Awaken Community

Pastor Micah continues an exploration of Acts by looking at a moment where Peter and John face imprisonment for healing a man at the temple. How might our perception of power and authority shift when we consider how Jesus and his followers interact with the leaders in the temple?

Awaken begins a new series called "Beyond the Map" where we will explore places in scripture where the Spirit seems to be leading the followers of Jesus outside their categories for understanding God into a more expansive way of thinking and behaving. Pastor Micah starts with Pentecost Sunday and Luke's reworking of old stories in a new context.

Pastor Micah discusses the another aspect of faith that can be helpful along the journey; the practice of being WITH Jesus. In Mark 3:7-14, Jesus calls his disciples to “be with him” and THEN he sends them out. How do each of us uniquely experience the divine? Micah invites us into a practice of being present with God in whatever ways are most accessible to us.

Pastor Micah explores Luke 24:13-35 and the moment the disciples become aware of Jesus presence in their midst. They are made aware because of their lived experiences with an embodied Jesus, not because they had all the right answers about God. This is the life of faith - taking one next right step, in community, leaning on our past experiences, in the hope that healing and incarnation will draw close to us in our walk.

Guest speaker Stephanie Spencer visits Awaken again to discuss the concept of justice by looking at a plumb line and how it is used in tandem with a measuring line and a cornerstone to build structures in the ancient world. How do these simple building tools help us understand what it looks like to reconstruct our spiritual lives?

Pastor Micah continues the series by looking at Numbers 2 and the tabernacle to understand the importance of living in connected community. People gathered around the tabernacle in a circle wherein they could see the one another face to face with the spirit of God between them at the center. They would bring whatever they had to offer with a glad heart for the sake of the collective. How might we do the same?

Awaken begins another series focused on rebuilding the foundations of faith after an unburdened series that unpacked unhelpful ideas within the evangelical tradition. Pastor Micah kicks things off with a discussion on sin and brokenness.

Pastor Micah delivers his final Easter message by looking at Jesus as the last scapegoat, breaking the cycle of redemptive violence that has become so normalized throughout human history.

Awaken's Director of Spiritual Formation, Cathy Solomon, delivers a refreshing exploration of the ways comfort has been used within white evangelical religious spaces as a means of avoidance. What does it look like to enter into discomfort for the sake of spiritual growth and connectedness to ourselves and our neighbors?

Pastor Micah unpacks the consequences of American Exceptionalism and Colonialism embedded within the Christian church. What does it look like to unearth, address, and let go of colonialism within our religious context?

Pastor Micah discusses yet another major belief in modern western christianity, the rapture. He unpacks what it is, where it's found in scripture (if at all), and how it gained such a significant following. By looking at the real world implications of such a belief, Micah encourages us to let go of escapism and be reminded of partnering with God on this earth here and now.

Pastor Jenna and Micah are co-teaching for the first time in Awaken's history on the impact of purity culture in the evangelical landscape. They unpack the shame and guilt that came with viewing our bodies as sinful first, while inviting us to consider what it would look like to let go of the binaries that exist within that framework.

Awaken begins a new lenten series called "unburdened" that explores concepts in faith that have been given to us that we are encouraged to unpack and consider releasing from our experience of Christianity. Pastor Micah kicks off the series by discussing how we might let go of a version of evangelism that places so much emphasis on certainty, the after life, and our personal responsibility for another's salvation. 

Pastor Micah closes out the series by discussing day seven, the first day humans exist; a day of rest. Day seven symbolizes completion, celebration, and renewal. Rest is not the end but the rhythm that allows everything else to begin again.

Pastor Micah discusses our series of the seven days of creation by looking at day six, Genesis 1:24-31. Day six represents relationship and purpose. Creation becomes relational. Within God is the fullness of all humanity and we are invited to embrace it for ourselves and see it in one another.

Pastor Micah unpacks Genesis 1:20-23 and the way it can symbolize creativity, movement, and abundance. After four days of preparation in the hope God would move, life flourishes in day five when we participate with God in creating beauty.

Guest speaker Steph Spencer from 40 Orchards delivers a deep dive into the significance of day four during a season in the world where the need for people to participate is so important. How do we engage from a place of grounding rooted in love for our neighbors?

Pastor Jenna unpacks the third day of creation in Genesis by looking at the generative nature of good in a world that seems desolate and void.

After a difficult week in MSP, Pastor Micah continues our exploration of the seven days of creation by looking at day two symbolizing separation and space-making. New life often requires creating space — between old and new, chaos and order, what was and what’s coming.

January 4th, 2025 - Awaken begins another new series on the first seven days of creation. Pastor Micah opens the series by looking at Genesis 1:1-5 and light being named into existence. Every new beginning starts when the lights come on and you begin to see something you couldn’t before — about God, yourself, or your situation.

Pastor Micah delivers his last Christmas message to Awaken by taking a look at the theme of light throughout scripture. It's a promise in the midst of darkness, but what would it look like if we received light as the gift that it is and saw ourselves as a light worthy of sharing with others? Merry Christmas to you all!

Pastor Jenna discusses how love can be a response to fear and hate by looking at some of the complexities facing our city today. In the same breath, during this holiday season, how can we view love as action, choice, and a simple acknowledgment of God's presence in each of our lives.

Pastor Micah continues the Advent as Resistance series by looking at the complexity of joy in a world that seems absent of it. 

Pastor Micah traces the threads of two Hebrew words, shamar and shalom, as they appear throughout scripture. Their significance and connection can be found in the simple, yet deeply consequential question, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Pastor Micah discusses hope as resistance to empire by looking at the complexity, difficulty, and necessity of hope in a world that seems lost in brokenness and violence.

Pastor Micah closes out the series on the song of blessing by looking at the ways God surrounds us and can be found within us at all times if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Pastor Micah continues the Song of Blessing series by discussing the next stanza, May God give you ears to hear Their loving voice. He uses 1 Samuel 3:1-10 & Matthew 3:13-17 to unpack God's heart towards us and their desire speak to us alongside our desire to hear more intently.

Pastor Micah elaborates on the song of blessing series by discussing Joshua in the Bible. Joshua inherits an impossible task — leading people into the unknown. God’s command, “Be strong and courageous,” isn’t about muscle; it’s about trust. Courage doesn’t mean not feeling afraid. It means choosing love over fear again and again.

Awaken begins a new series looking at the lyrics and significance of the Song of Blessing that we sing over the kids each week. Pastor Jenna kicks off the series by looking at the first stanza, "May God give you eyes to see all that is good."  She points us to Genesis 13:10-18 when Abram and Lot look out over the land.

Pastor Micah discusses Jonah 1:1-17 and the idea that God’s love extends even to the places and people we’d rather exclude.

Guest speaker Tamice Namae graces Awaken with her presence and looks at Jeremiah 29:1–14
 through the lens of the Kendrick and Drake beef.

Pastor Micah discusses Exodus 3 and Moses saying Here I Am. He provides an update to the congregation with his own experience of Hineni.

Awaken begins another new series exploring the impact that geography has on communities of faith. Pastor Micah begins by looking at Acts 17:16-34 and the apostle Paul engaging with different cultures. The gospel is spacious enough to engage culture with respect, curiosity, and creativity.

Pastor Micah closes the series by looking at 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 where newness in Christ brings reconciliation to the world around us.

Awaken begins its new series on the church mission statement: We exist to partner with God in the renewal of all things. Pastor Jenna continues the series by tethering us to the practicality of partnering by looking at how the Israelites were invited into partnership with God through the formation of the tabernacle in Exodus 35.

Awaken begins its new series on the church mission statement: We exist to partner with God in the renewal of all things. Micah kicks things off by digging into the purpose behind our existence and the why behind what we are doing together.

Sheesh, how's that for a title? Pastor Micah takes on a weird story in Exodus 4:18-26 where Moses finds himself in a threshold moment of leaving behind who he's been, to walk into the new thing that God has invited him into. 

Pastor Micah tackles penal substitutionary atonement this week by looking at Hebrews 9:18-22.

Awaken gathered in Highland Park this Sunday and Pastor Micah discussed John 15 and a framework for pruning that involves love and care for the growth that we all are invited to. 

Pastor Micah is back from sabbatical to discuss Mark 2:27-28, "Man is not made for the sabbath but sabbath was for man.  What does it mean to rest and "sabbath"? "

Pastor Jenna discusses Matthew 15:29-39 when the disciples are finding there is not enough food to provide for the crowds that are gathering. Jesus asks a simple question that carries weight when given a deeper look.

Guest speaker Steve Wiens takes the stage by exploring John 1:35-42 when Jesus asks, "What are you looking for?"

Guest Speaker Julia Holtze discusses Luke 7:36-50 and the question "Do you see this woman?". Julia eloquently discusses the importance of "seeing" others through a lens of forgiveness, grace, and mercy.

Pastor Jenna brings us into an exploration of Matthew 5:43-48 where Jesus asks, "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?" Jenna tells beautiful stories of her peacemaking training in Ireland and the importance of breaking the cycles of dehumanization that have existed throughout human history.

Guest speaker Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs addresses the question Jesus asks in Matthew 16, "Who do you say that I am?"

Judy Howard Peterson is with us for a part two discussion of last weeks message. This week she looks at Matthew 26:47-56, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?". There are so many biblical interpretations of this passage leading to every different aspects of theology. How do we hold the reality that Judas was one of the twelve that Jesus specifically invited? 

Guest speaker Judy Howard Peterson brings a prophetic word in the midst of a tumultuous season across the globe. She addresses Jesus question in Matthew 12:1-14 "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath will you not take hold of it and lift it out?" She invites us to experience life beyond the text and tradition.

Awaken's own Cathy Solomon delivers her first Sunday morning sermon in a perfectly Cathy way. She addresses Mark 10:46-52 when Jesus asks the question to Bartimeaus: "What do you want me to do for you?"

Our guest speaker this week is a former Awakenite Jae Bates who unpacks John 21:15-19 by looking at the narrative of Peter's life and the ways he has denied those parts of himself that Jesus has invited him to lean into and accept. In what ways are we invited to step into who we truly are?

Dr. Kelly Sherman Conroy discusses John 5:1-9 and the question "Do you want to be made well?" She navigates the complexities of healing work as someone with indigenous roots and brings emphasis to how we hold, honor and move through sacred wounds in colonized spaces.