“... to fulfill all righteousness."

~ Matthew 3:15

It's a natural human inclination-

To make a resolution to change our life.

Even Jesus did it.

He launched into his public ministry after living in relative obscurity for nearly 30 years.

He did it by being baptized.

it was a turning point in his life.

A resolution.

And the reason...

"To fulfill all righteousness."

How and why Jesus fulfilled all righteousness...

Join us Sunday to find out,

and make a fresh start in this new year!

“What is your life?

~ James 4:14

This Sunday Pastor Ruth will be bringing the Word,

and we'll be bringing in the New Year!

Her message is titled,

"When Plans Change:

What to do with the Unexpected?"

Our plans do not always align with God's plans.

What do we do in these circumstances?

How do we trust God and move forward in faith?

Don't miss the opportunity to join together in worship as we welcome 2023.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;

he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

~ Luke 2:11

If you were to ask someone on December 24 what they want for Christmas,

I wonder how many would answer,

"To see God?"

As crazy as that question may sound,

that is the gift we are given on Christmas.

And it is what we want more than anything else.

Join us this Christmas Eve, 4pm, and

together we will sing carols;

Lift prayers;

Give our gifts;

And behold the face of God in Jesus.

It does sound crazy.

It is audacious.

It is foolishness to many...

But it is the promise of Christmas-

In a baby born in Bethlehem we see the face of God,

and gaze on our hearts true desire.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).”

~ Matthew 1:23

This Sunday is week 4 of our Advent season.

We will light the love Candle.

And we' finally get to the baby Jesus!

(I know, it's about time!)

When open to the first chapter of the firs book of the New Testament and the story of Jesus what do we actually find...

Names.

Lots and lots of names!

This Sunday we'll see why those names are so important.

But most important,

we'll be introduced to the name that is above all names-

His name is Jesus.

And we will call him "Immanuel."

“Are you the one who is to come,

or should we expect someone else?”

~ Matthew 11:3

This Sunday is week three of our Advent season.

We will light the Joy Candle.

And we'll continue with the story of John the Baptist.

No one had more faith in Jesus than John...

Until his expectations for Jesus were not met.

A similar thing can happen to us.

We have high expectations for Christmas...

And heavy disappointments.

What happens when our expectations of Jesus, faith, life itself,

are not met-

Do we look at Jesus and re-adjust our expectations?

Or we do we ask Jesus to re-adjust to us?

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

~ Matthew 3:2

This Sunday is week two of our Advent season.

We will light the Peace Candle.

And we'll hear the surprising, and unwelcomed, message of Jesus' cousin John the Baptizer.

John preached a simple message,

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

And he used a few images that help to understand the true meaning of Christmas-

A Road.

A River.

An Ax.

And a Fire.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."

~ Jesus, Matthew 24:42

Advent is our season of preparation and anticipation for Christmas.

It is the four Sundays that lead us to our celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Perhaps you grew up in a church that made much of Advent.

Or not.

Either way you are invited to go all in this year with Connections!

Join us this Sunday as we look the future hope of Christmas-

Jesus' second coming.

This Sunday we wrap up our "Low Anthropology" series and look into our selfishness. Paul puts it this way...

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,"

~ Philippians 2:3

One of my best memories of ministry was working with Summer’s Best Two Weeks, a sports camp in western PA. It was two weeks of sports, worship, bible study and growing relationships. But through it all, with each activity, we were trying to teach and model to the campers that the best way to live is summarized in that simple statement:

Jesus first.

Others second.

I’m third.

To this day I still recite this words in my morning devotions.

This is the counter intuitive path to joy and fulfillment and discovering your calling in life:

Serving others.

This Sunday we continue our "Low Anthropology" series and look into our "Doubleness." Paul puts it this way...

"I do not understand what I do.

For what I want to do I do not do,

but what I hate I do."

~ Romans 7:15

A Native American parable pictures a father is talking to his son.

He tells him, “Everyone has two wolves inside of them. One wolf is violent, wild and destructive. The other wolf is disciplined, wise and generous. They are fighting inside of you.”

"Which wolf will win?” His troubled son asks.

His father answered,

“The wolf that will win is the wolf that is fed.”

The bible tells of a similar battle that goes on inside all people.

Yes, we are encouraged to feed the "good" wolf.

But we have more-

We have a savior who is able to deliver us from this battle of living a double life!

"I am gentle and lowly in heart..."

~ Jesus (Matthew 11:29)

This Sunday we continue our "Low Anthropology" series as we look to Jesus, who described himself as "gentle and lowly in heart."

What is the heart, biblically?

The center of being.

The driving force.

It is who we are, revealed.

When Jesus reveals his innermost being,

he is gentle.

And he is lowly, or humble, in heart.

This is good news for all who can admit that they are

lost and lonely,

beaten and broken,

addicted and afraid,

sick and sinning and in need of a savior.

Join us this Sunday as we approach God in worship.

Don't worry, he is ready to receive you...

Gently.

Humbly.