Sunday, March 1, 2026 @ 10:30am
Join us as we explore what kind of blessings Jesus gives—and who he gives them to. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus doesn’t bless the powerful, rich, or popular. Instead, he offers blessings to those who are poor, hungry, sad, and excluded. This teaching comes in a world where people often believe that wealth, success, or strength mean you’re favored by God. Jesus turns this idea upside down. He reminds us God’s love reaches those who are hurting first, and we are called to do the same.
The Work of Imagination | Illustrated Ministry.com
Sunday March 8, 2026 @ 10:30
Join us as we explore a story in which Jesus listens, learns, and changes. At this point, Jesus sees his ministry as being for his own people, not for outsiders. This different region—Tyre and Sidon—is outside the familiar settings of Jesus’ ministry. It was home to the Canaanites, a group historically in conflict with the people of Israel over land, religion, and culture. They worshipped different gods and were often seen by Jews as outsiders, or even enemies. Earlier in this same gospel (Matthew 10:5–6), Jesus instructs his disciples not to go to Gentile towns but only to “the lost sheep of Israel.” This story is a rare and important moment where we see
Jesus confronted—and changed. The woman’s boldness, her faith, and her refusal to be dismissed lead Jesus to expand his understanding of who belongs in God’s family. Through this holy confrontation, Jesus responds not with defensiveness but with transformation. He listens, changes his mind, and acts with compassion.
The Work of Imagination | Illustrated Ministry.com
Friday, March 13, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Join us for this unforgettable and FREE Theatre & Conversation event.
No set.
No director.
No rehearsal.
One actor, who has never seen the script.
White Rabbit, Red Rabbit is a timely, thought-provoking one-act play by Nassim Soleimanpour.
RSVP by emailing christine@oppchurch.org.
Sunday March 15, 2026 @ 10:30
Join us as we focus on the kind of leader Jesus is and what it means to follow someone who stays and protects. In John’s Gospel, Jesus names himself the Good Shepherd: someone who knows the sheep, stays close in danger, and protects them no matter what. This image follows generations of stories in which leaders, like those in Ezekiel, fail to care for their people. Instead of helping the weak or protecting the vulnerable, those leaders use their power for their own benefit. Jesus speaks into that failure, offering a new vision of leadership rooted in presence, compassion, and responsibility.
The Work of Imagination | Illustrated Ministry.com
Sunday, March 22, 2026 @ 10:30
Join us as we witness a moment of tension between power and belonging. In a public attempt to trap Jesus, religious leaders ask whether it’s right to pay taxes to Caesar. They expect Jesus to choose between loyalty to God and loyalty to empire, but Jesus reframes the entire question. He points to Caesar’s image on a coin and says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.” This moment helps us begin to see how the world sometimes tries to tell us who to follow by what we have, how we act, or what others say about us. Jesus teaches that our real identity isn’t something determined by others—it’s something we receive. We belong to God.
The Work of Imagination | Illustrated Ministry.com
Friday, April 3, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Join us for a meditative Tenebrae service hosted at Nativity of Our Lord RC church.
All are welcome!
Sunday, April 5, 2026 @ 10:30
Join us as Easter begins in the dark. Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb expecting to grieve and tend to what was lost, not expecting joy. She stays when others leave, holding space for sorrow. It is in her faithful presence that resurrection first appears. When Jesus speaks her name, it is not dramatic or loud. It is relational, tender, and deeply personal. In that moment, Mary becomes the first witness of the resurrection—not through
power or spectacle, but through recognition of a love that cannot stay buried. This moment invites us to discover that Easter is not just about happy endings—it’s about love that never gives up.
The Work of Imagination | Illustrated Ministry.com
