This Sunday well be talking about what it means to live with less fear and more trust because God is truly near. Well look at Jesus opening words in Mark 1:1415, where He announces that the time has come and the Kingdom of God is at hand, and unpack what that really means for everyday life. The message will speak to the real anxieties many of us carry and contrast the worlds pressure to worry and fear with Jesus invitation to turn toward Him and learn to trust and rest in Him as King. Well also consider what that kind of faith could look like on an ordinary Monday morning, and what might change if our church increasingly became a community marked by peace instead of fear, and trust grounded in the nearness of Gods Kingdom.

This week, Pastor Lizzy will explore how our lives are shaped by whatever holds our attention and invite us to ask what or who we are truly beholding. Beginning with everyday experiences of distraction that lead to confusion, we will look to John the Baptists declaration in John 1:29: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We will unpack what it means to behold Jesus; truly seeing, hearing, comprehending, and then testifying about Him, and why John presents Jesus not merely as a teacher or example, but as Gods sacrificial Lamb whose work is sufficient for the whole world. We will be challenged individually and as a church to behold Jesus, allowing that focus to bring clarity, unity, and bold witness, so that instead of being driven by the loudest distractions around us, we become a people defined by the One we behold.

As we begin a Jesus-centered year, this message launches a new series asking the essential question, Who is Jesusreally? We often prefer versions of Jesus that fit our needs or ideas, but this series sets those aside to discover the real Jesus revealed in Scripture. Beginning in John 1, we see Jesus not starting in history but existing before creation as the eternal Wordfully God, Creator of all things, the source of life and light, and the unchanging constant who holds everything together. Though the world He made did not recognize or receive Him, John proclaims the good news that all who do receive Him are given new life as children of God, leading us to respond in faith, worship, and awe before the true Jesus who loves us.

This Sunday, as we come to the final Sunday of the year, well pause together to reflect on the gift of Sabbath. Well begin with a short teaching from Genesis, looking at the very first Sabbath when God rested from His work of creation after declaring each day, It is good. Sabbath is an invitation to do the same: to stop, to rest, and to declare the goodness of God.

Following the teaching, some members of our church family will share brief testimonies of where theyve seen Gods goodness and faithfulness in their lives throughout 2025. As we listen and reflect together, well be practicing Sabbath in one of the ways God intendedresting in His goodness, encouraging one another, and closing the year with gratitude as we step into the new year with trust and hope.

This Sundays message continues our Advent journey with the theme of love, following the path of Gods love from the manger, to the cross, and now to the church. As we study 1 John 4:712, well see that love isnt just something God does, its who He is. At Christmas, God made His love visible by sending His Son into the world; at the cross, that love paid the full price for our sin through Jesus sacrifice; and now, that same love is meant to shine out through us. Pastor Lizzy will invite us to reflect on where Gods love is going now and encourage us, as the church, to be a living lampstand; letting the love that came down and paid the price shine brightly through our lives.

This Sundays sermon explores the Advent theme of joy; not the fragile, surface-level joy the world offers, but the deep, unshakeable joy rooted in Christ. Through Mary in the chaos of the nativity and Paul in the confinement of a Roman prison, the Bible shows that true joy is not born from ideal circumstances but from the presence of Jesus. Mary rejoices while facing misunderstanding and uncertainty, and Paul sings and writes of rejoicing even with chains on his wrists. Their lives point us to Jesus; the One whose birth brought joy into darkness and whose cross secured our eternal joy. In Advent, hope leads to peace, and peace overflows into joy.

What does peace look like? Is it simply the absence of conflict, as the dictionary suggests? Or is there something deeper at work?When we look to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we discover that true peace is found in who He is, not in whats happening around us. Jesus says in John 14:27, My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives His peace isnt shallow or fragile. It isnt tied to feelings, circumstances, or everything going the way we planned.Instead, His peace is a deep, steady confidence in Gods goodness and love, made secure through the victory of the cross. This is the kind of peace Jesus offers: peace that can remain, even in the midst of whatever life brings.

On this first Sunday of Advent, we begin with Hope; not a shallow optimism, but what Peter calls a living hope. Writing to believers facing persecution and deep darkness, Peter reminds them that through Christs resurrection, we have a hope that is real, resilient, and anchored in Gods unbreakable promises. This week we explore how hope shines brightest in seasons of waiting, fear, and uncertainty. This is a hope not rooted in circumstances, but in Christ, our anchor, our assurance, and our light in the darkness.

What does it really mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? In this message, Pastor Tyler cuts through confusion, misconceptions, and past experiences to reveal the biblical purpose of Spirit empowermentboldness to witness and power to live out the mission of Jesus. If youre seeking clarity or longing for more of God, this teaching will guide you into a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirits work in your life.