St. Croix Vineyard Church

Walter introduced the next season's theme for SCC, "The Roots of Resilience," by talking about the gift of deep trust that we all need, arising from a variety of sources like a secure attachment to our parents and/or a healing encounter with God's ever-present Love (and most assuredly not from Divine threats of eternal abandonment). The post Saved by Faith? A Secure Base: Trust as the Foundation for Wholeness appeared first on St. Croix Church.

On Trinity Sunday, Rachael explores (with the help of contributions from her parents!) the mystery of the Three-in-One as less of a doctrine and more of a relational, experiential reality to live in, and live into. The post Something to live in(to) appeared first on St. Croix Church.

On this Pentecost Sunday, good friend and frequent guest at SCC, Bradley Jersak, gave some background on the Holy Spirit and then shared how the outpouring of the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts 2 created a unity based on respectful listening and speaking that preserves diversity as opposed to the monolithic and proud empire of Babel. He closed by inviting the Spirit to transform our own listening and speaking today. The post A Tale of Two Cities appeared first on St. Croix Church.

During our Second Breakfast Potluck, Jess led us in a conversation about asking for help. Together, we considered the barriers we encounter when we need help, and shared our own experiences of giving and receiving help in times of need. The post Asking For Help: Second Breakfast appeared first on St. Croix Church.

Jess Williams shares what she's been learning about letting go. She considers the ways our culture glorifies independence, success, and getting by on your own, and how this is the opposite of the good life Jesus invited us into. Jess encourages us to let go of the things that keep us isolated and alone when what we need is the help and support of a loving community. The post Let Go! appeared first on St. Croix Church.

Renate shares with us the beauty and mysticality of abiding in God and God in us as we love one another. The post Return To That Place appeared first on St. Croix Church.

Mark continues where he left off in his last talk (on the temptations of Jesus - "Give Up Like Jesus ") after he shares some of his thoughts on how to read the Bible in a way that might make you more interested in being a Christian. Then he draws our attention to why it was important that Jesus started by building community with some fishermen. The post Just How Much Do I Want To Be A Christian appeared first on St. Croix Church.

At our Second Breakfast potluck, Janell shared about the variety of intergenerational connections she's had throughout her life, and continues to enjoy today. From growing up in a close knit church community, to moving to St. Stephen, and now working as a piano teacher and fitness coach for older adults, Janell has experienced the value and joy of nurturing relationships across the ages, and helped us all think about this as a way of being rooted together in Love as a community The post Intergenerational Connections appeared first on St. Croix Church.

Walter uses a story to make the point of how the political methods of Jesus were not at all on the same page as others - and this remains true to this day. The church that follows Jesus has only one approach to politics: to be communities of compassion, generosity and joy. The post Jesus the Lousy Politican: An Easter Story appeared first on St. Croix Church.

Our Easter Sunday service wove together music, liturgy, lectionary readings, personal "life out of death" stories from three beloved members of our community - Bill, Lorna, and Moriah - and a homily from Rachael. The recording begins with the three "witnesses" and is followed by Rachael's invitation to sit with the improbability of the resurrection of Jesus, allowing it to be less of a provable certainty and more of a miraculous mystery - that calls to us and shapes our own lived experience of loss and renewal. The post Life out of Death appeared first on St. Croix Church.