Part of my baptismal vows, and then confirmation, and then ordination and installation includes not only to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior but also to reject evil. I will admit that as a (white) child of the 80s and 90s I was more sunshine and bubblegum, hoping that evil was fading away. However, I have learned that evil had merely hidden, and that not only is institutional sexism, racism, ableism and homophobia but it seems that in the United States the ugliness of hate feels to move more openly in the world as fascism takes power.
As I write, pray, rest, parent, I find that for me my faith is part and parcel to my resistance. The more inclusive I can be the more I resisting the hate I see.
One of the places I am able to do this is the conference I am attending next month–it is called NEXT church, where we explore church as more of a movement and less than an institution–it runs Nov 11-14th, and is designed for all types of church people (not just leaders) and has full on courses such as community organizing, more than good intentions (don’t just be a nice white person), art as resistance, trauma informed ministry and more! I hope you explore and are able to join me as there are still spots LEFT! https://nextchurch.net/national-gathering/2025-grand-rapids-mi/ (There is special pricing if you live nearby or don’t have designated funs to help (and some meals are even included!)
If you are a church leader and can’t make it to the gathering–or even if you can, you might also want to look into our highly contextual Agents of Change program https://nextchurch.net/preaching-for-change/agents-of-change/ (due OCT 15!) program This is for those leaders who want to embody the transformative work that leads to justice and liberation.
Full disclosure I am part of the newly Formed NEXT church board, but I have been attending NEXT church events for 14 years–and that is all it takes to be a NEXT church community member, I hope you join our community soon, because At Such a Time as This, this is the kind of Faith movement that I find sustaining to the soul.
God, I stand in prayer for a country where guns are so glorified
That shooters Think that to go out in a blaze of gunfire is better Than getting Care
Lord hear our prayer
Prince of Peace We pray for all the Victims of Violence Those who lost Their Beloved ones Those who witnessed the Devastation
Messiah Comfort them
Holy Spirit we pray For all those who are experiencing and are experiencing trauma as a result of this tragedy We pray That we find a way to change the Policies to prevent gun violence Before every single person has to be touched by Gun Violence
Come Holy Comforter, and hold us til we stop crying
Teach us to Move beyond Thoughts and Prayers
And how to Move and Act With Purpose and Dfenition of Peace and Kin(g)dom Care We Place ourselves In your Tender Care During this Time of Trouble Amen
I am tired of starving children in wars That we can help in cutting aid in efficiencies that cost humanity
I am angry at blatant misuse abuses of power lies and misleadings with little follow up or repercussions finger wagging and learning from these politicians for what
I am bitter from throwing people under the bus the Trans the Disabled the Women the Poor
I am working to do what I can when I can To remember that it all counts
Probably not int he ways I want Or can see
Dang it
If God could move Things in percievable concrete and faster ways we would Appreciate it quick
And quicker If you please Our minds and hearts and souls are fainting for it
So we wait Impatiently
Together
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta aka “KatyandtheWord”
And I pray for the day when movies don’t hit home So hard
And the brown children in the midst of war waving a flag Don’t break your heart
And the world Splitting in two of a “Natural Disaster” doesn’t make your jaw clench
And God I pray that when people cry because the Lex Luthers of the world Make them feel bad And the immigrants are the Superheroes
That the Holy Spirit Keeps Tapping them On the shoulder nipping Them in the Ear And touching them on their heart
Because Maybe art Isn’t the one Way through
But I’ll take Blood, Sweat, Tears, Votes
And your favorite Pop Character
Because At this point Anything To Welcome people
to there revelation
God help us Walk until everyone can see the Superpuppy as cute
and all earthlings as Beloved
We pray. Amen.
Feel free to share/adapt/use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta aka “KatyandtheWord”
with thanks to my middle child Westley who loves all movies, and honors remakes and sequels, etc and more of the thing he loves and teaches a deep appreciation of all art–it’s good remember to take joy in all things (This movie was really good, but it is truly fun to walk in to everything with the attitude of, this will be fun)
You may not know this about me, but I am currently working at a federated American Baptist and United Church of Christ Church as a Presbyterian USA Pastor. I love living into this interdenominational reality. Trying to figure out what we have in common of One Baptism, One Table, One Christ. I find it beautiful. I think one of the best places that prepared me for this ministry is NEXT Church
It is probably not a coincidence that I became a board member about the same time I started my ministry at Emmanuel Friedens–the Holy Spirit knows what she is doing.
NEXT Church is one of those spaces that continues to transition as time goes on. I have been attending NEXT for about 13 years. It is a place that continues to wrestle with the questions of what it means to be the church today—but uniquely it does this with hope and joy and for the church at all levels. The mantra NEXT church is trying to live into is that it is better together, therefore anyone who is involved at NEXT church at any level is NEXT church. We are NEXT church. It is more of a movement than an institution.
It certainly felt that way when at NEXT church that the ramification of the Gay marriage amendment passing broke. I’ll never forget that day—Diana Butler Bass was speaking. I was sitting up in the balcony, and we all got text alerts about it. No one was able to hear a word about what she was saying, because the news was so exciting. I was livetweeting the conference and asked if someone was going to interrupt her and announce the news. NEXT church is kind of laid-back, so it seemed hard for anyone in the hall to break in. Finally, I realized I was in a good position. I raised my hand and said “Excuse me Diana, I hate to interrupt, but we just got the news that gay marriage was ratified for our denomination can marry, and we are all distracted by the good news, everyone can marry.” Diana said, “Congratulations, this Episcopalian, welcomes you.” Note this delightful interdenominational interaction! And the entire hall erupted in applause. More Light and Covenant Network had planned a reception for that that evening and what had initially meant to be a small gathering practically the entire conference came out to celebrate, many of them ordering “the Presbyterian” which the bartenders no doubt quickly learned how to make.
NEXT church is not place for clergy to gather at the mountaintop and go just in hope. It is trying to meet all of the congregation as we figure out this thing of if the church is not existing as it is now, what then will it be? That is what the Already Not Yet national gathering of Next is coming together to contemplate—not to provide all of the answers, but to give time and space to be the church together, both now and for the future. The pathways are for all people doing all the work that is the church, because this is who we are.
If you have had a conversation with me about the greater church you have probably heard me say “I’m excited about where the church is going.’ It seems like a strange thing to say at this time, but the church was and is always meant to be a movement for the marginal, it was never meant to be for the rich and powerful. Right now people don’t go to the small town church for prestige or honor. The people who come are attracted by community and through a hunger for something more. We are the church together, God is planting the seeds so that we can be enough of a movement to do God’s work in the world. The buildings and pews are just dressing, the people are the heart of God’s love.
That something more is what is being addressed by the current Pathways for Next Church. There is the self explanatory Community Organizing, One about the Goals of your ministry called: More Than Good Intentions, there is the much in demand Communal Trauma track, there is the one I think I’m going to land on Art as Trauma (my mom and I had a long discussion that she forgot that writing was art), and NEXT church’s pathway about measuring progress other than through membership and money (or butts and bucks) called Cultivated Ministry. I hope you consider joining me in November 11-14th in Grand Rapids, MI. The cost is $499 and includes some meals. If you do not have a Continuing Ed budget, it is reduced to $299. There is a hotel deal as well and of course if you convince a friend to come, you can share a room. If you do not have young children like me, perhaps you can drive out and reduce costs more. The information is here https://nextchurch.net/national-gathering/2025-grand-rapids-mi/
God of rainbows Amidst the floods When we look for lost girls and RVs When we mourn dead camp directors And family members
When camps and houses and belongings are swept away With powerfully swept away
Remind us That you sit with us amidst
And when we cry out God where are you
You cry too
And that you Disarmed Your very self Hanging Your weapon Permanently in the sky
A proclamation that you are a God of Covenants Promises Peace and Love
not punishments
So that when we cry out “What have we done to deserve this?” You sweep us up In your love and care Snuggling us to sleep murmuring “Nothing, absolutely nothing”
and you help the absolutely best search doggies And you wipe the brows of the the emergency workers and volunteers and you sit and sigh with the wearied
And God You give us Patience and silence amidst us in unexpected encouragement
Because you are The God of Spaciousness Letting us Be our full selves
And so Be with us in our Grief our waiting and Our Empathy Be with us in our Love
For many waters cannot quench Love Nor can the Floods Drown it
Be the Love Amidst us That outlasts This flood We pray Amen
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta aka KatyandtheWord
Screw this Screw this Reality Screw this Bill Screw Money Screw Whiteness Screw Racism
Screw Millionaires Special Interests Backroom Bills And the ones we can see too
Screw working together with Those who hate the weak While the hungry cry out the people are being kidnapped Your grandparents don’t know how they are going to get medical care Disabilities, Queerness, and our Black and Brown siblings are hated with the full force of the law
Screw that
Screw our children being afraid of Everything Screw the hard questions about the world they are coming into Screw the rolling back of Environmental justice
Screw redefining words so that everything becomes “too political”
Screw Praying when we should be Arguing Walking Fighting Voting And Protecting Each Other
And Screw this Economy that doesn’t Give us time to breathe Much less Care
Screw Everything And Screw Up my face With the tears That run down It As I don’t Have the right Words Or Actions Or Things to Do And all I have Is the Gut reaction Of Screw Everything And I empty Myself Full on Confessional to God
Saying Screw it
And I figure God knows And is probably saying the same thing With me
Screw Injustice And Hopelessness And “Good Enough” This isn’t gonna Cut it Anymore
Screw it Until we Screw Together Something else I don’t even know What But somehow Screw it Is a prayer
Holy Spirit Come Help us to say Screw it To all we need to let go of Then help us to Unscrew all the Loose Screws
(And then Maybe Find us the tools we need To start the work again)
But right now Screw it
Feel free to share/adapt/Use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta aka “KatyandtheWord”
But I will Praise God Who is Merciful to those who need Good News Tear the mighty off their supremacy courts Lift up the oppressed Free the kidnapped
Help us to magnify Your Power and Glory So that your Grace Overshadows all of this evil Feeding the hunger Sending the Rich Techbros Comfortable Politicians White Supremacists Away with Nothing For their promises are Empty
But you God Remember That your Promises are Made of Empathy and Mercy And endure Forever And so we stand with You God The God of Immigrants Chosen Names and Found Families Now and Forever Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
God For parents And kids For whom This week Is not a Celebration But a struggle
A sigh A moment Of girding their loins Because it means Transitioning to summer Or a move Or not knowing what comes next
For all who dread “What are you doing this summer” For families whose meals Childcare or work become more difficult For young adults That are in difficult places or spaces For whatever reason
This so a prayer For hard summer May this transition time Be smoothed May you find connection And companionship
Moments of Stillness Sanctuary And peace Be found in the in-between Amen
katyandtheword 