Welcome to The Midweek. If you want encouragement in the middle of your ordinary days, prayers and insights related to Sunday's sermon, or to hear from the pastors more regularly about what they're up to and noticing God do, then The Midweek is for you.

This will be separate from our Friday e-Bulletin, sent out Wednesday mornings. It's a small touch point from the pastors offering strength, courage and formation. If it's not for you, you can unsubscribe (click "Manage Subscription" at the bottom of this email) and you'll still get all of the announcements Friday mornings.

Pushing Back Darkness

Our time together Sunday—sharing testimonies of God at work in our lives and celebrating 4 baptisms—pushed back darkness, saints.

Revelation 12:11 paints a picture of the future that we embodied on Sunday: They overcame him—Satan, who accuses day and night—by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimonies.

The testimonies you shared, and the stories of those who were baptized, were a beautiful picture for us all: one day evil will be overcome for good, God is present and at work in suffering and injustice, and God will sustain us until He makes all things new.

I heard that refrain in the stories of those who visited people detained at North Lake. I heard that refrain in the stories of God providing money in miraculous ways. I heard that refrain in the moments where you put yourself out there to notice, serve, forgive, listen, and trust God with outcomes.

Thank you for the generosity of all who shared your stories with us on Sunday.

Let's receive courage from those who shared and tell our own stories of God at work in our lives—around our dinner tables, in the break room, or wherever we find ourselves this week.

Every now and then I'll ask my kids, “Can I tell you something cool God did today?” Sometimes they roll their eyes, but sometimes they lean in with anticipation.

What might God do if we regularly asked one another that question—not because every day contains a dramatic moment—but because we are learning to pay attention to the ways God is present and at work in our ordinary lives.

Can I tell you something cool God did today?

A Note From Pastor Donnell

I wanted to clarify one thing from the recent Board Summary about the Denomination Research Committee winding down its work at this time.

The committee worked diligently to understand our congregation's priorities and the denomination options available to us. In that process, they became aware that our congregation—including our pastors—holds differing, nuanced understandings of God’s view on LGBTQ+ marriage. This proved to be an important consideration when exploring denomination options, particularly because many denominations are splitting around this question of theology and practice.

At the same time, there is significant alignment across our congregation around how we practice belonging: LGBTQ+ people have no restrictions on participating in the life of our church. We trust this is an opportunity for us to continue the vulnerable, Christlike work of cultivating belonging across difference, including our theological convictions.

The responsibility for discerning whether—and, if so, which—denomination our church joins now rests with the Board. If you have thoughts you would like the Board to consider as they discern this question, please email Board Chair Aaron Kehrer at aaron.kehrer@a2communitychurch.org and ask to come to an upcoming Board meeting or send your thoughts to churchboard@a2communitychurch.org.

If you'd like to talk with me more about any of these things, feel free to schedule a time. Thank you to the Denomination Research Committee for your hard work, compassionate listening, and honest conversations.

Did you miss Sunday?

• Catch up on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.