Sacrament Church

Our theme for this season is Desert People as we seek to live our lives in full dependence on the one who created us, sustains us, and has redeemed us. Our church is literally in a "wandering" season right now as we seek out our new meeting space. Please pray for our building committee as we meet for the first time this week. Pray for wisdom and an ear attuned to the voice of God. Also, as we approach Easter, please continue to pray for those in our city without a church home. Pray that Sacrament might continue to be a loving shelter for those who are wandering.

Next Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a time when the Church has focused on repentance, prayer, and cultivating humility. It’s kind of like a “Spring cleaning for the soul.” This is a good time to lean in to faith by giving up some things (fasting) and taking on some things (prayer, worship, serving). At Sacrament Church, we have several ways that we are orienting towards this season. Our theme is “Desert People” as we seek to walk with God through desert seasons. This Sunday, we will hear the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This is the moment where Jesus is revealed in glory all while pointing us to the cross.

Most of you know that I have a 6 1/2 year old little girl named Lucy. As any parent knows, one of the important parts of parenting is setting boundaries, rules, guidelines for behavior. This is always one of the hardest parts for me. We are constantly asking ourselves, "Is it appropriate for her to be doing this?" I find myself vacillating back and forth between permissiveness and strictness. Why do we have rules at all? Because we want what is best for our little girl. We want her to 1) hurt herself (pretty basic stuff here); 2) grow up to live in harmony with others and the world. 3) To be a blessing to the world! Our desire is not to oppress her or burden her, though she may feel oppressed and burdened in the moment (cleaning her room is SO HARD!). We understand this when it comes to parenting. But what if we understood God's laws this way? God sets the path of life before us. He calls us to walk that path because it is the way to life! The other paths won't do. They lead to emptiness and to death. The reality is that we can never seem to keep our toes on the path of life. We are "prone to wander" as the old song says. The good news is that there is one who was fully faithful, even when we failed. This week, we hear the part of Jesus' sermon about anger, lust, and lies. Each of these are dangerous and need to be squashed at the earliest opportunity. Even as we struggle, we trust in the one who pushed each of these aside for our sake.

Every week we are reminded of who we are as the people of God. By his grace, God has called us into something special.In Matthew 5, Jesus says that we are salt. What does salt do? It adds flavor and it preserves. The Church is invited and called to join God is becoming the flavor of the world, keeping the world from the rot of sin. Jesus also says that we are light. What does that mean? In a polarized world of bickering camps, broken people and broken systems, the Church somehow stands apart, shining the light of Christ into the darkness.Join us as we hear the good news of who God is and the kingdom he has invited us to join.

This Sunday, our texts remind us that the way revealed in Jesus will always look like foolishness according to the other narratives in our world. Sometimes, we think that life is about the quick-fix. We are instead told that God desires a transformation of our entire being (Micah 6:1-8)! When we find ourselves looking for a sign of victory or drawn to flashy things, we are pointed instead to the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). In the kingdom of God, everything is different! As Christians, we are called to live into that different way (Matthew 5:1-12).

This Sunday, we discussed a passage which is often misunderstood, but which is central to the mission of the church. In Matthew 4, Jesus calls his disciples. They are compelled to leave their lives as fishermen and follow him as he calls them to be "fishers of men." Without cultural context, it's easy for us to think that Jesus is telling them to be sneaky and "reel people in;" or, even worse, that people are in some way to be "consumed" or sold for a profit! Unfortunately, many Christians have thought about evangelism like this.And yet, there is a different way to think about Jesus' words. Join us this Sunday as we learn what it means to be "People-fishers."

This Sunday is the second Sunday in the season of Epiphany, a season where we celebrate the light of Christ which goes into all the world. Throughout this season, we hear stories about the moments in scripture when Jesus' was revealed in a unique way. This week, Jesus is shown as "The Lamb of God," the one who takes away the sins of the world. While the title "Lamb of God," may seem opaque to us, it means that he brings forgiveness and freedom.

Epiphany is a season of light! This is such a great time to re-orient our lives around the light of Christ. This past Sunday, we heard some dreams and goals for us for the first few months of 2020. This Sunday, we will reflect on the Baptism of Jesus and how the reality of it changes everything.

We are wrapping up the Christmas season and excited for the dawn of a New Year! January 6th marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany. On this day we remember the coming of the magi who visited Jesus when he was a small child. This day also begins the season of Epiphany. "Epiphany" means "revelation." In this season we recognize that the call goes out to all people. There are no "insiders" or "outsiders" to God's invitation. This is a time and a season for us to intentionally think about our family, friends, and neighbors who do not know Jesus. Perhaps they have not heard the good news of Jesus, or they have heard it kinda "sideways." In what ways might we share the invitation of Jesus, through our words and our lives? This Sunday, I am excited to share some dreams that God has placed in my heart for 2020. Our community is such a blessing and it has always been my heart to invite those in Middle Tennessee with no home church to join in. I encourage you to make an effort to be there this Sunday to hear more!

Did you know that Christmas is not over? In the church calendar, Christmas is a season, a 12 day celebration which culminates at Epiphany (January 6th)! (This is the reason for the song "the 12 Days of Christmas.") This Sunday, we celebrate Christmastide. Sacrament members Sarah Carpenter and Jessica Rider will be preaching as we bask in the Incarnation.

This Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Advent, this season of anticipating the presence of God, of preparation, and repentance.On this Sunday, we anticipate the great love of God expressed in his giving His Son.God's rescue operation in Christ is an act of his free grace. God endeavors to save humanity, not because of what we have accomplished, but because He loves us. One of the names for Jesus is “Emmanuel,” which means "God with us." Our God is not one who lives far away and decides to dip his toe in the waters of humanity from time to time. He is always active. He is always with us. Matthew wants us to know this in his telling of the story. He begins his gospel with this story of “God with us” (Matt. 1). He ends his gospel saying that he will be “with” his people to the very end of the age (28:20). Are you feeling lost this week? Know that our God is close. He embraces you right where you are.

We are living into the season of Advent, a time of anticipating Christ's arrival in our midst. One of my favorite preachers, Fleming Rutlege, says "Advent begins in the dark." In this season, we recognizes the places in our lives and in the world that are in need of God's light. So, Advent is actually about preparation for judgement! This is so counter-cultural in a world where this season insists on glitz and merriment.Don't get me wrong I'm all about merriment, but in Advent the Church has chosen to stop and say...Before we can celebrate, we anticipate.Our gospel text this Sunday gives us this picture rather starkly. John the Baptist, wearing camel's hair and wild honey, calls out for people to repent. And if that isn't enough, he calls the leaders of the day "Brood of Vipers!" How would you like that on your Advent calendar?The good news of Advent is that God, by his great love, calls us to wake up, to repent, to examine the places in our lives and in our world that are broken, to lay them down and to take up his kingdom.

This Sunday begins the season of Advent, a season of anticipation, of longing. In Advent we look back, joining with "the hopes and fears of all the years" which were met in the birth of Jesus Christ. This first coming is called the Adventus redemptionis.In advent we are also reminded of God' s presence with us now. We anticipate what God wants to do in our lives as we live into his presence in Word and sacrament. (Adventus sanctificationis)And finally, we look forward to the day of Christ's second coming when he will return "in glory to judge the living and the dead" and all will be made right. (Adventus glorificamus).Guest Speaker: David Walley

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, the final week of the church year. The following Sunday begins the season of Advent and the beginning of a new year! It is perhaps the best way to end the year: celebrating the kingship of Jesus Christ and remembering that Christ leads us in a way that is radically different from all other earthly authorities. In our culture, authority is often defined by coercion, domination, and selfishness. In the Kingdom of God, authority is centered in incarnation, forgiveness, and self-giving love.

This Sunday, we continue our two-part series on Christian hope. Last week we looked at the source of Christian hope: the resurrection. In the midst of dreams that seem unfulfilled, circumstances are difficult, or in times when it is hard to believe, we cling on to this great hope. God has called us to a greater glory and when we have eyes to see, we recognize the beauty of the things in this world that are centered on faith, hope, and love.This Sunday, we look forward to the day when all will be made right. In a world inaugurated by the resurrection, impossible things happen: weeping and crying will go away because their cries have been heard and responded to! Tragedies such as untimely death are no more! Work has deeper meaning and is wasted! Wolves and lambs feed together (Isaiah 65:17-25)! What might it mean for us to live this new world here and now?In order for the new to emerge, the old must be torn down. In Luke 21:5-19, Jesus prepares his disciples for the day when everything that they've ever known, all they've ever trusted in, will be destroyed. What are the things we cling onto in this world that are destined for destruction? In what ways is God calling us to trust the new and let go of the old?

What do Christians hope for? Where is this all going? There are many seasons in life where we have high expectations and yet at times it can all feel so underwhelming, challenging, or even difficult believe.Let's explore the ways that we are called to live out Christian hope.

This Sunday, we will observe All Saints Sunday, one of the four high holy days in the church calendar along with Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. It is an important day of remembering that we are part of a larger story than ourselves. We are also excited to celebrate baptisms into Christ's one, holy, catholic Church. Baptism is the sacrament of entrance into the Christian church, marking the beginning of our life in Christ. Baptism is also an act of congregational worship, shared by all of God's gathered people. Somehow, in baptism, those who are baptized join the communion of the saints. This is a special moment not just in their lives, but in the life of our local parish. It is a special moment not only in the life of our parish, but in the life of the Church.

We are approaching All Saints Sunday (NEXT WEEK), and this Sunday we reflect on the Christian life. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul reflects on where he is later in his life. He says that his life is being "poured out." Paul believes that his life, and even the extinguishing of his life, is an offering to God.Can you imagine how we might live if we truly saw every part of our life as a sacrifice to God that we know would one day be “poured out?” How much of our time and energy would be spend pursuing hollow counterfeits? And how much of our time would we spend centering our lives on him?Paul then switches metaphors. It's like he's been running a race, and he is about to achieve the crown (the prize for the winner of a Greek athletic event). But, unlike an athletic event, Paul's crown will not be used as a status symbol and does not prove that he is the one and only winner. This crown is a "crown of righteousness." It means that, in spite of all the people who have rejected Paul, all those who turned their back on him and despised him, God will one day declare that he is "in the right." The race that we run as Christians is quite different from other ways of achieving. We don't live for Christ because it is practical, has great "upside," growth potential, or because it is the best path to self-fulfillment (though, in a different way, it is all those things). We live for Christ because we know it is what we were created for! And we are confident in that day when all of that will be fully know.

The longing for justice is an inherently human one. We all somehow know in our bones that things are not right with the world: the rich and powerful often use their wealth and power to oppress, while the poor and the marginalized are trampled.This longing for justice isn't something that has to be taught. Even the youngest child, when around other children for very long, will shout "That's not fair!"We want justice for Atatiana Jefferson, the 28 year old black woman who was babysitting her nephew in her home when she was fatally shot by a police officer.We want justice for the Kurdish people as they are being invaded by Turkish forces.We want justice for children stranded from their parents at our country’s southern border.We can't pretend we don't hear the voice calling for justice or that it's a myth. We can't say that justice is only something that will happen in a far away heaven. N.T. Wright said it this way,"Those who follow Jesus are committed, as he taught us to pray, to God's will being 'done on earth as it is in heaven.' And that means that God's passion for justice must become ours too."This Sunday, let's hear God's Word about the Christian hope for justice and what it means to live that out here and now.

One of the major themes we see throughout the scriptures is the theme of “exile.” God's people are challenged to live faithfully in foreign lands.The Jews spent many years in exile in Babylon, and then Persia, Greece, and Rome.The early Christians found themselves under the shadow of a Roman Empire that worshipped the emperor himself as god.We can imagine that none of that felt comfortable.And yet, they are never under the mandate to “win” the culture for Jesus. In Jeremiah 29, the children of Israel are commanded to go about living their lives faithfully, working and praying for the welfare of the city. In the midst of their exile, God shows them is his desire to work everywhere, among everyone.Christians are a people in a place. We are called to seek its highest good and to recognize where God is already at work.In the midst of persecution, Paul challenges Timothy to always look to Jesus, his resurrection, and the fact that he is the fulfillment of the story of God's people (2 Timothy 2:8-15). The resurrection means that no matter where we find ourselves, God is at work. By God's grace, we are invited to live faithfully, seeking the best for our city.

At Sacrament, we believe that we are part of a story, a faith that has been passed down from generation to generation. At the beginning of Paul's second letter to Timothy, he says to his apprentice, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2 Tim. 1:5)Some of us have parents and grandparents who handed down this faith to us. The challenge for us is to celebrate this beautiful story, and their faithfulness to pass it on, even if our faith looks a little (or a lot) different from theirs.Some us us are new to the faith and didn't grow up in a Christian home. The challenge for us is remember that we have inherited a faith from our Christian family, the body of Christ. Even if the faith is new to you, you have brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and grandparents spurring you on in the family of God.Some of us now have kiddos of our own. We are challenged by what it means to live out formative habits and virtues in our family life that will translate to the next generation. Paul says that the Spirit God gave us when we first stepped into this family is not a Spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (vs. 7). We need the family of God to surround us, reminding us of who we are and what we have been given.

From the very beginning, human beings have been called as stewards, cultivators, overseers of God's beautiful world. We haven't always taken that responsibility seriously, often turning our calling into domination rather than cultivation. Jesus invites us to remember our calling. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16), is sometimes called Jesus' most difficult parable. It's about money, but it's actually about much more than money. It shows us something about our responsibility to care for the world, not placing unreasonable barriers or restrictions on those who seek to enter the kingdom of God. We are reminded that God desires all that we are, but not more than that. Because of the love of Christ, we are not hopelessly indebted. God wants our hearts, for us to surrender to His kingship in Jesus, and he meets us where we are with his love, inviting us on the path of deeper life. This Sunday, we explore this idea of stewardship, cultivation, blessing, and the "Bare Essentials" of the gospel.

Throughout the scriptures, we are confronted with two seemingly contrasting realities: the deep brokenness of humanity and the extravagant love of God.Jeremiah 4 paints a picture of human sinfulness. Left to our own devices, we move not only towards destruction, but towards utter desolation. We see this in our individual tendencies, our relationships, and the systems of our world which always seem to bend towards oppression.And yet, our God is not content to leave us there. By the overflow of his grace, He calls us even when we are far away (1 Timothy 1:12-17).This extravagant grace is messy as it calls to the outsiders, those who would not otherwise be invited into "proper" religious circles. And it is not a gentle call, but a reckless, journey to find those who are lost.The extravagant grace of God both comforts and (appropriately) freaks us out. It comforts us because it means that our mission is not dependent on what we do. It freaks us out because our mission is not dependent on what we do. And it means that we don't get to control who is part of God's family.Join us Sunday as we see to live in this genuinely re-orienting reality of grace.

This Sunday, we are finishing our series on faith. Every major figure in the Bible has had significant identifiable weakness.Abraham and Sarah were too old to have kids, and yet their entire calling depended on them having kids.Moses was not a good speaker.Gideon was the weakest in his tribe.Hannah could not have a son.David was the youngest in his family, also showed significant lapses in moral judgement.Jeremiah is too young.Mary was a virgin (how could she bear a son?)John the Baptist lived in the desert.Peter was impulsive and uneducated.Matthew was a tax collector.Paul persecuted Christians.The Bible does not try to hide these weaknesses. If anything, it BRAGS about them. Why? Because God calls us in the midst of our weaknesses.Faith is trusting that God is at work even in the places where we are shaky. And, somehow, through God's work, "we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken." (Hebrews 12:29)

In this sermon we will be asking the question, “What is faith?” Faith is often described as something like “intellectual assent” or “power to overcome.” But, what happens when we come to the end of our intellect? And what happens when we don’t feel very powerful? Have we lost our faith? Have we lost God? God is with us in every season and struggle of life. Join us as we explore a faith that has room for doubt, struggle, and pain, while being anchored in a great hope.

The resurrection is good news! It means that everything has changed. Christians are called to live this out, which requires radical reorientation. In the Christian life, we are constantly challenged by two temptations: - We are tempted to simply “go with the flow,” thinking that the Christian life just comes naturally. This path causes us to focus our gaze inside of ourselves rather than Christ. We become susceptible to believing the other narratives in our world which speak about “the good life”: the pursuit of money, sex, power, approval, etc. - On the other hand, we are tempted by legalism, the belief that, to be Christian is to follow a very stringent set of rules. In Colossians 3, Paul challenges the Church to seek “Things Above,” living out Christ’s resurrection and anticipating his new world by the cultivation of Christian virtue. Living Christianly requires vigilance, habits, and focus—all directed by the self-giving love of God in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Join us this Sunday, as we explore what this looks like in our lives and in our community.

At the beginning of his letter to the Colossians, Paul makes some radical statements about Jesus. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. All things were created through him and for him. Everything holds together in him. God’s fullness dwells in him and he has reconciled all things to himself through the Son!Big, heady stuff. Why does Paul use such big language? Why does Paul the need to say this in so many different ways, over and over again? The Colossians (like all of us) were distracted. They had many things, narratives, images around them beckoning them towards a certain kind of life. In Christ, “all things” hold together. When we get distracted, the “many things” take our focus away from the one thing, the person of Jesus. Join us Sunday as we are challenged to see the many in light of the One.

In Luke 10, Jesus responds to the question “Who is my neighbor?” With perhaps the most recognizable of all of his parables: The Good Samaritan.The term “Good Samaritan” is now a pervasive term in culture. Whenever someone helps out, we say that they are a “Good Samaritan.” The term is used to refer to those who rescue or assist.But a fresh look at Jesus’ parable challenges our assumptions about what it means to be a neighbor. The story has incredible implications about the kingdom of God which transcends tribal identities. Just as the church has asked for centuries, this Sunday we will ask the question afresh: “Who is my neighbor?”

The proclamation that Jesus is Lord is a proclamation of peace. The Lordship of Christ means that the world is being made right, liberation has come, new creation is springing up.And, the proclamation that Jesus is Lord is also a proclamation of woe. It means woe to the other things that we have trusted in, the idols we have built, the narratives that have enslaved the world. The hinge point is the question: “Who will we trust?” Will we cling to our previous identities, our fading stories, our cultural status? Or will we trust in the better way?This Sunday, we are confronted with three texts about our weakness and God’s strength.Naaman (2 Kings 5) trusted in his military strength but had to come to grips with a weakness that he could not shake. The Galatians (Galatians 6) were being tempted to trust in their cultural identity rather than the cross.Some Villagers (Luke 10), were tempted to trust their own political agendas rather than embracing the peace found only in Jesus.Join us as we seek to live as the people of the better way!

This Sunday we celebrate the reality of the Trinity. One God, three persons. “O mystic marvel! The universal Father is one, and one the universal Word; and the Holy Spirit is one and the same everywhere,” - Clement of Alexandria (AD 153-217)

In this sermon, we will ask, "What would it look like if God ran things? What would it look like if my life (and my world) was led by the Spirit?" Spoiler alert: It might look like self-giving love.

David Walley fills in for Preston.

All throughout scripture, God’s people marked times and places where God had proven himself faithful to them; and that’s what we will do this Sunday. We will be looking at the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 11. Resurrection changes the rules and all are invited in!

Easter means a New World. This Sunday is historically called “Good Shepherd Sunday” as we read from John 10 where Jesus is described as the Shepherd whose sheep hear his voice. It is also Mothers Day! We will celebrate all the ladies in the ⛪️ with flowers! O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

This Sunday, we continue in the season of Easter, exploring this New World in which we live because of the resurrection. This week, we look at two stories of radical reversals, dramatic changes that result in this New World: The story of Saul/Paul and the story of Simon Peter. Both awaken us to the ways that God works outside of our boxes, and the redemptive nature of grace.

We will look at the story of Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus who needed tangible proof in order to believe. We often disparage Thomas, even giving him the nickname “Doubting Thomas,” But that’s not quite fair. This sermon gives us the opportunity to explore the interchange between doubt and faith.

Easter Sunday marks the pivotal event in the life of the Church: Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! It has been a special Holy Week in our church: Maundy Thursday; Good Friday Tenebrae; Holy Saturday. Tomorrow, we celebrate the fact that Christ has conquered sin and death. N.T. Wright says of Easter, [Easter] ought to be an eight-day festival, with champagne served after Morning Prayer or even before, with lots of alleluias and extra hymns and spectacular anthems. Is it any wonder people find it hard to believe in the resurrection of Jesus if we don’t throw our hats in the air? Is it any wonder we find it hard to live the resurrection if we don’t do it exuberantly in our liturgies? Is it any wonder the world doesn’t take much notice if Easter is celebrated as simple the one-day happy ending tacked onto forty days of fasting and gloom? It’s long overdue that we took a hard look at how we keep Easter in the Church, at home, in our personal lives, right through the system. And if it means rethinking some cherished habits, well, maybe it’s time to wake up. That always comes as a surprise. Let's all be surprised together!

we step into Holy Week, the most important week in the life of the Church. This Sunday, we will celebrate Palm Sunday, recognizing that the kingship of Jesus is drastically different from all the kingdoms of our world. Message by guest speaker, Father Chad Jarnagin.

This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday in Lent. This Sunday, we are exploring the idea of Giving Up. How's that for a pep talk? Jesus calls us to give up the old ways, give up the times that we’ve trusted in ourselves, give up thinking that we have all the answers. In giving up, we surrender to God and we allow Him to invite us to think about and live our lives differently.

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Lent. This Sunday, our story leads us to look at God's provision and for us in the desert, and the times when we feel like we need more. Like the children of Israel who were provided manna in the desert, our God knows our needs and cares for us. And yet, we think that we know better. In Luke 15, the Prodigal Son turns away from the provision of his father's home and squanders his inheritance on reckless living. The first part of this story leads us to the acknowledgement that WE ALL DO THAT. We all run away from God's best for our lives. And yet...God's heart towards us is always love. He is the God who welcomes us, and desires reconciliation.

We are living into this season of repentance, of recognizing our dependence on God. While somber, Lent is not a season of hopelessness or despair. There is great joy in remembering that we need God. It is in the place of dependence where healing begins. Knowing that our identity is wrapped up in Christ, we live in anticipation of Easter! In Exodus 3, Moses was a man without a country. He felt this in his bones, so much so that he named his child "stranger in a foreign land." Born an Israelite, raised an Egyptian, and living as a Midianite shepherd, Moses heard the call of God from a burning bush. God was taking Moses' despair, confusion, and broken past, and inviting Him into God's grand rescue operation--for Israel and for the world. This week, may we learn to embrace our dependence, our weakness, our struggle, and to find God's invitation on holy ground.

We have stepped into the season of Lent. This is a season of repentance, of recognizing our dependence on God. One of the major images of Lent is the desert. The desert is the place where trust is cultivated. The desert provides us the opportunity to remember who we are and what we trust as we cling (often with the tips of our fingers) to the hope of Easter. One of the ways that we cultivate this trust is through rhythms, disciplines, which orient our mind, body, and will towards Christ. These may include fasting, prayer, and scripture reading. Here are a couple of great resources for this season. The Daily Prayer App is a simple, beautifully designed guide for prayer and scripture reading throughout the day. It is a simplified form of the Daily Office in the Book of Common Prayer. This app will help you to create space (and reminders) for regular prayer.

Lent Begins next Wednesday, Ash Wednesday. Lent is a season of repentance, of making room for God in our lives. Some of the images associated with Lent are desert, ashes (we come from dust and will return to dust, without God we are only dust), and oil. Many choose to fast something during Lent. An important thing to remember about fasting: All Can. Some Should. None Must. Fasting is never to be done in order to attempt to earn something from God or prove our holiness. Fasting is a spiritual discipline, a way of forming our hearts towards dependence on him. This Sunday, the Church reads the stories of Moses descending from the mountain after being given the covenant, and Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. This is a great way to begin Lent because both stories speak of God's empowerment and revealing of himself before a difficult journey ahead. Both stories also speak to the the human calling to radiate with God's presence into the world.

This Sunday, we continue our series on The Sacred Journey that is the Christian faith. We have celebrated what it means to encounter God as well as explored how revolutionary it is to follow Jesus. This Sunday we will explore the new world that Christ calls us into. Specifically? What does it mean to live as a Christian? We will look at the idea of Christian virtue. God has always been the God of forgiveness, the God who reaches out to those who have been alienated and brings about redemption. This Sunday, we see this played out in the story of Joseph and his embrace of his brothers (Genesis 45:3-11, 15); Paul's explanation of how life is brought out of death in the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50); and Jesus' invitation into the posture we should have towards our enemies (Luke 6:27-38). Join us as we seek to live into this new grace-filled world!

This Sunday, we continue our series on The Sacred Journey that is the Christian faith. Last Sunday, we celebrated the beauty of what it means to encounter God. It is such an amazing thing that God desires to be close to us! In God's presence we are called to worship; we are aware of our brokenness; we are healed in by his Word and in communion with him; and we are sent into the world with a new vocation (as fishers of people). This Sunday, we look at what happens when we are challenged by that thing to which we have been called. After all, the Sacred Journey is not just one of many other paths; it is completely counter-intuitive. It is revolutionary! Specifically, we have chosen the path of dependence rather than independence (Jeremiah 17:5-10). We have chosen the reality of resurrection, even when the world says that is not a thing (1 Corinthians 15:12-20). We have chosen a path which leads blessing for those who are hurting now and woe to those who have trusted in the ways of of a broken world (Luke 6:17-26).

This Sunday, we begin a new series on our life with Christ. The texts for each week will lead us to explore various stages in the Christian life. We hope you'll join us on this journey! This Sunday- "People Catchers"- What does it mean to encounter God? We will be looking at what happened when the prophet Isaiah met with God in the heavenly throne room as well as how the disciple's lives changed because of their first encounter with Jesus. February 17th- "The Path to Revolution"- How is the Christian Story different from anything else? We will be looking at Jesus' revolutionary call. February 24th- "After You Believe"- How do we live out this revolution of forgiveness, love, and hope? We will look at Jesus' command to love our enemies. March 3rd- "Water for the Desert"- What does it mean that God is with us in difficult times? We will prepare for the season of Lent by remembering that God is always with us.

We are in the middle of our series called "A Light," exploring what it means that the call of God always goes out into the world. We are being challenged to see ourselves as participating in the healing, sight-giving, forgiving work of God in the world. We have been encouraging you to think about those in your life who need to hear the good news of God's love and grace. Who do you know in need of liberation? What might this mean for the structures of our world? This Sunday, we look at how the Word of God always goes out. God's speaking changes us and changes the world. We will look at the response of the people to God's Word in Nehemiah 8; the ways that the church always looks different from, and upends traditional power structures (1 Corinthians 12); and how Jesus embodies the mission of God's people to heal and liberate (Luke 4:14-21).

We live in an interesting cultural moment. Many of us have grown up in a society where Christianity is the majority religion. And yet, that is changing. Many Christians respond to this changing world with fear. We are afraid that our kids will not grow up in the faith, will not be surrounded by influences that foster the faith. Sometimes we respond to this fear with the desire to fiercely defend, convincing others that they are wrong and we are right. Some of us have a different kind of fear. We are afraid that being openly Christian will make us stick out awkwardly. We are aware of the ways that others have tried to fiercely defend, the ways many minority religious groups have been marginalized, so we are almost silent about our own faith. We act as if faith is something private, without much to say about the world in which we live. The Light of Christ will always lead to outward expression. That outward expression will lead us away from fear and towards love. Christians love our neighbors, celebrating the fact that each person was created in God's image. And Christians seek to allow Christ's light to shine through us.