The Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.

And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 3:22

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

These scriptures, to be read on Sunday, offer a powerful reminder of our intimate connection to our creator.

God knows our name, God’s love is for us, and we are beloved.

We need to hear these words because the challenges of life and darkness of this world often drowns out everything else.

You are loved, you are a child of God, with whom God is well pleased.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

This Sunday we celebrate Epiphany, commemorating the journey of the Wisemen who come to honor the newborn Christ child.

As they share their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh they foreshadow the story of Jesus.

Join us Sunday as we follow the star to find our savior.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Message delivered by Chris Christensen.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry,

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Luke 1:41–42

In the days leading up to the birth of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the angel Gabriel were working overtime.

Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin) and Zechariah could not have children

and were told by Gabriel that they would have a son John who will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then the angel comes to Mary and tells her that even though she is a virgin she will,

by the power of the Holy Spirit, bear a child who will be Jesus, Son of God.

In our gospel for Sunday, Mary visits Elizabeth (6 months pregnant)

and the Holy Spirit within her recognizes what God is up to with Mary.

We will ponder all this and more on Sunday,

when we will also have special presentations from our Confirmation youth and Kid Connection children.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees;

every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Luke 3:9

This Sunday we will hear part two of the Lukan version of the John the Baptist story.

John speaks a prophetic word that calls people to repent and prepare for the coming Messiah,

instructing them to bear fruit worthy of repentance.

In other words, repentance is not merely an internal change of heart,

but an outward change in behavior that becomes a blessing to others.

Join us Sunday as dig into more depth as we seek to bear good fruit.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:3

John the Baptist played a key role in the story of Jesus.

Through his ministry of baptism and message of repentance, people’s hearts and minds were being prepared for Jesus.

Advent is a time of spiritual renewal, a time for us to be prepared for Jesus.

Let’s follow John’s lead and prepare the way!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.

Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:27–28

On Sunday we begin our Advent journey.

Advent is a time of beginnings but also a time of waiting.

The gospel text this week features apocalyptic images from Jesus predicting the Second Coming.

This will include power and dangerous signs but also the Son of Man coming in power and glory and bringing redemption and wholeness.

Jesus tells his followers to raise their heads, be on guard, and to stay alert.

Let us look for signs of God all around us, with the promise of redemption and God’s grace.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:8

Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, the final Sunday of the church year.

We celebrate that Jesus is the King of kings, Lord of lords, and how God’s reign is eternal.

We also know that we live between the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end) and in this in-between time things are not always as God would intend.

We know God’s reign will bring an end to evil, injustice, sin, and death while we also acknowledge things are not yet there.

Join us Sunday as we celebrate the reign of Christ and live into the hope we have in the one who is, was, and is to come.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.