Monster Petting Zoo
(On Safari with God*)
Throughout time, the mysterious and monstrous has been a source of angst for the people of God. The natural response is to feel alone in our own fears, get ourselves out of the situation, or even feed that which frightens us in our own selves. Taking note of who we have met along the journey, we now survey the Old Testament, locating ourselves along the trajectory of the story of God. It is a story that makes room for mystery and monsters - allowing us to make a home for that which causes discomfort, making friends with and turning fear into wonder, and accessing what was previously inaccessible, as we journey into the great unknown.
*Play on bad VBS titles.: This year we embark on a journey. We have spent considerable time in the last several years working through our own healing journeys that have included stepping into lament and celebration and this year the Spirit seems to be taking us on a trip together again. We imagine ourselves preparing for a long hike, think Pacific Crest or Appalachian Trail. Hikes that a number of people have written and told stories about, often highlighting the ways the journey allowed them to reclaim themselves in some ways and discover themselves in other ways. Y’all know we love a good title for our sermon series and we decided to lean into the idea of reclaiming a part of our stories that seemed lost when we had to throw out theology that caused us harm. We’re going back to Vacation Bible School this year! We hope that the series titles offer opportunities for us all to joyfully “repack our bags”.
Quick Links:
Week by week:
August 31: In the World + Brunch Sunday
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September 7th: Monstrous Beginnings (Genesis 3)
September 14th: When Heaven Comes to Earth (Genesis 6:1-4, Number 13:33, Ezekiel 32:27)
September 21st: Night-Demons (Isaiah 34:14)
September 28th: Facing the Giants (1 Samuel 17)
October 5th: Sorcery and Scapegoats (1 Kings 16, 2 Kings 9)
October 12th: Seven Deadly… (2 Kings 1:2-3, 6, 17)
October 19th: Swimming with Sea Monsters Part 1 (Job 26 (and Isaiah 51:9))
October 26th: Swimming with Sea Monsters Part 2 (Job 40:15/Job 41/Jonah 1:17)
November 2nd: Holy Ghost(s) (Isaiah 19)
November 9th: Oracles (Ezekiel 27:11)
November 16th: Werewolves (Daniel 4:30)
November 23rd: Apocalyptic Beasts (Daniel 7.1-3, 15-18)
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November 30th: Thanksgiving Weekend Brunch + First Sunday of Advent
Discussion Prompts:
What does the myth or monster in today’s text look like for you/us today?
What is causing discomfort in this week/season? How might you/we make a home for it?
How might the Spirit be inviting you/us to make friends with fear? What fears are being turned into wonder this week/season?
Describe what you feel was previously inaccessible to you and explore how it may be becoming more accessible today.
In what ways is God allowing you to move through or lean into something rather than “escape it”?
How are you engaging the mysterious/monstrous as a part of your spiritual life in this season? How is this helping you locate yourself in the larger trajectory of the story of God?
Resources
Parent Cue:
Books:
Children
How to Care for Your Monster by Norman Bridwell
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Feelings wheel
My Body Sends a Signal by Natalia Maguire
The Big Feelings Survival Guide by Alyse Ruriani
Facing My Monster by Ann-Jeanette Wilson
How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace
YA
We Mostly Come Out at Night by Rob Costello (for adults, too)
Adults
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
Belonging Without Othering by john a. Powell
God’s Monsters by Esther Hamori (written from a non-Christian academic perspective i.e. informational not explicitly formational)
The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ McClune
I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin
Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark
No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz
Monsters: A reckoning by Allison Croggon
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
The Courage to Feel by Andrew Seuber
Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers
Disability Visibility by Alice Wong (also a version for Young Adults and a study guide is available)
Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
Music:
Indy Trinity Music on Spotify (also a great way for children to learn songs in order to more fully participate in Gatherings)
Movies:
Monsters Inc. (2001 - G)
Encanto (2021 - PG)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009 - PG)
Sinners (2025 - R)
Powder (1995 - PG-13)
The Babadook (2014 - R)
Podcasts/Blogs:
Reclaiming Ugly with Vanesssa Rochelle Lewis (Finding our Way Podcast S2 Episode 4)
On Halloween and Monsters - Richard Beck
Disability Visibility by Alice Wong
https://themoth.org/stories/keep-going
Seasonal Small Groups
Trinity Seasonal Small Groups for the fall of 2025 will be a “choose your own adventure” style (on many levels) as we dive into the mysterious and monstrous throughout the Old Testament, during the sermon series this fall: “Monster Petting Zoo”. Each small group gathering will determine their own course. We’ll be spending balanced time relationship building, care, and conversation around the theme of the week. It is OK if you can’t attend every session. Join as you are able, but please let your facilitator/host know at the beginning of the season when you can’t attend. If you need assistance accessing or acquiring materials, please let your facilitator/host know. Everyone is asked to commit to Expectations for healthy conversation. Please contact the group host for more details and to generally RSVP. You are welcome to join the group that fits your schedule/needs. You are not bound by geographical location/parish.
Mondays 12-1pm - Fishers/Zoom starting September 8th
Wednesdays 7:00pm - Midtown/Downtown starting (tbd)
Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm - Queer Affinity starting September 11th
Fridays 6:30-8pm -Broad Ripple starting September 5th
(photo credit: Martin Vysoudil)