Reading Through Love

Join Leah as she concludes the "Sacred Sources" series with a captivating look at biblical interpretation. Drawing inspiration from the Greek god Hermes, Leah introduces us to the art and science of hermeneutics – the practice of deriving meaning from texts. She expertly guides us through various interpretive lenses used throughout history, from early Jewish and Christian approaches to modern liberation and feminist theologies. Leah then turns our attention to Jesus' own interpretive key, found in Matthew 22:34-40, which emphasizes love as the central tenet of faith. This enlightening teaching equips us with valuable insights for reading scripture through a lens of love, encouraging a deeper and more nuanced engagement with the Bible. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your biblical understanding and enrich your faith journey.

Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.

Sacred Texts

In this Zoom-only Sunday gathering, Leah teaches on the theme of "Sacred Texts" and considers how reordering our relationship to the Bible might be an important part of our recovering of the sacred.

Review Leah’s notes and listen to or watch the teaching below.

Sacred Heritage

In this teaching from the "Recovering the Sacred" series, Leah explores how we might handle stories and texts from our sacred tradition that we find problematic, and what it might mean to "include and transcend" as we seek to rebuild and recover our spiritual practices.

Review Leah’s notes here and listen to or watch the teaching below.

The Work In the Exile

Photo credit: H

This is the second teaching in a series called "Faith In the Exile". This series focuses on the experiences we are living through in 2020 and asks if our tradition might hold wisdom for us in the era known as the Babylonian Exile. In times of crisis, one of the ways we cope is to examine our histories and the stories that have formed us. This teaching takes a look at how that was done by our ancestors in the exile, the ways their work in that time touches us still, and in what ways we might follow their lead in our own exile experiences.

Review Leah’s notes here, listen along, or view the teaching below.

Let's Talk About the Bible

Photo credit: Coen Peppelenbos found here

A critical piece for many of us in regards to Jesus-centered faith seems to do with how we think about the Bible. In this teaching, Matt Silas shares some of his journey of deconstruction around the Bible (beginning around 7 minutes in), and Leah opens up a conversation around some of the ways we might think about reconstructing a healthy relationship with this set of texts the Christian faith calls sacred.

Review Leah’s notes here or listen to the teaching below.

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What's the Big Deal About the Bible?

In this teaching, Haven's own Luke Wassink shares his thoughts about wrestling with and getting the best out of a library of ancient documents we've come to know of as the Bible. Check out his notes or listen to the audio, included below.

Connie Barker: On LGBT Inclusion

This week we're honored to have Connie Barker talking about the history of the Bible as both weapon against and wellspring for social change. Please view this one below or listen to the audio.