2.12.23 Message – What’s Broken Can Be Mended: Cracks in Everything

What’s Broken Can Be Mended: Cracks In Everything (1 John 4:7-19)

We learn, we hear, we teach that God IS Love. That all love comes from God and God continually shares that love with each one of us. No matter what. And yet…we just don’t always feel it. Or know it. Or see it. It’s right there, all the time, and yet sometimes we just can’t believe it.

If God is love, then why do we feel unlovable?

2.5.23 Message – What’s Broken Can Be Mended: It Can Begin with You

What’s Broken Can Be Mended: It Can Begin With You

 
We all have a starting point in life—but some of us start out behind others based on the mental and spiritual health of our family. Some families repeat generational cycles of abuse, mistrust, and pain. We can see those broken systems in our society, and we all wonder how individuals, families, and our society at large can find healing.
 
But where does our healing begin? What makes the harmful cycles break and how can we create healthy ones for the future?

1.29.23 Message – What’s Broken Can Be Mended: Wouldn’t You Rather Hear…

“What’s Broken Can Be Mended: Wouldn’t You Rather Hear…”

The Beatitudes are a series of promises, or blessings, from God to people who are struggling with life, grief, poverty, injustice, hopelessness. But let’s be honest…not one of us desires to go through any of these things. Wouldn’t we rather hear that we don’t have to, ever? Wouldn’t that be a better promise?

But none of us are promised a life free of struggle. So what is God’s promise, and how can we trust that it’s there when we need it the most?

1.22.23 Message – Say Yes to Rest: Sabbath as Escape

Say Yes to Rest: Sabbath as Escape (Matthew 11:28-30)

Sabbath interrupts our routines and helps us reset our bodies, minds, and spirits into a healthier space. Whether our lives are comfortable or difficult there are always things we need to escape from, even just temporarily. We already know we could all use a break, but what we struggle with is how to take that break. We think we can’t take a break until all our tasks are finished, but that’s impossible. There’s a never-ending list of things we need to finish. Perhaps instead we could think of Sabbath as a resting place along our journey of life—and that’s where we find what we need to be able to continue on that journey.

1.15.23 Message – Say Yes to Rest: Sabbath as Resistance

Say Yes to Rest: Sabbath as Resistance (Exodus 20:1-11)

We live in a culture where more is often never enough and we fill our days with the anxious and restless pursuit of more…more stuff, more activities, more accolades, more work. How do we understand that production is not our life’s work? How do we stop consuming our lives and live in a way that recognizes the value of our relationships with one another?

God created a day of rest and asks us to honor it…can we do that in today’s culture and how would it change our lives for the better?

1.8.23 Message – Say Yes to Rest: Sabbath as Rhythm

Say Yes to Rest: Sabbath as Rhythm (Matthew 14:13-24)

Do you ever feel as if you’re schedule is too full, too busy? That you’re anxiously and hurriedly running through life, never able to quite catch up on all you need to do? How do you get it all done? Do you know anyone, yourself included, who is not tired?

We’re not meant to be constantly busy. While we’re meant to live our lives as fully as possible that also means regular and intentional rest for our bodies, minds, and souls. It’s not easy to let go of all the internal and external demands on our time. But what if there’s a better way? A way that God’s built into our lives that can help us do what needs to be done and also protects our mental health?

12.11.22 Message-From Generation to Generation: We Choose a Better Way

From Generation to Generation: We Choose a Better Way (Matthew 1:18-25)

Joseph had choices to make when he learned that Mary was pregnant. He could have exposed her to shame and harassment from her community. Instead, he chose a different path, a path that was compassionate and faithful. He choose to do the right thing for Mary, Jesus, and himself because of his faith. He choose peace over violence, grace over condemnation.  He choose his “yes” to God, just as Mary did before him, and it made all the difference in his life.

When have you had to make a difficult choice in your life? When have you had to choose a better way, knowing that way could be harder and messier? What difference has it made in your life and in your faith?

11.27.22 Message: From Generation to Generation

Generation to Generation: There’s Room for Every Story (Matthew 1:1-17)

We are all the culmination of all the generations of those before us. Known and unknown to us, all have contributed to the story of who we are now. In that long list of names there are stories to tell, expected and unexpected, and God has worked through each one, up to the very present. Those revelations can bring both triumph and trauma, but when we zoom out we can see how each story is woven together through time into the larger tapestry of who we are.

What is your story and how can you see that God is present and active in it?

11.20.22 Message: Love Always Wins

Colossians 1:11-20

When you think of your image what do you want to see? What do you hope others will see?

God has an image too. There are many biblical stories which show God’s image–powerful, awe-inspiring and mysterious. It can inspire, but does that image help us feel the closeness we yearn for in our relationship with God?

This is where Jesus comes in. God’s compassion, love, and connection to us can be seen through in Jesus’ life. And while there is much about Jesus that is mysterious and awe-inspiring, it is through the life and work of Jesus that God feels more accessible to us because we see ourselves in the lives of the people he taught, healed, and loved.

11.13.22 Message: Love Always Wins

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

When we’re waiting for something important, anticipating how wonderful it’s going to make our lives it can be really difficult to concentrate on the realities of life. Especially if some of those realities are nowhere near as fun as what we’re hoping for. Whatever hopes we have for the future, we know we live in the present. As Christians we have a foot in two worlds—the reality of our daily lives and the hope that we have in through Christ that will lead us to Heaven. Both of these places make the Kingdom of God. How do we live our lives in ways that keep us grounded, but also help us live with hope and compassion? The love of Christ for all of us always wins, and we can express that love for one another right now in ways that help all of us.