This week on Reading between the Lines, we are learning more about the story of Hagar & Sarai/Sarah.

The intertwined stories of Hagar and Sarah can call us to examine things like how those in power, either willingly or unknowingly, cause harm to those without that same power and privilege. These stories can call us to work toward an end to sex trafficking and creating a culture of consent surrounding how our bodies are used by others. This has implications for intimate sexual relationships as well as how individuals with disabilities receive care and are included in decision-making processes.

These stories can call us to examine how people with various intersecting identities and varying amounts of power currently treat others and how we can work toward equity. Learning these stories may uncover the church’s tendency toward hiding abuse that happens within its structure and calling us to rehumanize those who have been harmed and work toward justice. These stories can be models of how to talk with God, being honest with where we are struggling to be faithful, and God’s continual presence in the midst of heartache.

These stories are reminders that we simply cannot take them at face value; we are called to look more deeply, to notice the small details that humanize the characters, and to wonder about the pieces that are missing so that we can work toward a more wholistic understanding of God and God’s presence from the time these individuals lived all the way to us today.

CW: infertility, rape and sexual violence, slavery, child abuse, and domestic abuse

This week on Reading between the Lines, we are learning more about the story of Eve, the first human called by name in the Bible.

Remembering the story of Eve, those of us who have experienced separation from our home or families, who have made mistakes that altered our entire lives, who have found our ride or die, who have had to bury children, who have had rainbow babies after infant loss, who struggle to be faithful, who are holding on to long-dwelling heartache can find glimpses of ourselves in scripture and know that God continues to be present with us.

We're back!

Join Pastor Rebecca to hear more about what MomenToUs has been up to while the podcast has been offline, how you can get connected, and what's coming up next with our newest podcast series!

Join for the final episode of this podcast series, where Pastor Rebecca shares how the final few verses of the hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel shape our theology and how we are part of what God is up to in the world!

Join us for our next MomenToUs episode, where Vicar Jaren Summers joins us for a conversation about what Lutheran Christians believe happens after death.

Join Pastor Rebecca for a closer look at what genealogies have to do with hymns and God's presence with us.

Join Pastor Rebecca for another look at the hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and how we can incorporate TWO different spiritual practices to continue growing in our faith this winter!

God among us. What good news. Join Pastor Rebecca as she shares more about the difference between God being with us vs. God being among us. There might even be references to cheesy Christmas movies and impostors later in the episode.

Join us for the first episode of a brand new MomenToUs season. Pastor Rebecca fills us in on some of the background about what we will be up to for the next 8 weeks & shares some big announcements about things coming up!

Join us for a conversation with Pr. Aaron Layne to discuss this week's Burning Question & we learn that even when life is at it's most extreme, God continues to show up, even to and through us.