Looking into the lectionary - Presbyterian camps offer hope and recovery after hurricanes

November 17, 2024 Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost  Mark 13:1-8 “We are in an imagination battle,” writes adrienne maree brown in her book Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. “Imagination has people thinking they can go from being poor to a millionaire as part of a shared American dream. Imagination turns Brown bombers into terrorists and white bombers into mentally ill victims. Imagination gives us borders, gives us superiority, gives us race as an indicator of capability. I often feel I am trapped inside someone else’s imagination, and I must engage my own imagination in order to break free.” Brown has teamed up with spoken word artist Walidah Imarisha to lead “visionary fiction” workshops to create strategies for activism and social change, and to compile an anthology of fantastical stories that imagine new, freer worlds without reinforcing dominant narratives of power. (See Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements.) Their goal is to engage more people, particularly marginalized people, in the imaginative work of creating social change. “One of the ways we perpetuate individualism is by ideating alone, literally coming up with ideas in solitude and then competing to bring them to life. Our workshops are designed to encourage collaborative ideation.” In Mark’s “Little Apocalypse” at the beginning of chapter 13, Jesus invites the disciples into imaginative visioning. They sit together atop a mountain, to view the landscape and learn about where God’s world-building is leading them. The signs of this new world are frightening – the destruction of the Temple, false prophets, wars, earthquakes, famines. Readers are challenged to repent and get right with God before the end. But this apocalyptic vision also inspires hope –  a new day, a new community, and a new world is being birthed. Salvation is on the horizon. ... Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship for November 17, 2024, by Teri McDowell Ott A prayer for peace and justice on Election Day by Teri McDowell Ott A catalogue of gratitude (November 17, 2024) by Brendan McLean PMA Board honors the Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett at its final meeting by Emily Enders Odom The trauma in my bones by Chanequa Walker-Barnes Presbyterian camps offer hope and recovery after hurricanes by Colleen Earp Want the worship resources for November 10, 2024? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Poll chaplains and peacekeepers nationwide prepare to serve worried electorate  This election season, faith leaders and volunteers are playing a vital role in protecting voters’ rights and supporting peaceful elections. — Caleb Maglaya Galaraga The Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett celebrates the work of the PMA Board and the Matthew 25 movement "It is about leaving the world in a better place because of the transforming work of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit," says the outgoing president and executive director.  — Beth Waltemath Readers recommend: Books helping us through election season Outlook readers share the books they’ve found most useful this election season. It will be baseball. It will be prayer: The poetry of E. Ethelbert Miller Andrew Taylor-Troutman offers the perfect recommendation for anyone who likes thinking about God and baseball. Revelation: Professing Christ Today In a world that frequently promotes hatred, hostility and division, discover Revelation’s call to embody God’s grace, generosity and forgiveness. A new Fresh Outlook study. This Thursday!