God fulfilled God’s promise to Moses. The people of Israel walked away from slavery, through the parted Red Sea, and to freedom. Yet the freedom did not feel as they had hoped. They wandered in a wilderness, scraping by as best as they could. Even though God led them, providing them a Law to live […]
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You might be asking why we are doing this Strategic Plan process. Or maybe you aren’t. You might be fully aware of why we’re doing this, and you’re wondering why it took so long! We’re calling this process, “Where are we going?” because we found ourselves at the point in our story as God’s people […]
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The book of Genesis ends with Abraham and Sarah’s descendants in Egypt, following Joseph to live there during a time of famine. The book of Exodus opens many generations later. As the Israelites grew in number, they became a threat to the Egyptian Empire. The Pharaohs of Egypt enslaved them to keep them from power […]
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The story of Abram (renamed Abraham) begins the long narrative of the chosen people of God. This passage is only 12 chapters into Genesis, the first book of the Bible. After creation (and Adam and Eve) the stories move quickly from Noah to the Tower of Babel. Beginning with Abraham, the story becomes specific […]
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Our worship theme for the summer (started May 28 and will go to September 10) is an extension of our Strategic Plan process. The process itself has three phases. Phase 1 is Listening to the Congregation. Thus far we have had the Congregation Conversation that kicked off this process and the Strategic Plan team will […]
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Rest Saturday, April 3 “On the Sabbath day they rested…” Luke 23:56b The women were exhausted. The trauma of a turbulent arrest, trial, and crucifixion sent them into shock. They prepared spices and ointments expecting a burial, not a resurrection. The sabbath required rest. They were stuck in the Waiting Place. The Dr. Seuss book […]
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The Point of No Return Friday, April 2 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 Sometimes a person can’t go back. I was driving in a blizzard on a highway I didn’t know. All alone I could barely see the next car’s […]
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Onward and Upward Thursday, April 1 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11 This time we spend in the church year causes us to participate in […]
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Grief and Lament Wednesday, March 31 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” Psalm 22:1 I once visited a woman who had suffered with a lifelong, chronic condition. I asked if I could read her scripture; she requested her […]
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Salvation Through Grace Tuesday, March 30 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you’ll be saved.” Romans 10:9 I once had a Sunday school workbook that showed God writing in a ledger. God tallied all the good and bad things […]
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