How do you do the right thing when you’re convinced you’re surrounded by pure evil? We hear about a grisly scene at King Herod’s birthday party that shows what happens when his appetite for power and control can never be satisfied. By comparison, Jesus offers a banquet that values all human life, where everyone has […]
Even Jesus had bad days. Even Jesus had to deal with the haters. In a visit home, Jesus finds that his home synagogue is not ready to accept his new ministry. They think they know Jesus best…but they might be in for a surprise. When Jesus sends his disciples out to continue his work, he […]
There’s never enough time to do it all, is there? On the way to heal one person, Jesus gets interrupted by another. Rather than rush to help them both, he takes the time to make sure each one is healed and given a new future…even if it means overcoming death. This worship service includes Communion […]
When is a storm more than a storm? In the gospel of Mark, Jesus and the disciples face an epic storm that seems larger than life, representing the battle between good and evil. Jesus doesn’t always calm the storm on our preferred timeline, but when it counts, he is there, and he uses his power […]
The parable of the mustard seed is one of the classic stories Jesus tells. But Ezekiel’s prophecy of the mighty cedar is a little less well-known. The Gospel of Mark weaves these two together to show that God’s kingdom is both everywhere (like the mustard plant) and a haven for nurturing life (like a mighty […]
In the gospel of Mark, Jesus is on a mission to save and liberate everyone from the forces of evil. But some have a problem with this: the religious authorities and Jesus’ own family. How do we follow the Spirit’s call to change the world when it conflicts with our own need for order and […]
Today the word “awesome” is part of our everyday vocabulary as another word for “great.” But thinking of God as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) moves us beyond “awesome” to AWE. When we see God’s majesty and mystery reflected in countless ways, it’s OK to give ourselves permission to be awestruck. That is […]
On Pentecost we celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, who takes our groans (including our sighs, cries, prayers, and swears) and transforms them into signs of grace. It takes time, not unlike the birth of anything new. It takes patience and hope to see what is unfolding. But the Spirit can transform our […]
After Jesus ascended into heaven, his followers had to figure out what to do next. They prayed, planned, gathered, and chose a new leader to take Judas’ place by flipping a coin. Little did they know what the Holy Spirit—about to enter the scene—would do next by choosing the unchosen. This worship service includes a […]
God is love. Simple as that. But the meaning of that statement is far more profound. Love is tenderness; love is justice; love transcends our human limitations; love changes the world. Love is part of our unique stamp as those who bear the image of God; we love because God first loved us, and Jesus […]