Livingston Church

Traffic Alert for Sunday Morning — especially if traveling from the East

On Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 4:44 p.m., officers responded to a report of a semi that struck the bridge at I-70 westbound at S. 4th St. The damage to the bridge is so severe that I-70 westbound and S. 4th St. will need to be closed for several days. Please use the following detours:

I-70 West traffic will be diverted to I-71 North. Take I-71 North to 670 West to get back to I-70 West.

I-71 South traffic will be diverted to I-70 East. Take I-70 East to I-270 South to get back to I-71 South.

Please use High St. or S. Grant Ave. as an alternate to S. 4th St.

I-70 East is not affected by this closure and will remain open.

Livingston Links for Sunday, January 7, 2024

https://www.livingstonchurch.org/so/71OpMD66R

Did you know? As part of the renewal of covenant with God, John Wesley included this prayer. We encourage you to read it, pray it aloud, and share it with others who might need to reconnect with God. What does Wesley’s Covenant Prayer mean for you or what does it call you to do?

Happy New Year! Ring in the new year with this January 2024 edition of Livingston News.

January 2024 Welcome to the monthly newsletter at Livingston Church! If you have any information you'd like to contribute to the February newsletter, please send that to [email protected] no later than the end of the day on January 20th. In this edition: A Note From Pastor Angie Thank You, Pastor Jim! Ce...

As we light today’s candle of love, we recall today's Gospel story, in which Mary visits Elizabeth and shares what the angel Gabriel has told her about the forthcoming birth of Jesus.

What Mary and Elizabeth’s witness teaches us is that solidarity emerges when we share a dream that perplexes us into pondering what God intends for and requires of us. In his posthumous letter, the late Congressman John Lewis speaks about solidarity thus: “Millions of people motivated simply by human compassion laid down the burdens of division. Around the country and the world, you set aside race, class, age, language, and nationality to demand respect for human dignity.” People motivated simply by human compassion become the love that does justice.

Take Sabbath time today! We suggest any of the following—or something that refills your spirit.

- Go for a walk outside.
- Sit quietly and meditate.
- Plant something indoors or outside.
- Spend time with a friend or loved one.
- Explore a new area of your town or city.
- Cook or bake something using a favorite or new recipe.
- Do yoga or exercise in a way that feels good for your body.
- Write and mail a letter to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
- Organize or redesign an area in your home.
- Draw or create something.
- Dance or play music.
- Write a poem or a song.
- Watch a movie.
- Take a nap.

If you can remember any of your dreams from this past week, recall any details that come back to you—colors, people, images, fears, interactions, feelings. As you piece together your dreams, are there any patterns or deeper meanings? How might your dreams be showing you something about your life right now?

If you can’t remember your dreams, in your journal or on a separate piece of paper, write a dream of joy: Where and how can you sow joy into your life?

Livingston Links for Sunday, December 24, 2023

https://www.livingstonchurch.org/so/53On_3G7e

The Sanctuary space is prepared and ready to welcome you to worship on Sunday morning for the Fourth Sunday of Advent at 10:30 and/or our Christmas Eve service at 6:00 p.m. Join us in this beautiful space or online at livingstonchurch.org for both services!

God of Justice | Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity

—from the artist—

I like to think of this passage from Isaiah as “The Great Exchange,” as God’s dreams painting the world with promise: The oppressed receive good news, the brokenhearted are bound up, captives and prisoners are released and liberated. Mourners are not only comforted, but crowned with gladness. The faint-hearted are bolstered with praise. In the aftermath of exile, the prophet provides them with a rich vision of hope—of joy, even. After everything in their world has fallen apart, they are named the anointed ones, the restorers of the ruins.

In this image, I invite you to look into the eyes of the one held captive. What do you see? What do you imagine is his story? Now imagine how God sees him.

He grips tightly to the bars that hold him in place. Yet, the oaks of righteousness, sown by the God of justice, break through, proclaiming a different fate. God’s dreams, represented by the gold stippling, become a garland crowning him with glory instead of mourning. This is his Great Exchange. May it be so for us as well.

Prayer
Breathe deeply as you gaze upon the image on the left. Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How do you feel? Get quiet and still, offering a silent or spoken prayer to God.

We had a wonderful day hosting the LSS Health Center Outreach team and our neighbors experiencing homelessness for a “Winter Warmup” event. More than 70 guests received warm clothing and coats, tarps, sleeping bags, numerous other useful items and resource connections, and a sack lunch complete with homemade goodies! Thanks to our Livingston Church members who donated and came to serve, and thanks to Ari and the entire team at LSS! We can’t wait to do more good with you all!

Sow in Tears | Hannah Garrity

—from the artist—

Here, ripples of the waters of the Negeb frame the patterning of paper lace. These ripples represent the restoration celebrated in Psalm 126. The patterns within the ripples represent the tears and seeds at the sowing, the mature stalk at the reaping.

To sow joy is a powerful move. ... Imagine if we intentionally sought to see each person around us as an asset to our collective and interwoven lives in community. How might our thinking change? How might the ripples of empowerment permeate our relationships and the relationships of those around us? Can we make this our intention? Can we sow joy?

Prayer
In quiet contemplation, reflect on how the imagery illuminates what you find in the scripture and artist’s statement. Conclude with a silent or spoken prayer to God.

Contours of Mary's Dream | Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman

—from the artist—

I have this instinct to read the Magnificat alongside the first Creation narrative in Genesis. I imagine Christ taking form in Mary’s womb much like I imagine all of Creation emerging at the Creator’s voice. I collaged macro photography of patterns, textures, and colors from Creation—such as sunsets, bird’s feathers, fish scales, galaxies, leaves, planets, fur, water, etc.—and wove them into her hair. Jesus, the thread of Creation, is being knit together in her womb. God’s dream for all Creation is materializing as cells divide in her body; all the while she sings of a dream, still unrealized.

Prayer

Breathe deeply as you gaze upon the image on the left. Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How do you feel? Get quiet and still, offering a silent or spoken prayer to God.

Look at what you helped do, Livingston! Seven hundred children are about to have a great Christmas because of the generosity of you and many others in the community. Well done, good and faithful servants!

Excerpt from "Mary" - a poem prayer by Rev. Sara Are

I would always choose Mary—
Mary the teen mom.
Mary who said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”
Mary who sang.
For even at that age, even as a child,
We could tell that Mary was afraid, and into that dark, Mary sang.
So I and most of the other little girls in the church that night,
Would tighten the blue bed sheets draped around our shoulders,
And run down the center aisle when our name was called.
For in that moment,
We were on our way.
In that moment,
We were those who dream.
In that moment,
We were all Mary.
In that moment,
We were brave.

Madilynn lighting the Peace candle for the second week of Advent. Charlotte lighting the Joy candle this week.

As we light today’s candle of joy, we share the lyrics Gospel singer Shirley Caesar sings in a song entitled, “This Joy I Have.”

The lyrics are:
This joy that I have the world didn’t give to me
This joy that I have the world didn’t give to me
This joy that I have the world didn’t give to me
The world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away

Today’s text (Luke 1:46-55) is referred to as the Magnificat, Mary’s joyous praise of God. From the moment Mary is chosen to bear Jesus, we are made aware of God’s solidarity with the poor. The song sows joy that is the seed of a revolution in how we might hope to live in and live into the kin-dom of God.

We invite you to take some time to reflect on your week and to connect with God, especially if your week has been a busy one that's left little time for connection. Using the prompt on the graphic, what comes forth as you take that precious time today?

Livingston Links for Sunday, December 17, 2023

https://www.livingstonchurch.org/so/adOnPbN_0

The Flower Fades | Hannah Garrity

—from the artist—

“The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.”

In this image a single iris stalk rises up with three flowers. Representing the inconstancy of the people, the flower is just beginning to fade and the grasses begin to bend. The breath of the Lord swirls through the frame.

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.”

In the background, straight vertical lines represent the paths made straight, the leveling of the ground, the smoothing of the rough places.

Yet, in our inconstancy, God is there for us. There is hope, as Isaiah cries out, for God continues to speak peace into being within us.

Prepare a World | Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman

—from the artist—

[Rep. John] Lewis aligned his dreams with the dreams of God, and he worked his whole life, creating a path for God’s forward motion. I believe this discord in my bones is actually a charge and calling—one that John Lewis named “the deepest calling of your hearts.” We were created to prepare the way for Shalom—complete wholeness and peace—to take shape on this earth, to ensure all of humanity can enjoy the fullness of Creation. May we honor the life and work of Lewis by getting into good trouble, preparing the way for God’s glory to dwell among us.

Prayer

In quiet contemplation, reflect on how the imagery illuminates what you find in the scripture and artist’s statement. Conclude with a silent or spoken prayer to God.

The Beginning of the Good News | Lisle Gwynn Garrity

—from the artist—

As I’ve returned to this scripture (Mark 1:1-8), I’ve been struck by the fact that the story of the good news according to Mark begins with protest—with crowds swelling and shouting, with a movement of people hungry for change and willing to risk their lives for it. And so, I’m committing to preparing the way—for God’s message of liberation and love to truly be heard and made known.

Prayer

Breathe deeply as you gaze upon the image. Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How do you feel? Get quiet and still, offering a silent or spoken prayer to God.

Excerpt from "Prepare" - a poem prayer by Rev. Sara Are

And through these moments, I have come to see,
That preparation and love can be the same thing.
For there is something about love that makes us want to prepare.
There is something about love that compels us to
Throw open the doors,
Yell it from the rooftop,
Set the table,
Decorate the nursery,
Leave love notes on the back door,
Build the changing table,
Trim the tree,
Bake muffins for the road,
And when it’s time,
If you must,
Let go.
Preparation and love can be the same thing.

As we light today’s candle of peace, we remember that Jesus came into the world so that we are now messengers by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (v. 8). To prepare the way for just peace is a choice that we must make daily. Messengers know that what we see is not all there can, will, or should be. Messengers face the troubles of the world receptively, perceptively, and attentively as they proclaim, “We shall overcome.”

Take Sabbath time today! We suggest any of the following—or something that refills your spirit.

- Go for a walk outside.
- Sit quietly and meditate.
- Plant something indoors or outside.
- Spend time with a friend or loved one.
- Explore a new area of your town or city.
- Cook or bake something using a favorite or new recipe.
- Do yoga or exercise in a way that feels good for your body.
- Write and mail a letter to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
- Organize or redesign an area in your home.
- Draw or create something.
- Dance or play music.
- Write a poem or a song.
- Watch a movie.
- Take a nap.
- Read a book.

Livingston Links for Sunday, December 10, 2023

https://www.livingstonchurch.org/so/00OmsFOso