This week includes a day for rejoicing—because the Lord has come to live with and for us! This is a day for rejoicing, because God has kept all his promises! This is a day for rejoicing, because the one born in weakness is strong to save us. And we need saving. This beautiful, broken world cries out for … Continue reading "A Defiant Advent // Defiant Presence // Kate Murphy"

Tucked away in the very middle of the book of Psalms, you’ll find my very favorite verse of scripture. Psalm 85 describes what it will be like when God’s salvation reigns on the new earth. The tenth verse says that in those days, ‘”love and justice meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other.” Sometimes it feels like … Continue reading "A Defiant Advent // Defiant Love // Kate Murphy"

Years ago, on the third Sunday of Advent when we lit the joy candle, I had a terrible experience leading worship. I was newly ordained and it was one of the first times I served communion. When I went to break the loaf of bread, I discovered one of the elders had unintentionally bought a thickly buttered loaf of garlic … Continue reading "A Defiant Advent // Defiant Joy // Kate Murphy"

This Sunday we light the candle of peace and rejoice that our savior is the Prince of Peace. But like everything else about Jesus, this peace doesn’t look the way we expect it to look. Jesus’ approach to peace is gloriously different than our own. When we start thinking about peace, it doesn’t take long before we are cursing our enemies. After … Continue reading "A Defiant Advent // Defiant Peace // Kate Murphy"

For us, it’s not beginning to look a lot like Christmas. For us, it is the holy season of Advent—and it has never been more important, more healing, to understand the difference. Of course, we are tired and scared and overwhelmed, which makes it seem like exactly the time to string lights, drink hot chocolate, watch predictable Christmas movies, and buy things for those we love. … Continue reading "A Defiant Advent // Defiant Hope // Kate Murphy"

Have you ever noticed that life’s not fair? Of course you have, we all do. Usually, we notice it when we come out on the short end of the stick. God’s not fair, either. Because God is compassionate and generous, we get not what we deserve, but what we need. Yes, life isn’t fair. But, the good news is that, with … Continue reading "Journey With Jesus // Learning Compassion // Stuart Dugan"

This week we Journey with Jesus on his forty-day fast in the wilderness where he faced temptation to reject his own humanity and the limitations that came with it. In some ways it’s an odd story. Why would Jesus pursue solitude in the wilderness, rather than pursuing acclaim following his baptismal coming-out party? What is the … Continue reading "Journey With Jesus // Embracing Humanity // Cedric Lundy"

This Sunday, we begin a new series to explore our Journey With Jesus. And, this week, we’re talking about one thing we all face on the journey of faith… FEAR. Throughout the Bible, God says do not be afraid. It’s one of the most frequent commands in the Bible. And, though we’ve heard this word—time and time again—day in and … Continue reading "Journey With Jesus // Facing Fear // Eulando Henton"

What does the Lord require of us? In a never-ending season of uncertainty, this has never and will never change: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. Together, these three are the beautiful way of life the grace of Jesus Christ equips us to walk. Kindness and justice are accessible words;they are part of our … Continue reading "The Beautiful Way // Walk Humbly // Kate Murphy"

God requires something of us. Three somethings, actually, according to the prophet Micah; to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. That is the beautiful way that the gospel of John is talking about when it declares that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.” The good news is that, whatever God requires us … Continue reading "The Beautiful Way // Love Kindness // Kate Murphy"