Bothell Amplified

On Christmas Eve, Pastor Joe reflected on how God invites us to "Make Room". When we make room for God, something else also begins to happen: Making room for God reshapes how we make room for people!

This week, we conclude our Advent Series, "Desperate Measures", by turning to God's ongoing story of love made real to the world. How might God be inviting us to be present in incarnational love this week for our communities? 

This week, we welcome our Pastor of Community Engagement, Rev. Kristin Joyner, to continue our Advent Series called Desperate Measures as we turn to Joy. In her sermon, she reminds us that Jesus offers us a path, with clear directives on how we can participate in the creation of joy not just for ourselves but for everyone!

This week, we welcome our Director of Discipleship and Care, Brian Fu, to continue our Advent Series called Desperate Measures as we turn to Peace. It is evident that the world is not as it is supposed to be. How might we be called to be peacemakers, not simply working towards the absence of conflict, but more so towards shalom? 

This week, Pastor Joe launches our Advent Series titled Desperate Measures as we recognize that our world is not as it should be. How might we live into hope, not as optimism or pretending that everything will work out, but rather as a declaration that better days are coming? 

This week, we wrapped our 140th Anniversary sermon series by turning to the story of the Israelites thirsty in the wilderness. God tells Moses: "I will be standing there in front of you on the rock." From that rock, water flowed; from hard places, streams emerge. As we celebrate 140 years, we're called to walk toward the rock with courage, trusting God is already there. The next 140 years begin now!

This morning, we continue our 140th Anniversary Celebration by welcoming the Resident Bishop of the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, and turning to Ephesians 1:15-22. The Bishop challenges us to look forward to the next 140 years with the same faithfulness and steadfastness that has carried us this far. 

This week, we launch our 140th Anniversary Celebration by turning to the story of the Israelites at the Red Sea. Pastor Joe reminds us that faith is not nostalgia. It is not about recreating what was. It is about stepping toward what could be, even when the way is not clear. How might we live into the new thing that God is doing? 

This year, we celebrate All Saints' by turning 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12. Pastor Joe reminds us saints are not perfect people, but rather those who persevered and shared love, even when times were hard. 

This week, Pastor Joe wraps up our three-week Generosity series by turning to Jesus' parable found in Luke 18:9-14. How might we be challenged to be generous by recognizing our worth, not in comparison to each other, but all under God's faithfulness and God's mercy?