Series:  The Book of Ruth

Title: Midnight on the Threshing Floor

This week we encounter Act 3 of the drama, and it somewhat mirrors chapter 2 in its layout - three different scenes with the three main characters. Ruth 2:12 showed usn Boaz praying for God to “fully reward” Ruth for all that she

had done. Chapter 3 begins to unfold how this prayer comes to fruition in Ruth’s life, and Boaz discovers that sometimes we are the answer to our own prayers! From these scenes a picture emerges of how both divine and

human action collaborate together. Plan to be with us as we explore this saucy episode of Ruth in a study called - Midnight on the Threshing Floor.

Series:  The Book of Ruth

Title: As It Happened

We find ourselves gleaning wisdom from the ancient book of Ruth. Last week, we saw Naomi move from pleasantness to bitterness and a movement to emptiness. This week we experience Act 2 of this drama which has 3 scenes and 3 main characters - Naomi, Ruth & Boaz. We find here a movement from emptiness to fullness and abundance. Act 2 unveils that the God that was supposed to be working against them is leading and guiding them with providential care. Naomi’s prayer for Ruth in chapter 1 is being answered. Plan to be with us as we encounter Ruth chapter 2 in a study called: As It Happened.

Series:  The Book of Ruth

Title: Funny the Way It Is

To begin this New Year we will start a series in the ancient book of Ruth. Ruth has all the elements of a powerful story - tragedy, loss, despair, triumph, hope, loyalty and romance - all leading to a climactic finale as surprising as it is satisfying. But it is more than a story. There’s actually a story within a story, for in the lives of the characters involved in this drama God is weaving together a plan to redeem His people. It’s a tale that reminds us that each of our lives, no matter how ordinary or stressful they may be, is part of a narrative much larger than ourselves and much more thrilling than we could ever imagine. Plan to be with us this weekend as we explore Ruth chapter one in a study called: Funny the Way It Is.

Series:  Advent 2016

Title: Find in us a Mansion

We have lit the first three candles of Advent — hope, peace, and joy. On this night, we light the fourth candle — the candle of love. The flame signifies the love of God that surrounds and fills us at all times and how we recognize this

love in a special way in the Christmas story. Advent is a season where every heart is preparing him room, as we

ourselves become the resting place where Christ will dwell.  Mary said yes to the indwelling Christ, but it is not only Mary who must respond. This message explores the story of the Annunciation in Luke 1, as we offer ourselves to God and ask him to - Find in us a Mansion.

Series:  Advent 2016

Title:  How Do You Like Me Know?

We are exploring scripture texts found in Handel’s Messiah, and this time we come to some verses found in Haggai. It is one of the shortest books in the OT - barely two pages in most Bibles. But sometimes we encounter timely ideas in the most obscure corners of the canon of Scripture. Haggai’s contemporaries are pining over a past era and temple and struggling to push forward in the present. The outward circumstances of our lives can feel harsh and threaten to undo any forward momentum. “Does it now seem like nothing?” asks Haggai about the restored temple. Still, God speaks to us today through Haggai’s words: “I am with you. Do not fear. My Spirit abides among you.” There can be greater glory in our lesser circumstances. Our study this week is called: How You Like Me Now?

Series:  Advent 2016

Title:  Comfort Ye My People

A tenor opens Handel’s Messiah with a delicate, yet brilliant “Comfort ye!” When you hear it, it seems to cause the heart to soar with beauty! This is God calling to us in our world - this world torn by pain, suffering, evil, war and poverty. Join us as we look at this text from Isaiah 40 and explore the character of our God. Advent gives us time and space to hear the promises of God spoken and sung to the community of faith that we might sit with them and ponder all these things in our heart. Our study this week is called - Comfort Ye My People.

Title: The Gospel as Politically Subversive

When you read the book of Acts, a pattern begins to emerge. When the gospel is preached, it causes a public disturbance. The early apostles saw themselves as ambassadors of a rival king. They had pledged their allegiance to another king so they often acted contrary to the decrees of Caesar. Maybe this is why Paul reminds us that "our citizenship is in heaven." Our study this week is called The Gospel as Politically Subversive.

Title:  Politics, Demonization and the Sacramental Imagination

We want the worship, teaching and Eucharistic celebration to function as a “purge" of all the negativity and political ads that we have endured this election season. An election cycle has a way of distorting our imagination & causes us to miss what is really happening at the center of reality. Plan on being with us as we try and cleanse ourselves from the toxicity of this present hour and re-align with that which is good, beautiful, and true. Our study this week is called: Politics, Demonization and the Sacramental Imagination.

Title:  Life from the Margins

What is it like to live life from the margins? To feel like you are invisible, shamed, or seemingly worthless? Jesus frequently encountered people on the margins of society, and he always brought them to a place of dignity and

transformation. We will be looking at how Jesus met those who felt left out of society, and we will consider how we, too, can reach out to those who are on the margins, because at one time or another, we have all been there.

Series:  Fear the 0f Other

Title:  Goodness & Closeness

We’ve been looking at ‘Fear of the Other’ through the lens of Acts 10 (Peter & Cornelius) and Matthew 23 (Sheep & goats). We ended up last week talking about how Paul saw no one as mere human beings, but he saw God - everywhere! Now this week we want to explore how Paul put this into practice in different ministry settings - especially in Athens (Acts 17).  Because of Christ, Paul had this ability to see past the wrongness to the goodness of humanity (& how close God is to them). Our study this week is called: Goodness & Closeness.