As we move into Advent, we move into a new focus "Imperfect Hospitality." Hospitality is all about the welcome we offer our guests. All too often we think everything must be perfect, perfectly clean home, perfectly prepared meal, perfectly curated playlist, perfectly behaved children & pets, perfectly dressed to the nines, simply perfect. The story of the Hospitality of Abraham reminds us that God is not in search of the perfect. Pastor Stephanie invites to embrace the imperfect, to welcome our guests "just as they are, for who they are" and to do it "just as we are" not stressing over the condition of our home, the quality of the meal, or the clothes we are wearing. We should be more ready to offer Imperfect Hospitality because what matters is the conversations, connections, and being real together: imperfections and all!

Some people are generous only out of a sense of obligation, as if sharing was another chore to be checked off. This week’s focus text shares the story of Hannah’s Song. Hannah thought she was doomed to one of the worst fates for a woman of her time: infertility. When she does give birth to a son, her response is a piece of poetry praising God. It is in this song that we see her generosity, dedicating her son’s life to service in the Temple, is not out of obligation but is grounded in gratitude. Pastor Chad invites us to remember the sense of gratitude we often experience in “That could have been so bad!” moments, like a narrow escape of an accident on an icy South Dakota highway. Generosity that flows from Intentional Gratitude is part of living a life of faith as God intended!

Happiness is big business! As a culture we are constantly seeking out the secret to happiness. Marketers play off our desire for happiness, with companies suggesting that the key to happiness is found in their self-help book, their vehicle, their soft drink! But what happens when life gets tough, when the happiness fades, when you're wandering in the desert? Pastor Chad reminds us that the STORY of our faith does not focus on finding happiness but on living with gratitude. Living with a sense of gratitude persists even when happiness is elusive. Remembering the gifts God has given us with Intentional Gratitude makes use of the MOMENTUM of God's STORY to propel us into COMMUNITY that is sent into SERVICE for our neighbor.

We began a new focus of our MOMENTUM theme this week: Intentional Gratitude. Throughout the year we are exploring some less familiar parts of our Faith STORY, as we seek out the Gospel, the Good News of God, found throughout the entire Bible. This week we explore meet Ebenezer, not Mr. Scrooge, but the “Stone of Help” that the prophet Samuel raised up. It was to be a reminder of the help God provided them in defeating the occupying army of the Philistines. It was a sign of gratitude. As we commemorate All Saints Day we remember those Saints who have served as Stone of Help, an Ebenezer, in our lives. They are a reminder to receive with Intentional Gratitude the Help of God.

Pastor Chad invites us to continue exploring the theme of forgiveness in the story of Joseph's "Uncharted Journey". Last week Pastor Stephanie spoke about how forgiving someone isn't about them, it's about us as it frees us from the chains of that hurt allowing us to move forward into the future God intends for us. This week Pastor Chad focuses on the other side of forgiveness, about asking for forgiveness. He suspects others, like him, find it difficult to ask for forgiveness, not because we are unrepentant but because we fear the other person won't accept our apology. Our relationships with others are some of the most fragile things in life. Forgiveness can be the glue needed to repair those relationship that have been broken by our words & actions. Being part of the bigger STORY of our Faith Joseph's story has something to teach us about addressing the needs of our world and of our lives, in this case: the power of forgiveness!

If your brothers plotted to kill you, threw you in a pit, and sold you into slavery could you forgive them? Joseph’s Uncharted Journey takes another turn as his brothers, who expected Joseph to be long gone, end up in Pharaoh’s court under the judgement of Joseph. In the 22 years since they last saw each other, the power dynamic has reversed, the young boy who was thrown in a pit is now unrecognizable as the man who is second-in-command of a powerful kingdom. He easily could have taken everything they had & sent them to prison but instead forgives them & provides for them. Joseph realized that holding a grudge would only have tightened the chains of that past trauma inflicted by his brothers. By forgiving them he was able to realize that what they did no longer overpowered him, he was now free of the chains that held him back and he could truly be the person God created him to be! Pastor Stephanie helps us realize, that just like Joseph, forgiveness is about freeing ourselves from the chains that hold us back from being all that God is calling us to be.

Where will we find Joseph on this Uncharted Journey? Last week he was unjustly accused and thrown into prison. This week his journey takes another unexpected turn going from prisoner to second-in-command over all of Egypt! Was Joseph blessed because he was keeping up his side of the contract with God? When we try to understand biblical stories as being all about God’s Covenants with people, we fall into the trap that it is as simple as: “Do Good – Be Blessed. Do Bad – Be Cursed”. Because we have followed his entire journey, not just his high points of receiving his Coat of Many Colors and now finding favor with Pharaoh, we know that God has been with Joseph through it all including in the pit, in slavery, & in prison. A mature faith knows that even when we feel like God has forsaken us, God is with us in the darkness hearing our laments and calling us to bring reassurance of this presence to others who find themselves on the top of the world or in their own dark pit.

As we continue to explore our theme of Momentum, we turn to a new story focus for October: Uncharted Journey follows the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. This week Pastor Stephanie has us considering the power dynamics at play in Joseph’s journey. Being a slave what little power Joseph has due to his gifts for management are eclipsed by the power of mere accusations made by his owner’s wife. Today we are no stranger to similar struggles between the powerful & the powerless. Joseph’s rollercoaster journey continues from being sold as a slave to being the trusted manager of a powerful household to being wrongfully accused & thrown into prison. Is there any hope for the powerless? Pastor Stephanie reminds us of God’s promise to be with us on our Uncharted Journey as God’s presence is mentioned more in this small segment of Joseph’s journey than in all the rest of the story spanning chapters of Genesis. God is our constant companion on this Uncharted Journey!

As we continue to explore our theme of Momentum, we turn to a new story focus for October: Uncharted Journey as we follow the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Pastor Chad asks us to think about the start of Joseph’s journey as he goes from being his father’s favorite son to being sold into slavery. It is certainly not the path Joseph had dreamed of but was it the path God set him on? Is God a puppet master pulling strings to steer Joseph into the hands of his brothers who intend to kill him, or into the pit where he is alone, or into the hands of slave traders? Are you on an unfortunate path because God wants you to suffer? Or is your good life because God pulled some strings in your favor? Pastor Chad reminds us that our God is not altering our path in life, for better or for worse, but rather is keeping a promise to accompany us on whatever twist & turn our path takes!

‘Cancel Culture’ is a hot button topic, and too often it assumes redemption is impossible. Today’s focus text tells the story of God using a seemingly unredeemable persecutor of the disciples to do great things. Saul was literally hunting down the followers of Jesus when he has an encounter with Jesus that changes his course. The disciple Ananias despises Saul for all the pain caused to his fellow members of The Way, but his trust in God’s plan was stronger than his hate for those who were persecuting him. While we may not be so willing to offer second chances to those who have wronged us, God is willing to forgive us and will use us to do great things in the world that bring about God’s vision for Creation. In the Momentum of this Story we can find “Believable Belonging” trusting that even as God knows all our failings we are not cancelled but renewed & redeemed as Children of God.