Pastor Brian's Blog

“God Is at Hand” Series Overview God is not out there somewhere on ethereal clouds looking down on us.   Rather, God is right here with us in our daily life.   Our series “God Is at Hand” will explore the how we can experience God’s presence and purpose through some of the things we hold in our hands, like a yoga mat, an eraser, a smartphone, a saltshaker, and a cup of tea.   August 2 YOGA MAT: Yoga is a physical practice punctuated by breath and silence.   God seems to thrive on silence when we often do not.   In 1 Kings 19:1-13 , the prophet Elijah hears God in the still, small voice of silence.   How do we make our silence work for us?   What do we really know about where God is in our daily lives?   August 9 ERASER: Everyone makes mistakes, but God wipes the slate clean with forgiveness.   In Psalm 103:1-14 , the psalmist says that God’s faithful love makes forgiveness absolute.   When did you last forgive someone?...

Planted Series Overview During this peak time for agricultural growth, our series for July called “Planted” will help us to cultivate the seeds of faith.   For three weeks, we will explore the parables of Jesus in Matthew 13.   Each lesson explores a different facet of our Christian life, including the potential, the challenges, and the rewards.   The sage of Proverbs 20:4 tells us: “The lazy person does not plow in season.   Harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found” (NRSV).  As we grow in faith, God provides a bounty. July 12 PARABLE OF THE SOWER: People face different circumstances in their lives, which may make them more or less receptive to God’s grace.   In Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 , Jesus tells a parable about a farmer broadcasting the seeds for his crop.     July 19 PARABLE OF THE WEEDS:   The need for order and unity is strong within us.   When disunity and disorder creep in, we may overreact - lashing out destr...