The Shepherd’s Watch. Worship: April 30, 2023

Jesus wants to tell us something vitally important. His relationship to us is like a shepherd to his sheep. The shepherd knows each of his sheep and we know his voice when he calls.  Jesus also tells us that he is the gate of the sheep pen. He is the connection between earth and heaven. Jesus is the caretaker who promises to guard and care for us. As we continue our celebration of Easter, this is more good news: the One who left his grave alive stands in Shepherd’s watch over our lives.

In His Present Glory. Worship: April 23, 2023

THE ROAD TO EMMAUS BY JORGE COCCO

Two men are walking down a road and Jesus joins them. He seemed to appear out of nowhere. He easily became part of the conversation. It took them a while before they figured out that this was the same Jesus who had the whole of Jerusalem buzzing with the news of His Resurrection. Just when we think God is some abstract, distant idea He can surprise us. God is closer than you think. He is in His present glory.

Seeing Jesus Together, April 16 Worship

Thomas had missed seeing Jesus risen from the grave alive. If Thomas had been able to get past his doubt he could probably have seen Jesus’ living spirit living in the new emotions expressed by those who had seen Jesus. The excitement, the hope, the resurgence of life they felt was a powerful testimony to the Resurrected Jesus. Thomas did see Jesus for himself and so will we, but even now we can see Jesus in His living Spirit in what we share together.

Easter Sunday Worship. April 9, 2023

Jesus is alive! He is risen indeed. This changes everything. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we know He can bring life to everything, in all ways. He will raise us from death to everlasting life.  We celebrate that Jesus is alive. Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!

The King's Parade, Palm Sunday Worship April 2

The eternal King comes riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. It was time to join in the parade that celebrated Jesus’ arrival. So many had been touched by His warmth. They had been impressed by the miraculous things He had done. They were ready to call Jesus King. But it was risky and dangerous for Jesus to enter through the gates of the great city. There were those who considered Him a threat. Just five days later Jesus will be crucified. Then it seemed as if darkness and doubt had won. Who in Jerusalem could guess that the celebration of this King was just beginning? The eternal triumph would be His!

God's Love Has the Last Word. Worship: March 26, 2023

The raising of Lazarus from death was the dramatic event that led to Jesus' suffering and death on the cross. Jesus knew that by calling his friend back from the grave he would put his own life in danger. Those who were afraid that Jesus was gaining too much of a following would not be able to ignore such a powerful event. But Jesus had come so that God’s love will always have the last word even if he had to sacrifice himself to prove that point. Today we can appreciate what it means that God’s love has the last word in all things and in our lives.

Sight of God. Worship: March 19, 2023

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation," says Paul. When Jesus gave sight to a blind man it seemed to confirm God’s ability to be endlessly creative. Our God creates sight for the eyes, and the heart, and soul. We see the wonders of His created world. We see the beauty of God, given in faith by Jesus, healer of our sight.

Savior of the World. Worship: March 12, 2023

Jesus arrived in a Samaritan village and in just a couple of days he had people saying, “really, truly, this man is the Savior of the world. The certainty of who Jesus is does not change. He really is the One who saves us, and that really changes everything.

Teacher of Eternity. Worship: March 5, 2023

Nicodemus was a wise and curious man. But he had his reputation to consider, so he met with Jesus in the night. Nicodemus wanted time with Jesus, away from the busy hustle of the day. He would need the quiet of the night to really hear Jesus. During the season of Lent we each want to give God a chance to speak to us. God alone knows what your soul needs to hear. The words Jesus gave to Nicodemus that night are still speaking to us of God’s great love and grace.  

God with us in the Desert Wilderness. Worship: February 26, 2023

Photo by Aimee Munson, 2022. Dinosaur Provincial Park. Alberta, Canada

Over the next forty days we journey in the Holy Spirt. Like the ancient ones we pray for the renewal that only God can bring. Psalm 103 says, “The Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” Rising from the dust we see our Salvation, Jesus, the Son of the Living God stands in the desert wilderness with us.   Into this wilderness, God sends His Son who is faithful to us ---even to death on the cross.  This great news can be cherished even as we pass through the desert wilderness. Christ Jesus fought victoriously for us, and now there is glory before us, as Christ leads us home to the promise of the Father.