Season: Eastertide

Speaker: Rachel Sensenig

Location: 2212 S. Broad St.

About Talk: Jesus says this hard thing to one of his favorite people. Why? Because his work isn’t done yet, and Mary needed to see how important she was to the mission. The comfort of Jesus’s presence and friendship is meant to be shared with the whole world; it’s not just an individual thing. You and I are the antidote to loneliness.

Season: The Resurrection Changes Everything

Speaker: Gwen White

Location: 2007 Frankford Ave

Season: Eastertide

Speaker: Rachel Sensenig

Location: 2212 S. Broad St.

Season: Life in the Spirit

Speaker: Rod White and others

Location: 3800 Marlton Pike

About Talk: Should we preserve the word "evangelical?" Does it apply to us? What good news do we have to offer? What seed has been planted in us that is growing new shoots? Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” How do you think we are living this?

Season: Life in the Spirit

Speaker: Rod White

Location: 3800 Marlton Pike

About Talk: Jesus compares himself to a dying seed. New life always comes from death in the plant world, usually in us too. Jesus will raise us up and strengthen new shoots in us. Some of us could start following Jesus for the first time right now, like Kim or my cell apprentice or my friend who became a lawyer. Some of us are hearing a call of newness that’s moving us from where we have arrived now. Now is a good time to respond, to lose your dormant life, precious as it might seem, and grow something new—receiving the eternal life Jesus offers, just like we were meant to live.

Season: Eastertide

Speaker: Julie Hoke

Location: 5720 Ridge Ave.

About Talk: Julie talked about 1 Samuel 1-2. What we do in the midst of disappointment is crucial for our faith development (and that of our children’s). For years, Hannah suffered disappointment and sorrow, longing for her circumstance to change. When we let our sorrow and disappointment get into God’s hands, we ask God to hold it with us. We can be upset and tell the truth about it, face the shame and turn away from isolation, pour out our hearts to God and make a commitment to the One who hears us.

Season: The Resurrection Changes Everything

Speaker: Jonny Rashid

Location: 2007 Frankford Ave.

About Talk: If we are going to have any hope of making disciples of our loved ones, we need to start with Timothy’s humility—figure out how you are going to meet them where they are. We need to take advantage of the allies that we have, like Lydia, and include her radically in the mission—see what good they already offer. We need to see slavery and be emancipators, freeing people from their bondage and knowing that true freedom comes from Jesus and his Spirit. Give them something tangible and practical back.

Season: Eastertide

Speaker: Gwen White

Location: 2212 S. Broad St.

About Talk: This message on forgiving points us to Jesus’ disguised invitation to growth embedded in all our hurts. When we are hurt by someone, we can use it to learn more about our unconscious selves: what we value, what we fear, etc. Although not easy, reflecting on our impulses to attack or to withdraw can while seek God’s help to forgive can bring new growth and turn our sorrow into joy. Abusive relationship are a very different thing and those who are caught in an abusive relationship should seek help in order to change relationship patterns before any forgiving is attempted. The research of Everett Worthington was used to help us practically apply Jesus’ words to Peter to forgive seventy times seven (Matthew 18).

Season: Life in the Spirit

Speaker: Ben White

Location: 3800 Marlton Pike

Season: Eastertide

Speaker: Joel White

Location: 5720 Ridge Ave.

About Talk: Joel White is on the Leadership Team of Circle of Hope. He leads the Capacity Core Team that oversees our finances, buildings, and staff according to our mission and vision. He talks about what it means to structure our life as the church in a way that helps us live into the Kingdom of God and reveal it to the world around us.