Notes from the Nerd Pastor (April 2023)
A Look Back and a Look Ahead
Welcome back to the To The Point Newsletter!
And welcome 8 new subscribers from last month. We’re glad you’re here.
I’m your Nerd Pastor Nate, here to greet you at the start of another exciting month at Checkpoint.
Our theme for March was Revive, and we had an excellent month of new and exciting things.
My goal for this article will be to fill you in on the past month and prepare you for the one ahead, so buckle up and let’s just get right into it.
ICYMI - Last Month’s Highlights
The ending of the first season of this incredible video game adaptation set a mood for gamers everywhere. Nick took us through the entire journey of how love is presented in the show in some of the highlighted aspects that stood out most in his experience.
I mean, who isn’t guilty of dropping the ball? Ryan challenges the readers to return to a positive mindset and position themselves for the rest of the year. He said he’s planning to check back in… so better stay focused. He’s watching!
Admittedly, I was concerned over a praxis of scriptural reading that had us marking through the text. However, this was a delightful new experience of the classic history of Lectio Divina and is an excellent practice for Lent.
We’re still unsure if these are needed or helpful, but this was fun to write nonetheless!
If you’ve never perused the “Let’s Get Creative” section of our Discord server, it is an excellent place for encouragement and sharing of art. Perispectus encouraged the formation of a forum called “Creator-Space,” available to us by anyone with a creative muscle to find cohorts to work within. He even shared a goal to launch one for creative writing a la our NaNoWriMo team that meets each year. Check it out!
Our Guardians are our background-checked moderators formed out of the specialization of LVL2. Last year, they met and crafted our SafePoint Policy for digital safe practices. Last month, they met to work on revisions for this policy and plan to meet again this month for finalization before distributing the updated edition to the public. This is essential work, and we appreciate the Guardians for offering themselves this way.
Other Can’t-Miss Content
So, that’s where we’ve been. But where are we headed going forward?
For April, it’s my pleasure to announce our new theme:
Press Continue
This phrase rings in the hearts and minds of gamers of all ages. Whether it’s desperately searching for another quarter at the arcade cabinet, hoping for another round, or if it’s after *yet another* death in your favorite Soulslike, the concept of continuing onward is an inspirational and tragic one all at once.
I’ll let our excellent byline writers take it from here, but I have to offer a little tease of what’s ahead. Prepare to be revived by the exciting things we have in store.
What to Expect in April
Pressing Continue as a means of Mental Health
Video Games and Nature for Arbor Day/Earth Day
Media and Desensitization
Much more excellent work from our team!
W
Excited for this month's theme, Nate -- and yes, I am keeping an eye on you all, stay tuned this summer for a check-in on those resolutions! ;)