This Sunday was all about Jesus as our shepherd-king. He came to reveal the Father and is called the Good Shepherd. As the Chief Shepherd, Jesus calls and appoints leaders to shepherd and oversee the church.  Today was a monumental day of importance and celebration for our church as we appointed two new Elders, Jerry Williams and Mo Lawson, as well as officially ordained Justus Murimi for ministry. (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 11:3; Psalm 23:1-4; John 10:7-17: John 21:15-19; Titus 1:5; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-11; 2 Timothy 1:2-14).

This week Jerry Williams preached on Christ being a Humble King. He is the source of all light and life and yet He came humbly to serve and not to be served. His Kingdom is in contrast with kingdoms of this world and His humility is what we are called to walk in. (1 John 1:1-5; Matthew 11:28-29; Philippians 2:1-9; John 13:1-17)

Each year we set aside several Sundays to address different social issues that we face. This past Sunday Pastor John, with the help from Lulie Thomas, preached on the issue of life and abortion. The heart of the message is that our church would become a place where we can discuss difficult things and that our church would value two things above all - His presence and His people. (Matthew 4:17; Matthew 26:6-13; Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 3:15; John 5:39-40; John 10:10; Colossians 3:13-15)

This past Sunday was a very exciting time for our church family as we introduced two elder candidates. Along with the announcement, Pastor John preached on what happens when the kingdom of the heavens appears - restoration. Jesus came to initiate an ongoing restoration that will fully culminate at His second coming when He restores what was lost in the garden (Matthew 4:17; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 10; Matthew 19:28; Romans 8:18-23).

Following last week's vision Sunday, Pastor John continued to teach about what it means for the kingdom of the heavens to be available here and now. Christ gives His followers a mandate: to go and proclaim the kingdom! This call requires repentance and renewed thinking about God and His ways. (Luke 12:32; Genesis 1:26-28; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 6:7-13; Matthew 10:7-8).

This past Sunday Pastor John laid out the vision for 2017: Here & Now. We believe that God is wanting us to focus on His kingdom and the reality that it is Here & Now. The manifestation of His kingdom happens when His will, His presence and His power are being manifest and in and through His people. (Ephesians 1:15-18; Matthew 4:12-17; Matthew 4:22-25; Matthew 6:9-10; Matthew 6:33; John 1:1-4)

​This was the final week of the year for us at Normandy and the culmination of our Advent season - expectation, preparation, pain and ending with joy. At Christ's appearance, the weary world rejoiced with joy. Jesus came to give us life to the full and a deep, abiding joy. Joy is found in His presence and comes with His Salvation (Matthew 4:17; Romans 14:17; Luke 2:9-11; John 15:11; Psalm 51:2; Isaiah 9:2-4).

​This was the final week of the year for us at Normandy and the culmination of our Advent season - expectation, preparation, pain and ending with joy. At Christ's appearance, the weary world rejoiced with joy. Jesus came to give us life to the full and a deep, abiding joy. Joy is found in His presence and comes with His Salvation (Matthew 4:17; Romans 14:17; Luke 2:9-11; John 15:11; Psalm 51:2; Isaiah 9:2-4).

Jesus told His followers that trials would follow them while they were on Earth. Advent is a time that accentuates the tension between expectation and disappointment, joy and pain. This Sunday we began to confront and feel the pain of living in a fallen world, all the while expecting to receive the comfort that comes from the God of all comfort (Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 4:13-17; Romans 14:17; John 16:33; Proverbs 4:23; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Jesus told His followers that trials would follow them while they were on Earth. Advent is a time that accentuates the tension between expectation and disappointment, joy and pain. This Sunday we began to confront and feel the pain of living in a fallen world, all the while expecting to receive the comfort that comes from the God of all comfort (Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 4:13-17; Romans 14:17; John 16:33; Proverbs 4:23; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5).