Today we’ll be continuing the Christmas story as told in Luke’s Gospel. Mary visits her relative, Elizabeth and then gives a magnificent psalm of thanksgiving to God. Each step along the way, we see her obedience, faith, and humility. Our focus will be drawn to God in worship because of one person’s humble adoration. The Mighty One truly does great things and He loves to do them through those who are humble.  

The light of the world arrives in an unlikely place, through an unlikely messenger, to an unlikely person, through an unlikely means, but is shone brightly through a faith that believes that with God - all things are possible! Today we’ll listen in on a conversation with a young teenage girl and yes … an angel! We’ll discover that God is at work installing a king and kingdom for all nations for all-time! This is truly good news of great joy to all people! We continue the Christmas story in this second week of Advent! 

As we kick off the Advent season with our Light in the Darkness series, we will be looking at Luke, chapter 1.  Join us to re-imagine hope as we celebrate how God was—and still is—moving towards His people. 

It’s the season of giving. As Christ-followers, we get the awesome privilege to give all year long! Join us this Sunday as Pastor Gil Vining will share some unforgettable personal stories to illustrate Scripture’s teaching in this area of giving. We’ll reflect on various ways we all can give of our time, talents, and treasure to Christ and His work. 

Our ultimate goal is to glorify and please God. However, as we’ll see in Romans 15, we are also called to please others in a way that demonstrates consideration, patience, love, harmony, acceptance, service, generosity, and support through prayer. We need each other. Join us this Sunday as we’ll be reminded that this life is not just about pleasing ourselves. 

The most basic meaning of the biblical word for judge/judgment means to "separate" or "rule over." Jesus says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Mt 7:1). Paul writes, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant?" The idea here is that everyone who is a follower of Jesus is a servant of God. Jesus alone can sit in the judgment seat (separating out wheat and tares and ruling over). Our job is to "live and die for the Lord" (Rom. 14:8). Jesus - the one true Judge and King - will take care of the rest.

Don’t even think about hitting that snooze button! The alarm is going to sound this Sunday at PFC and the text is going to challenge us to wake up and get dressed. The Apostle Paul will explain why there’s such urgency and will also tell us how we are to dress and live in a spiritual sense. 

This week we are looking at something that can often make us squirm… authority. In Romans 13, which is right after Paul talks about love, he hits us hard on what it looks like to honor authority. How do love and authority coexist? 

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." From the Garden of Eden, down through the history of ancient Israel, into the age of the early church, and on through church history to us, this simple encouragement is given by the Spirit of God to every generation. How do we overcome evil with good? Jesus. He is embodied good. 

So often, we tend to think that “true worship” takes place in our hearts and minds. Yet, Romans 12 explicitly shows us that it is the sacrifice of our bodies that the Lord declares holy and pleasing worship.  Shannon Vining, our Worship and Creative Arts Director, guides us in taking a closer look at what it means to worship God with our bodies.