​And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
--Mark 3:33-35

When Mother's Day is approaching, we often talk in our weekly worship staff meeting about being sensitive on Mother's Day to the variety of feelings people have around the day based on their own family and life experiences. We recognize the day can bring as much sadness and grief as joy and celebration, depending upon one's vantage point in life. One of the ways we address this is by trying to focus on the word "mother" more as a verb rather than a noun.

In her book Captivating, Stasi Eldredge writes, "...the word mother is more powerful when used as a verb rather than a noun. All women are not mothers, but all women are called to mother...A woman is not less of a woman because she is not a wife or has not physically born a child...All women are made in the image of God in that we bring forth life."

To mother is "to give birth to, to create, to watch over, nourish, and protect." As followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit blesses each of us, male and female, with gifts to help others fully become who God created them to be. When we love and nurture others in the faith, we are partnering with God in bringing forth new life in the name of the One who is "the way, the truth, and the life."

Think, if you will, about those who have mothered or fathered you in the faith and offer thanks to God for them. Then consider this question: "Who, outside of my family, am I mothering or fathering in the faith?" Then ask God to reveal to you who and how you can mother and father someone outside your family.

I hope to see you on this "Mothering" Sunday at Northbrook, a spiritual family where God welcomes ALL as members of the family of God!

Pastor Jennie

My cousin’s daughter was recently diagnosed with cancer weeks after she received a heart transplant. Wildfires burn in South Georgia. The war in Ukraine is in its fourth year. The conflict and uncertainty in Iran and the Middle East continue to have a global impact. Political division and violence fill the headlines. Over 25 million people in Sudan are facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. And the list goes on and on…If you are anything like me, you may be wondering, “Where is Easter when we need it?” WARNING: You might not like what’s about to follow.

Stay with me for a second… many theologians describe our current period of salvation history as the “already not yet.” Put simply, the kingdom of God has “already” come through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, but it has “not yet” fully come (and won’t until Christ comes again). We live in the in-between when all that is broken, evil, and sinful is colliding with all that is right, whole, and good.

Our world is convinced we can fix every headline if we have the right power: political, religious, financial, medical, technological, ideological, or militaristic. Surely, we can vote, believe, pay, inject, innovate, think, or bomb our way into a better world?

The hard truth… there is no Easter without emptiness, humility, suffering, and sacrifice. Tombs can’t become empty if they aren’t first occupied, and tombs can’t be occupied unless someone is willing to lay down their life.

The first Easter came because Jesus “did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross (Phil 2:6-8). And our world cannot experience other Easters unless we, the body of Christ are willing to do the same.

Our hearts, our families, our community, our nation, and our world need another Easter. The question Jesus is asking you and me, “Will you follow me from the manger, to the cross, and through the tomb?”

This fourth week of Eastertide it is my prayer that regardless of the cost we will each reply, “Wherever you lead I’ll go.”

Pastor Allen