Senior Pastor Lynnae Sorensen talks to us about
the Living Word
"Born Again"
Play the full video below !
Sunday, January 12, 2014
January 5 - March 2
As we continue our study of Living Words, this Sunday we will take a look at the word 'Repent.'
John the Baptist begins his prophetic ministry with an earth-shaking proclamation: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." (Mark 1:15) As Jesus' earthly ministry begins, he likewise proclaims, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew4:17) The call to repent - literally to turn - is an invitation from God to embrace this new kingdom that is even now breaking into the world. It is a kingdom not of earthly empire where an earthly emperor rules with military and economic power, but a divine kingdom where the goodness of God reigns by the power of love. God's simple and loving invitation is to repent, to turn and embrace new life in a world made new.
Yet the very word "repent" has been used by some as a cudgel in the Christian tradition, to shame people and denigrate their broken and sinful condition. We need to reclaim this gracious word from its "fire-and-brimstone" abuses and engage the healing, life-giving possibilities it opens in our lives.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Gracious God, your call to repent – to embrace the in-breaking of your Kingdom in creation – echoes in the land once more. Open our ears to hear, our minds to comprehend and our hearts to receive your loving invitation to healing, to wholeness, to new life in you. Amen.
READINGS
First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-10
Psalm 29
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17
Play the full video below !
Sunday, January 5, 2014
This Epiphany season we will encounter the Word using a sermon series called: “Living Words”. May the Word of
God dwell in you richly. See you in church!
Pastor Lynnae
Sermon Series with the word
"LOGOS"
click here for the Children's Sermon Audio Only
God dwell in you richly. See you in church!
Pastor Lynnae
Sermon Series with the word
"LOGOS"
click here for the Children's Sermon Audio Only
Play the full video below !
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Pastor Brad talks to us about the visit of the Magi
Blessings and joy to you in the wonder of this season!
- Pastor Brad Highum
Blessings and joy to you in the wonder of this season!
- Pastor Brad Highum
Only Matthew’s Gospel contains this story of mystics from the east visiting the One who has come from God into the world. Historicity is clearly not the point; the story is fraught with imagery and symbolism that resonated deeply with the persecuted church of the first century, just as it does with people of faith and hope in our day. It is a story of magnificence and vulnerability, a story of wealth and poverty, a story of “insiders” and “outsiders,” a story of earthly power kneeling before the rule and reign of God envisioned in Christ. It is a profound drama in the midst of the Gospel in which God reveals deep truths about a kingdom that HAS come, that even now is at hand and among us.
PRAYER OF THE DAY:
We come seeking your kingdom, as strangers in a strange land. We follow your sign – a light in the heavens – in hopes that it leads us to you. We find the improbable, born into the impossible, but born nonetheless … a gift of light and grace from you. Teach us adoration. Teach us humility. Teach us the way and the truth that lead to life. Amen.
We come seeking your kingdom, as strangers in a strange land. We follow your sign – a light in the heavens – in hopes that it leads us to you. We find the improbable, born into the impossible, but born nonetheless … a gift of light and grace from you. Teach us adoration. Teach us humility. Teach us the way and the truth that lead to life. Amen.
READINGS
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7,10-14
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:1-13
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Play the full video below !
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Pastor Brad talks to us about the Deliverer
We continue the Advent series “Believe” as we embrace Jesus as God’s “deliverer.”
Christ as “savior” is one of those words that is controversial in its variety of uses and meanings to different people in different circumstances. At the heart of this identification of Jesus as savior or deliverer is the root language of Scripture: “christos”
in Greek,“meshiach” in Hebrew, Christ and Messiah, both of which literally mean “anointed one.” In this Advent season of preparation we take time to reflect on Jesus as the one God anoints to call forth the transformation of the world … the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God.We continue the Advent series “Believe” as we embrace Jesus as God’s “deliverer.”
Christ as “savior” is one of those words that is controversial in its variety of uses and meanings to different people in different circumstances. At the heart of this identification of Jesus as savior or deliverer is the root language of Scripture: “christos”
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of new beginnings, prepare our hearts to welcome your Anointed One into the midst of the world, into the center of our lives. Lift our spirits to proclaim with your Spirit the coming of your Deliverer and the advent of your kingdom. We join with the saints in every time and place as we cry, “Come, Lord Jesus, come.” Amen.
READINGS of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-6
Psalm 18:2-6,16-19
Second Reading: Daniel 7:13
Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12
Play the full video below !
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