everything [in] between

to be transformed. It is inspired by the Narrative Lectionary and follows the Gospel of Luke from chapter 9–24 to guide us through Lent. Beginning with Jesus setting his face toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), the series flows through several familiar stories—the Good Samaritan, Mary and Martha, the fruitless fig tree, the Lost Sheep, Zacchaeus,

and more.

Have you ever labeled yourself a “Mary” or a “Martha”? Perhaps you grew up singing “Zacchaeus was a wee little man” in Sunday School. So many of these scriptures hold significance and renown– we’ll take a fresh look. As modern readers, we sometimes lose the “shock factor” behind Jesus’ words, as his teaching tactics likely felt extreme for those in his context. He described a stigmatized Samaritan as a good neighbor. He emphasized the value of 1 sheep in a herd of 100. He dined with a tax collector who amassed wealth through extortion. While dying on the cross, he told a convicted criminal he would soon find paradise. Jesus intentionally highlighted the cultural and political polarities of his time to emphasize the radical and surprising love of God.

Each weekly theme explores two supposed opposites, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.”  However, as we explore these concepts within the Scriptures, we find nuance and complexity, that these dichotomies are false. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white. We might find that God is present everywhere [in] between.

And so, this season, we invite you to look beyond easy answers. We encourage you to notice the splits that define our lives, but also imagine where God might be meeting us beyond the categories we create.  Are you in discernment or trying to find your way through an undefined space? Do you feel you are living in a divided world? Do you seek a spiritual life that engages with complexity instead of avoiding it? This Lent, we’re trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, in colorful hues, and everywhere in between.