Have you ever experienced authentic hospitality? This is a place where the host is not only interested in your care but curious about you!  God shows us what authentic hospitality looks like, as we are ALL invited in with an open heart, open mind, and an open door!

2020 is here; we need clarity and vision for the New Year. We are called to see the value and worth of others through the empowerment of the Spirit. May God give us insight and a broader perspective through the lens of love.

Christmas is about hoping and dreaming of a world where compassion becomes our compass, where the love of Jesus brings light and healing to the world.  It might seem too idealistic; but dreaming and hoping are the first steps towards receiving the Christ-child in our lives. We dream first and then put our dreams into actions! Will you dream with me?

This week the Nutcracker goes to the Nativity as we conclude our sermon series with the Children’s Pageant and brief message about gifts the unexpected, the unwanted, the ones we didn't even know we needed but that change our lives and our hearts completely.

As the Nutcracker comes to life, he must face the evils that lurk in the night. The Mouse King attacks him and he is facing the fight of his life. This is true for all of us: we too must face the darkness that comes against us. Yet, in all of this, God is Emmanuel, the one who is with us!

Christmas music can help us feel connected to the Christ-Child.  This orchestra and harp was a part of our worship 12.15.19.  Enjoy!

In the Nutcracker, Godfather Drosselmeyer gives Clara many gifts. Yet her attention is turned to the Nutcracker. She sees value in what appears mundane at first. May we, like Clara, pay attention to the true essence of Christmas: an opportunity for our faith in Christ to be renewed:

With so many decorations and flashy decor, we can get lost in the appearance of Christmas. How do we, like Clara in the Nutcracker, learn to wait for the true gift found in humility? How do we receive instruction and love? How do we defeat those forces that fight against us? How do we notice the love of God offered to us through an infant named Jesus? Let us prepare our hearts to notice the Christ being born among us!

The same way that anxiety & worry can spiral out of control, thanksgiving spirals towards heaven. When we start to recognize the blessings in our lives, we get a glimpse of God’s joy & peace!  It starts with being grateful with the first thing that we all have: breath!  

There are two types of perspectives in life: 1) We have enough to share or 2) There is never enough. This fear of not having enough is a poison in our lives that drains our wellbeing. God invites us to surrender our fears, and to exchange it for hope and peace. Let us take a step of faith and trust in God's way of life.