Prayers of the People for April 23, 2023 by Susan Gleason.

As much as we desire to know how everything works in life, there are limitations to what we understand. How does a plant create food from sunlight, or how do the roughly 100 billion neurons in the brain create the sense of consciousness? Some of us are more adept at figuring these things out, but there are many mysteries nobody completely understands. Despite our limited knowledge photosynthesis and neuroscience, we can rely on plants for food and trust our minds to guide us through life.

The mystery of the presence of Christ is similar in many ways. In this week’s passage from the Gospel of John, we read about Jesus appearing to his disciples in a locked room, yet they have no idea how he got there. They could hear, see, and touch him, but they had no idea how he came to them. Likewise, we can sense the presence of Christ in our own lives, but we have no way of knowing the details of how the Holy Spirit moves and works in the world. Join us this Sunday as we reflect the mystery of the resurrection and celebrate the baptism of three of our children.

Special music for April 16, 2023 by the chancel choir.

Prayers of the People for Sunday, April 16, 2023 by Avery West.

Prayers of the People for Sunday, April 9, 2023, by Ed Roberts.

Message for April 9, 2023 by Rev. Mike Wilkerson.

Special music by the chancel choir for April 9, 2023.

Prayers of the People for Sunday, April 2, 2023 by Pastor Mike.

Facing the daily challenges of life can be tiring. Whether it’s the tedious aspects of a job, the monotonous practices required for a hobby or sport, or even the difficult disciplines practiced for Lent, we tend to run out of steam eventually. Yet, when inspired by the parts of our work and play that feed our passions, we suddenly gain new strength and stamina.

In this fifth Sunday of Lent, we will reflect on how God renews our lives. From the writings of the prophet Ezekiel we read about God giving new life to an entire valley of dead bones, and in the Gospel of John we see how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. In both scenarios the death of flesh was given new life through the Spirit. Join us this Sunday as we consider how we can find new passion and energy in life through the grace and salvation offered through Christ.

Prayers of the People for Sunday, March 26, 2023 by Fred Hancewicz.