Sunday, March 17, 2019 - "Forgive?"
Theme: Exploring Forgiveness
Questions: What does the Bible say when you question your faith, because you cannot totally follow the commandment of love and forgiveness?
What about the boundaries when someone uses forgiveness with you as a “get out of jail free card?”
Read MoreSunday, March 10, 2019 - "Why do some choose negativity?"
Theme: Why do some choose negativity?
Questions: What are the seven deadly sins? Who compiled this list? When was the list made?
How come some ministers feel it is more important to dwell on sad passages (ones that make us feel ashamed of our actions?)
Read MoreAsh Wednesday, March 6, 2019 - "Celebrating Mortality"
Ash Wednesday is a time for contemplation of our lives in their entirety. This is not contemplation that is meant to be dark but is meant to bring us into celebration.
Read MoreSunday, March 3, 2019 - "Discernment - Prayer - Conversation"
Theme: Discernment - Prayer - Conversation
Questions: What is the purpose of prayer anyway? Sometimes it seems like just an exercise in futility?
Read MoreSunday, February 24, 2019 - "Other Religions"
Theme: Other Religions
Question: I pursue Buddhism as a practice and Christianity leads my soul. Is this ok?
Read MoreSunday, February 17, 2019 - Living Well: Understanding Relationships of Caesar and God
Theme: Living Well: Understanding Relationships of Caesar and God
Question: “I’ve never fully understood the part where Jesus says, “give to Caesar what is his and to God…”
Read MoreSunday, February 10, 2019 - "Happiness, Anger, Patience"
Theme: Living Well
Questions: How many happy passages are in the Bible?
How does God show us how to control our temper?
What verses in the Bible will tell me about patience?
Read MoreSunday, February 3, 2019
Theme: What in the Bible Makes us Curious?
Questions: How did Noah stop the animals from eating one another on the ark? Did God have to work special magic?
Where did Jesus get his money to live on to be able to preach?
Why do we never hear of miracles anymore? They seemed so common in the Bible are we just too skeptical today?
Read MoreSunday, January 27, 2019
Theme: Questions of Ordering the Religious and Biblical Life
Questions: When in the calendar do all of the holidays really fall and why did it change?
Who decided what books were put in the Bible and why those books?
Read MoreSunday, January 20, 2019 - Questions of Mary, Joseph, and the Birth Narrative
Scriptures
Luke 1:26-31, 34-35, 38
Matthew 1:18-21
Matthew 2:9-11
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-21
Hymns and Other Music
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Shine, Jesus, Shine
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Reflection Questions
What qualities in Mary do you admire?
What are the qualities in Joseph that you admire?
What are some gifts that made a difference in your life?
Have you ever had the intuition that something was about to happen and did it affect your actions?
Further Exploration
Exodus 1:8-12 - connected to Egypt
Luke 1:39-56 - Mary
Luke 2:39-51 - Mary and Joseph
John 2:3-5; 19:25-27 - Mary
Acts 1:14 - Mary
Sermon Series
Exploring the Questions
January 27th - Questions of Ordering the Religious and Biblical Life
When in the calendar do all of the holidays really fall and why did it change?
Who decided what books were put in the bible and why those books?
February 3rd - What in the Bible Makes us Curious?
February 10th - Living Well
February 17th - Living Well: Understanding Relationships of Caesar and God
February 24th - Other Religions
March 3rd - Discernment/Prayer/Conversation
March 10th - Why do some choose negativity?
March 17th - Exploring Forgiveness
Sunday, January 13, 2019 - "Claiming Our Worth"
Scriptures
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29:3-4, 9
Acts 8:14, 17
Hymns and Other Music
Wonder
Standing on the Promises
When Peace like a River
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring
Guide My Feet
Reflection Questions
What does it mean to you that God knows you by name?
When have you felt the most alone? Why?
What does it mean to you to have as much worth as those considered the most powerful and influential in the world?
What fear do you wish you could rid yourself of for all time?
How do you feel when God stands with you?
Sermon Series
Exploring the Questions
January 20th - Questions of Mary, Joseph and the Birth Narrative
January 27th - Questions of Ordering the Religious and Biblical Life
February 3rd - What in the Bible Makes us Curious
February 10th - Living Well
February 17th - Living Well: Understanding Relationships of Caesar and God
February 24th - Other Religions
March 3rd - Discernment/Prayer/Conversation
March 10th - Why do some choose negativity?
March 17th - Exploring Forgiveness
Christmas Eve 2018
Scriptures
Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96:1-4
Luke 2:5-7, 13-14
Hymns and Other Music
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Still, Still, Still
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mary Did You Know
There’s a Song in the Air
Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Angels We Have Heard on High
O, Holy Night
Once in Royal David’s City
Silent Night
Joy to the World
Sunday, December 16, 2018 - "Worthless to Relief"
Scriptures
Luke 1:46-55
Psalm 126
Hymns and Other Music
My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout
People, Look East
To a Virgin Meek and Mild
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
Joy to the World
Reflection Questions
How do you feel God has favored you?
Have you ever made decisions that resulted in someone having more compassion on you?
Have you ever experienced or witnessed the cliché “pride goes before the fall.”?
When have you been the receiver of mercy?
How have you experienced a change in circumstance from crying to joy? What caused the change?
Sunday, December 9, 2018 - "Barriers"
The second Sunday of Advent is centered on the theme of peace.
Scriptures
Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 3:1-6
Hymns and Other Music
Prepare the Way, O Zion
My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout
To Hear the Angels Sing
Noel
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Reflection Questions
Who do you listen if you want your life to change?
Have you wanted God to speak to you?
What are you willing to change in your life for peace?
What does peace mean to you?
What does it mean to live at peace with God?
Sunday, December 2, 2018 - "Hopeful Wonder"
Scriptures:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Psalm 25:1-2, 4-5, 8-10
Hymns and Other Music
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Wait! Watch!
Away in a Manger
My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Reflection Questions
What do you wish God would bring about in your life?
How do others help you to see God?
How does knowledge help you to have hope?
How might prayer impact you having hope?
What is your prayer for yourself and others?
What are the things you wonder about in life that inspire you?
What are the things that make you hopeful?
Sunday, November 25, 2018 - "Honest to God"
Scriptures
2 Samuel 23:1-7
John 18:33-37
Hymns and Other Music
Our God Is an Awesome God
Come, Christians, Join to Sing
Be Thou My Vision
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
Reflection Questions
What words would you want to leave behind?
How has a good leader directly impacted your life?
What the things you feel that God has given you?
Has your life been turned upside down in a negative way because of the actions of another person?
What type of leader do we choose to follow?
Bible Challenge
Young Disciples
What city will live in safety? Clue: Jeremiah 33
Adults
What will God be called? Clue: Jeremiah 33
Sunday, November 18, 2018 - "When it All Falls Apart"
Scriptures:
Mark 13:1-8
Psalm 16:1-2, 5-7, 11
Hymns and Other Music
Great Are You, Lord
All Creatures of Our God and King
God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
Thanksgiving Medley
Take My Life
Reflection Questions
What are the things that impress you? Why?
What would surprise you if it fell apart?
Have you ever wanted to know how something will turn out before it happens?
Have you ever felt hopeless? Why?
Where do you draw strength from when things are difficult?
Bible Challenge
Young Disciples
Who provides victories? Clue: 2 Samuel 23
Adults
Who joined David at Harvest time? Clue: 2 Samuel 23
Sunday, November 11, 2018 - "Risky Dreams"
What are the risks we should be taking in life and how do we know which ones to take?
Read MoreSunday, November 4, 2018 - "Hopeful Freedom"
The story of Ruth offers us freedom in so many but what does it say when we are in the midst of grief or tragedy?
Read More