God rescued people from slavery in Egypt with signs, wonders, and miracles. God does the same thing today, and He encourages and equips us to go and do likewise: Get free. Stay free. Free others. And yet it’s easy for any of us to get trapped by constraints and to let others face the same fate of bondage. This is our reality.

God’s vision of Jubilee, a forerunner of God’s coming Kingdom, has something to say about this. The proclamation of Jubilee actually frees people, and it also forms free people. We need both - the release of people stuck in captivity and the formation of people who long for freedom, looking to God to secure it for themselves and others. This Sunday, Josh will share ancient words from Leviticus to teach us more about Jubilee and provide a timely opportunity for the Church to demonstrate Jubilee today.

- Series Description -
In the accounts of his life in the gospels, Jesus often says that the Kingdom of God - God’s rule and reign - is at hand. What is the history of this Kingdom though? Earlier in the narrative of Scripture, as God is forming His people, we learn about the concept of Jubilee. It’s a communal practice of release every fifty years--a societal reset meant to promote justice, forgiveness, and mercy. This communal loosening is all about not being our own masters, but letting the Kingdom, a Jubilee effort, master us. Does it seem like we need a reset societally? In our communities? In us? Let’s embrace the cry for Jubilee and let God’s good work reset, reorder, and reestablish our lives.

Rest is the way to a reset. Not just personally, but communally. Rest also requires trust. In Leviticus, God calls for a Sabbath (one day a week), a Sabbath year (the seventh year), and a Jubilee (the fiftieth year). This set apart time is not meant to be a burden, but a blessing. If we can trust the Lord that timing matters, risk rest, and then join Jesus in the reset, we can see more than just our own lives being made new.

- Series Description - 
In the accounts of his life in the gospels, Jesus often says that the Kingdom of God - God’s rule and reign - is at hand. What is the history of this Kingdom though? Earlier in the narrative of Scripture, as God is forming His people, we learn about the concept of Jubilee. It’s a communal practice of release every fifty years--a societal reset meant to promote justice, forgiveness, and mercy. This communal loosening is all about not being our own masters, but letting the Kingdom, a Jubilee effort, master us. Does it seem like we need a reset societally? In our communities? In us? Let’s embrace the cry for Jubilee and let God’s good work reset, reorder, and reestablish our lives.

ECV was founded in 2007 with a call to seek the peace of our city and pray for it because in its peace we’ll find our peace. In 2025, it is clear our need for peace has not diminished. Our God of peace does not provide only an external peace for others but an internal one for us. Through the work of the Spirit, peace can spread throughout our communities from the inside out. It’s a beautiful integrated vision of communal wholeness that the Bible calls shalom. Are we ready to encounter the Prince of Peace, bringing our turmoil and chaos to him in exchange for a gift of peace that’s meant for more than just our own lives? Come on Sunday to learn and experience more and become a peacemaker today.

Throughout the Book of Acts we find accounts of how God speaks and acts in miraculous ways, even as the Apostles and the early church act with wisdom and boldness to bear witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The power and presence of the Holy Spirit are normative in the pages of Acts, ever intertwined with considered action, bold preaching, and the willingness to suffer to bring the witness of the Gospel from the villages of Galilee to the imperial capital at Rome.
Come out this week and bring a friend to hear a talk entitled “Works of Power and the Progress of the Gospel” and consider how the witness of Acts bears on our life and witness today in New Haven and beyond.

- Series Description -
Among the most compelling stories in the Bible are several contained in the Book of Acts, written by the humble and gentle physician, Luke. In Acts, Luke tells the story of the birth and expansion of the church in the early decades following the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He tells the story of the coming and work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of other early saints. He tells the story of early opposition to the faith, of the first martyrs, and of the courage of early Christians in the face of resistance and even death. At the beginning of the book, the Christian community is limited to Jewish believers mostly in and around Jerusalem; by the end of the book, the church is growing and expanding among Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. Come out for this 10 week series and join us in living out in our own day and time what it is to be the church together.

The Book of Acts tells the story of the birth of the church and its remarkable expansion in the early decades of its existence. Central to that story is the crucial encounter between the Apostle Peter, an observant Jewish man, and Cornelius, a respected Gentile military officer, and his family. Through this encounter, the fledgling church-- and our church, too-- learns that faith in Jesus is not merely for Jewish people but for people of all nations who call on God in faith. Come out this week and bring a friend to hear more about "The Whole Church for the Whole World" and hear from a special guest and ECV friend about how God is working in Taiwan today.

- Series Description -
Among the most compelling stories in the Bible are several contained in the Book of Acts, written by the humble and gentle physician, Luke. In Acts, Luke tells the story of the birth and expansion of the church in the early decades following the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He tells the story of the coming and work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of other early saints. He tells the story of early opposition to the faith, of the first martyrs, and of the courage of early Christians in the face of resistance and even death. At the beginning of the book, the Christian community is limited to Jewish believers mostly in and around Jerusalem; by the end of the book, the church is growing and expanding among Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. Come out for this 10 week series and join us in living out in our own day and time what it is to be the church together.

What are the costs of following Jesus? Sometimes, it’s easy to think about our lives as our existing lives + Jesus. In this scenario, Jesus is a simple add on to what we are already doing. As we continue our series in Acts, we will be challenged by bold lives full of integrity that face staggering costs as they live for Jesus and live like Jesus even amidst intense pressures. After all, Jesus says true life comes through denying ourselves and taking up our crosses. What does that look like? Come Sunday to hear what that might mean given our own intense pressures in our personal worlds and the world at large.

- Series Description - 
Among the most compelling stories in the Bible are several contained in the Book of Acts, written by the humble and gentle physician, Luke. In Acts, Luke tells the story of the birth and expansion of the church in the early decades following the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He tells the story of the coming and work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of other early saints. He tells the story of early opposition to the faith, of the first martyrs, and of the courage of early Christians in the face of resistance and even death. At the beginning of the book, the Christian community is limited to Jewish believers mostly in and around Jerusalem; by the end of the book, the church is growing and expanding among Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. Come out for this 10 week series and join us in living out in our own day and time what it is to be the church together.

Political power can seem threatening these days. Or overwhelming. Maybe just exhausting. The good news is that the history of the early church is full of stories of people faithfully following Jesus in the midst of conflict with the political powers of their day. Join us this Sunday Matt leads us further into our series on Being the Church, looking at the models Acts provides for being faithful in politically trying times.

- Series Description -
Among the most compelling stories in the Bible are several contained in the Book of Acts, written by the humble and gentle physician, Luke. In Acts, Luke tells the story of the birth and expansion of the church in the early decades following the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He tells the story of the coming and work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of other early saints. He tells the story of early opposition to the faith, of the first martyrs, and of the courage of early Christians in the face of resistance and even death. At the beginning of the book, the Christian community is limited to Jewish believers mostly in and around Jerusalem; by the end of the book, the church is growing and expanding among Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. Come out for this 10 week series and join us in living out in our own day and time what it is to be the church together.

If we’re interested in lives of generosity, we have to consider not just what or how much we give but also where we hold back from giving. God is invested in full lives of surrender where we let God steward all of our lives, including our finances and possessions. This Sunday, we will look at a tough tale in Acts 5 involving a couple who did not know how to be honest with God about their reluctant giving. Can we start this delicate conversation with God? Come Sunday to experience God’s Spirit and God’s wisdom as we learn how to orient our lives around God’s leadership rather than self-justification.

- Series Description - 
Among the most compelling stories in the Bible are several contained in the Book of Acts, written by the humble and gentle physician, Luke. In Acts, Luke tells the story of the birth and expansion of the church in the early decades following the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He tells the story of the coming and work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of other early saints. He tells the story of early opposition to the faith, of the first martyrs, and of the courage of early Christians in the face of resistance and even death. At the beginning of the book, the Christian community is limited to Jewish believers mostly in and around Jerusalem; by the end of the book, the church is growing and expanding among Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. Come out for this 10 week series and join us in living out in our own day and time what it is to be the church together.

In the Gospels, the main figure is clearly Jesus. As a “sequel” to the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles might seem to shift the focus from Jesus to his 12 disciples as the main players. But the central figure of Acts is the person of the Holy Spirit. 
Join us this Sunday as we learn about how the early church was filled with the Holy Spirit to live in freedom and be formed into God’s family. We’ll also continue to invite the Spirit’s presence as we engage in the ongoing story of God’s work in the world and consider what it means to be the church day by day.

- Series Description -
Among the most compelling stories in the Bible are several contained in the Book of Acts, written by the humble and gentle physician, Luke. In Acts, Luke tells the story of the birth and expansion of the church in the early decades following the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He tells the story of the coming and work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of other early saints. He tells the story of early opposition to the faith, of the first martyrs, and of the courage of early Christians in the face of resistance and even death. At the beginning of the book, the Christian community is limited to Jewish believers mostly in and around Jerusalem; by the end of the book, the church is growing and expanding among Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. Come out for this 10 week series and join us in living out in our own day and time what it is to be the church together.

In the Gospels, the main figure is clearly Jesus. As a “sequel” to the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles might seem to shift the focus from Jesus to his 12 disciples as the main players. But the central figure of Acts is the person of the Holy Spirit. 
What do we see the Holy Spirit do time and time again in Acts? The Holy Spirit fills up and raises up new leaders, including many beyond the roster of the original disciples.
On Sunday we’ll learn more about why leadership is so key to the Spirit’s work and what marks a Spirit-led leader. We’ll also continue to invite the work of the Spirit in our midst by having an opportunity to receive the Spirit’s power and the gift of leadership.

- Series Description -

Among the most compelling stories in the Bible are several contained in the Book of Acts, written by the humble and gentle physician, Luke. In Acts, Luke tells the story of the birth and expansion of the church in the early decades following the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He tells the story of the coming and work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of other early saints. He tells the story of early opposition to the faith, of the first martyrs, and of the courage of early Christians in the face of resistance and even death. At the beginning of the book, the Christian community is limited to Jewish believers mostly in and around Jerusalem; by the end of the book, the church is growing and expanding among Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. Come out for this 10 week series and join us in living out in our own day and time what it is to be the church together.