by Erica Palmisano | Oct 14, 2018
A message from the series “Adventures in Happiness.” Jesus said to his closest companions and followers that he did not consider them servants but friends. Before going to trial and execution, he told the same people that he wanted to spend his final precious moments with them. Jesus seemed to long for friendship (just as we do) and take incredible joy in it. Clearly he spent important and much needed time alone, but in everything else he did, he did it with others, and in many ways his life was a celebration of community. But this was no ordinary community. Jesus’ circle included Roman officials and anti-Roman freedom fighters, tax collectors and Pharisees, women and men, Pagans, Jews and Samaritans. The power of Jesus’ love, acceptance and inclusion was evidenced by genuine diversity. And this was no show: these were truly friends. Jesus’ life was an embodiment—an incarnation—of his higher purpose of reconciliation and healing.
The early Christ-following communities after Jesus embodied this same diversity and friendship. They were not only beneficiaries of this radical acceptance, but also extended it to others. Here at Cedar Ridge we are all descendants of this lineage, and are invited into the same adventure in friendship. Like all humans, we long to be fully known and fully accepted. But this is also a challenge: we have all experienced the joy of friendship and also the pain of rejection. We’ve all felt the comfort of inclusion but also the loneliness of being on the outside. So we are daring to dream that we can be a community where no one is alone. A community, like the one around Jesus, that is diverse in its beauty: black, white, male, female, young, old, gay, straight, married, single. A community that embraces difference, and is transformed by it. A community that demonstrates to the whole world that reconciliation and healing are possible.
by Erica Palmisano | Oct 7, 2018
A message from the series “Adventures in Happiness.” Jesus said to his closest companions and followers that he did not consider them servants but friends. Before going to trial and execution, he told the same people that he wanted to spend his final precious moments with them. Jesus seemed to long for friendship (just as we do) and take incredible joy in it. Clearly he spent important and much needed time alone, but in everything else he did, he did it with others, and in many ways his life was a celebration of community. But this was no ordinary community. Jesus’ circle included Roman officials and anti-Roman freedom fighters, tax collectors and Pharisees, women and men, Pagans, Jews and Samaritans. The power of Jesus’ love, acceptance and inclusion was evidenced by genuine diversity. And this was no show: these were truly friends. Jesus’ life was an embodiment—an incarnation—of his higher purpose of reconciliation and healing.
The early Christ-following communities after Jesus embodied this same diversity and friendship. They were not only beneficiaries of this radical acceptance, but also extended it to others. Here at Cedar Ridge we are all descendants of this lineage, and are invited into the same adventure in friendship. Like all humans, we long to be fully known and fully accepted. But this is also a challenge: we have all experienced the joy of friendship and also the pain of rejection. We’ve all felt the comfort of inclusion but also the loneliness of being on the outside. So we are daring to dream that we can be a community where no one is alone. A community, like the one around Jesus, that is diverse in its beauty: black, white, male, female, young, old, gay, straight, married, single. A community that embraces difference, and is transformed by it. A community that demonstrates to the whole world that reconciliation and healing are possible.
by Erica Palmisano | Sep 30, 2018
A message from the series “Adventures in Happiness.” Jesus said to his closest companions and followers that he did not consider them servants but friends. Before going to trial and execution, he told the same people that he wanted to spend his final precious moments with them. Jesus seemed to long for friendship (just as we do) and take incredible joy in it. Clearly he spent important and much needed time alone, but in everything else he did, he did it with others, and in many ways his life was a celebration of community. But this was no ordinary community. Jesus’ circle included Roman officials and anti-Roman freedom fighters, tax collectors and Pharisees, women and men, Pagans, Jews and Samaritans. The power of Jesus’ love, acceptance and inclusion was evidenced by genuine diversity. And this was no show: these were truly friends. Jesus’ life was an embodiment—an incarnation—of his higher purpose of reconciliation and healing.
The early Christ-following communities after Jesus embodied this same diversity and friendship. They were not only beneficiaries of this radical acceptance, but also extended it to others. Here at Cedar Ridge we are all descendants of this lineage, and are invited into the same adventure in friendship. Like all humans, we long to be fully known and fully accepted. But this is also a challenge: we have all experienced the joy of friendship and also the pain of rejection. We’ve all felt the comfort of inclusion but also the loneliness of being on the outside. So we are daring to dream that we can be a community where no one is alone. A community, like the one around Jesus, that is diverse in its beauty: black, white, male, female, young, old, gay, straight, married, single. A community that embraces difference, and is transformed by it. A community that demonstrates to the whole world that reconciliation and healing are possible.
by Erica Palmisano | Sep 23, 2018
A message from the series “Adventures in Happiness.” Jesus lived with a deep sense of purpose. He described it in a variety of ways such as “doing the will of my father’ or “seeking and saving the lost.” It looked different at various times, too: resolutely “setting his face towards Jerusalem,” or tenderly “healing all who came to him.” Jesus was driven by a higher purpose—to love, heal and lead us into union with God and a deep experience of life in the Kingdom of God. We are invited into the same purpose: as we experience all this ourselves we join the mission to share it and make a way for others. Everything we do in our church community is part of this purpose. Our mission is to be and make disciples—to experience it ourselves, and make a way for others to have the same benefit.
As a community on this mission, there are many things that need to “get done” and we all get to do them! We’ve all experienced to some degree the fulfillment accomplishing something. But this is especially rewarding when we are doing things for others, and when we have a sense that the task (however apparently mundane) is part of a higher purpose. Serving in this way brings a deep sense of joy and fulfillment of the Jesus paradox that to really live fully you have to give your life away. Cedar Ridge is a community where we get to live and serve in this way. Whether we serve because we have gifts and talents that are desperately needed, or because the job just needs doing, we are all invited to enjoy this adventure in purpose, meaning and fulfillment.
by Erica Palmisano | Sep 16, 2018
A message from the series “Adventures in Happiness.” According to protestant theologians writing in the 17thcentury, the chief end of humankind is to love and enjoy God forever. Each of us is made uniquely in the image of God, and we therefore enjoy and are enjoyed by God in a distinctive, personal manner. This may be expressed in so many ways—such as how we exercise our creativity, our sense of humor, our varied relationships, and our recognition of God in the countless “little” things of everyday life. We each bring our distinctive outlook on life and insights into the divine mystery to Cedar Ridge. And together we create a truly unique community!
We are a community that seeks to bring God’s reconciling love to our workplaces and neighborhoods, and that views following Jesus as something that impacts every area of our lives. We value authenticity—honestly and humbly acknowledging our doubts and questions, and embracing mystery. And we are committed to diversity and to the loving acceptance and inclusion of everyone. We all have a role to play in our community—our presence matters. Our smiles and words of encouragement have more impact than we can imagine. Our contributions—no matter how “small” or hidden—make a difference. We—ordinary people like you and I—are Cedar Ridge.
