Islington United Church News & Updates

We’re on the fourth of five episodes focused on Janet Gear’s best-selling book, Undivided Love. We’ve learned that, in any United Church, there are likely to be represented five streams of lived faith. The church community could be imagined as gathering at one large...

This is the third of five episodes delving into Janet Gear’s work laid out in her best-selling book, Undivided Love. We’ve learned that, in any United Church, there are likely to be represented five streams of lived faith. The church community could be imagined as gathering at one large banquet, with each different stream having its own table. So far, Rev. Maya has explored the “Evangelical Banquet Table” and the “Ecclesial Banquet Table.” You may want to listen to those episodes first. Today Rev. Maya explores those gathered at the “Missional Banquet Table.” Do you find your place here?

The previous episode introduced Janet Gear’s work in her best-selling book, Undivided Love. We learned that, in any United Church, there are likely to be represented five streams of lived faith. The church community could be imagined as gathering at one large banquet, with each different stream having its own table. Last week, Rev. Maya explored the “Evangelical Banquet Table.” You may want to go back and listen to that first. Today Rev. Maya explores those gathered at the “Ecclesial Banquet Table.” Do you find your place here?

United Church proponents may assume we all speak the same language about God. We may even think we agree on what we are called to do as an active church community. But, as Janet Gear explains in her best-selling book, Undivided Love, there are actually five different streams of lived faith – five different understandings of what the church is and what it is for. In a church community, we might imagine one large banquet, with each stream having its own table. Today Rev. Maya explores who is sitting at the “Evangelical Banquet Table.” Do you find your place here?

There is power in a pair of shoes. Privilege in a pair of sneakers. Inclusion in a pair of sandals. In Western culture, people without shoes are denied access to ordinary places and everyday spaces. And yet, for hundreds of years, being barefoot has been a symbol of humility, service and even wisdom. Today Rev. Maya talks about why she chooses to preach barefoot every single Sunday of the year.