Riverside Anabaptist Collective Podcast with Carmen Shenk

Carmen Shenk
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Riverside is a community created to support small groups and congregations with simple worship resources. We do the work of crafting the service so that you can do the work of service. You belong here. carmenshenk.substack.com

  1. 1d ago

    When God Refuses to be a Lucky Charm

    Welcome to Riverside Anabaptist Collective! Glad you’re here! Today’s Text: 1 Samuel 3:8-20 The Lord Calls Samuel 3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,[a] and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’” 15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. After the Message Here’s a YouTube “short” from a message by Corrie Ten Boom that is very apropos to our message for today. I couldn’t get it to show up like videos usually do in this post, so here is a link to it: https://youtube.com/shorts/x8z2R7DaKMM?si=qbjKt0jNzyOF-uPq Message Response Song Questions for Discussion: * The Israelites shifted their trust from God Himself to an object associated with God (the Ark). In what ways do we modern Christians accidentally do the same thing? * Samuel heard a voice in the darkness. And then he would become a voice in the darkness. What does it mean to you to listen for the voice of God? * Of course we celebrate every milestone movement toward character and compassion in our political situation after the abuses and horrors of the last decade. But as Peter mentions, shackling the current administration may not solve our problems. How do we move forward with peace and toward peace? Lyrics included in the video. Blessing I release you in the power of the Holy Spirit into the world God so loves, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the God, who sees goodness and grace in you - and walks proudly with you. Riverside Anabaptist Collective provides simple worship resources for small groups and congregations. We support you in crafting a weekly service so that you can focus your energy on service. We are here to support you as you connect, lead, and love. * To receive this resource in your inbox each week, become a free or paid subscriber. * To help us get the word out, Subscribe to the Riverside YouTube channel and share our videos with your dear ones. * Begin your own small group. Here at Riverside, the service is crafted with leaders in mind. Is God calling you to lead? We provide resources for a simple service, leaving you free to focus on bringing people together. Loneliness is an epidemic, and we can help people get connected to each other and to God! With these resources you can do church anywhere, any time, with your dear ones. Picnic church? No problem! Hiking church? Easy Peasy! Church in the attic while you’re cleaning out? Still easy. LOL! Church while each of you are knitting? YES! * Does your pastor need a sabbatical but your congregation can not afford the paid time off? We’re here to help. Contact me privately to discuss how we can support you in your ministry. There are creative and cost effective solutions available! We are here to support you in your ministry! Many blessings! ~ Pastor Carmen Shenk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenshenk.substack.com/subscribe

  2. Oct 30

    It Is Surprisingly Easy to Help Somebody

    Welcome to Riverside Anabaptist Collective! Glad you’re here! The text for this week: 1 Peter 4:10 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. Message Response Song Questions for Discussion: * Matthew 6: “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” How do we check our motives and serve God rather than just for the brownie points? For example: Do we take video and share our interactions on social media? * Or James 2 “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” How do we live a living flowing faith? How do our day to day actions confirm the faith that we profess? * Laurie has given us excellent low-investment low-barriers-to-entry ways to serve. What surprised you? Why do we think it’s so difficult or challenging to help folks when it’s actually pretty easy? In Laurie’s words: “Now, was that so hard?” Once we’ve done it, I think we’ll realize it really wasn’t difficult at all. Let’s allow that good news to liberate us from performance anxiety. * When the prevailing spirit of the age is greed, doing something selfless and other-focused becomes spiritual warfare. It shakes us loose from our selfishness and helps us gain a perspective on our own lives and the many blessings we enjoy - and the grace of God. For a lot of us - that person at the shelter or struggling to live in their vehicle could have been me. We tend to moralize and criminalize poverty, but when we really understand that any of us can get there through a series of unfortunate events… it really is a mindset shift. Gratitude and generosity are powerful spiritual warfare, amen? Blessing I release you in the power of the Holy Spirit into the world God so loves, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the God, who sees goodness and grace in you - and walks proudly with you. Riverside Anabaptist Collective provides simple worship resources for small groups and congregations. We support you in crafting a weekly service so that you can focus your energy on service. We are here to support you as you connect, lead, and love. * To receive this resource in your inbox each week, become a free or paid subscriber. * To help us get the word out, Subscribe to the Riverside YouTube channel and share our videos with your dear ones. * Begin your own small group. Here at Riverside, the service is crafted with leaders in mind. Is God calling you to lead? We provide resources for a simple service, leaving you free to focus on bringing people together. Loneliness is an epidemic, and we can help people get connected to each other and to God! With these resources you can do church anywhere, any time, with your dear ones. Picnic church? No problem! Hiking church? Easy Peasy! Church in the attic while you’re cleaning out? Still easy. LOL! Church while each of you are knitting? YES! * Does your pastor need a sabbatical but your congregation can not afford the paid time off? We’re here to help. Contact me privately to discuss how we can support you in your ministry. There are creative and cost effective solutions available! We are here to support you in your ministry! Many blessings! ~ Pastor Carmen Shenk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenshenk.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Oct 24

    Eyes Opening

    Welcome to Riverside Anabaptist Collective! Glad you’re here! The text for this week: John 9:1-12 Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind 9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said. Message Response Song Questions for Discussion: * Share a moment of clarity. * Sometimes healing is instant, and sometimes it comes slowly. What slow clarity is creeping in for you? At about 6:07 on this video there is an advert for the “One For Israel” ministry that may not be appropriate for a worship setting. Blessing I release you in the power of the Holy Spirit into the world God so loves, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the God, who sees goodness and grace in you - and walks proudly with you. Song begins at :20 and ends around 3:17ish. The lyrics are simple: Peace (English) Salaam (Arabic) and Shalom (Hebrew). Riverside Anabaptist Collective provides simple worship resources for small groups and congregations. We support you in crafting a weekly service so that you can focus your energy on service. We are here to support you as you connect, lead, and love. * To receive this resource in your inbox each week, become a free or paid subscriber. * To help us get the word out, Subscribe to the Riverside YouTube channel and share our videos with your dear ones. * Begin your own small group. Here at Riverside, the service is crafted with leaders in mind. Is God calling you to lead? We provide resources for a simple service, leaving you free to focus on bringing people together. Loneliness is an epidemic, and we can help people get connected to each other and to God! With these resources you can do church anywhere, any time, with your dear ones. Picnic church? No problem! Hiking church? Easy Peasy! Church in the attic while you’re cleaning out? Still easy. LOL! Church while each of you are knitting? YES! * Does your pastor need a sabbatical but your congregation can not afford the paid time off? We’re here to help. Contact me privately to discuss how we can support you in your ministry. There are creative and cost effective solutions available! We are here to support you in your ministry! Many blessings! ~ Pastor Carmen Shenk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenshenk.substack.com/subscribe

  4. Oct 16

    A Meditation on The Lost & Found of Luke 15

    Welcome to Riverside Anabaptist Collective! Glad you’re here! Lyrics Today’s Text: Luke 15:1-7 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Message Response Song Lyrics Questions for Discussion: * Share a time you got physically lost (as a child in a store, on a hike, driving, etc.). How did it feel when you realized you didn’t know where you were, and how did it feel to be found? * Notice that when the shepherd finds the sheep, he puts it on his shoulders, goes home, and throws a party. Why do you think Jesus emphasizes the joy and celebration of God rather than any lectures or discipline for the sheep that wandered off? * Verse 7 mentions “one sinner who repents.” In the actual parable, the sheep doesn’t actively do anything to earn its rescue except get found. Based on this story, how would you define what “repentance” looks like from the perspective of being found by Jesus? Lyrics are in the description of the video. Blessing I release you in the power of the Holy Spirit into the world God so loves, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the God, who sees goodness and grace in you - and walks proudly with you. Riverside Anabaptist Collective provides simple worship resources for small groups and congregations. We support you in crafting a weekly service so that you can focus your energy on service. We are here to support you as you connect, lead, and love. * To receive this resource in your inbox each week, become a free or paid subscriber. * To help us get the word out, Subscribe to the Riverside YouTube channel and share our videos with your dear ones. * Begin your own small group. Here at Riverside, the service is crafted with leaders in mind. Is God calling you to lead? We provide resources for a simple service, leaving you free to focus on bringing people together. Loneliness is an epidemic, and we can help people get connected to each other and to God! With these resources you can do church anywhere, any time, with your dear ones. Picnic church? No problem! Hiking church? Easy Peasy! Church in the attic while you’re cleaning out? Still easy. LOL! Church while each of you are knitting? YES! * Does your pastor need a sabbatical but your congregation can not afford the paid time off? We’re here to help. Contact me privately to discuss how we can support you in your ministry. There are creative and cost effective solutions available! We are here to support you in your ministry! Many blessings! ~ Pastor Carmen Shenk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenshenk.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Oct 9

    Make it Plain

    Welcome to Riverside Anabaptist Collective! Glad you’re here! Lyrics. Please note, there is quite a jolting noise at the beginning of this video, but it’s ok after that. Today’s Text: Habakkuk 2:2-3 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelationand make it plain on tabletsso that a herald may run with it.3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;it speaks of the endand will not prove false.Though it linger, wait for it;it will certainly comeand will not delay. Message Response Song Lyrics Questions for Discussion: * In its historical setting, God was telling Habakkuk to record a specific message of coming judgment and eventual redemption regarding Judah and Babylon. How does knowing this original context change or deepen how we usually hear the phrase “write the vision”? * Why did God command that the vision be made plain or legible so that a herald could “run” while reading it? What role does clear communication play when God calls people to action or shared responsibility? * God tells Habakkuk to get the message out of his head and onto a physical medium. What is the spiritual or practical difference between an unwritten dream/desire and something intentionally written down or articulated? * What does it mean for you or your community to “run” with a vision once it is clearly understood? How do you distinguish between frantic, self-driven busyness and faithful, vision-driven movement? * Verse 3 acknowledges that “though it tarries, wait for it”. Why is waiting so difficult when we feel a sense of urgency, and how do we stay faithful during the “in-between” season? * How do we surrender our personal timelines and desired outcomes to God’s “appointed time” when circumstances around us look uncertain or discouraging? Lyrics Blessing I release you in the power of the Holy Spirit into the world God so loves, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the God, who sees goodness and grace in you - and walks proudly with you. Lyrics included in the video. Riverside Anabaptist Collective provides simple worship resources for small groups and congregations. We support you in crafting a weekly service so that you can focus your energy on service. We are here to support you as you connect, lead, and love. * To receive this resource in your inbox each week, become a free or paid subscriber. * To help us get the word out, Subscribe to the Riverside YouTube channel and share our videos with your dear ones. * Begin your own small group. Here at Riverside, the service is crafted with leaders in mind. Is God calling you to lead? We provide resources for a simple service, leaving you free to focus on bringing people together. Loneliness is an epidemic, and we can help people get connected to each other and to God! With these resources you can do church anywhere, any time, with your dear ones. Picnic church? No problem! Hiking church? Easy Peasy! Church in the attic while you’re cleaning out? Still easy. LOL! Church while each of you are knitting? YES! * Does your pastor need a sabbatical but your congregation can not afford the paid time off? We’re here to help. Contact me privately to discuss how we can support you in your ministry. There are creative and cost effective solutions available! We are here to support you in your ministry! Many blessings! ~ Pastor Carmen Shenk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenshenk.substack.com/subscribe

  6. Oct 2

    God's Beautiful Imagination

    Welcome to Riverside Anabaptist Collective! Glad you’re here! This week we are digging in the archives for a message from Rae Watson. Seems like a good day to remember God’s magnificent creativity, imagination, and fondness for us. Lyrics. Today’s Text: Psalm 139 NRSVUE O Lord, you have searched me and known me.2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.4 Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.9 If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and night wraps itself around me,”[a]12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;that I know very well.15 My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!18 I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you. Rae Watson is the associate pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Staunton, VA. Ey graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in May 2022, having returned to school after 17 years as an early childhood educator in Texas public schools. Ey is married and lives in Staunton with eir three daughters and four crazy cats. Message Response Song Lyrics Questions for Discussion: * What does it mean to you to be “fearfully and wonderfully” made - astonishingly distinct and created by a beautifully imaginative God? * If we find our acceptance in Jesus, does that help us accept those around us? How do we open our hands and release the grace and acceptant we’ve been given - with a nod to the message of Dr Scott from last week. Lyrics are in the description of the video. Blessing I release you in the power of the Holy Spirit into the world God so loves, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the God, who sees goodness and grace in you - and walks proudly with you. Lyrics It seems that I keep coming across interesting variations on this beautiful prayer! Riverside Anabaptist Collective provides simple worship resources for small groups, small congregations and Sunday School classes. We support you in crafting a weekly service so that you can focus your energy on service. We are here to support you as you connect, lead, and love. * To receive this resource in your inbox each week, become a free or paid subscriber. * To help us get the word out, Subscribe to the Riverside YouTube channel and share our videos with your dear ones. * Begin your own small group. Here at Riverside, the service is crafted with leaders in mind. Is God calling you to lead? We provide resources for a simple service, leaving you free to focus on bringing people together. Loneliness is an epidemic, and we can help people get connected to each other and to God! With these resources you can do church anywhere, any time, with your dear ones. Picnic church? No problem! Hiking church? Easy Peasy! Church in the attic while you’re cleaning out? Still easy. LOL! Church while each of you are knitting? YES! * Does your pastor need a sabbatical but your congregation can not afford the paid time off? We’re here to help. Contact me privately to discuss how we can support you in your ministry. There are creative and cost effective solutions available! We are here to support you in your ministry! Many blessings! ~ Pastor Carmen Shenk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenshenk.substack.com/subscribe

  7. Sep 24

    Receive, Become, Give

    Welcome to Riverside Anabaptist Collective! Glad you’re here! Lyrics Today’s Text: Matthew 18:21-35 The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[g] 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[h] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[i] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Chris Scott is the pastor at The Exchange which is a Mennonite Church in Winchester, Virginia. Chris is also Facilitator for Emerging Faith Communities for Mennonite Mission Network. Chris has a BA in Bible and Religion from Eastern Mennonite University, an MDiv from Eastern Mennonite Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Church Planting through Asbury Theological Seminary. Chris lives at the top of Virginia with his wife, who is an artist and a high school art teacher, their two daughters, and a whole collection of animals. Message Response Song: Question for Discussion: * When you hear the word “forgiveness” what thoughts or emotions come to mind? * In the parable, the forgiven servant immediately choked and demanded payment from a fellow servant over a tiny amount. How does forgetting or minimizing our own need for God’s grace toward us lead us to be harsh or unforgiving toward others? * How can we unstop the flow of grace and mercy out of us once we have experienced that beautiful grace and mercy from God? * How can we move more fully into the river of Grace running to us and through us to the world God so loves? (Lyrics are in the description) Blessing I release you in the power of the Holy Spirit into the world God so loves, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the God, who sees goodness and grace in you - and walks proudly with you. Lyrics Riverside Anabaptist Collective is a community created to support small groups and congregations with simple worship resources. We do the work of crafting the service so that you can do the work of service. Our mission is to support you as you connect, lead, and love. * To receive this resource in your inbox each week, become a free or paid subscriber. * To help us get the word out, Subscribe to the Riverside YouTube channel and share our videos with your dear ones. * Begin your own small group. Here at Riverside, the service is crafted with leaders in mind. Is God calling you to lead? We provide resources for a simple service, leaving you free to focus on bringing people together. Loneliness is an epidemic, and we can help people get connected to each other and to God! With these resources you can do church anywhere, any time, with your dear ones. Picnic church? No problem! Hiking church? Easy Peasy! Church in the attic while you’re cleaning out? Still easy. LOL! * Does your pastor need a sabbatical but your congregation can not afford the paid time off? We’re here to help. Contact me privately to discuss how we can support you in your ministry. There are creative and cost effective solutions available! We are here to support you in your ministry! Many blessings! ~ Pastor Carmen Shenk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenshenk.substack.com/subscribe

  8. Sep 18

    Put Down Your Weapon: Let’s Talk About This

    Welcome to Riverside Anabaptist Collective! Glad you’re here! lyrics The texts for this week: Joshua 11 23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war. 2 Corinthians 10:1-4 10 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. Message Response Song Questions for Discussion: * Consider and respond to this quote from author Gordon Matties: “I suggest that we live inside the conversation generated by this text (Joshua 11), not inside this text alone. The text is part of a conversation within which the church wrestles, argues, and challenges. It is a text of terror that we dare not emulate; yet if we refused conversation with it, we run the risk of repeating the violence of which the text tells.” * Many of our ancestors were part of the conquest of the Americas. How important is it for us to know these stories and interpret their meaning for the way we behave now? * The author of the Salt & Light material for today suggests that the story of the Israelites settlement in Canaan may not be a literal report of what happened. Do you consider Biblical accounts of divinely sanctioned violence to be literally accurate or figurative stories? * Who wrote the book of Joshua? If the book is written by Joshua with endings written long after his death, how does that color how you see this story? If the book is written centuries later from oral tradition, how do that color how you see this story? It may be impossible to know for sure, but how does it color our perspective to consider who wrote this text, when, and why? Lyrics Blessing I release you in the power of the Holy Spirit into the world God so loves, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the God, who sees goodness and grace in you - and walks proudly with you. Lyrics Lyrics Riverside Anabaptist Collective is a community created to support small groups and congregations with simple worship resources. We do the work of crafting the service so that you can do the work of service. Our mission is to support you as you connect, lead, and love. * To receive this resource in your inbox each week, become a free or paid subscriber. * To help us get the word out, Subscribe to the Riverside YouTube channel and share our videos with your dear ones. * Begin your own small group. Here at Riverside, the service is crafted with leaders in mind. Is God calling you to lead? We provide resources for a simple service, leaving you free to focus on bringing people together. Loneliness is an epidemic, and we can help people get connected to each other and to God! With these resources you can do church anywhere, any time, with your dear ones. Picnic church? No problem! Hiking church? Easy Peasy! Church in the attic while you’re cleaning out? Still easy. LOL! * Does your pastor need a sabbatical but your congregation can not afford the paid time off? We’re here to help. Contact me privately to discuss how we can support you in your ministry. There are creative and cost effective solutions available! We are here to support you in your ministry! Many blessings! ~ Pastor Carmen Shenk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenshenk.substack.com/subscribe

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Riverside is a community created to support small groups and congregations with simple worship resources. We do the work of crafting the service so that you can do the work of service. You belong here. carmenshenk.substack.com

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