The Branch Church

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.

Everything -- everything -- hangs on love - including loving our neighbor. What might that look like today?

Everything important and consequential in this life hangs on love. And our capacity to express love is fundamentally tied to our willingness to receive it. Yes - we are called to love God, but equally, we are invited (and must heed that invitation) to receive and experience love. It sounds simple, but is not easy. What steps can we take to open ourselves up to the divine, endless love available to us?

We end our summer series by looking at one of the few stories found in all four of the New Testament Gospels. It's typically called the feeding of the 5000, but the text tells us there were many more than that. What do we learn from this story about the way we approach life's problems and challenges?

Deb shares her story - including what it is like to navigate a life filled with many moves, loss, and belonging.

Three of our recent graduates share some of their spiritual journey - what it has been like to grow up in the church, what their personal journey's have been like and what they might hope for in the future as they move away from home and begin their adult lives.

Dale shares his recent adventure (in retirement) of starting a new company focused on building net-zero homes. Not sure what a net-zero house is? Dale will fill us in -- and share something about how we remain hopeful in the midst of overwhelming challenges.

CJ and Elizabeth share their experience of growing up in the church, falling in love, and coming out as an LGBTQ couple.

The spaces through which we are changed tend to be experiences of great love or great suffering. Peter's life is an example of both.

It may seem like growing in our faith would mean that we would end up more certain. That may be true of some things (for example, God's love for us). But an important part of transformation involves putting on humility; admitting that we don't have all the answers (and may never have them); even embracing mystery.

God is always present. And it is in the present moment - no where else - that we experience God (and, each other). Growing, maturing, deepening our faith requires us, therefore, to be present - a very very difficult challenge for humans to believe and live.

The created world is a gift, teaching us things that are true about God and about ourselves. This week we consider what trees teach us about our growth and maturity.

Week 2: The End of the Rope is Not the End

We begin a new series in which we look at important principles related to our spiritual transformation (and transformation in general). Week 1 considers the truth that in order to grow we must learn to embrace BOTH death AND resurrection.

The six stories we've considered so far fall short of their promise. They give us something, but it is not what we really want. We need a seventh story. We see aspects of the seventh story in the hours before and after Christ's death and resurrection -- and we see it clearly in the resurrection itself. This story is hard to believe, if we're honest, but it is the story that leads to life.

The Story of Accumulation is everywhere. There isn't a day that we're not inundated with the message that we'll find our happiness and security in more (fill in the blank). But does this story give us what it promises? What is the alternative?

The Story of Victimization is a challenging one. It tells us that when we've been harmed we should let our pain define us. It's a story that encourages us to get stuck in our pain -- sometimes even fueling us to harm others while feeling righteous in doing so. But this story does not move us toward life. Instead, we must courageously face our pain -- almost certainly with the help and care of others.

Teresa leads us through a look at the Story of Isolation

Teresa and Chris (from Palestine) share thoughts on the third story in our series -- the Story of Purification.

We consider the story of revolution/revenge -- the story that tells us that the only way to happiness and security is to repay pain for pain.

We begin a series for Lent that considers six stories we encounter regularly in our day to day lives -- a series that ends on Easter, which is a seventh story of sorts. These six stories promise us happiness, security and fulfillment but rarely deliver. As we move through Lent we'll be asking ourselves which of these stories do we believe and might we want to leave them behind for a better story. Week 1 is the story of Domination.

We are choosing to be bold -- to take risks, to purposefully keep a compelling vision close to our heart, and to lean into each other.

Jesus is our example, and at every turn Jesus extends welcome to all. Those on the margins, those society considered 'last', those disregarded are all included. Within the community Jesus creates, we find significant difference (socio-economic, political, gender). This is by choice. Jesus chooses to include those who he knew would disagree -- those who would see the world very differently -- those who the world would say should be opponents, if not enemies. What happens when we choose to include? What happens to us? What happens to the world? We consider these questions together.

Who do we want to be? Who will we choose to be? These are questions often asked at the beginning of a new year. And while related, they are not the same. We may want to be many things -- or to change much -- but without a choice (likely, many, daily choices) those desires will go unrealized. We must be intentional - purposeful. Together we consider three choices Jesus invites us to make. This week, that choice is humility. Luke 18:9-14

From moving trucks to our hope for reconciliation to an inn (or house) in Bethlehem, it often feels like there is no room. No room for repair. No hope of things getting better. No space for this or that group. But the Christmas story reminds us that God is able to make room, to make the last first, to find space for all, to open our often-closed hearts.

For the final Sunday of Advent we consider the power of song - especially the way in which it can help rekindle hope. As we sing multiple carols, hear poetry and consider what lyrics to our own song of hope might sound like, we work together to find strength and resolve to move toward the lives and world we are invited to by God.

As we considered last week, it is possible for joy to surprise us and show up at any moment, in any circumstance. This week, Elliott shares the story of the days following John the Baptist's birth - a story in which Zachariah's muteness ends and he breaks into a song of sorts -- a blessing for the world and for his son. In this story, awe and wonder are prevalent. In fact, they are prevalent in all of the stories surrounding Jesus' birth. What do we make of this? Is there a connection between awe and joy? And is it possible to cultivate awe in our everyday lives?

"Choose joy!" This phrase has become an anthem of sorts, but is it true? Is joy something we choose? Can we, therefore, do certain things to create or manufacture joy? We look at the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah and explore these questions, working to clarify what joy is and how it arrives in our lives. The good news is that joy can be present in any circumstance, at any time. Even when we are weary and worn.