Braid Mission

In our first podcast of the new year, we reflect on the story of Jesus turning water into wine and the role we all have to play in God's work of transformation and healing.

As we hear the Christmas story this year, we reflect on the shepherds who respond to the angels' message and show up just to befriend and adore the most important child in the world, and we give thanks for all the shepherds who are part of Braid's ministry.

We reflect on the labyrinth as a helpful metaphor for our work at Braid in helping each other find the center in a world that is full of twists and turns.

For many people – including most foster youth – holidays are times of grief and loneliness. We reflect on how difficult it is to anticipate Christmas when it is not the joyful and hopeful season our culture and our church say it should be.

What if we imagined Jesus' second coming like the approach of San Francisco's famous fog (fondly known as Karl)? And what if we were agents of that right now?

We consider what it means to hear Jesus' warnings about the destruction that will usher in a new age from a city that has been defined by natural disasters. 

We wrestle with the notion of sacrifice in scripture, especially in light of a special event we held in Grace Cathedral two weeks ago. You can read more about that event on our blog: https://braidmission.org/story-of-grace/

As we hear the story of the healing of Bartimaeus, we reflect on how we can model Jesus's compassion by truly seeing others, especially those who have lost most of their connections in this world.

This week we had the honor of participating in the weekly forum at Grace Cathedral, which was a conversation with two former foster youth who contributed to the Foster Youth Museum.  Latrenda Leslie serves as a Kinship Navigator at Lincoln Child Center and hopes to become a nurse. During her free time, she enjoys playing with her daughter, writing and dancing. Valentino Luna survived the streets of Hollywood as a homeless runaway and commercially sexually exploited youth. He currently lives in Phoenix, is happily married, and he and his partner plan to foster youth in the next two years. Valentino is currently writing his memoir about his experiences in Hollywood. Grace Cathedral's new dean, The Rev. Dr. Malcolm Young, hosted this rich conversation. - See more at: http://www.gracecathedral.org/cathedral-life/the-forum/detail.php?fid=409#sthash.RdJbaXWv.dpuf

We reflect on Jesus' challenging words about how we use our wealth in light of our visit to the SOCAP conference this week.

As we anticipate the upcoming exhibit of the Foster Youth Museum at Grace Cathedral, we reflect on the real stories of foster youth as a modern depiction of the story of Job.    

We wrestle with instructions about prayer in the book of James, based on our own experiences of needing prayers of healing for ourselves and loved ones.

This week we reflect on what our own nomadic lifestyle at Braid has taught us about how we think in new ways about where the spirit of God dwells.The music you hear in our podcast is "Braid," written and performed by John Tirro.

This week we wonder how we disciples might do a better job of sending one another out into the world with authority.The music you hear in our podcast is "Braid," written and performed by John Tirro. You can find his music in iTunes.

This week we reflect on circles of healing – how we heal each other, and even how we heal God.The music you hear in our podcast is "Braid," written and performed by John Tirro.

This week we reflect on one of the most difficult aspects of discipleship: living in God's time rather than our own.Learn more about Aung San Suu Kyi. The music you hear in our podcast is "Braid," written and performed by John Tirro. You can find his music in iTunes.

This week we reflect on Jesus's relationship with his own family of origin and what it means for all of us to adopt one other into the great Holy Family.Listen to Krista Tippett's interview with Fr. Greg Boyle on On Being (either the produced episode or the longer unedited interview).The music you hear in our podcast is "Braid," written and performed by John Tirro. You can find his music in iTunes.

This week we hear Paul's words to the Romans in light of our own family stories and what we have learned about family through the stories of many foster youth.The music you hear in our podcast is "Braid," written and performed by John Tirro. You can find his music in iTunes.

This week we wonder what it was like for Jesus to awaken into new life and what it means for the Spirit to call us all into new life.The music you hear in our podcast is "Braid," written and performed by John Tirro. You can find his music in iTunes.

This week we read the Acts of the Apostles from a church planter's perspective and consider what it took to be one of the "startup" disciples.The music you hear in our podcast is "Braid," written and performed by John Tirro. You can find his music in iTunes.