Romans, Part V:The Kin-dom of Subversive Love: Where Our Shared Belonging is Our Power
What if the point isn’t to endure pain, but to dismantle the things that cause it? This week, we’re revisiting Romans 5-8 through the lens of Subversive Love. This is an invitation to resist the world’s broken logic by embracing the counter-cultural way of Christ that leads to mutual liberation and collective care.
Discover a hope and purpose beyond the empire’s grip, in the now and not yet kin-dom of connection and flourishing, where our shared belonging is the source of our power and no one is outside the circle of love.
The reason Romans was written was to address the conflict within the church of two factions, both of whom had complicated relationships with the Roman Empire. Join us this week as we gain a deeper understanding of this conflict and ponder how we handle church conflict and our relationship to power today.
We are excited to invite you to our annual fundraising event on October 4th, 2025! This year, we’ve made a significant change by organizing our own event, Journey for Justice, instead of participating in Ride for Refuge. To sign up as a rider, walker or to volunteer, follow the link above! If you’re a first timer to the event, please register before the end of the day on Thursday, September 18th, in order for us to get your t-shirt printed in time for the event.
Registering for the Event:
Upfront, let’s explain the platforms we’re using. To register for the event as a participant, walker or volunteer, head over to Church Center and sign up there. Families can sign up together under one simple registration (so much easier!).
Church Center (Registration Page)
Fundraising:
To donate to Elevation or one of the people/teams participating, head over to our Zeffy Fundraising page. There is no need to create an account, just click on Donate, and then select who you want to donate to, and go from there!
If you do want to raise your own funds, head over to the same Zeffy Fundraising page, and click on the Fundraise button to set up your own page with your target amount, profile photo and team name (create a Solo Campaign for you, your family or team and use the first name section for your team name). It’s that simple!
Zeffy Fundraising Page
More Information:
The event will still be hosted at 22 Willow, as it has for the past few years. The timing of the event remains on par with how it has been recently, too:
09:00AM – Check In
09:30AM – Walk/Run/Rides Start
11:00AM – Snacks and Mingle
12:00PM – Dismissal
Here’s a list of who we are raising funds for this year:
The walk will be the same as last year, a scenic stroll around Silver Lake in Waterloo Park. The 5km loop will be mainly on trails and cycleways in and around Waterloo Park. The 10km route will essentially be the same as the 2024 route, however, the direction is reversed this year. The 25km ride is for serious riders, with mountain bikes recommended. However, gravel bikes will also do the job! Click on the above links for the maps on Komoot.
If walking, running, or riding are not your thing, you’re welcome to come cheer on the team or volunteer to help out, as usual! While we won’t be serving a full meal, snacks will be provided after the walk and ride.
The book of Romans has had an incredible impact on the history and theology of the church over the centuries.
This week we will begin our series on the book of Romans by looking to the end of the letter. Here we find one of the longest lists of names in the New Testament. What can be learned from this seemingly innocuous list of people whose experiences have been mostly lost to history? How does this list belong in a letter given to a community searching for peace in the midst of a world caught in the grip of violence, hatred and division?
Perhaps understanding the stories behind this community can help guide us as we approach this letter together in the coming weeks.
