“You are held in the love of God.”

This is your deepest reality. This is the deepest truth we share.

Where technology and screens can deceive us into thinking that we are present with others, we know that this is only partly true. Screens also work hard to distract us, numb or inflame us, and distance us from the actual people God has put in our lives. For the 30 days of November, we are encouraging our community to fast from all social media. If you are not on social media, we encourage you to select another media source that you may be turning to routinely or compulsively for comfort, distraction, news, or commentary. What we choose to give up may be different for each of us, but it should be a digital presence in your life that is consistent or at times, you’ve even found to be consuming. This could include cable news, podcasts, messaging apps, news notifications, or more. 

For 30 days, we invite you to put down your social media apps and unplug from the algorithm to practice embodied presence together. In Scripture, we see that it was through the physical gathering of Jesus’s disciples that all their differences were held together through the unity of Christ. And it is in direct communion with Jesus that we can be formed first and foremost as citizens of his Kingdom, and not of this world.

This November, we are engaging with God and one another through prayer, gratitude, reflection, and personal connection.

Each week, we’ll be writing to you with a focus for the week—a practice to embrace, verses to memorize, and help for engaging with the people and world around you. We will be dwelling in Philippians 4 for the month—which is a beautiful guide and reassurance to us that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We’ll be sending an email each Sunday with the week’s focus. If you receive this email/the Tuesday Third Weekly email, you will automatically receive it. If you would like to be included on this distribution, please sign up here.

FAQs

  • I’ve never done a fast before. What does it mean?

  • What do you mean by embodied presence?

    • This means simply that this month we are reclaiming and recentering what it looks like to prioritize our actual, physical presence with God and one another through gathering, prayer, gratitude, and even feasting. 

  • I don’t use social media. Does this apply to me?

    • We realize that not everyone uses social media. If that’s you, we encourage you to select another media source that you may be turning to routinely or even compulsively for comfort, distraction, news, or commentary.

      Our heart behind this is not to be legalistic and check a box, but instead to ask God where you might be distracted and disembodied and where he might be inviting you to experience embodied presence with him and with others in this season.

  • I find a lot of connection through social media. Is that bad?

  • I still have questions. Who can I talk to?

    • Link to someone to talk to more about this.