The Branch Church

The second Sunday of Advent traditionally focuses on the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry. Today, Chris invites us to consider the end. There, in prison, with his life hanging in the balance, John asks a question many of us know well: was the sacrifice and pain and risk worth it? Jesus' answer invites John, and us, to look and listen with new eyes and ears, and in doing so, find our 'yes.'

Our final week in the series has us considering what fruits we have received from others or from God's good world?We also reflect on what fruit is currently being born in us and what fruit we'd like to see in more abundance.

As we bring the series to a close, we consider larger principles about virtue development, including the unity of all virtue and the motivations behind our virtue.

On November 9 we gathered at a local pizza shop to consider a necessary and daunting question: what is the future of Christianity? To consider such a question requires that we first have some sense of where we have been and where we currently find ourselves.This community conversation was the fourth we've offered and has been an important space for anyone longing to live a life of meaning and purpose.

We consider the final fruit in the list: self-control.Is this fruit simply a pulling back and restricting - or is it something more?

Bethany invites us to see gentleness from a different angle -- a purposeful moving toward.There's lots of good stuff in this episode to challenge and encourage us how we live today.

Teresa leads us through the fruit of faithfulness - a fruit that both grounds us (because God is faithful) and calls us to be steadfast with one another.

Our second week with these two virtues considers not just the definitions of goodness and kindness, but the nonsensical example we see in Jesus.

We take two words this week - kindness and goodness. These "sister" virtues begin not by giving them away, but by receiving them.

Chris invites us to consider the fruit of patience - a fruit many of us desire to have in greater abundance.Patience carries with it the idea of integrity, making patience a fruit that helps us stay true to our values even in the midst of suffering.

Steve leads us in a reflection on peace -- a fruit that is more than a lack of conflict, but a force that brings wholeness.

This week Katie leads us in the second fruit listed in Galatians 5: joy.

All the fruits of the Spirit find their grounding in the first: Love.

We begin a fall series on the Fruits of the Spirit -- fruit we -- and our world -- desperately need.This week is an intro, considering our role in transformation: tending the soil.

We conclude our series in Amos, taking a look at the transformational process the prophets exhibit and invite us to join.We also hear the courageous journey of Lynee and Trevor as they have navigate the difficulties of long Covid (begins at 22:10).

We're nearing the end of Amos. Teresa leads us as we consider anger's role in our transformation.We also hear from Phil Ackley starting at 17:45.

The prophet, Amos, tells the people that because of their cruelty and injustice, God will take away 'the word of the Lord' and it will be worse than a famine of food or water. What does this phrase mean and what practices can we live out in order to remain in touch with the word of the Lord?We also have the privilege of hearing from Katie. Katie's recording begins at 20:50. NOTE: the first portion of her recording was not captured; however, your can watch/listen to her entire conversation with Teresa on our YouTube page.

Steve invites us to consider Amos 7 and a dialogue between the prophet and king. This conversation invites us to consider if and how we receive feedback and even criticism from others. Are we set in our ways - can we remain open to new possibilities?And at 22:30 we hear Sarah Lundberg share part of her story!

Amos 6 challenges us to consider both the gift and the risk of comfort.At 21:30 we also hear part of Andrea DeWard's story. We are grateful for her willingness to share her experience as a chaplain, as we are thankful to all those who have shared their stories this summer. It has been a considerable gift to us!

The first part of the podcast is our continuation through the book of Amos. This week, Chapter 5.The second part (starting at 28:30) is the privilege of hearing from Joan Hulst tell a part of her story. 

It's a Gruszka Sunday!Elliot leads us through Amos 4 - a much needed call to humility.And Sera shares a part of her story - a story of pain, difficulty, hope and even joy.

Sundays this summer include a look at the book of Amos as well as a story from a different Branch person each week.This week, Teresa leads us through Amos Chapter 3, and we learn a little bit about Noel DeWard and what travel has taught her the last few years.

Sundays this summer include a look at the book of Amos as well as a story from a different Branch person.This Sunday we begin the series by considering the first two chapters of Amos and asking what it says about our lives, as well as the current brutalities unfolding in Gaza.

Today we consider power -- specifically which power can change the world.Matthew 26 is our text -- a story from Jesus' final hours which speaks to two sources of power.Which will we choose? At 24:36 we showed a trailer to a documentary. This is not in the podcast. To watch the trailer, head here: Singing Revolution

Ephesians 5 calls us to be people of light - people who follow the example of Jesus.In the gospel of John, just before the last supper Jesus washes his disciples feet - an absolutely stunning act. He then tells his disciples to do the same.How do we move beyond this world's philosophy (that we use our power for profit) and instead choose Jesus' philosophy: use your power to serve.

Our second week considers the lie that only some people matter. We look at Matthew 20:1-16 and learn from Jesus who gave dignity to all.

We need stories of light -- stories that point us to the world God desires, the world we are to work toward. We begin this series by considering a story that calls us to set a table instead of building a wall.

When two bedazzled messengers greeted Jesus' disciples, they did not dismiss their grief or confusion -- or was their doubt disqualify them. Instead, resurrection met them precisely where they were. The same is true today - and everyday.

Janelle offers insight into Luke 13 - the story of the fig tree. It's a story filled with tension, a call, and hope.

Our series continues as we learn about the journey of vocation for Nate DeWard.

Week two considers Luke 10:37-42 - a story of sibling tension, which often leads us to conclude that one was right (Mary) and the other (wrong). But is it that simple? We consider what they have to teach us about two absolutely critical elements for those following the way of Jesus: action and contemplation

Our second Group Sundays (of three) begins with a sharing of our fundraising total and how it connects to our core values - especially that of Inclusivity.

February 16 was a "Group Sunday", meaning we began together with a time of reflection and prayer and then everyone moved into various groups for the remainder of the morning.The recording is of that reflection time. We consider our history with refugee resettlement, recent actions of the Trump administration, and action steps we can take to offer welcome and care.

Our second and final week (for now) in this series on resilience, we consider the gift of beauty.Beauty is not a nice add on but something we need. It invokes awe and wonder, which draws us together and helps connect us to those things that are bigger.

We take a couple of weeks in between series to consider tools we will need to access in order to live a life of love without burnout. The first week leans into the gift of music - a powerful, often taken for granted tool that can draw us together, meeting us in every type of moment, offering us  strength for the journey ahead.

Our third week included time for practicing co-regulation exercises. We've edited the podcast, cutting out the larger portions of silence in which the congregation was practicing these exercises. We invite you to find someone to join you in these practices and hit pause at the appropriate moments.

Guest preacher: Bethany Ackley DeBlaay, licensed therapist (MA, LLP, SEP) Week 2 invites us to consider that we are distress managers, doing what we can (often unconsciously) to avoid what we perceive as uncomfortable, difficult or painful. As a result, when we grow up learning that certain emotions are bad (or worse, sinful), we will do what we can to ignore or surpress them. In order to integrate our emotions, we must learn to face all of our emotions by remaining open and curious.

In the first week of a three week series, licensed therapist Bethany Ackley DeBlaay (MA, LLP, SEP) invites us to see our emotions as hardwired, autonomic responses to the world around us. If we are to  integrate our emotions, we first need to understand that they are automatically happening all the time, whether we are aware of them or not.

Epiphany brings the story of the Magi - a story reminding us that the way forward is rarely straight.

This week, Elliot reflects on John the Baptist's words, as well as research from the book, Tribal (written by Michael Morris) as we consider the good that is ours to do.

We Can't Go Alone Advent - Week 2 A look at Ruth 1 - a reminder that we meant to walk through this life together, which is a choice of both doggedly moving toward and graciously accepting mutuality.

Week 1: You are A Blessing Luke 1:26-38

We go back to a foundational truth to help remind us how to live in these unsettled days.

What does the Lord require of you? We look at the Old Testament book of Micah, and what it has to teach us about who we are to be today.

We use a familiar framework at The Branch as we process all of the things we might be feeling and thinking after the election.

With the election two days away, we are feeling the fraught-ness of it all. How do we traverse this week in a way that is hopeful, grounded and kind?

We look at four versions of the same story in order to ask the question: can we follow Jesus' lead, reject violence, and be people of sacrifice?

We look at two stories that demonstrate the different ways power can be viewed and used. What does it tell us about how we might use our power - and how might power be used in the political sphere?

Week 1: Fear Fear is often leveraged in politics. Campaigns try to play off of our fears and use our fears to pit us against each other. There is a better way

Teresa helps us consider the end product of a life of love -- a picture of who we could be and how we might move through the world if love is our primary aim.

Our third week in the series. We consider the often neglected and ignored command to love ourselves.