Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of Others, Easter 2, April 8th

Thomas had missed seeing Jesus risen from the grave alive. Now he could either see Jesus through what the others were telling him or he could wait and see for himself. If Thomas had been able to get past his doubt he could probably have seen Jesus alive in the new emotions expressed by those who had seen Jesus. The excitement, the hope, the resurgence of life they felt was in itself a powerful testimony to the Resurrected Jesus. Someday we will see Jesus for ourselves. Until then we can look for hints and signs of His living Spirit in those who are seeking and holding onto Jesus beside us.

Easter Sunday, April 1st 9:30am

Christ is risen! Jesus didn’t keep His resurrection a secret. He appeared to Mary, to Peter and the apostles, to His brother James, to more than five hundred people, to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and lastly to the apostle Paul. We believe Jesus rose from the dead because He said He would, because the Scriptures predicted it, and because of the witness of those who spoke about His resurrection. Today we celebrate Jesus resurrection. We also celebrate those who saw Jesus alive again and shared what they witnessed. Perhaps the most important question on this Easter day is what will you say about this Jesus who rose from His grave alive?

A King's Parade with Palms and Shadows, March 25 Worship

Jesus' walk leads Him finally to the gates of Jerusalem.  He will now fulfill the prophecies regarding the coming King of kings.  He does this in memorable fashion, turning the people's expectations upside down by an entrance marked by humility and innocent celebration. In this most holy of weeks, our Lord calls on each of us, not to cheer from the sidelines, but rather to join in the spirit of the parade.

Jesus Shows Us His Way, March 18 Worship

In Mark 10:33 Jesus is trying to speak of what is to come, but His disciples were not listening.  They were arguing over who was greatest.  Jesus was speaking of His cross and describing the cross-shaped pattern of His life.  He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. If we want to find what is great, the path we want to follow will be shaped by the cross and will demonstrate the same love that we receive in Christ.

Divine, Eternal Love for Us, March 11th Worship

You probably know John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son” This passage answers the question, what does divine and eternal love look like?  It is sacrificial, shown clearly in Jesus Christ laying down His life for us. This love makes good things grow. Just as a small seed can become a great tree, so too sacrificial love creates new things. We have the opportunity to live out a sacrificial love in the small things of every day life. Maybe it is shown as you pause and really listen with attention and concern to what someone is sharing with you. Because of God’s strength in Christ Divine, Eternal Love is with us in our world.

Made Sacred by God, March 4 Worship

Sacred and holy, set apart for God. Today, God’s Word takes us back to revisit God’s efforts to make things sacred. First He gave his people the Ten Commandments. They tried hard to live by those commandments even building the great temple in Jerusalem to set apart the things of God above all else. But it was not enough. By the time Jesus arrives there the temple had been crowded by the materialistic concerns of commerce. Only the sacrifice of the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ could create a way for things to be made sacred and set apart for God. During the season of Lent we meditate on what this means for us who are still on our earthly journey of being made sanctified by God. What a great time to pray for a new season of life, and set to doing some spiritual house cleaning, for we have seen the power and the wisdom of God in Christ.

For the Sake of Our Souls, February 25 Worship

If you took an inventory of your most valuable things what would be on your list? Jesus reminds us that by far the most priceless thing we have is our soul. Jesus tells us that even God values our souls more so than anything else in the cosmos. The salvation of our souls was to be the singular focus of Jesus’ mission. This is still astonishing, world changing news that reorients the choices we will make, how we see ourselves, and how we cherish everyone around us.

God with Us in the Wilderness, February 18th Worship

The First Sunday in Lent comes to us with stories of temptation and test.  It begins with the story of Abraham.  He waited his whole life for the fulfillment of the promise and a son to carry on his name. Then comes the call to sacrifice that very same son to the Lord.  Abraham had been bounced around his whole life and now he had to ask: Why me?  We have all had those "why me" moments of test, trial, and temptation.  Today, we discover how God is present even in the troubles of life and how His good and gracious will carries us through those trials.  Could it be that God is at work even in our darkest moments and times of greatest fear?  Not only Abraham tells us that the answer is yes - Jesus' own temptation shows us that God works in those moments of test and temptation to reveal his great love and infinite compassion.

Ash Wednesday Worship, February 14th, 7:00pm

Ash Wednesday is one of the most solemn days of the Church Year. Ashes suggest in a dramatic way God's judgment and condemnation of sin, our frailty and total dependence on God. The words spoken as ashes are imposed, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return," were first spoken to Adam after his fall into sin.  We are forcefully reminded of the words of the committal in the Burial Service, "...earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."  But our God is eternally redemptive and so the ashes also suggest cleansing and renewal.  They were once used as a cleaning agent.  Thus, ashes imposed in the shape of a cross symbolize judgment, but also the cleansing and healing that God brings.

The Most Glorious Mystery, February 11 Worship

Today the season of Epiphany ends and we prepare for Lent by following Jesus up a mountain. Jesus had been revealing His true nature through His words and actions, and then, on the Mount of Transfiguration three disciples see His glory revealed as transfiguring light. Moses and Elijah appear with Him, talking about His departure in Jerusalem. Jesus then commands the disciples not to tell about the event until after he will rise from his grave alive. In this we recognize Jesus’ true glory in His sacrificial love devoted to our salvation. For God has “shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).