This week we will think about courage and the courage it takes to wait.  On the heels of the 50th Earth Day, we will also consider creation and our place in God's diverse and beloved community of life. 

Thanks to Lelia Midkiff for providing the beautiful watercolor above.

Normalcy seems to be an idea of the past. Why are we here and what are we to do? These questions are central to the biblical story as well as our current situation. This Sunday, we look back at the work of God through the people in exile. Their isolation and uncertainty are felt by us, and their hope for restoration can help us shape a promising future. Join us this week for a message from Charles Conkin.

Join us from your computers, tablets, phones, and televisions as we celebrate even in the midst of shadows.

The image above is a painting by our own Charlotte Blaydes.  She started painting during our watercolor workshop last fall and has already created this beautiful work. While we may be apart, we can still find little hopes and joys scattered about like a bright red cardinal or an evening stroll. This week during our prayer time, we'll invite our children to draw pictures of things they are grateful for.

The Psalm for this week is familiar and timely, Psalm 23. What better time to remember that a good shepherd leads us than days like these? Gather with us again and find rest, renewal, and comfort that you are not alone.

Join us for worship as we continue our lenten journey.  This week as we continue our exploratoin of God's covenant with humanity, we'll consider repentance.  God's invitation to communion is not punitive or transactional, but rather a relationship founded on unconditional love.  Flowing from this love is the opportunity to change, to grow, and to find wholeness.  Our Psalm for this week expresses this confidence is God's loving care:

I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 121, NRSV

Join us for worship as we celebrate the first Sunday of Lent.  As we begin our lenten journey, we'll consider God's covenant love for humanity. This quote from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel reminds us of the opportunity we have each day to find God's love filling all of life. 

Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement....get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”

Join us for worship this week as we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday.  Our children will lead us in song as we contemplate the mystery of God's transforming grace.  Our call to worship reminds us that we are welcomed into God's beloved community:

If you are filled with joy and conviction, welcome home: 

here we proclaim that the world is beautiful and God is good.

If you are exhausted or overwhelmed, welcome home: 

here we offer rest to those who are weary and a chance to catch your breath.

If you are eager for another day and another chance, welcome home: 

here when we worship, God is among us, and everything is possible.

This week as we worship together we celebrate the grace of God that brings healing and redemption to all of creation.  Though we struggle to follow in the way of Jesus, God continually invites us to join in an economy of grace where there is more than enough.

This week, we are excited to welcome Kelly Hale as our guest preacher.  A student at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, Kelly is an Addie Davis Preaching Award Nominee.  She has lived in Lexington for over 30 years.  Kelly met her husband, Ric, while in graduate school.  They have three grown daughters and one son-in-law.  Kelly has had a varied career as a dietitian, a missionary, a mom, a preschool director, and a mission coordinator at a local church.  She now works for a local nonprofit, Surgery on Sunday, as the volunteer coordinator.  Kelly is currently pursuing an M.Div. at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky.

This week as we worship together, we are excited to welcome Rev. Hannah Niday as our guest preacher. Hannah Niday is originally from Maynardville, TN. While attending Lincoln Memorial University she met her husband Adam. They moved to Washington, D.C. so that she could attend Wesley Theological Seminary for her Masters of Divinity. Upon graduation and the birth of their daughter Audrey, they moved to Lexington, KY for Hannah to begin her chaplain residency. While in Lexington they found Central Baptist Church and it instantly became their home church. Hannah was ordained by Central in 2016 just as she had accepted at full time job as Chaplain at Four Winds Community, a long term nursing home. She has also served Jackson Christian Church as pastor for the past two years.