I have always loved maps. As
a kid I would stare at two-dimensional maps and imagine
myself exploring new worlds.
Re:Boot (August, September, October
This time of year is often a time of renewal, especially for children, faculty, and staff who are returning to schools. Even for those who haven’t been in a classroom for many years, the rhythms of life as we transition from summer into fall schedules invite reinvention and renewal, or at least getting into a different routine. As you read through this issue of the Eye on Zion, you will see many examples of “new beginnings” and “fresh starts.”
Surprise: May, June, July 2022
I can only imagine being with the women coming to Jesus’ tomb, finding the stone that had sealed it shut rolled away and the tomb empty. I can only imagine being in a locked room, and suddenly Jesus (who they all saw crucified) is standing there with them, inviting them to touch him. I can only imagine walking along the road, mourning Jesus’ death with an unknown traveler and inviting him to stay with them, only to realize their guest is Jesus himself.
Full to the Brim: An Expansive Lent (February-April 2022)
When I was younger, I couldn’t help but think of Lent as that period of days associated most notably with an emphasis of having to give something up. I dreaded the decision—would it be chocolate, soda pop, pizza, or maybe even fried foods? I would contemplate carefully what I thought I might be able to give up and not slip up with a cheat. Either way, especially as a teenager, it seemed like an eternity of time marching through those forty days toward Easter where I longed to break the deprivation and be able to indulge in the tasty delight once again.
Close to Home Nov, Dec, January
Dear Friends in Christ,
It is difficult for me to believe that I am writing about Advent and Christmas already, but time seems to be moving at different rhythms in a world fraught with as much anxiety and change as we have experienced over the last two years. Our theme for this Advent season is “Close to Home.” When the worship planning team first encountered this theme, many of us struggled with whether it was appropriate to our lives today. After all, some of us have been home much more than we want, and this theme only reminds us of that. As we approach Christmas, and even Thanksgiving and our New Year celebrations, maybe this theme will make us more aware of what we’re missing.
Greater Than- AugSepOct 2021
In our world today, we can often feel overwhelmed by the many forces at work all around us. Examples include the ever-present coronavirus and the daily implications it has for our lives. We wonder when this will end. As summer continues, we sense that natural disasters are on the rise—fires in the west, scorching heat, flash flooding, to name a few. We can be led to despair at the state of our lives and of our world.
Return, Rebuild, Renew-MayJunJul 2021
It has been over a year since our lives were turned upside down overnight with the coronavirus pandemic. In many ways the last year has been a time of exile for many of us. We have been separated from our loved ones, our routines, our patterns, our regular lives. We were snatched away from the old life, thrown into a new one, and now are going back but know that we cannot go back to the way it was.
Rooted- Grounded- Growing-FebMarApr 2021
As we begin a new year, we look with hope for what this coming year will bring. For much of 2020, we all have been staying close to home and many times in our homes to keep us and others safe in the midst of the pandemic. As we look to 2021 and the rollout of the vaccine, we look toward beginning to move beyond our walls.
2020 Annual Report
