January 8, 2026

Heresy!

Much as artists create an image using negative space, theologians often discuss God and the beliefs of the church using the via negativa. That is, they outline who God is and what the church believes, not by stating what is true but by excluding what is not true. It is an especially useful technique when approaching something (like the nature of God) that is beyond the scope of our full comprehension. As we remove what God is not, we gradually come to see the shape of God emerging from what remains. It is easier to conceptualize the infinite when the finite has been removed.

This Sunday in the 9:15 formation time we’ll begin a series of discussion of heresies, those ideas that have arisen through history that the Church has set apart as things that God is not. Over the coming weeks, we’ll look at where we have gone astray and why and how the Church has fenced them off. This Sunday we’ll begin by looking at the strict and broad definitions of “heresy” and with a quick review of the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanatian Creeds to use as our plumblines as we move forward. Over the next several weeks, we’ll address one or more heresies each time we gather, and I have no doubt that we will all discover we have been heretics all along. (I promise there will be no burnings at the stake!)

I’ll look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Church of the Resurrection will be held on Sunday, January 25 after the 10:30 service. In addition the Rector’s annual “State of the Parish” address we will hear about the budget for 2026, the plans for the future of the Eugene/Springfield area churches, and the Vestry’s thoughts on the use of our property.  We’ll also elect three new persons to the Vestry and four persons to serve as our Delegates and Alternate Delegate to our Central Convocation and Diocesan Convention in October. If you feel called to or curious about serving in either position, please contact Fr. Birch or any Vestry member ASAP. It is not true of every church, but leading the church of the Resurrection is both fun and extremely rewarding.