South Bend City Church

[CONVERSATION] 2023 Creating Safe Spaces For LGBTQ+ People Panel

Earlier this month, we hosted a night for members of SBCC and the broader community who want to learn more about creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people. The event featured a panel of SBCC members telling their stories as LGBTQ+ people and followers of Jesus, and as a parent to a gay son, navigating the complicated and often painful experiences of exclusion and harm in religious communities, and the ways their faith has sustained them. The panel also responded to questions from those in attendance.
Want to know more about historic and progressive understandings of sexuality, the Bible, and Christian theology? Check out these reads:
Historic View:Washed and Waiting, by Wesley HillPeople to Be Loved, by Preston SprinkleWhat Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung
Progressive View:God and the Gay Christian, by Matthew VinesChanging Our Mind, by David GusheeBible, Gender, Sexuality, by James Brownson

6.25 [TEACHING] Idols, Icons, and Tech (wk 4)

Jason Miller - In the past year, we've seen the rapid acceleration of publicly available AI technologies like ChatGPT. Along with this acceleration, we've seen growing warnings about the dangers of AI. In our final week of Idols, Icons, and Tech, we considered a framing theological story to help us make sense of where all of this might be headed.
Ways to Get ConnectedSave the date for our SBCC Picnic on July 2 and, if you want, give towards making the morning happenSupport the ongoing work of SBCC by giving to our general fund. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

6.18 [TEACHING] Idols, Icons, and Tech (wk 3)

Jason Miller - In spite of the dangers we've been learning about regarding the negative impact of digital devices and social media, it turns out there are clear, positive ways to reverse the effect. This week, we learn that the spiritual problems and the spiritual possibilities of technology are related.
Ways to Get ConnectedRSVP to the LGBTQ+ Table (June 27th)Save the date for our SBCC Picnic on July 2 and, if you want, give towards making the morning happenSupport the ongoing work of SBCC by giving to our general fund. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

6.11 [LITURGY] Psalm 33’s Great God

In this weekends liturgy, we centered ourselves on the Lectionary Reading of Psalm 33. South Bend City Church proudly calls itself a place for believers and doubters and those that are a bit of both, but this liturgy specifically lands on the belief side of things. We spend time thanking, praising, and proclaiming the greatness of God through song and reading. If this liturgy doesn't resonate with you today, that's okay, and we hope that you can still walk away feeling supported and seen by our community.
Follow along with the transcript on our website

6.11 [TEACHING] Idols, Icons, and Tech (wk 2)

Jason Miller - Many of us are aware that our increasing exposure to social media and other digital entertainment isn't entirely good for us. Today we explored a spiritual perspective on why that may be the case, and we offered a challenge for a practice this week.
Ways to Get ConnectedRegister for our Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Panel Night (June 13th)RSVP to the LGBTQ+ Table (June 27th)Save the date for our SBCC Picnic on July 2Support the ongoing work of SBCC by giving. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

6.4 [LITURGY] Rest

This weekend we were led through a meaningful liturgy of rest including songs, readings, and the opportunity to hear from some of our community in an open floor time. Our hope for this episode of the podcast is that, wherever you are in the world, you're able to take a minute to disconnect from distractions and take a real rest.
Ways to Get ConnectedRegister for our Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Panel Night (June 13th)RSVP to the LGBTQ+ Table (June 27th)Help us write our Father’s Day Reading by submitting before June 14thSupport the ongoing work of SBCC by giving. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

6.4 [TEACHING] Idols, Icons, and Tech (wk 1)

Jason Miller - Technologies are advancing at a swift rate, bringing with them profound possibilities and alarming liabilities. For the next four weeks, we'll explore some big questions, theological frameworks, and practical approaches to our relationship with technology.
Ways to Get ConnectedRegister for our Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Panel Night (June 13th)RSVP to the LGBTQ+ Table (June 27th)Help us write our Father's Day Reading by submitting before June 14thFind more information or support The Tribune ProjectSupport the ongoing work of SBCC by giving. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

5.28 [GATHERING] Old Creed, New World (Amen)

Jason Miller, Mariah Keener, and Zach Gillis - In our final week of Old Creed, New World, we came to the final "amen" after reflecting on the story the Creed tells and the joy of finding our place in it. This episode includes teaching, reflections, prayers, and songs.
Songs and Readings Included: At the River Clarion by Mary OliverWriting #6 from the enfleshed Weekly Lenten PrayersThis I Believe by Ben Fielding and Matt CrockerSo Will I by Benjamin Hastings, Joel Houston, and Michael FatkinJesus Is A Friend of Mine by Rev. Timothy WrightThe Doxology
Ways to Get ConnectedCome to the Tribune Consecration on Thursday nightRegister for our Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Panel NightRSVP to the LGBTQ+ TableSupport the ongoing work of SBCC by giving. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

5.21 [TEACHING] Old Creed, New World (the resurrection of the body)

Jason Miller - When the Creed looks ahead to the future it teaches us to expect, it speaks of the resurrection of bodies. If our bodies are so beloved by God that God will raise them up in the end, then how should we honor them right now?
If you would like to join us in the practice of Eucharist, make sure to have some form of bread and juice with you.
Ways to Get ConnectedCheck out the Student Tables Summer ScheduleSupport the ongoing work of SBCC by giving. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

5.14 [TEACHING + REFLECTION] Old Creed, New World (the forgiveness of sins)

Jason Miller - Can violence and vengeance really build the world we want? And if not, how do we sustain a posture of mercy in world with so much harm? This episode also includes a time of reflection and a prayer of confession and absolution borrowed from our Anglican sisters and brothers in the Book of Common Prayer.
Ways to Get Connected:
Join the South Bend City Church Open Forum and Collective on Facebook.Support the ongoing work of SBCC by giving. South Bend City Church is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible.