We’re always told that religion and politics are off limits in conversation, but our faith in Jesus Christ is inherently political. Believing and trusting in God puts us in relationship with the world God created and challenges us to engage issues. We are called to community, and even when we disagree, how can we be […]
Mealtimes are sacred and holy times, but we’ve lost the sense of what it means to be connected around the table. W hurry through meals, and many times we eat alone without taking time to enjoy the food or talk to one another. Family dinners are only for special occasions – or maybe a thing […]
People say you’re not supposed to talk about politics and religion, but we have to honest about the fact that our faith should affect every area of our lives including our political leanings (and vice versa). Even in Christian circles, there are political and social issues that divide Christians and can disrupt churches, communities, and […]
There are many people who say, “I can’t pray,” or they point to others who they say, “can really pray.” Jesus offers us a model for prayer after the disciples ask for his help, and it’s a place to start. How do we get past our struggle to pray correctly and get to a place […]
God is always in the business of resurrection – transforming us to be more like Christ when we surrender our lives to him. Part of surrendering to God is bringing all that we are – even the parts that we might try to hide like shame, guilt, struggle, regret, and grief. We aren’t defined by […]
Jesus offers many images of what the Kingdom of God is like, and even a a small seed and a small amount of yeast can help us to understand the power of God to work with what seems insignificant! We may be used to thinking that God’s Kingdom is far off, but the Kingdom is […]
“True worship is about the priority we place on who God is in our lives and where God is on our list of priorities.” It’s easy to get our focus off of worshiping God and on worshiping other things. We struggle to give up our idols (money, hobbies, stuff) and to remember that we worship […]
Our HS Youth Mission Team shared their experiences from their trip to Henderson Settlement. Their message and mission trip devotions were based on James 2: 14-19 and Ephesians 3: 14-21, especially verse 17: Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love […]
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us Monday night at Ron and Vicki’s house for the worship brainstorming. Faith, politics, and money…provocative topics that generated a huge amount of discussion that was both holy and respectful! This is by far the most challenging brainstorming I have ever tried to summarize. I tried to […]
“I’m so busy” has become a badge of honor, but God calls us to honor Sabbath time. Sabbath is time to recreate and be re-created by God. How do we reclaim the gift of Sabbath and find health and strength to live more faithfully? To read Pastor Mary’s message, based on Genesis 1: 31 – […]