Follow...Love...Do.
Message from Grant Myles-Era on December 18, 2022
When Scrooge is visited by the Spirit of Christmas Present, he is given the opportunity to have a different perspective on the life he has been experiencing. Does a new perspective result in a change in who we are or who he was? We will consider how, because of Jesus, we have a different perspective and if or how that changes the way we live.
Oh, just as Scrooge was visited by the Spirit of Christmas Past, we will also take a look at Christmas past, and do the stories connect? These stories that we might know very well, do they have anything to do with our past as well?
This Advent Season we are going to explore the world of Charles Dickens novel, "A Christmas Carol." Perhaps you've read the book or watched one of the many movies that have been produced, from Bill Murray's “Scrooged," to the "Muppet Christmas Carol." Charles Dickens was a man who firmly believed that those who claimed to follow Jesus should take seriously the call to love God and neighbor, and much of his work was an attempt to point out the hypocrisy and cruelty of his own contemporary society and church. The story of Scrooge's transformation from “...squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner,” to a man who promised, "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year…” has a lot to teach us during this time of Advent. Let's listen to the story Dickens tells and discover how it points to the greatest story ever told, when “...the time came for the baby to be born…” --Luke 2:6
We have been 100% on Mission, looking at what it means to "FOLLOW Jesus, LOVE people, and DO good." This weekend, we look at the START of that mission, "To be TRANSFORMED by the Holy Spirit." But where and how does that all begin? Will we feel it? Will we see it? Will we show it? Will we be any different? Being 100% on Mission, will that make a tangible difference in our lives? Yes. And No.
How do we define “good?” What does it mean to "do good?” This may seem like an obvious question, but it has been the subject of heated debate for thousands of years, from Aristotle and Plato to modern philosophers and spiritual guides of all kinds. This week we continue our exploration of NewSong's Mission Statement by asking these very questions. Doing good is a vital part of our life in Christ in the world. The Apostle Paul reminds us that, "God's Way is not a matter of mere talk; it's an empowered life.” (1 Cor. 4:20). Our good deeds are in many ways the specific places where the Kingdom of God touches down in our community in powerful and practical ways; where people will encounter the goodness of God, the source and definition of all that can be called “good."
How do we LOVE others? It isn't just a religious obligation or a moral imperative. Loving others is core to who we are as Christ-followers. It's not a price for our faith; it is the very foundation. Join us as we walk through what this means for us individually and as a church.
This week we begin an exploration of NewSong's 4 part mission statement: To Be Transformed by the Holy Spirit, Follow Jesus, Love People and Do Good. We start with what it means to Follow Jesus. There have been many programs and organizations that have sought to clarify what this looks like, from the Promise Keepers* to W.W.J.D.** bracelets. Jesus' first followers literally did just that: Followed Jesus! Does Jesus' command, “Follow Me,” still have any practical relevance for today, and if so, how do we best respond to His calling in our time and place? *Promise Keepers - A National men's movement active throughout the nineties. **W.W.J.D. - What Would Jesus Do? Check out this Connect Video to learn more about our community garden! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hCGTUKxpYzA or Watch on Facebook: https://fb.watch/7o8velHSA7/
We all have preferences: Mac or Android, cats or dogs, dark or milk chocolate. Rarely do these differences cause substantial relational damage, and it would seem ludicrous for me to judge a person's intelligence, value or character according to their choice of vacation destination or the cocoa to oil ratio in their candy bar. There are, however, other polarizing choices that damage relationships, dehumamize other people made in God's image and cause great harm to the body of Christ and its witness in the world that God so loves. In a culture that loudly insists on all channels that we must pick a side, can we declare that we are people who seek a new path. Can we ask with sincerity and openness to change, "whose side is Jesus on, and what might that mean for our lives right here right now?"
This week we ask ourselves the question "Why do we divide?” The first step to this is admitting that we are inherently divisive people. Once we acknowledge this, we can consider the ways in which we can address this issue. Scripture points us to the fact that God can use the things that would normally divide us for His glory.
Why Do We Collide? What is at the root of all of the conflict that we witness and experience in life? Why can't we just all get along? This question reminds me of a bumper sticker - “Forget about world peace, try using your **** turn signal!” God's word tells us that the heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. The good news is that God is in the business of reclaiming and healing human hearts.
Why Do We Hide? Remember playing "Hide and Seek" as a kid? The mad dash to find a good spot, the excitement mixed with fear of being found? And what if you were the seeker? You probably looked in every nook and cranny as you sought out those you were playing with. What if life mirrored this game? We all carry something we hide from people, what would happen if you were found out?
Throughout the Summer, we have explored the ancient biblical writings that we call Psalms. From lament, to worship, to awe at the character and power of God that is revealed in creation, we have connected with the world of the Psalms and seen our own lives reflected there. This week, our pastors, Grant, Melody and Josh will help us to reflect upon the series by considering three words: Authenticity, Worship & Response.
This week we consider The Shema: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one". God is unique in who He is and how He interacts with us. God doesn't change but depending on what we are going through our response to him does. We will consider the tension between what we are experiencing and who God is
Ever see something at the store and say..."Yes! That's it!" What if they said EXACTLY what is happening in our lives? What sign would you buy??
Message from Grant Myles-Era on September 4, 2022
What do you do when you feel distant from God? When you cannot feel His presence? How do you respond when God is silent? When God is hidden from you? Scripture ensures us that God will never leave us nor forsake us. And Psalm 19 teaches us that God continually makes Himself known to us in two ways: through the world He made and through Scripture He inspired. Let's reflect upon Psalm 19 and discover how we can experience God Revealed though the beauty of the world that He made.
This week, through a prayer of David, we will work through the tension of being in a relationship with the all-knowing and all-powerful God. This beautiful/terrifying reality is foundational to how we view God and our faith journey.
We have been studying the “Song Book” of the Bible for the last few weeks. Psalm 40:3 says, “He put a new song in my mouth”. Psalm 98:1 says, “Sing to the Lord a new song”. This week we're studying Psalm 100 which links our singing with our worship of our God. “EVERYBODY SING”!
We are separated from the world of the Psalms by a span of time that gets longer with every passing day. Human beings, however, haven't changed all that much when it comes to the issues that plague us both outside and inside of ourselves. Thankfully God also remains the same throughout all time. This Sunday, come, just as you are, and gather with your community to hear, again, about the God who alone is your Rest, Rock, Redeemer and Refuge. (Psalm 62)
Most of us are very familiar with Psalm 23. Even those who have no current connection with the world of Christianity can probably quote a few lines of this Psalm. Is familiarity an obstacle to understanding the depths of this ancient text? If God is still our Shepherd, what does that mean for us? Can we read and hear and understand with fresh ears, open hearts and receptive souls to this song of faith, satisfaction and hopefulness?
Cut. Crop. Filter. Post. We take the picture and edit it to our liking. We cut it to size, crop out the edges, apply the filters that make us look better, and post - our best selves for the rest of the world to see. Is this good enough for God? In Psalm 51, David faces his reality with no cuts, crops, or filters.
After last Sunday's introduction to the Psalms, we are now diving into some of those beautiful texts by reflecting upon Psalm 84. The unknown author begins his writing with powerful expressions of longing. “My soul longs, indeed it faints.” All human beings can identify with the experience of longing for that which we don't currently experience or possess. We long for people, places and experiences, some are attainable and some seem, to our frustration, not to be. In his book, Confessions, Augustine famously wrote about his understanding of human longings for God; “Our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.” Might there be a priority of longing that is inescapably bound up within our human nature? Might we hope to find a place of satisfaction in God which will bring us the experience of peace that we long for?
This week we begin a journey of 11 weeks together in a world of poetry, prayer and honest human expression. The Psalms call us to bring the fullness of our raw humanity into an encounter with our Creator and Sustainer. These poems / songs / texts teach us that there is no human experience or expression borne out of that experience that cannot be spoken (screamed?) to God. We won't need to clean ourselves up, or get our act together first. This is truly good news for those of us who are weary of pretense and ready to accept the reality of our human nature, as well as the immense receptivity and companionship of the God who is with us.
Message from Melody Anderson on June 26, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on June 19, 2022
Message from Melody Anderson on June 12, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on June 5, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on May 29, 2022
Message from Josh Coya on May 22, 2022
Message from Melody Anderson on May 15, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on May 8, 2022
This week we begin an eight-week exploration of "Stuff Christians Do". We begin with a fundamental question for any community: "Why do we gather?" There are many reasons for people to get together. Is there anything distinct or unique about the purpose, power or potential that exists when people gather in the name of Jesus? Let's find out… together!
After a year journeying together through the Gospel of Mark, what have we learned? We titled this series: This is Jesus. How have we grown in our understanding of the one who gives us all His life, hope and purpose? What will we carry with us in life as a result of our encounters with God's Word?
Finally...it has arrived. This day of joy! This celebration of Christ's resurrection! And so, we cry out together. “He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!” Yet, on Monday morning, if not later on this very same day, we find ourselves still merely human with all of the implications of that reality. We lose those we love, we hurt and are hurt, we experience stress, anxiety and depression. What Good News does Mark have for us at this the final chapter of his Gospel? Well, despite attempts to put a beautiful bow on a happy ending, our friend Mark ends his presentation of Jesus reminding us that we are fully human, but announcing to us that we are also fully His!
Despite our best intentions, we have to admit that our best efforts cannot attain to God's perfect holiness. Good news! It is the unending grace of God in Christ Jesus that calls us to honesty rather than bravado, courage rather than fear and steady confidence in the One who both knows and loves us perfectly just as we are, not as we should be.
Just as the disciples prepared for the Passover meal, we prepare our hearts for Holy Week. We get the opportunity to be in lockstep with Jesus as He makes ready His disciples for what is to come.
As Jesus moves closer towards the night of his betrayal, a simple act of hospitality points us to the true heart of worship, and the power of simple deeds performed with great love.
We might fall into two extremes, obsessing over knowing future or not paying attention to much about the future. Jesus tells us exactly what we should be doing. And it's neither of these.
This week's text is the second section of the longest continuous record of Jesus' teaching in Mark's Gospel. As was the case last week, there seems to be little of the promised “Good News” in his words. Desolation and Abomination! May have sought in this monologue a timeline for "End Times” events, only to have been proven wrong with the passing of time. Once again Mark reminds us of Jesus' consistent call towards hope, not by our own power, but in Christ, whose return is certain if not calendared, and in light of which we can live right here right now, with confidence and joy.
As we witness the horrors of human conflict, not only in Ukraine, but across the globe, many will tell us that the end is indeed near. Jesus' disciples seem to wonder the very same thing as Mark records their questions to Jesus; “When will this happen?” “what are the signs?” Jesus doesn't give them the details they seek. Instead, he points them towards the one kingdom that will never pass away and urges them towards Watchfulness, Confidence, Patience and Steadfastness.
Message from Melody Anderson on February 27, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on February 20, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on February 13, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on February 6, 2022
Message from Josh Coya on January 30, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on January 23, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on January 16, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on January 9, 2022
Message from Grant Myles-Era on January 2, 2022
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