December 10th, 2020
by Denee Bowers
by Denee Bowers

Thursday, December 10
Colossians 1:19-23
We are told early in the book of Genesis that every person is tselem demuth, a Hebrew phrase which suggests something pretty mysterious. According to these ancient words, every person ever created is carved in the image and likeness of the God who has made them. Again, every person. Even in our beginnings, God weaves all of us for harmony. Now, this isn’t a thin, false unity that erases differences. We need only open our eyes and look around in order to catch glimpses of the vast, God-created range of human diversity. God creates us in our differences for the harmony found in being at peace with God and one another. That is the intent and hope that God has for us.
Human beings can be ridiculously stubborn, however. This we know all too well. What God intends and hopes for us is often not what we choose to pursue. We need only open our eyes and look around in order to see the ways in which we make our differences dissonant, choosing alienation, accusation, and stepping apart instead of the harmony that God longs for us to sing. When people dehumanize, harm, or belittle one another, crushing one another in order to rise higher, we ignore the common peace for which we have been created. We’ve been created for holy harmony, but often choose something far lesser.
Thankfully, even our stubbornness is made in the image of God. We serve a God who’s determined to not allow our selfishness to alienate. As we’re reminded in the book of Colossians, it pleases God to make peace with us, even when we have insisted upon being enemies with God and one another. This peace is offered to us and all of the world in the person of Jesus, God among us, the Maker also made in God’s own image. This is the gospel and good news that God offers to us all: through Jesus, we are invited into the peace and harmony--song for which all of us have been made. Each of us, created intentionally in all of our differences, made by a God who through Jesus teaches and invites us all to sing.
Reflection by Adam Baker
Colossians 1:19-23
We are told early in the book of Genesis that every person is tselem demuth, a Hebrew phrase which suggests something pretty mysterious. According to these ancient words, every person ever created is carved in the image and likeness of the God who has made them. Again, every person. Even in our beginnings, God weaves all of us for harmony. Now, this isn’t a thin, false unity that erases differences. We need only open our eyes and look around in order to catch glimpses of the vast, God-created range of human diversity. God creates us in our differences for the harmony found in being at peace with God and one another. That is the intent and hope that God has for us.
Human beings can be ridiculously stubborn, however. This we know all too well. What God intends and hopes for us is often not what we choose to pursue. We need only open our eyes and look around in order to see the ways in which we make our differences dissonant, choosing alienation, accusation, and stepping apart instead of the harmony that God longs for us to sing. When people dehumanize, harm, or belittle one another, crushing one another in order to rise higher, we ignore the common peace for which we have been created. We’ve been created for holy harmony, but often choose something far lesser.
Thankfully, even our stubbornness is made in the image of God. We serve a God who’s determined to not allow our selfishness to alienate. As we’re reminded in the book of Colossians, it pleases God to make peace with us, even when we have insisted upon being enemies with God and one another. This peace is offered to us and all of the world in the person of Jesus, God among us, the Maker also made in God’s own image. This is the gospel and good news that God offers to us all: through Jesus, we are invited into the peace and harmony--song for which all of us have been made. Each of us, created intentionally in all of our differences, made by a God who through Jesus teaches and invites us all to sing.
Reflection by Adam Baker
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Archive
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
October
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way // M-Note 10.5.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Love Thy Political Neighbor // M-Note 10.11.2024Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Fear is a Powerful Motivator // M-Note 10.19.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Why Do Bad Things Happen? // M-Note 10.26.24
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