Introduction
My name has changed several times in the last decade. Almost 11 years ago I became a Holland. Changing my last name after getting married wasn’t a foregone conclusion. Tim and I got married in our 30s, so I had academic, career, and life accomplishments tied to my maiden name and I was afraid of having to reestablish myself in some spaces. I didn’t want to lose what I had worked so hard for. Over 8 years ago I became a mom, and took on a new name and title. It was the start of one of the greatest adventures in my life, but it also began a season of needing to remember my identity and the name I continued to carry with me. I didn’t want to lose who I was at my core. Last week Eli called me bro, so while it’s not quite the “bruh” I’d been told to brace for, it was certainly close enough. Raising kids is a long exercise in letting go, but this new name made me hyper aware of how much older he’s getting and the influences he has outside of our home, that not so long ago was his entire world. At my core I’ve been the same person at each stage, but all name changes marked new connections, greater responsibility, and an increased need for me to show up more holistically; they’ve helped me be more fully me.
These past few weeks we’ve taken the time to see how the name Vine and Branch connects to our ethos, Belong, Become, Believe, and have engaged in an exercise to see how we connect to it as well. Since a church isn’t a building, but the people in it, a new name means we’d all be operating under a new banner. As we discussed last week, this would set the stage for us to build new connections, take on greater responsibility, and commit to showing up fully as ourselves.
This Sunday we’re connecting Table Group style to dig in a bit more. Our conversation will center around three questions, one for each branch of our ethos. For those who like a bit more time to consider answers, or for anyone who isn’t able to be there Sunday but still wants to join in in spirit, here is a sneak peek at the questions:
1. Belong: To whom are you connected? Consider how you are serving those around you. How might this communicate belonging?
2. Become: What are you doing to bear fruit? Consider what is the best thing you’ve read, watched, or listened to recently. How did it help you grow?
3. Believe: What is keeping you rooted? Consider What is giving you life right now. How does this represent how you believe?
Go Team!
Laura Holland and the Teaching Team
Responsive Reading for Vine and Branch
Reader: Friends, today we affirm our identity and aspiration with the following declaration.
Everyone: Jesus you are the True Vine and we, your church, are a branch
Reader: Sisters and brothers and siblings, apart from the Vine, we can bear no lasting fruit.
Everyone: Holy Spirit help us to remain in you and you in us.
Reader: It is God’s will that we have life and have it in abundance.
Everyone: Jesus is the Way, the truth and the life. We abide in Him.
Reader: As we abide in Him not just for our own sake, but for the sake of others and the healing of all creation, to the glory of the Creator.
Everyone: We abide in you Jesus, align our hearts and minds, souls and spirits to yours.
Reader: In the Name of the Creator, Jesus the Messiah and God the Holy Spirit, Amen.
