Scripture: Ezekiel 10:9-22 Dear Church, In his sermon on the mount, Jesus says, ‘blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.’  In the very next breath, he says people should be encouraged and rejoice when they are persecuted and insulted and lied about, because this is what has always happened and … Continue reading "Holy Troublemakers -Week 1 // Ezekiel 10 // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46, Luke 8:21 & 11:28 Dear Church, Jesus liked to tell stories about seeking and finding.  He told one parable about a man seeking treasure who found some buried in a field.  He hid it again; went away and sold everything he had and then bought the field.  We are all seeking treasure … Continue reading "#RealTalk-Week 4 // Handling Conflict // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 Dear Church, #realtalk: My greatest fear is rejection.  Because I’m afraid of rejection, I really dread conflict.  For years, I avoided it like the plague.  I’d do anything to avoid having a painful conversation with anyone–much less someone I loved.  Maybe this is part of your story too. But what I’m … Continue reading "#RealTalk-Week 3 // Embracing Conflict // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It’s wedding season, so you may have heard these words recently on someone’s special day.  The trouble is, we tend to reserve Paul’s wisdom for ceremonial occasions, when we need them most on … Continue reading "#RealTalk-Week 2 // It Must Be Love // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5, John 1:1-5, Matthew 12:33-37 (NIV) In Matthew 12, our Lord says that the words we use reveal who we are: “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of … Continue reading "#RealTalk-Week 1 // Our Words Matter // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: John 14:15-31 Dear Church, This Sunday is the most important day in the Christian year–and most of us have never heard of it.  We love to celebrate Christmas and the joy of the birth of our savior.  We love to celebrate Easter and the astonishing triumph of Resurrection.  The goodness and glory of God … Continue reading "Pentecost // As I Have Loved You // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35 “We had hoped that he was the one…” (Luke 24:21) These are some of the most poignant words in all of scripture.  They were spoken by two ex-disciples.  It was Easter afternoon, and they were heading back to their former lives.  They’d heard from the women about angels, they’d heard from the … Continue reading "Grace Notes-Week 5 // Walk to Emmaus // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: John 11:1-74Dr. Dear Church, During this season of Eastertide, we are celebrating the reality of a risen Jesus and how this Jesus still encounters us today. That can be a wonderful thing, but it’s also uncontrollable and often uncomfortable. As James Baldwin wrote, “The Lord never seems to get there when you want him, … Continue reading "Grace Notes-Week 3 // Resurrection Life // Dr. Wes Vander Lugt"

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31, 2:4-9, 2:15 This Sunday we will be blessed with the words of guest preacher Cedric Lundy.  A native of Ann Arbor, MI, Cedric Lundy moved to Charlotte NC in the summer of 2004 after earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry and Biblical Studies from Spring Arbor University. Husband to wife Emma … Continue reading "Grace Notes-Week 2 // Being Human // Cedric Lundy"

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16 (NIV) Dear Church, Have you ever wondered how you were going to get through something?  Has anything in your life seemed so painful or overwhelming that you can’t begin to see a positive outcome or any outcome at all?  Without knowing your problem let me offer you an answer.  We will get … Continue reading "Grace Notes-Week 1 // Community // Nicole Thompson"