Here are a few resources that have been helpful to our community.
Climate Resources (Part Three)
Divest your money from fossil fuels and war by banking with b corps
Automatically carbon offset your driving, plant a tree for every purchase you make, get $50 when you sign up, and plant a tree at Mission Hills.
Plant trees while you search the web with Ecosia.
Ecosia is a green search engine that uses the profit it makes from your searches to plant trees where they are needed! Leave Google in the 00s and start searching with Ecosia to plant trees with every search! Available on your computer and as an app on your phone!
music
Here are some songs we enjoy singing on Sundays.
Books we’ve read together
a few books that have been impactful for our community
The Universal Christ - Richard Rohr
Most know who Jesus was, but who was Christ? Too often, our understandings have been limited by culture, religious squabbling, and the human tendency to put ourselves at the center. Drawing on scripture, history, and spiritual practice, Rohr articulates a transformative view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God’s constant, unfolding work in the world.
The Cross and the Lynching Tree - James Cone
Both the cross and the lynching tree represent the worst in human beings and, at the same time, a thirst for life that refuses to let the worst determine our final meaning. While the lynching tree symbolizes white power and black death, the cross symbolizes divine power and black life, God overcoming the power of sin and death. For African Americans, the image of Jesus hung on a tree to die powerfully grounded their faith that God was with them, even in the suffering of the lynching era.
Traveling Mercies - Anne Lamott
Lamott's faith isn't about easy answers, which is part of what endears her to believers as well as nonbelievers. Against all odds, she came to believe in God and then, even more miraculously, in herself. As she puts it, "My coming to faith did not start with a leap but rather a series of staggers." Traveling Mercies tells in exuberant detail how Anne Lamott learned to shine the light of faith on the darkest part of ordinary life, exposing surprising pockets of meaning and hope.
They Will Inherit The Earth - John Dear
We cannot recommend this book enough. If Jesus calls us into anything, it’s a life of nonviolence. John Dear beautifully explores a nonviolent posture toward all things in the midst of a planet undergoing climate change.
The Great Emergence - Phyllis Tickle
Phyllis Tickle shows readers how the Great Emergence happening in the Church now is similar to other "Greats" in the history of Christianity, including the Great Transformation (when God walked among us), the time of Gregory the Great, the Great Schism, and the Great Reformation.
A New Harmony - John Phillip Newell
The poetic JPN explores a Celtic view of the oneness of creation and humanity as expressed through Christ.
The Idolatry of God - Peter Rollins
In contrast to the understanding of the “Good News” as a message offering satisfaction and certainty, Rollins argues how the Good News involves embracing the idea that we cannot be whole, that life is difficult, and that we are in the dark. Showing how God has traditionally been approached as a product that will render us complete, remove our suffering, and reveal the answers, he introduces an incendiary approach to faith that invites us to joyfully embrace our brokenness, resolutely face our unknowing, and courageously accept the difficulties of existence.
Borg calls all American Christians to reject divisiveness and exclusivity and create communities that celebrate joy, possibility, and renewal. Throughout, he reflects on what matters most: bringing to earth the kingdom of God Jesus talked about and transforming our relationships with one another. Rich in wisdom and insight, Convictions has become a classic of contemporary Christianity.
podcasts
James Finley offers a modern take on the timeless wisdom of the Christian mystics through meditation and practice. Kirsten Oats and James have created a beautiful podcast for those searching for something more meaningful, intimate, and richly present in the divine gift of their lives.
Krista Tippet's podcast leads the way for discussions about spirituality, peacemaking, and creating a more beautiful humanity.
This conversational podcast explores the deep connections between action and contemplation. Richard is joined by two students of the Christian contemplative path, Brie Stoner and Paul Swanson, who seek to integrate wisdom amidst diapers, disruptions, and the shifting state of our world.
For 15 years, Tripp Fuller has interviewed Christian scholars, authors, and activists, and his episodes usually dive into the nerdy theological weeds of important issues facing the Church and culture today.
tv & film
We love to talk about tv and film. Here are some shows we’ve mentioned in conversations.
The Bear - Hulu
Severance - Apple TV+
Afterlife - Netflix
Devs - Hulu
About Time - Netlfix
LOST - Amazon
Stranger Things - Netflix
The OA - Netflix
The Path - Hulu
Handmaid’s Tale - Hulu
The Leftovers - HBO
The Biggest Little Farm - Amazon
Fleabag - Amazon
Killing Eve - Hulu
Before The Flood - Netflix
Seaspiracy - HBO
Food Inc. - Netflix
Dark Tourist - Netflix
Cowspiracy - Netflix
Prayer
At Mission Hills, we practice a variety of forms of prayer and Christian contemplation.
Here are a few resources we hope you find helpful.
Centering Prayer Guidelines via https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org
