Pastor Mike reflects on the past year, and shares some stories of others in community on how God has been present during a difficult 2020, in addition to what we’re looking forward to in 2021 at New Ground.

Pastor Mike wraps up our Hope Sings series on Christmas Eve talking about the when hope decided to show up in the Christmas Story. It may be more relevant to our current situation in 2020 than anyone ever thought.

Mike continues our Advent 2020 series talking about the deeper revolution of hope in Zechariah’s song, one of the heart.

Mike walks through the events before, during, and after Mary’s “Magnificat,” the first song of our “Hope Sings” series. While it may seem odd, hope has many demands on the way we live now, as displayed by both Mary and Elizabeth.

Pastor Mike walks through the archangel’s Gabriel’s appearance to Mary, the mother of Jesus, showing how God chose all the wrong ways for the Messiah to show up, and that hope is in places where might not have expected or even desired to look.

Pastor Mike walks through the importance of a posture of gratitude during this moment, and shares stories from several people in our community on how they are journeying from hateful to grateful during this pandemic.

Mike ends our YOUnited series talking about how the church is called to the way of the cross, which runs contrary to much of the American church experience steeped in consumerism.

Mike talks through the Jewish tradition of the “the powers and authorities” in addition to spiritual warfare. It may not be what you are familiar with, but does place a priority to the church as a body of cultural discernment. Which is shaped by the cross.

Mike talks about experiences and seasons as part of the church’s calling. He challenges how we usually look to only one season, but miss all of the others as part of connecting to our divine purpose.

Mike walks through the words justice and righteousness in the Hebrew Bible, leading up to the church’s call to care about the most vulnerable.