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Come join us as we “travel” to the Galapagos Islands this summer at Eureka Christian Church! 

Our summer worship series will focus on the book The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey by Brian McLaren. This is “one part travel guide, one part spiritual memoir, and one part ethical & theological reflection” (Preface, p. ix). Each week we will explore a different spiritual theme as we also learn more about the Galapagos Islands. Many thanks to Gary and Barb Baner, Karen Fyke, Abby and Carolyn Reel, and Tracy Simmons for providing visuals for this series.

This Sunday, June 4 will be an introduction. Here is a preview.

McLaren writes:
“Most theology in recent centuries…has been the work of avid indoorsmen, scholars who typically work in square boxes called offices or classrooms or sanctuaries, surrounded by square books and, more recently, square screens, under square roofs in square buildings surrounded by other square buildings, laid out in square city blocks that stretch as far as the eye can see…There is nothing inherently wrong about [this] civilized, indoor theology. 

Except this: theology that arises in human-made, human-controlled architecture…will differ markedly from theology that arises in conversation with the wild world that flourishes beyond our walls and outside our windows and cities…a wild theology that arises under the stars and planets, along a thundering river or meandering stream, admiring a flock of pelicans or weaver finches, watching a lion stalk a wildebeest, gazing at a spider spinning her web, observing a single tree bud form, swell, burst, and bloom” (The Galapagos Islands, p. xiii-xv). 

As I see it, this indoor theology has also contributed to some of the environmental issues the global community faces today. We are increasingly detached from the wild world. We have spent so much energy controlling it and consuming it that we haven’t left ourselves any breathing space, any soul space to contemplate it or celebrate it. I have spent most of my life in cities, for example, going from air-conditioned homes to air-conditioned cars to air-conditioned stores and places of work. And while I have long-enjoyed walking, before moving here, it was mostly in neighborhoods. On sidewalks, dodging cars. 

This detachment has consequences. 

Because what we don’t know, we don’t appreciate.
What we don’t appreciate, we don’t value. 
And what we don’t value, we don’t take care of. 

For many of us, that “wild world that flourishes beyond our walls,” as McLaren puts it, is “other.” It is separate, completely foreign. 

But here’s the thing. 

It isn’t other, separate, or foreign. For we are part of it. We are inseparable from it, in fact. 

Now I know that we have done a mighty masterful job at deceiving ourselves here, but the truth remains: what happens out in that wild world affects us. What happens out in that wild world is us, becomes us. 

McLaren is right: We need a wild theology. A theology that marvels at the stars and the planets, that meanders alongside the streams, that admires pelicans, spiders spinning webs, and the blossoms of spring.  A theology that contemplates and celebrates.

“We imagine,” McLaren writes, “a wild theology that doesn’t limit itself to Plato and Aquinas but also consults the wisdom of rainbow trout and sea turtles, seasons and tides. We imagine a wild theology whose horizons are measured not by thousands of years and miles but by billions of light years. We imagine a wild theology that is articulated in books, yes, but also in stories and songs, in foods and feasts, in dances and lamentations and pilgrimages that resonate with the turning seasons and rhythmic tides of the natural world” (The Galapagos Islands, p. xv). 

Sign me up! I want to find God “where the wild things are.” What to come along?

I’ll see you Sunday.

Jennie

Worship at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
On-site at 302 South Main Street       Eureka, Illinois
Online at eurekachristian.org/worship-online or facebook.com/eurekacc/live

Experiencing God’s Good Earth, June 26-29

Eureka Christian Church is pleased to offer “Discovery Day Camp: Experiencing God’s Good Earth” for children and youth ages 4 through just-completed 8th grade. This fun week of VBS-style learning activities, crafts, and singing will take place June 26-29 at the Wuethrich Farm near Carlock.

Each day begins at 9:00 a.m. at the farm. Our Pre-K children will go home before lunch at 11:30 a.m.
Students who have completed kindergarten through 8th grade will stay for lunch and then head off for a different field trip destination each day. Their program ends at 3:00 p.m. each afternoon.

All children and youth need to wear closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle. Kindergarten, elementary and middle school participants also need to bring a sack lunch each day.

Cost is $15 per child, with a $40 family maximum. Friends and extended family are welcome. Please fill out the registration form and return it with payment to Eureka Christian Church (302 S. Main, Eureka, Illinois 61530) by Wednesday, June 21.

Our “Healing Waters” series addressing the wounds caused by religious trauma ends this Sunday, May 28. In the sermon, I will be inviting us to become a healing church. Here’s a preview.

According to “the latest U. S. Religion Census from 2010-2020, the share of Americans with a religious affiliation dropped by 11 points.” And not just, as you might be thinking, on the East and West Coasts.  The share of Americans with a religious affiliation also “sharply declined,” to quote the survey, here in the Midwest middle (Ryan Burge, “How Religion Influences Politics,” quoted in The Week, May 26, 2023, p. 12). 

Why is that? We can blame all sorts of things, of course. Distractions, incessant busy-ness, the current “what’s in it for me” American malaise. But we would be sinfully remiss if we did not also turn the mirror to ourselves, get those logs out of our eyes, and ask the questions:

What we have done to drive people away? 
In what ways has our Christian proclamation become irrelevant or even damaging?

Jesus, my friends, is not the problem. 

The Good News he came to share and embody is just as needed and life-giving today as it ever has been. He came to bring abundant life. He came “to preach the Message of good news to the poor; to announce pardon to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind; to set the burdened and battered free; to announce, ‘This is God’s year to act!’” (Luke 4:18-19, The Message). Jesus came to offer food to the hungry and a cup of cool water to the thirsty. He came to offer welcome, hope, healing, forgiveness, peace. 

Much-needed Good News, all. 

No, Jesus is not the problem. The problem are those theologies, teachings, and practices that lead to distorted images of God, self, and others—which in turn lead to alienation from God, self, and others. 

We call ourselves “a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.” Eureka Christian Church, are those just pretty words? 

What kind of Christians and what kind of church are we going to be? Are we going to be the kind of church that contributes to religious trauma? Are we going to be the kind of church that—perhaps more insidiously, more temptingly—keeps silent in the face of religious trauma? 

Or, are we going to be the kind church that lovingly, faithfully, tirelessly carries Jesus into all the broken places and all the wounded hearts that are all around us? 

We call ourselves “a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.” Disciples, do we mean it?

I’ll see you Sunday.

Jennie

Worship at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
On-site at 302 South Main Street       Eureka, Illinois
Online at eurekachristian.org/worship-online or facebook.com/eurekacc/live

This Sunday, May 28, we will continue to receive the Pentecost special offering that goes to support the formation of new congregations through our New Church Ministries.

In the beginning, every church was new.

It’s right there in the Book of Acts. Early disciples came together, sharing all things in common, breaking bread with glad and generous hearts. God was doing a new thing:  creating a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.

Our gifts to the 2023 Pentecost Offering help ensure that our movement continues to embody the Disciples of Christ vision: to be and to share the Good News, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.

Half of our gifts support the local new church movement through our region’s ministry. The other half supports New Church Ministry efforts across the United States and Canada to equip, train, and empower new leaders. 

So, thank you. For participating in the new thing God is still doing — just as in the beginning.

Our “Healing Waters” series addressing the wounds caused by religious trauma continues on Sunday, May 7.  This week we will be exploring 1 Peter 2:1-10 and what it means for someone to hear that they are God’s beloved.  Here is a preview.

Early Christian communities were filled with people who had been told again and again that they could never be enough.  These were people on the margins.  The poor.  The powerless.  The broken.  Slaves.  Women.  Gentiles.  And no wonder, because these were the very people Jesus himself interacted with. 

Jesus spent all of his time ministering to people on the margins.  The people left out, left behind, left for dead.  Samaritans.  Prostitutes.  Tax collectors.  Lepers.  Demoniacs.  Those ailing in body and spirit.  Blind men.  Paralyzed men.  And let’s not forget the women.  Jesus ministered to, acknowledged, and valued the women around him. 

People on the margins, all. 

Think about how these words from 1 Peter would have resonated with them:  “Once you were no people, but now you are God’s people” (1 Peter 2:10).  Wait a minute.  I’m not a nobody, you mean?  I’m a somebody?  I have worth, and I am accepted here for me? 

This isn’t ancient history.  I know there are many tender, hurting souls all around us who have only ever been told they are nobodies.  There are many people—too many people—who are longing to hear, aching to hear that they are loved.  They have never dreamed that the voice of God could say to them, “You are my son.  You are my daughter.  You are my beloved ones.  And with you, I am well-pleased.” 

Christians, I do believe God has work for us to do.  I’ll see you Sunday.

Jennie

Worship at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
On-site at 302 South Main Street       Eureka, Illinois
Online at eurekachristian.org/worship-online or facebook.com/eurekacc/live

Join us Sunday as we recognize our high school and college graduates at both services. We will also present Bibles to our 4th graders. Congratulations all! We are proud of you!

Worship at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
On-site at 302 South Main Street       Eureka, Illinois
Online at eurekachristian.org/worship-online or facebook.com/eurekacc/live

We are spending this Season of Easter—this season of new life—focusing on healing the wounds from religious trauma.  What is religious trauma?  Last week I defined it as any theology, teaching, or practice that leads to alienation from God, self, and/or others. 

These wounds are long-lasting.  They have caused heart-breaking damage.  And they are everywhere.  I promise you, once you start looking, the scales will fall from your eyes and you will see these wounds and scars all around you. 

Religious trauma has caused rifts in friendships and families.  It has planted the seeds of shame deep within tender souls and has kept people from being at peace in their own skins.  It has kept people from knowing and internalizing the love of God.  Because what they have known and internalized instead is a god who says they can never be enough.  Never good enough, never worthy enough, never loveable enough.  Never, never, never enough. 

Some of these people wanted—and maybe even still want—to have a relationship with God.  They want to pray.  They want to delight in scripture.  They want to worship.  They want to be part of a Christian community.  They want to bear the name of Christ.  But even if they didn’t or don’t want these things, my question is:  what gives religious people the right to think we can do this kind of harm to any of God’s children? 

As I read Genesis 1:27, all of humankind has been created in God’s image.  Not just those we consider good enough.  Not just those who think like we think or look like we look or move through the world like we move.  And yet, Bible thump after Bible thump, sideways glance after sideways glance, tsk after tsk, the Church has perpetuated religious trauma.  We have said words and done deeds that have alienated—divided, estranged, severed—people from God, from themselves, and from others. 

Does this sound like Good News proclamation to you?  Step back.  Just for a minute.  Step back and ask yourself:  Does this sound like Good News proclamation to you?  Lord, have mercy.  It does not sound like Good News proclamation to me.

Something is wrong.  Something is awry.  Something is distorted. 

Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits…Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17, ESV).  I fear we have been bearing bad fruit.  But people, Jesus wants us to bear good fruit.  Jesus wants us to bring others to him—not alienate them, not estrange them (Luke 18:40).  Jesus calls his disciples (that means you and me) to move about the world doing healing work—not wounding work, not traumatizing work (Matthew 10:1).  Jesus asks us to feed his lambs and tend his sheep—not throw them to the wolves (John 20:15-16).  

Christians, this is a call to repentance.  This is a call to change.  That is why we are doing this “Healing Waters” series. Because I believe we have work to do, Christians. Healing work. Loving work. In the name of Jesus.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Jennie

P. S. Remember, we are having only one worship service this Sunday, April 30 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Worship at 10:00 a.m.
On-site at 302 South Main Street       Eureka, Illinois
Online at eurekachristian.org/worship-online or facebook.com/eurekacc/live

Join us as we gather together for a Festival Worship service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 30. It will be good to worship as one body!  Sunday School for all ages will be held at 9:00 a.m.

Based on feedback from the congregation requesting more combined worship services, the Worship Team decided to bring back ECC’s 5^th Sunday Festival Worship Services tradition.  Each time there is a 5^th Sunday throughout the rest of the year, we will have only one worship service beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Other 5^th Sunday Festival Services will be July 30, October 29, and December 31.  This is a pilot program for the remainder of the year.  At their fall quarterly Worship Team meeting, they will evaluate and make a decision about going forward with the 5^th Sunday Festival Services into 2024.

Our “Healing Waters” series on religious trauma begins this Sunday, April 23 and will run through Pentecost Sunday. What is religious trauma? Here’s a preview of Sunday’s sermon.

Religious trauma can include any theologies, teachings, or practices that lead to: a distorted image of God—God is vengeful, angry, violent, unappeasable, out to get you; a distorted image of self—I’m not good enough, I’m never good enough, I’m shameful, loathsome; a distorted image of others—those people, thank goodness I’m not like those people. Basically, I think about it like this: If a theology, teaching, or practice leads to alienation from God, self, or others, then there is something toxic about it. And there’s a good chance it can lead to some level of religious trauma.

Once I started looking, I saw the scars from religious trauma everywhere. It is pervasive, and I believe we must address it. Name it. Talk about it. Get it out into the light. Because when things stay bottled up, all they do is eat away at us or ricochet around and pummel us from the inside. When things stay in the shadowy dark, they become shrouded in secrecy or shame or both. And that begins to control us; that begins to consume us. None of this is healthy. None of this is life-giving. 

So I will name it. I will call it out. I will bring it into the light. Religious trauma is real and it has no place in the kingdom—the kindom—of God. Eureka Christian Church, I believe we are called to proclaim this Word to each other and to our larger community. Because there is a lot of hurt out there. I believe we are called to become a sanctuary, a safe place of healing and hope, for the survivors of religious trauma.

Church, it hurts my heart to know how very many people have been let down by our faith. How very many people feel betrayed, wounded and targeted by the church. Does this hurt your heart too? This should hurt our hearts to the point where we say, “Enough!  We will not be party to this trauma any longer. We will not let the good Christian name be tarnished by toxic theologies, teachings, or practices. We will use our voices to proclaim a life-giving Gospel. We will use our hands to do healing work. We will use our power to be a force for change. We will use our lives to make the Jesus we know known to the world.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Jennie

Worship at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
On-site at 302 South Main Street       Eureka, Illinois
Online at eurekachristian.org/worship-online or facebook.com/eurekacc/live