Latest in May
As iron sharpens iron, so one person shapes another.
- Proverbs 27:17
Community isn't optional; it’s essential to human flourishing, and it's a mandate for faithful living. This week I was in Atlanta presenting my final project and listening to my classmates present theirs.
The week began by listening to a classmate present on food justice and the necessity of food pantries “in the meantime.” The goal of working toward food justice is to ensure that everyone, and especially every child, has the food they need in their own homes and in their pantries. The work of food justice is to put our food pantry out of a job, she said. However, social resources are fewer and more inaccessible right now than they’ve been in some time, and they show every sign of shrinking in the year to come. In the meantime, before we can achieve food justice, she articulated the pivotal role food pantries play in keeping hungry people fed. I was reminded that NorthHaven’s food pantry remains one of the most important ministries that we’ve ever created in our time here together.
The next presenter talked about the importance of children growing up in inclusive faith communities, particularly toward LGBTQ+ persons. One of the main reasons people are leaving the church, she reports, is because they don’t see the values of Jesus preached from the pulpit aligning with community practices. Her research focused on areas of inclusion, where college-age students reported losing faith, not only in their churches, but in God, because they saw their churches being places of hostility and exclusion toward LGBTQ+ persons. In a small paradox to this, she also reported that her interviews and research with actual LGBTQ+ persons in congregations highlighted the fact that they didn’t want to be objects of focus and didn’t want their churches to become “gay churches.” Like the rest of us, LGBTQ+ persons simply wanted a place to worship freely and safely. In conclusion, my classmate argues for religious communities that accept all and love all without making any single demographic their “mission project” or their identity. The need for inclusive, diverse communities isn’t just important for our own faithfulness, they’re essential for passing the faith of our ancestors on to our children.
Then, in a bizarre string of events on the way home from Atlanta, I found myself arguing with Governor Stitt in the St. Louis airport about public schools and the separation of church and state. He touted the Supreme Court case for school vouchers as a fight for religious liberty, and I was unable to keep my mouth shut. I’m not a very good arguer. Luckily, he is even worse.
This week reminded me that God never intended us to do it all on our own, neither as individuals or churches. We need each other. We need the Lori Walkes and the Mitch Randalls, who are good arguers, and who were also in DC this week fighting against school vouchers. We need the experts on food justice and pantries to share their research and best practices. We need churches where all people can be themselves and worship in peace. No one person or church can do it all or be all things to all people, but together we can be a faithful witness of the humble way and work of Jesus of Nazareth. The work is too big to do alone and too important not to collaborate on.
"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” - Rabbi Tarfon
The week began by listening to a classmate present on food justice and the necessity of food pantries “in the meantime.” The goal of working toward food justice is to ensure that everyone, and especially every child, has the food they need in their own homes and in their pantries. The work of food justice is to put our food pantry out of a job, she said. However, social resources are fewer and more inaccessible right now than they’ve been in some time, and they show every sign of shrinking in the year to come. In the meantime, before we can achieve food justice, she articulated the pivotal role food pantries play in keeping hungry people fed. I was reminded that NorthHaven’s food pantry remains one of the most important ministries that we’ve ever created in our time here together.
The next presenter talked about the importance of children growing up in inclusive faith communities, particularly toward LGBTQ+ persons. One of the main reasons people are leaving the church, she reports, is because they don’t see the values of Jesus preached from the pulpit aligning with community practices. Her research focused on areas of inclusion, where college-age students reported losing faith, not only in their churches, but in God, because they saw their churches being places of hostility and exclusion toward LGBTQ+ persons. In a small paradox to this, she also reported that her interviews and research with actual LGBTQ+ persons in congregations highlighted the fact that they didn’t want to be objects of focus and didn’t want their churches to become “gay churches.” Like the rest of us, LGBTQ+ persons simply wanted a place to worship freely and safely. In conclusion, my classmate argues for religious communities that accept all and love all without making any single demographic their “mission project” or their identity. The need for inclusive, diverse communities isn’t just important for our own faithfulness, they’re essential for passing the faith of our ancestors on to our children.
Then, in a bizarre string of events on the way home from Atlanta, I found myself arguing with Governor Stitt in the St. Louis airport about public schools and the separation of church and state. He touted the Supreme Court case for school vouchers as a fight for religious liberty, and I was unable to keep my mouth shut. I’m not a very good arguer. Luckily, he is even worse.
This week reminded me that God never intended us to do it all on our own, neither as individuals or churches. We need each other. We need the Lori Walkes and the Mitch Randalls, who are good arguers, and who were also in DC this week fighting against school vouchers. We need the experts on food justice and pantries to share their research and best practices. We need churches where all people can be themselves and worship in peace. No one person or church can do it all or be all things to all people, but together we can be a faithful witness of the humble way and work of Jesus of Nazareth. The work is too big to do alone and too important not to collaborate on.
"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” - Rabbi Tarfon
Upcoming Events
Recent Event Recaps
Saying Goodbye. April 27th was our last Sunday with Kailyn Knapp as NorthHaven's Minister to Children and Families. Her family started attending NorthHaven around 2018 and then in 2020, she volunteered as interim for KidsHaven. Very soon afterwards, she took on the role officially.
Her creativity and immense love for the children of NorthHaven was evident in her thoughtful lesson planning, attention to detail for fun and engaging crafts, her determination to keep ALL children safe, and the love that all the children had for her.
Please consider writing Kaitlyn a note, letting her know of the impact she had on you and your family. Hand it to Pamela or place in her box at the church and she will make sure she gets it. Let us show her how much she is loved and appreciated.
Her creativity and immense love for the children of NorthHaven was evident in her thoughtful lesson planning, attention to detail for fun and engaging crafts, her determination to keep ALL children safe, and the love that all the children had for her.
Please consider writing Kaitlyn a note, letting her know of the impact she had on you and your family. Hand it to Pamela or place in her box at the church and she will make sure she gets it. Let us show her how much she is loved and appreciated.
Thanks to everyone who volunteered to be at the NorthHaven booth!
Art Night at NorthHaven
Art Night was the perfect blend of fellowship and thoughtfulness as Pastor Jakob led everyone through four different artistic expressions of what it means to be a part of NorthHaven and what it means to be a part of God's family. Whether you were 4 or 64, the ease of being with one another and the sense of safety allowed everyone to get closer to one another and themselves. If you haven't experienced our Wednesday night programming yet, be sure to mark it on your calendar. It's a fantastic change to connect with one another in a more relaxed atmosphere.
May 5: Edith Duncan
May 7: Ella Crenshaw
May 10: Casey Mayo
May 11: Aby Mayo
May 15: Grayson Lawrence
May 16: Jeffery Knapp
May 18: Emily Miller
May 19: Keeli Morris
May 26: Chad Duncan
May 27: Kian Cox
May 30: Randy Ridenour
May 31: Trace Topper
May 7: Ella Crenshaw
May 10: Casey Mayo
May 11: Aby Mayo
May 15: Grayson Lawrence
May 16: Jeffery Knapp
May 18: Emily Miller
May 19: Keeli Morris
May 26: Chad Duncan
May 27: Kian Cox
May 30: Randy Ridenour
May 31: Trace Topper
Posted in Monthly Newsletter
Posted in May 2025, Religious Freedom, Food justice, LGBTQ+, School Vouchers
Posted in May 2025, Religious Freedom, Food justice, LGBTQ+, School Vouchers