This year in summer worship (June 22-August 31, 10am in Willett Hall), we will hear from one another about “how we learn to be brave,” the title of a book by Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde — which we’ve been reading as a congregation this Spring.
In our discussion groups we have learned, like Bishop Budde, that bravery and courage come in all sorts of ways — often starting with the challenges we have when we’re young: getting back up on the bike after a spill, learning to be calm when a bee flies into the room, standing up to a bully on the playground. These lessons help us exercise and strengthen our courage so that throughout our lifetimes, we can stand up for what is right, what is good, what is worth defending.
Throughout our lives, we are called to be brave in different amounts, in different times, in different circumstances. All of us have stories about times we learned to be brave. Bishop Budde describes the different ways we learn to be brave as:
1. Deciding to go
2. Deciding to stay
3. Deciding to start
4. Accepting
5. Stepping up to the Plate
6. Learning through letdowns
In these conversations, we discovered that everyone has found ways to be brave, so we invite you to share them with our congregation.
We would love to hear one of your stories of bravery! Sign up to share your story of bravery in summer worship HERE.
