PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS

How do you prepare for Christmas? No, I'm not talking about family Christmas celebrations or the Candlelight Service at church. I'm not talking about parties or presents or gatherings - all which we speak of as "Christmas."

I'm talking about the very first Christmas - the unique, one-of-a-kind moment in history when God came to be with us in the person of Jesus….The most incredible moment in history that has ever been.

How do we prepare to remember, celebrate and live into the power of a moment like that???

That's what we'll talk about this Sunday: PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS! What we discover may change your life!

Join us@ 9AM, In-Person or Online

A LONG TIME

Biblical scholars tell us that Jesus' return at the end of time is deeply entrenched in the Bible. In fact, one scholar says there are more than 300 references to this event. It is sometimes called, “His Coming," or "The Day of the Lord," or “The Day of Judgment."

But believers have had to practice patience, waiting and waiting and waaaaaaaaiting. Sometimes we even wonder if God is anywhere around!

When there is so much wrong with this world, why would God make us wait? What's the purpose of this delay in God's plan?

Join us this second Sunday in Advent as we discover, “The Purpose of Patience."

9 AM, In-Person or Online.

A NOTE ABOUT ADVENT FROM PASTOR TOM

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, the time when we prepare for the birth of our Savior. Normally, we preach on Scripture passages from the Gospel story of Jesus' birth or sometimes from passages in the Old Testament.

Rarely -- if ever-- do we preach about Advent passages from the Letters of Peter and Paul or the other apostles.

But this year, that is my plan. What do the writings of the Apostles have to say about the coming of the Messiah? What do they have to teach us about how to prepare for a true celebration of Christmas?

Join us this Sunday and all the Sundays in December. Help us explore: ADVENT WITH THE APOSTLES

Worship with us @ 9 AM In-person or Online

IN ALL THINGS, GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE

One of the most challenging commands in the Bible is the Apostle Paul's instruction to "give thanks in all circumstances." We can understand how to give thanks when things are going well, but to give thanks in every situation is quite another thing. HOW do you do it? and WHY do you do it?

Join us this Sunday @ 9 AM for worship as we discover the power of unrestricted thanks and praise. In-Person or Online

IN ALL THINGS, GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE

One of the most challenging commands in the Bible is the Apostle Paul's instruction to "give thanks in all circumstances." We can understand how to give thanks when things are going well, but to give thanks in every situation is quite another thing. HOW do you do it? and WHY do you do it?

Join us this Sunday @ 9 AM for worship as we discover the power of unrestricted thanks and praise. In-Person or Online

GOD CAN DO MORE

For the last several weeks we have talked about how God can do more in our lives and in the church than we have ever asked or imagined.

Now we discover that the power for MORE comes through prayer.

Join us this Sunday for this last in a series of sermons from the prophet Isaiah.

9 AM, In-person or Online

Living Well; Dying Well

What if you discovered that you had only one month to live? Where would you go? With whom would you connect? Just what would you do?

Most of us would try to live well....and to love well. But how do we do it?

This All Saints' Sunday, we will look at the lives of some faithful people who have lived before us, and we will learn with God's help and by their examples how we can live faithful lives, too.

Join us @ 9 Am this Sunday.

In-person or Online

EMPTY SPIRITUALITY

To be spiritual is a good thing. But spirituality - even sincere and deep spirituality - is worthless unless it is making a difference to others and to the world in which we live.

Christians are called to meet the needs of our neighbors and to work to make society better.

Join us for worship this week as we continue to discover MORE of what God has planned for our lives.

9 AM, In-person or Online.

RELUCTANCE

When I was a child, I was excited at the prospect of learning to swim, but held back because it was not going to be easy. I would have to take swimming lessons in cold, early morning water. I would have to learn new movements. And the biggest worry of all: I was scared of deep water!

So I hesitated.

I held back from the exciting adventure my parents wanted to give me.

Fortunately, they knew better and insisted that I learn in spite of my reluctance. As a result, the ability to swim has enriched my life for years.

Sometimes we hesitate to follow God's path for our lives because the way seems difficult, we have to learn new behaviors, or we are afraid. Yet, God's promise for those who follow his way is life in all abundance.

What's holding you back?

Join us this Sunday as we continue our sermon series: MORE

9 am, In-person or Online

Featuring special guest Rev. Sara C.R. Hill