Posts with the category “worship”

Dear Church,For the last year, I have prayed about how to address this challenging election season as a church. We are a politically mixed congregation. I also hear over and over again how tired we are of the polarization in our country. Our world seems to be consumed with division – often typified in the colors red and blue. I do not "preach politics," meaning I do not discuss candidates from the...  Read More

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” (Psalm 126)What does it look like to live as those who dream? The prophets, the psalmists, John the Baptist, Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, the shepherds, and the Magi—they were all dreamers. They received, discovered, and responded to God’s dreams for the world. In Advent and at Christmas, we step into the myster...  Read More

This week is the All Hallows Triduum of All Hallows Eve, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day. During this season we remember those people who have gone ahead of us into glory and the example of faith they set for us while they were alive. For the next three weeks, we will explore the marks of sainthood in worship:November 5: Clothing of the Saints (All Saints' Sunday)November 12: Stories of the Sa...  Read More

We all live somewhere. We all have neighbors and a neighborhood—whether we live in a rural, suburban, or urban context. I live in an apartment complex, which means I have neighbors above, below, and on either side of me!God is clear about how we should relate to the people and place right around us. In Jeremiah 29, God commands the Israelites to promote the common good of the city to where they ha...  Read More

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable. In these stories God keeps showing up—persistently, creatively, and l...  Read More

Pentecost is both an event in the life of the church and a season that lives out the implications of the event. Pentecost Sunday is when we shift from telling the story of Jesus, our Messiah and Savior, to telling the story of the church, the ones who choose to be disciples of Jesus the Christ. During this long season we call Ordinary Time, we remember the empowerment of the Pentecost event and th...  Read More

For Maundy Thursday (April 6) this year, you are invited to make space at your dinner table for a Maundy Thursday observance. Click here for a beautiful at-home liturgy written by the Rev. Sarah Are. This liturgy invites you to bake a loaf of bread as part of contemplating Jesus' last supper with his disciples. If you do not enjoy baking, you can purchase a loaf from a local bakery or use whatever...  Read More

Messy Church is a monthly hands-on, family-friendly, all-ages worship service. At Messy Church we believe that God meets us in the mess! We practice the values of all-ages together, celebration, creativity, hospitality, and centering ourselves in Christ. Here's what you can expect at a Messy Church service:- Welcome- Hands-on activities- A short Bible story lesson- and a FREE community meal!Our Fe...  Read More