 This week we pause to engage in Lectio Divina, an ancient practice of prayerfully reading and listening to scripture. Lectio invites us to slow down and engage with scripture with our whole selves with intent to live more deeply and find the presence of God more readily in the events of each day. Please join us as we engage in Lectio Davina.

Palm Sunday March 24: We commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This feast day falls the Sunday before Easter, and begins Holy Week, the final week of Lent. Monday of Holy Week March 25: Jesus cleansed the Temple and cursed a fig tree. Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly oil & tears. Tuesday of Holy Week March 26: Jesus debated with the Temple authorities and issued his famed discourse on the Mount of Olives. Wednesday of Holy Week March 27: The religious leaders were conspiring to kill Jesus, and Judas began his betrayal. Maundy Thursday March 28: We memorialize the Last Supper, where Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and invited Peter, James, and John to pray with him in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest. Good Friday March 29: this day of fasting we observe the death and burial of Jesus. Holy Saturday March 30: We commemorate Jesus’ body laying in the tomb. It is the last day of Holy Week and a day of mourning. As you immerse yourself in the movements of Holy Week, what words come to mind? Do any of the words resonate from the list below? Do any of the words cause discomfort? Lean into these words with curiosity and openness. What does your soul want to say to God about the movements and words of Holy Week?

This Lenten season we are aligning ourselves with God's heart for justice. Today we have a guided prayer meditation on Dr. King's "I Have A Dream Speech." We encourage you to do this in community, with your loved ones and to set aside time to reflect with the prompts provided. We've included the speech here in the audio but if you'd prefer to watch King deliver this speech you can find the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0o3a2HIKkuE?feature=shared

This week we pause to engage in Lectio Divina, an ancient practice of prayerfully reading and listening to scripture. Lectio invites us to slow down and engage with scripture with our whole selves with intent to live more deeply and find the presence of God more readily in the events of each day. Please join us as we engage in Lectio Divina.

This is a relaunch of prayer practices from the 2021 Lenten Season. Consider utilizing the podcast as a resource to connect with God in prayer this Lenten season. This Lenten season, we are leaning into the practices of prayer, fasting and generosity. We invite you to utilize The Welcoming Prayer as a guide this season. The Welcoming Prayer guides us to bring our whole selves - our needs, thoughts, wants, emotions and circumstances into God's presence. The Welcoming Prayer is a helpful guide for us utilize to acknowledge our emotions, rather than avoiding them or trying to suppress them and to invite God’s presence and power into, so we can experience wholeness through the action and power of the holy spirit. The Welcoming Prayer by Father Thomas Keating Welcome, welcome, welcome. I welcome everything that comes to me today because I know it’s for my healing. I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions. I let go of my desire for power and control. I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, approval and pleasure. I let go of my desire for survival and security. I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person or myself. I open myself to the love and presence of God and God’s action within. Amen.