Advent 2020: The Bethlehem Candle: FAITH Advent 2020: The Prophet Candle—Hope On Sunday, Lead Pastor Isaac exhorted us to follow after the ONE TRUE KING. He elaborated on how difficult this can be for us because we do not live in a world of kings. Fidelity is a word that comes close to describing true,Continue reading “Day ONE: Dec 7-12”
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Day TWO: Dec 7-12
Fidelity continued… Andrea Larson, Assisting Pastor Today we will consider a more common definition of fidelity: “Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.” This is the type of fidelity we think of when we expect people to be sexually faithful in their marriages. When we hear the Marine motto,Continue reading “Day TWO: Dec 7-12”
Day THREE: Dec 7-12
Advent 2020: The Bethlehem Candle: FAITH Our washer broke. It breaks all of the time. I have learned over time how to make it work for a little while longer, but it is fairly routine for us to be without a washing machine for a day or two. Looks like this time it might beContinue reading “Day THREE: Dec 7-12”
Day FOUR: Dec 7-12
Advent 2020: The Bethlehem Candle: FAITH On Sunday, we stood in allegiance to Jesus as King. Our allegiance means so many things: what we hope for, what we live for—how we live, how we engage with the world around us. Paul wrote to the Corinthians : “For I determined to know nothing among you exceptContinue reading “Day FOUR: Dec 7-12”
Day FIVE: Dec 7-12
Donia Hovet, Children’s Pastor I was not born to be a Children’s pastor. In fact, I told God in Bible College that I would NEVER be a children’s pastor. I had worked in children’s ministry from the time I was a child myself, just twelve years old, and for a decade, I had a frontContinue reading “Day FIVE: Dec 7-12”
Week 42: Dec 6-12
Community Group Outline Welcome and Greeting // (10 Minutes) Catch Up – Highs and Lows, Peaks and Pits, or Icebreaker // (30 Minutes) Share Your Story: Take time for ONE or TWO people to share their story // (20 Minutes) Discuss // (40 Minutes) Read Matthew 2:1-18 In what ways is a king different from a president? Lead PastorContinue reading “Week 42: Dec 6-12”
Week 41: Nov 30-Dec 5
Community Group Outline Welcome and Greeting // (10 Minutes) Catch Up – Highs and Lows, Peaks and Pits, or Icebreaker // (30 Minutes) Share Your Story: Take time for ONE or TWO people to share their story // (20 Minutes) Discuss // (40 Minutes) Read the Prayer of Hope: Isaiah 64:1-9 Lead Pastor Isaac suggested some biblical metaphors forContinue reading “Week 41: Nov 30-Dec 5”
Day ONE: Nov 30-Dec 5
Advent 2020: The Prophet’s Candle: HOPE A Prayer of Hope We begin our Advent season in the prophets. The prophets point to an all encompassing reality that is bigger than our own. It is the job of the prophets to confront the status quo of whatever moment we are in and point us towards aContinue reading “Day ONE: Nov 30-Dec 5”
Day TWO: Nov 29-Dec 5
Advent 2020: The Prophet Candle—Hope Longing Yesterday, while walking along a path I passed by a scene most of us have witnessed. A mom was working hard to be patient with her 1.5 year old as he wailed. He screamed with longing for his Baa Baa. Apparently, he had left his sheep at his house. Continue reading “Day TWO: Nov 29-Dec 5”
Day THREE: Nov 30-Dec 5
Advent 2020: The Prophet’s Candle: HOPE Remembrance It is curious to me that we have the capacity to remember. Most of us do not remember precisely, but somewhat vaguely. My earliest memories are far more emotional than factual. I remember impressions of family tension. And, sometimes a particular color or smell will evoke a washContinue reading “Day THREE: Nov 30-Dec 5”