The Council's 2018 Advent Reflection Guide is here. Click to download it for your personal meditation or use in a small group.

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

Equality & Reconciliation

Worship Resources on Immigration
Worship Resources on Immigration
Mar 31, 2014
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Worship Resources on Immigration

Date: Easter 3 – May 4, 2014
Topic: Immigration
Focus Text: Luke 24:13-35
The story of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, unique to Luke’s Gospel, is central to the evangelist’s message about the resurrection of Jesus and its meaning. It is one of the more unusual stories we hear about encountering Jesus, but it is Luke’s way of conveying that the surprising and the unexpected are to be found in the wake of Jesus’ resurrection. One of the most surprising things, at least for those disciples within the story, is that the stranger they meet on the road turns out to be the risen Christ. At every turn this story is about revealing and discovering Jesus—through scripture, through the breaking of bread, and even through encountering a stranger on the road.
Worship Resources on Awareness of Those with Disabilities
Worship Resources on Awareness of Those with Disabilities
Mar 6, 2014
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Worship Resources on Awareness of Those with Disabilities

Date: 4th Sunday in Lent – March 30, 2014
Topic: Awareness of Those with Disabilities
Focus Text: John 9:1-41
Jesus’ concrete actions in response to the man’s situation call into question not only the self-righteous judgment of the religious leaders, but also the comfortable distance maintained by the disciples. When they encounter this man in the city, they see it as an opportunity for theological reflection. But Jesus changes the nature of the conversation altogether. The disciples want to speculate; Jesus decides to act – to welcome the man as a person and a child of God, to offer those unique gifts that he has been given to heal the man’s suffering, that the glory of God might be revealed.
Worship Resources on the Beatitudes
Worship Resources on the Beatitudes
Jan 8, 2014
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Worship Resources on the Beatitudes

Date: Epiphany 4 – Feb. 2, 2014
Topic: The Beatitudes
Focus Text: Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes reflect the eschatological – or ultimate – nature of Jesus’ mission and proclaim the effects of the establishment of God’s rule. They list eschatological reversals for the unfortunate and eschatological rewards for the virtuous. It would be a mistake, however, to see the beatitudes as having only future significance. In fact, the first (5:3) and last (5:10) of the sayings are in the present tense. By bookending these future promises with the present tense, Matthew emphasizes the imminence of the Kingdom.
Worship Resources on Racism & Reconciliation
Worship Resources on Racism & Reconciliation
Dec 19, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Worship Resources on Racism & Reconciliation

Date: Baptism of the Lord – Jan. 12, 2014
Topic: Racism & Reconciliation
Focus Text: Acts 10:34-43
This joining and reconciliation of people, Jews and gentiles, but also strangers and enemies of all kinds, has already begun with the work of Christ. In Christ, God invites us on the journey of reconciliation, the same journey of the church in Acts: a journey that includes the hard work of speaking someone else’s language (Pentecost), sharing food, resources, money, and space (Acts 2), transgressing social divides (Acts 10), dismantling discrimination (Acts 6:1-6), forming new intimacy and identity (Acts 11:19-26), and speaking out against injustice (Gal. 2:11-14).
Advent Worship Resources for Resisting Oppression
Advent Worship Resources for Resisting Oppression
Nov 13, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Advent Worship Resources for Resisting Oppression

Date: Advent 3 – Dec. 15, 2013
Topic: Resisting Oppression
Focus Text: James 5:7-10
Drawing on the Old Testament, James speaks of the prophets who endured suffering and, for their steadfastness, are called “blessed.” This is the same word used in the beatitudes, another text which brings comfort to those who are suffering or longing for justice in light of God’s future reign. James also goes on to invoke Job, a proverbial figure of faithfulness and long-suffering in times of trial. These figures exemplify faithfulness even in the face of oppression.
God With Us: A Social Justice Advent Guide for Families
God With Us: A Social Justice Advent Guide for Families
Nov 4, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

God With Us: A Social Justice Advent Guide for Families

Because the season of Advent is a time of awaiting the Christ child and the risen Christ, it is a perfect time to think about social justice issues. Christ’s ministry, which is explored in other seasons of the Christian year, focuses on lifting up those whom society regarded as worthless or weak, including the poor, the ill, the foreigner, women, and children. Social justice was at the core of Jesus’ ministry. Based on the Advent readings for Lectionary Year A, this guide will assist you in slowing down this season by taking 20-30 minutes one night a week to focus on social justice.
Worship Resources Celebrating Native American Spirituality
Worship Resources Celebrating Native American Spirituality
Sep 20, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Worship Resources Celebrating Native American Spirituality

Date: Proper 25 – Oct. 27, 2013
Topic: Celebrating Native American Spirituality
Focus Text: Joel 2:23-32
Is a better day coming for Lumbee Native Americans in North Carolina? Being an optimist, I believe that God’s words, “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh” (v.28), will become a reality in the last days. “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh” are encouraging words. These prophetic words speak of God sending help for my people, Native Americans in North Carolina. Help is a word meaning “aid,” “save,” and “relieve.”
Disturbing the Peace
Disturbing the Peace
Aug 27, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Disturbing the Peace

Rev. Cody Sanders, Ph.D. candidate in Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counseling at Brite Divinity School

There is something in these furious, feverish words that beckons beyond a simple description of what life will be like if you choose to follow a peculiar call from Jesus and your closest friends and family don’t. Beyond description, there is something of a call in this passage trying to work its way inside of us. These words beckon us beyond a recounting of our inevitable losses on the journey, to embrace our sacred calling to disturbers the peace.
The Liberal Protest that Would Shock the Right: Moral Monday
The Liberal Protest that Would Shock the Right: Moral Monday
Aug 4, 2013
Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

The Liberal Protest that Would Shock the Right: Moral Monday

Salon

Every week prayers and gospel songs infuse the air and participants offer blessings to the latest batch of 100 or so activists entering the Raleigh General Assembly building to commit civil disobedience. If you’re not from here, it may all seem a little counter-intuitive: A movement for inclusive and just secular governance that is deeply inflected with Christian ethics and arguments.
Lectionary: Gender Equality (Proper 6)
Lectionary: Gender Equality (Proper 6)
May 15, 2013
Chris Liu-Beers, Former Program Associate

Lectionary: Gender Equality (Proper 6)

From Acts of Faith: Free Lectionary Resources for Prophetic Worship

Date: Proper 6 – June 16, 2013
Topic: Gender Equality
Focus Text: Luke 7:36-8:3

From the pastoral reflection: “When I applied to divinity school thirty years ago, I was asked by my interviewer, “Why don’t you just be a good church member and serve the church that way?” That is, I was being advised to continue the traditional role of being a supportive woman to the men doing the “real work” of ministry. Ignoring that advice, I enrolled, and when I graduated and sought a call to ministry, the response was, “We don’t think our congregation is ready for a woman minister.”