The beginning of each year is a time of setting out or agenda, personally and professionally. In today’s Gospel, Jesus lets the words of the prophet Isaiah shape his agenda. His core mission is to bring God’s kingdom rule that changes hearts and lives. This is every Christian’s agenda too: to proclaim the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. [Organ / Epiphany 3]

When’s the last time you’ve been invited to a wedding? God says the Kingdom of Heaven is like a wedding feast, and the good news is that we’re ALL invited! Not only invited but called to be a part of it. The news gets even better.

We are gifted in many and various ways to know life at its fullest and best.

What are your expectations this year? Are they great or small? Why or why not? What does God expect of us? More importantly, what do we expect from God? This is where our meditation takes us to today, as we look at what John the Baptist and others expected. Then we see how Jesus and God speak into what we are to expect. [Organ - Baptism of Jesus]

This Epiphany we look at how a star brought wise men (Magi) from the East to a place and person that would change their lives. How we change depends a lot on who or what we’re following. It also depends on who we think we are. May we see ourselves as God does. [Piano - Epiphany]

We all want the best for our children. as did Mary and Hannah in today's readings. To many of us today, Hannah's decision to dedicate her only son Samuel to service in the temple from the age of 3 seems extreme. But is this not the kind of life that we invoke in baptism? [Instrumental - Christmas 1]

Linking back to our Advent series on the various ways we thirst for God, Pastor Aldi talks about how Christmas (the birth of Christ) satisfies our thirst for hope, peace, joy, and love. [Organ/Choir - Christmas Day]

Bono put the artistic reason for his Christianity so beautifully: "the poetic appropriateness of that unspeakable Power manifesting itself as a baby born on straw poverty." In this world, power is misunderstood, and inevitably intertwined with violence and control. The prophets dreamed of a different way -- a different way that came to life on Christmas Eve.

[Organ/A capella voices - Christmas Eve]

We all want to share in God's love. But this may not be exactly what we expect. It's not about a warm feeling to make us feel good. True love is sacrificial, unconditional, forgiving, powerful, and abundant. And yes, we are invited to join in. [Organ - Advent 4]

We're all hungry for joy and happiness. But are these the same thing? Does it help to hear "Don't worry, be happy"? Or is joy something deeper, something possible in even the dark hours? Where does it come from? [Organ/Choir - Advent 3]

We all want peace, we say; but what kind of peace are we talking about? What is the peace that really matters? [Organ/Choir - Advent 2]