Inhabit 2025 Session 1 Recap: Remembering Who We Are
In our opening Common Session, we stepped into the sacred rhythm of re-membering — of becoming whole again as the body of Christ, stitched together across places, traditions, and stories.
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Reclaiming the Sacred Work of Memory
Sandra Van Opstal opened our time by inviting us to remember where we came from, as communities deeply rooted in God’s unfolding story.
Sandra reminded us: remembering is resistance. In a world that urges us to move on, forget, and detach — we chose to stay. To honor our memories and the stories of others, and to reclaim our shared identity in God’s dream of Shalom.
Stories From the Neighborhood
Throughout the session, we heard glimpses of God’s work from across the country:
Michael in Koreatown, Los Angeles
Alexa in Olympia, Washington
Pastor Phil in North Lawndale, Chicago
Each story was a thread in the divine tapestry — a reminder that every neighborhood, every shared meal, every act of belonging matters.
A Neighborhood Prayer to Carry With Us
Dr. Montague Williams closed our gathering by sending us into our afternoon Parish Pilgrimages with a reimagined version of the Lord’s Prayer for our neighborhoods. Here’s an excerpt to hold onto:
Leader: What does it mean, O Lord, for Your kingdom to be made known on earth as it is in heaven?
People: What does it mean for Your kingdom to be felt in my neighborhood as it is in heaven?
Leader: How do we know when we’re seeing local expressions of the Beloved Community?
People: How does the New Creation sound in my town?
Leader: How does the kin-dom smell on my block?
People: How does Your Heavenly Banquet taste when the Table is filled with all of my neighbors?
Leader: Show us the Way, O Lord.
People: We are moving beyond the walls to find Your dream for creation in the lives and deep longings of our neighbors. May Your kin-dom come.
Reflection Prompt
As you read these stories and prayers, take a moment to remember your own.
What memory, moment, or story from your neighborhood is worth honoring this week?
It could be a shared meal, a conversation on the sidewalk, or a small act of kindness that stayed with you. Let it surface. Hold it. And let it remind you of the sacred, ordinary work already happening where you are.
Take the Next Step
As you reflect on these questions from our Neighborhood Prayer, consider what rises up in your own heart and place.
How would you answer them in the context of your neighborhood, your block, your people?
We invite you to pause, write it down, or share it with a friend, neighbor, or faith community. These are the kinds of stories and prayers that reweave the fabric of our neighborhoods.
And if you feel moved, keep an eye out — we’ll be gathering reflections from across the Parish Collective community in the weeks ahead.
