Awaken Community

Awaken's own Cathy Solomon delivers her first Sunday morning sermon in a perfectly Cathy way. She addresses Mark 10:46-52 when Jesus asks the question to Bartimeaus: "What do you want me to do for you?"

Our guest speaker this week is a former Awakenite Jae Bates who unpacks John 21:15-19 by looking at the narrative of Peter's life and the ways he has denied those parts of himself that Jesus has invited him to lean into and accept. In what ways are we invited to step into who we truly are?

Dr. Kelly Sherman Conroy discusses John 5:1-9 and the question "Do you want to be made well?" She navigates the complexities of healing work as someone with indigenous roots and brings emphasis to how we hold, honor and move through sacred wounds in colonized spaces.

Pastor Micah closes out the Encounters series by bringing us to John 21:1-17 and the moment Jesus meets Peter on the shore after resurrection. Peter, in the aftermath of his failure and shame is brought back into the mission Jesus invites all of us into; feed my sheep.

Pastor Micah continues the Encounters series by looking at Mattew 28:16-20. The disciples went to Galilee to the mountain to see Jesus and when they saw him, some worshipped and some doubted.

Pastor Micah continues the Encounters series with Acts 9:1-19 where Paul is confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus. Micah discusses the context of Paul's conversion and the significance of Ananias's actions and our invitation to embody peacemaking in a similar way.

Awaken opens up a new series called Encounters where we look at examples of people's interactions with the resurrected Christ and unpack what it means for us as a community. Micah begins with John 20:11-18 and Mary's interaction with the gardener who is revealed to be Jesus.

Awaken gathers for its first Easter Sunday in the new building. Pastor Micah discusses Matthew 27-28 and the subversion of expectations throughout the resurrection story, including the many holy bodies that are raised to life in verses 51-53.

Pastor Micah discusses Philippians 2:1-11 and the importance of love within a community. This passage connects back to the Garden of Eden and the posture of letting go as we enter into continued relationship with God and one another.

Eugene Kim, Executive Director at Wild Fig Network and advocate for marginalized voices, delves into the Israelites' struggle against empire in Isaiah 43. He highlights powerful examples of resistance that have shaped Christian thought. The conversation explores the transformative power of the wilderness, comparing its symbolism to the rise of Christianity as a dominant force. Kim emphasizes the essential role of community in spiritual renewal and urges listeners to seek connection amid their own journeys of identity and belonging.