Gifts have been opened, turkey and ham have been eaten, carols have been sung, candles have been lit. We have once again celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Now that the glitter (and shopping) of the Christmas season is over, how do we as the church pick up the pieces and move on?
Joseph and His Dreams
On Sunday, December 26, Pastor David preached on Matthew 2:13-23, the story of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fleeing to Egypt because of King Herod’s jealousy. How does this story help answer the question of free will vs. predestination? Click the link below to listen!
The Savior is Born
Merry Christmas! While I am writing these words, stockings are being hung by our chimneys with care, and children are doing everything possible to move from the “naughty” list to the “nice” list. As always, though, there is a deep, abiding reason for this season that goes beyond gift-giving and family get-togethers. Christ, the Savior, is born!
The Sign of Immanuel
In Isaiah 7:10-17, we read the prophecy of a young woman conceiving and giving birth to a son, who is to be named Immanuel, “God With Us.” What was this story about? And what does it have to do with the real Christmas message of hope? Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s sermon on this topic.
Preview: The Sign of Immanuel
In Isaiah 7:10-17, we read “a virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son.” Sound familiar? Ever wonder what it meant before Christ’s birth? Come Sunday and discover the powerful message of hope found in this Christmas prophecy.
–Pastor David
First Snow
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Tara and I come from Indiana, where we often were left merely dreaming of a white Christmas. More common was the muddy or occasionally green(!) Christmas. But with last weekend’s snowfall firmly in place, we seem to be set on the most traditional of courses this season. Why does the weather seem to affect our experience of this Christmas season? Continue reading
Gifts for the Savior
On Sunday, December 12, Pastor J.R. helped us think about how we should go about giving a gift to our Savior. Why do we give gifts? What could Jesus possibly need from us? What are his interests? Click the link below to hear J.R.’s message on this topic.
Prepare the Way
John the Baptist came proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of heaven. And even then the Pharisees and Sadducees didn’t like the message! How can this story help us tackle the question of God’s justice vs. God’s lovingkindness? Click the link below to hear Pastor David’s sermon on this topic.
Preview: Prepare the Way
This Sunday, we will worship the Lord and investigate a peculiar passage of scripture: Matthew 3:1-12. As we celebrate the Christmas season, we will spend time considering John the Baptist, Jesus’s cousin who proclaimed a strong message in the years before Jesus’s own ministry. Come worship with us!
–Pastor David
Celebrating Birthdays
‘Tis the season… to celebrate birthdays. We are in the season of Advent, in which we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As if that were not enough reason for me to celebrate, today (which will have passed by the time you read this) happens to be my thirty-first birthday. If you will humor me, then, I will try not to draw too strong of a comparison between the two birthday boys.
Continue reading