2.11.24 Message: Who Do We Want Jesus to Be?

Who Do We Want Jesus to Be? (Mark 9:2-9)

So often we take the Jesus we read about, hear about, preach about, pray about and we try and fit him into neat little boxes we’ve created for him. Often we try and limit Jesus’ teachings to what we’re comfortable with and what’s acceptable to us.

Jesus’ teachings were compassionate and loving, but at the same time, they were radical, uncomfortable, and demanded that his followers grow and stretch to follow him…

Trying to fit Jesus into a theological or denominational box is one way of trying to control Jesus’ message. But what if Faith isn’t supposed to work that way? What if Jesus is asking us to let go of our illusion of control and instead have our faith stretched in new ways?

Join Us for Worship on Sunday Morning!

Sunday, December 24 • 10:00 a.m.

Join us for worship on Christmas Eve morning at 10:00 a.m., either in-person or streaming live on Facebook, as we continue our Advent sermon series, The Gift of Being Present. Also, we will enjoy music by the Shawnee Community Christmas Choir. It’s going to be a great morning for worship.

 

Sunday morning’s music set list is below. You can click on the links to view the YouTube videos, learn the songs and enjoy.

Hope for Everyone

Communion

O Come All Ye Faithful

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

 

Blue Christmas Service Tonight

Thursday, December 21 • 6:00 p.m.

Not everyone is cheery and joyful during the Christmas season. So many things can impact how we feel…Grieving the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with job loss or financial distress, facing a serious illness that puts a question mark over our future…any number of situations can make parties and joyful gatherings painful for many.

Blue Christmas is a service that acknowledges the hard stuff in the midst of the often joyful and busy holiday season. It’s a service of honesty, a space to hold what gives us joy alongside that which gives us sadness. It’s a place to remember the hope God brings to all the different, joyful and difficult parts of our lives…

This service is open to all of our community. Please share this event with anyone who may need comfort during this season.

Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, December 24 • 5:30 p.m.

Start your family holiday celebration by remembering the reason for the season! Join us for a casual, family-friendly, Christmas Eve worship service with Christmas music, candle lighting, activities for kids ages 0-4th grade and communion for all people who desire to receive it without any exceptions. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

Join Us On Sunday for the Children’s Christmas Program!

Sunday, December 17 • 10:00 a.m.

Get ready to kick off the holiday season with the Children’s Christmas Program! It’s a morning that guarantees smiles, laughter, and all-around fun! Trust us, you won’t want to miss out. See you on Sunday at 10:00 a.m., whether you’re joining us in person or streaming live on Facebook. We can’t wait to worship with you all!

Blue Christmas Service

Thursday, December 21 • 6:00 p.m.

Not everyone is cheery and joyful during the Christmas season. So many things can impact how we feel…Grieving the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with job loss or financial distress, facing a serious illness that puts a question mark over our future…any number of situations can make parties and joyful gatherings painful for many.

Blue Christmas is a service that acknowledges the hard stuff in the midst of the often joyful and busy holiday season. It’s a service of honesty, a space to hold what gives us joy alongside that which gives us sadness. It’s a place to remember the hope God brings to all the different, joyful and difficult parts of our lives…

This service is open to all of our community. Please share this event with anyone who may need comfort during this season.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Sunday, December 24 • 5:30 p.m.

Start your family holiday celebration by remembering the reason for the season! Join us for a casual, family-friendly, Christmas Eve worship service with Christmas music, candle lighting, activities for kids ages 0-4th grade and communion for all people who desire to receive it without any exceptions. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

Join Us for Worship on Sunday!

Sunday, December 10 • 10:00 a.m.

Join us for worship at 10:00 a.m., either in-person or streaming live on Facebook, as we continue our Advent sermon series, The Gift of Being Present. On Sunday, we will examine The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Peace (Mark 1:1-8).

Life contains many chapters…some great, others not so great. Sometimes we find ourselves waiting for new beginnings, fresh starts, a clear path for whatever is next. It can be frustrating when the way ahead is not clear or obvious when we want it to be. The Good News, though, is that the Holy One is continually making a way for do-overs. In this we can find peace, even when life doesn’t feel so peaceful. Peace is a gift God gives us, a non-anxious presence for when we need it most.

 

Sunday morning’s music set list is below. You can click on the links to view the YouTube videos, learn the songs and enjoy.

Hope for Everyone

King of Kings

Peace

You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)

 

Join the Shawnee Community Christmas Choir

One of our favorite traditions of the Christmas season is the Christmas Choir! Do you love to sing? Do you think fondly of your years in the high school choir? If so it’s not too late to join the Shawnee Community Christmas Choir! The Christmas Choir will perform on Sunday, December 24 during worship. If you are interested in joining the choir, email Ronette at ronette@shawneecommunity.org.

If you can show up to at least three rehearsals it would be appreciated, especially the rehearsal before the day the choir performs.

Rehearsal dates:

Sunday, December 10, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 13, 6-7:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 17, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 20, 6-7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 23, 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 24, performance day rehearsal 9:15-9:45 a.m.

Cookies with Santa on Saturday!

Saturday, December 9 • 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Join us for Cookies with Santa this Saturday! This will be such a fun morning for our kids and will surely put you in the holiday mood. Enjoy crafts and games for the kids, COOKIES and photos with the main jolly dude himself, SANTA!