The Second Sunday of Advent. The Way of God Opens. Worship: December 5, 2021

A man named John the Baptist came out of nowhere to point toward Jesus. John made the radical claim that this carpenter from Nazareth was the promised Savior of all mankind. The way of God was opening. He would fill the world with His love. With His love everything can be saved and rescued. We celebrate that God has shown us His way of love. The way is clear for us. God reveals himself in all of His Glory.

The First Sunday of Advent. The Light of the Savior Dawns. Worship: November 28, 2021

On this First Sunday in Advent we all become watchmen in the night. We long for the dawn light to come. Today as Advent begins we get in touch with the deep longing inside us for God to come and show Himself. This is our Watch Night. On our Advent wreath a single candle is lit today. We pray for God to reveal Himself as the One who is dressed in light, who comes to fight away the darkness, and show Himself in Glory to be triumphant

Jesus, The King. Worship, November 21, 2021

When all is said and done Christ will stand in triumph over all things. He will make the wrongs and injustices right in the end. We put our faith not just in God’s love and mercy but also in His perfect judgment and His ability to fulfill and finish what He started. In the beginning God made a good and perfect world, He will restore it. By His victory Jesus is already our King. In the end we will see that Jesus Christ is truly King of Kings for all of time and eternity. Are you ready to celebrate?

Jesus, mosaic, Church of Hagia Maria Zion, Jerusalem

Jesus, the Prophet, November 14 Worship

Jesus, the man who is God, and the God who is man speaks with authority and wisdom. He is the truest and most trustworthy of prophets. He knows what to tell us about the future and what not to tell us. Jesus, the Son of the Living God can the see the whole of the future. He can see us standing firm in the faith and hope. He can see God saving us from the hardest and most impossible things. He can see us celebrating with him the complete revealing of God’s Glory.

Yeshua Teaches People by the Sea, by James Tissot

Saints by God's Grace. Worship: November 7, 2021

The word “Saint” is a pretty big word. We use it to talk about disciples, martyrs, and leaders of the Church throughout history. We use the word next to names from the pages of Scripture such as Peter, John, and Paul—the type of people we name churches after. On All Saints’ Day we use the word “Saint” as we remember those departed from us who are now with God in heaven. But most amazing of all is that God considers our lives holy and set apart because of Jesus’ sacrifice of His holiness for us. By His victory we are Saints by grace.

The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs: Inner Right Predella Panel

 Probably by Fra Angelico active 1417; died 1455

A Mighty Fortress is Our God, October 31 Worship

The Reformation is a celebration of Jesus Christ. Five hundred years ago Martin Luther found hidden light in the Word of God. He found a real reason to hope in Jesus Christ alone. Even though we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, we are welcomed into the sanctuary and refuge of God’s grace and love in Jesus. God is good!

Jesus Gives Sight, October 24 Worship

There is a mystery at the center of everything, and God gives us the sight to see it. Like the blind man that Jesus heals, when the eyes of our spirit open we see Jesus. The great secret is revealed: Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth.

Christ Healing the Blind. ca. 1570 El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) Greek

All Things are Possible for God, October 17 Worship

Jesus points out that living in a broken world we will often use the word “never.” By our own strength many things we can imagine are not possible. But Jesus says, “All things are possible with God.” This means we can live in hope. With God the possibilities are infinite and eternal. What does that mean in your life?

God, Our Eternal Treasure, October 10 Worship

Jesus is confident that God is our eternal treasure. But He sees that we grasp for the enticing things of the world first. It can be a challenge to see past all that is ultimately empty and take to heart that God’s goodness and love is our eternal treasure. We celebrate the reality of Jesus who is the saving Christ, the living God, who is our eternal treasure.

Jesus, The Author of Our Salvation, October 3rd Worship

 To bring humanity back to Him, God sent His Son Jesus to live a completely human life, even to the point of enduring temptation, suffering, and death. He victoriously shared our mortal life so that we might share His eternal life. Jesus is the author of a new story that unfolds in our lives as children of God, saved, delivered, preserved by Him forever.