Yes, we will not always understand the almighty work of God’s love in the world – we may not even always agree with it … and … God still invites you and me to pursue this call of discipleship, to learn and to grow, to expand and to embrace, to be redeemed and reconciled, that God’s created humanity might share in the eternal joy of God’s love for all of creation.

Guest Preacher: Shani Mcilwain. Sometimes death is a reminder that we can't stay comfortable. We must die daily to flesh, and wake up new each and every morning, receiving the daily grace and mercy of God. You don't have to rely on yesterday's grace - you can afford to step out and do something new, something radical, something different because you belong to a Savior who has made that possible.

The first step to living into the "yes, and..." invitation is to say yes. We can't add on the "and" until we've acknowledge what is. And yet, saying "yes" is insufficient for God, and it shouldn't be sufficient for us as God's people.

Over the past year, we've all formed some new habits. Whether that's working from home, or joining in worship from your pajamas, habits define a lot of behaviors. Sometimes, we don't even know that our habits exist, and it's not always easy for someone else to point out habits that we don't like to claim.

Kimberly Young moderates a conversation between Rev. James Daniely of Roberts Memorial UMC and Rev. Thomas James of Washington Street UMC as both churches wrap up a study on Ephesians. How does the teaching of the apostle on being "imitators" of God instruct us to live in this present moment?

Worship isn’t simply a time to praise God, it’s a time of preparation that we may go forth to live every moment of every day firmly planted in the promise of whom God has created us to be. Worship is a time of preparation, a time in which we are geared up to stand on the promises of Christ our Savior.

Worship is about having our mind converted to the ways of God. It’s about learning to discern what is of God and what is not. Worship is a time of conversion from the ways of the world to the mind of God.

The apostle makes it abundantly clear that truth-telling, honest-living, up-lifting speech is necessary in the work of maintaining the unity of the community. To get to this level of honesty with one another and with God, we must engage in the holy work of confession. While not always easy, confession allows for the healing that is necessary for authentic and healthy community.

The church was created in unity with its many gifts to function as the body of Christ in the world. Our purpose is to mimic for the world the love of God in Christ, and that means, working with every effort to maintain the unity in which the body was first created.

Prayer is not a one-way conversation, even when you're by yourself. Prayer is about being in communion with the Lord. In this way, prayer is not just a part of worship, prayer is worship and worship is prayer.