WORSHIP
God Makes Things Sacred, August 22 Worship
God speaks and sometimes what He says is challenging. God wants to make things sacred and holy. From the heavens He brings us wisdom and guidance, love and compassion that begins to change what is broken and flawed into things that are good. Our faith and trust in God’s way is the beginning of something sacred and holy, made so by God’s grace.
Living in God's Light, August 15 Worship
Paul writes to his friends and says “live as children of light.” He hopes that we can be “wise making the most of every opportunity.” What wonderful gifts we can celebrate together in Christ, ‘the Living Bread from Heaven.” Like Jesus’ Disciples we celebrate that He is “the Holy One of God.”
God Provides, August 8 Worship
The prophet Elijah falls to the ground in exhaustion, content to die. Suddenly an angel is standing over him helping him to get up and eat. Fortified by the angel’s meal of bread Elijah is able to travel on for forty days and forty nights. In our baptism God pledges Himself to us and says, “You are mine.” We can admit our weakness and rely on His strength. God provides for us today and forever in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
"I am the Bread of Life" August 1st Worship
People remembered Jesus as the miracle worker who had fed thousands with nothing but a few loaves of bread and some fish. But Jesus' miracle was not just a momentary amusement. It pointed to the food which does not perish, which feeds and nourishes, and fills us with the spiritual things of God. This is the food we really need. Jesus is this bread, he is the eternal, for today, for tomorrow, and forever.
Take Courage, It is I July 25 Worship
Our fear has the power to steal our joy, to distract us from our hope. Jesus who comes to his disciples walking on water stands forever above our doubts, fears, and storms: "It is I . . .do not be afraid." So from our little boats, nearly swamped by its storms and our doubts we too look out and can see Jesus transcending all things to come to us. "It is I, take courage; do not be afraid."
Rest in His Presence, July 18 Worship
In Jesus we find real rest from things that trouble us in body and soul. In Him we find rest with one another because Jesus gives us reason to leave behind the things that would seem to divide us. Ultimately all things will be brought together in unity under the reign of Christ. We can imagine joining the large crowd of diverse people that came and sat down in the green grass to listen to Jesus. They had come from different towns, but they all were “like a sheep without a shepherd.” After Jesus fed their souls with his teaching he also fed their bodies with a meal he amazingly produces from five loaves of bread and two fish. Today and forever we find real rest in God’s presence.
God's Kingdom of Compassion, July 11th Worship
God is building a Kingdom on His compassion and grace. We need God’s compassion and guidance because the human heart can become a dark and desperate thing. The Gospel today tells us about how King Herod had John the Baptist put in prison and then Herod is tricked into beheading the prophet. This king got trapped by his own pride and later regretted it. We all feel such moments of confusion and self-deception. But our God is great and He can make something better. When we trust God to care for us it removes the helpless desperation of our hearts. Within God’s protective kingdom we can make better choices, and God brings to earth His wisdom and love, just as it is in heaven.
In God We Trust, July 4th Worship
You probably have a couple of amazing stories: things you have seen or learned that make the world a bigger and more amazing place. The apostle Paul could tell some tales. But at the same time there was at least one thing that kept him very grounded to the earth, “a thorn in the flesh,” he called it. This kept him humble and needful. He tells us that it was in his weakness that he really began to understand how great God is. One of the most amazing things in Paul’s life was to hear God say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Our Faithful God June 27 Worship
As we witness the compassion of Jesus in the lives of those He healed we are seeing Him give us reasons to believe that God will be faithful to us. He invites our trust, and walks with us in all of our waiting. In faithfully waiting for God we take to heart the words of Lamentations 3:26: "It is good that we should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
"Peace, be Still." June 20 Worship
Jesus answers the need of His disciples with great compassion and power. With the wind howling, the boat taking on water, and the disciples afraid for their lives, Jesus speaks. "Peace, be still," and the wind and the waves become still. All of nature must follow His command. Today His voice speaks to the deepest part of our mind and spirit as Jesus quiets us with His still peace.