APOLOGIES for being away so long. No...really. I'm sorry for the extended absence (more in the intro). But at last we continue in our look at hope in the time of COVID, and particularly how we make good use of a crisis. So far we've looked at the essential first step of faith: allowing ourselves to be loved. Now we take the beginning of step two: recognizing that Jesus's manner of love - indeed his whole way of being - is a radically new road. And it calls us to a radically new worldview. As I mention in the introduction, one dimension of Canvas's work in these last few months of which I am very proud, is our Continual Learning series on the church and the LGBTQ+ community. It's a core value of Canvas that we are always growing in our understanding, and one very important intersection between the larger culture and the church is engagement around members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. As a congregation that is inclusive and affirming, we felt compelled to deepen our understanding of the LGBTQ+ experience, and thus, created two extended learning series on the subject. The resources we collected and discussed are hardly the final word on any of the topics, but in the hope of continuing the conversation and growth, I truly encourage you to take a look at what we managed to put together. You can find the whole collection here. As for this sermon... The biblical passage upon which the sermon is based is: Luke 6:17-36 (NRSV) It was preached on May 24, 2020 at Canvas Presbyterian Church (Irvine, CA). If you'd like to see the whole worship service, you can find it here. Or subscribe to the Canvas Vimeo page for our video archive or to see future worship services! Want more content from Jesus at 2AM? Check out the website, where you can also learn more about how to become a patron! Up for connecting??? I'd love to have you send e-mail, or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.