Cherokee Park United Church

A progressive congregation on St. Paul's West Side

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Our Response

A message from Pastor Matthias –

During a workshop this spring, we were asked to picture the

world as we hope it to be seven generations from now (drawing

on the principle from the Iroquois Confederacy that all decisions

by chiefs should consider the sustainability of the decision seven

generations down the line). I found this exercise extremely

challenging and struggled to come up with ideas. I got hung up on all the unknowns

that would impact whether my vision was realistic or achievable.

I am amused with myself in hindsight, because the prompt was not meant to get hung

up on what is most likely or what could be, but what we hope the world will be like and

how we hope the world will be transformed for the better. The exercise was not to

devise a plan to make it happen, but simply to picture it.

It is good to stretch our imaginations that far into the future, a time far beyond our

lifetimes, to envision the world as we hope it will be. Whether our wildest hopes will

come to fruition or not, we cannot say. However, if we do not even try to envision a

better world, there is definitely no chance it will come to be.

This is the gift of prophetic imagination. It is the gift of science fiction writers. It is the

gift of dreamers across the world. To dream such a world is the first step toward such a

world.

At the Presbyterian General Assembly this year (the national gathering of the

denomination) a resolution was passed that the PCUSA divest from the five largest

fossil fuel companies. This uncoupling of our denominational financial resources from

fossil fuel companies would not have occurred without many previous saints believing

it could be so. Keep practicing prophetic hope.

Yours on the way,

Pastor Matthias




Upcoming Events

Cherokee Park United offers hybrid worship.  You are welcome to view the live-stream service or contact the church for details to attend in-person on Sundays at 10:15 am.  May we pray and act to spread God’s love in hearts, homes, and between people and nations. 

Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision Statement:  Fierce justice, Radical love, Abundant grace.

Mission Statement:  We are an inclusive faith community, joining our neighbors, boldly living God’s love in a world of beauty and brokenness, as Jesus did.

Values:

  • Extravagant welcome…
  • Theological elbow room…
  • Engaging worship and heartfelt prayer…
  • Children and families of all sorts…
  • The uncompromising pursuit of justice…
  • Each other…

Read more about who we are and what we believe.

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