Spring 2020
As of March 22nd, 2020 we moved to Online Worship Services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit this page for details.
Winter 2020
Testing Our Faith |
Times of testing come in many forms in this life. There are tests in school in which students are asked to demonstrate their understanding of a subject. Athletic competitions are tests of endurance, strength & skill. Struggling with a disease or caring for a loved one who is gravely ill is another sort of test. In all these instances people learn how they cope with challenges & adversity. As Jesus was tempted & tested by the devil in the wilderness, we learn about Jesus & how he deals with adversity. We learn Jesus trusts in the Father. We learn Jesus will only do things in God's time & in God's way. We learn what it means to be the Son of God.
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Lighting the Way |
Light is one of the most common ways the Bible describes God and God's people. When we follow God's ways and care for the poor, Isaiah says our light rises like the sun. Psalm 112 tells us that when we follow God's ways, we don't have to be afraid and that we will be able to see God's light shining. Jesus told us to let our lights shine for others so that God's glory could be seen in the world. How does God's light come to us today, and how do we shine that light into the world? The sermon will help us think of concrete ways God comes to us, and how we can shine God's light for others.
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Faith is a Verb |
In the Bible faith is not just a belief or a feeling. Beliefs and feelings play an important part in faith, but they do not constitute what faith fully is. In the Bible faith is a verb. It is an action. It is those beliefs and feeling lived out by the things we do and say. This is never truer than in the powerful words spoken, from the Lord, by the Old Testament prophet Micah. To the people of ancient Judah, Micah declared that faith is action; but the proper actions which are holy and godly. The words of Micah 6 are the text for my sermon this week. These 2,700 year-old words are still 100% applicable to our lives today.
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Speaking the Truth in Love |
Both Pastors will preach together on Matthew 18 & Ephesians 4 these texts are central to how we communicate as Christians. The church is not a place free from conflict or disagreement but we strive to handle these things in a loving & honest manner. As God's people, we are called to work through our conflicts, not run from them. The way we practice handling conflict & offering forgiveness here on earth helps us to prepare for life in heaven.
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Promises Kept, Promises Made |
In the waters of baptism, Jesus is revealed as the beloved Son of God. Through this great epiphany, Jesus fulfills all righteousness & becomes the servant of God who will bring forth justice & be a light to the nations. In the waters of baptism we too are washed by the word, anointed by the Spirit & named God's beloved children. Our baptismal mission is to proclaim good news to all who are oppressed or in need of God's healing. As we celebrate the gift of baptism, we give thanks for being joined to Jesus, forgiven by God & sent out into the world to bring the light & freedom of Christ.
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Life and Light |
We live in a world filled with light. Light is everywhere; even the night time is lit up. Scientists talk about "light pollution". But this was not the case in ancient times. People back then lived in a world surrounded by darkness; darkness that was both literal as well as emotional and spiritual. It was into this world of darkness that the beautiful "prologue" of John's gospel declares that God sent Jesus as the light, the Word and the life of the world. My sermon this week takes us through what we are told about Jesus; what it meant for people in his day and what Christ - the life and light of our world - means for us today.
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