davidwswanson.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Today – as the presidential administration escalates their persecution of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers – was a good day to join some friends to protest with and for our immigrant neighbors.

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Protesting is not pastoring. But pastors who reject the possibility of protest are allowing the comfort of their privilege to drown out the cry of those desperate enough to protest.

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The White House and Homeland Security recently promoted a graphic made by white supremacists describing immigrants & migrants as "foreign invaders" and urging people to turn them in. This administration continues to make its goals plain. Believe them and act accordingly. HT @dbernstein.bsky.social

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The White House and Homeland Security recently promoted a graphic made by white supremacists describing immigrants & migrants as "foreign invaders" and urging people to turn them in. This administration continues to make its goals plain. Believe them and act accordingly. HT @dbernstein.bsky.social

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Anyone else planning to participate in this rally in support for our immigrant and migrant neighbors? I'd love to see you there.

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As we endure this increasingly coercive and cruel presidential administration, the upcoming Juneteenth holiday provides a historical witness and theological reflection to enliven and encourage us today. Here's an excerpt from my sermon last year from Romans 5:1-5, "Hope in Troubling Times."

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Got to hang out with some of the Jackson Park summertime residents this morning: an eastern kingbird striking a pose, a yellow warbler in its nest, a Baltimore oriel snacking, and another warbler checking me out from around the bend.

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Preachers, what's the passage and big idea for your sermon tomorrow? For Pentecost, I'll be in John 14:15-27, "Filled with the Spirit, Jesus’ followers experience his commandments as love."

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The Race Against Gun Violence is always one of my favorite nights of the year. A huge thanks to the more than 50 runners, joggers, and walkers who supported our church's nonprofit, newcommunityoutreach.org. Especially proud of our oldest who came in 12th in the 8K race. For context, I placed 115th.

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Late evening on June 5, 1999, walking down the aisle of Graham Chapel in Montreat, NC having made our promises before God and these witnesses. Two twenty-one-year-olds hanging on tight with no idea about what comes next. 26 years later, still mostly clueless but still hanging on tight.

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I'm thankful that this legislation – for now, at least – has not been passed by our state senate. I'm especially grateful for Cardinal Cupich's leadership. Read his recent letter opposing the proposed legislation here: www.archchicago.org/statement/-/... chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...

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O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. - Psalm 136

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The urge to shame others is proof of our own unhealed shame.

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It's been a long five years, hasn't it? Of everything you've learned, re-learned, or had confirmed since George Floyd was murdered, what one thing has been most important to you?

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Last year I suggested some ways to include Juneteenth themes in corporate worship, something which feels especially urgent as the holiday approaches and Black (Christian) history is intentionally suppressed. buttondown.com/david.w.swan...

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A singing house wren and hungry song sparrow from this afternoon's walk through the grounds at the Portiuncula Center for Prayer.

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The lupine was showing off at the Indiana National Lakeshore yesterday.

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Woe to those who make unjust laws.

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Woe to those who make unjust laws.

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For our denomination's magazine I wrote about the cultural assumptions embedded in how we address our pastors. The best part of the article is the section at the end written by a few clergy friends. covchurch.org/2024/09/16/w...

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On consecutive Mondays, the presidential administration welcomed white Afrikaners as refugees and began investigating Chicago's mayor for hiring too many African Americans. This administration is aggressively pursuing an agenda of white supremacy and we'd be foolish to pretend otherwise.

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On consecutive Mondays, the presidential administration welcomed white Afrikaners as refugees and began investigating Chicago's mayor for hiring too many African Americans. This administration is aggressively pursuing an agenda of white supremacy and we'd be foolish to pretend otherwise.

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"We think that somehow God can only use the parts of our lives that look clean, that look polished, that look worthy of a testimony. But what if the glory is in the scar?" - @richtywil.bsky.social

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"While the racial binary restricts those who can participate in the reconciliation project, centering the material causes behind racial injustice allows not only for everyone to be included in the conversation but for everyone to participate in repair." buttondown.com/david.w.swan...

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Suppressing Black history. Expelling influential Black people. Discriminating against Black communities. Agitating for the pardon of the officer whose murder of a Black man instigated the largest racial reckoning in generations. The trajectory is obvious. Let's not pretend we can't see it.

submitted 28 days ago • 1 comment

Suppressing Black history. Expelling influential Black people. Discriminating against Black communities. Agitating for the pardon of the officer whose murder of a Black man instigated the largest racial reckoning in generations. The trajectory is obvious. Let's not pretend we can't see it.

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My friend Helen Lee's new book is out now! While it's definitely for kids, this beautifully book is for anyone learning to sit prayerfully with this world's pain. Find it here: bookshop.org/p/books/kayl...

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So much activity in Jackson Park this morning, including this song sparrow tuning up, a yellow warbler surveying his territory, and a hungry goldfinch.

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This morning, after a brief sermon, walked up to our nonprofit's community gardens to pray for a fruitful season of planting, harvesting, and sharing with our neighbors. After closing worship on the school lot we enjoyed paletas to celebrate Mother’s’ Day. Such a joyful morning!

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Hey preachers, what's the passage and big idea for your sermon tomorrow? I'll preach from Luke 24:13-35, "Jesus reveals himself through people shaped by Scripture."

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I enjoyed joining Meghan Tschanz on her Faith and Feminism podcast to talk about Plundered: www.meghantschanz.com/plundered-th...

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Song sparrows, palm warblers, and Baltimore oriels were all well-represented during my walk through Jackson Park this morning.

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“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” - Isaiah 5:20 Keep speaking up, friends.

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“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” - Isaiah 5:20 Keep speaking up, friends.

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"While our congregations will typically stay out of the political weeds, it’s our very identity as the embodied presence of Christ in the world which compels our prophetic witness when the intention and methods of our nation’s leaders damage our neighbors." buttondown.com/david.w.swan...

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"Onesti said the new statue should honor Frances Xavier Cabrini, the Roman Catholic nun better known as Mother Cabrini. The first American to be recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, Cabrini cared for Italian immigrants on Chicago’s West Side."

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It was always about power.

submitted 42 days ago • 1 comment

It was always about power.

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Spent a few hours hanging out with my feathered friends yesterday, including these good-looking guys: black and white warbler, cooper's hawk, blue-grey fly-catcher, and palm warbler.

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Tis the season for strawberry-rhubarb pie.

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I'd love for you to join Natasha, @latashamorrison.bsky.social, and me for this conversation tomorrow. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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The church "has the right and duty to exercise, in relation to any organization, Christian or not, its prophetic function of encouraging what is in keeping with the revelation of God in the gospel and of denouncing all that is in contradiction to this revelation."

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Our church sets aside one Sunday a year to spotlight our nonprofit (newcommunityoutreach.org). Today we heard how restorative justice animates our work – community garden, back-to-school fair, summer leadership program – and especially our peace circles with over 200 young people.

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments