What: Phoenix Affirmations Discussion Series led by The Rev. Gary Brinn
When: Last Sunday of each month in 2023 (after Coffee Hour or approximately 11:15 am)
Where: Beecher Hall, The Park Church
Join us for a monthly series of 12 sessions on being a progressive congregation, one per month from January through December 2023. The Rev. Gary Brinn will lead us in discussion about how we can live into the Phoenix Affirmations, or the twelve points of being a progressive congregation. Sessions will be held on the last Sunday of each month in Beecher Hall after coffee hour.
Affirmation #8
Walking humbly with God, acknowledging our own shortcomings while honestly seeking to understand and call forth the best in others, including those who consider us their enemies;
As Christians, we recognize that we are misfits both with respect to God’s Realm and the world. We are misfits with respect to God’s Realm in that we rarely live up to the principles and ideals we espouse. We are misfits with respect to the world in that the ideals for which we strive frequently do not conform to the ways of the world.
We affirm that the Path of Jesus is found where Christ’s followers love those who consider them their enemies as much as they love themselves, striving humbly to embody the “fruits of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We confess that we have moved away from this Path when we have promoted a notion that people of faith are morally or ethically superior to those without faith. Further, we have moved away when we have supported any cause, no matter how just or righteous, without reflecting the “fruits of the Spirit” toward all.