Pastor Brian's Blog

  “Wonder” Series Overview Christmas is a season full of wonder.   It speaks of bright stars, humble beginnings, strange prophesies, guests bearing gifts, and the promise of God drawing near to us.   These signs and wonders invite us to pause and reflect on God’s gift of love.   Amid this busy season, join us in claiming time and space to be still so the birth of Christ can open our hearts anew with wonder. December 3 | Advent 1 WONDROUS HOPE: It is easy to become cynical in a divided and distracted world.   When we look in the mirror, things are not much better.   Jesus invites us to set disappointments aside and instead live in hope.   In Mark 13:24-37 , Jesus promises to come amid the chaos and redeem everything that is wrong with creation.   What change do you hope for? December 10 | Advent 2 WONDROUS PEACE: Have you ever felt nervous or uneasy before meeting someone?   How would you feel standing face-to-face with God?   In Mark 1:1...

  “Releasing God’s Blessings” Series We often think of blessings as things we receive.   By grace, God freely gives us all we have, but we are not just passive recipients of God’s blessings.   Even as God blesses us through people in our lives, God also promises to bless others through us. When we live from a place of gratitude for God’s gifts and trust in God’s provision, we can be agents of God’s blessing in our world.   Join us this fall and release God’s blessings. November 5 A LEGACY OF BLESSINGS: Through Jesus’ gift of salvation, we are called to live into our legacy of giving generously of the grace we have received.   In 2 Corinthians 9:1-5 , Paul encourages the church’s generous support of those in need.   What inspires you to support a cause? November 12 BLESSED PEOPLE BLESS OTHERS : All that we are and all that we have come from God. We are stewards through whom God is blessing the world. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 , Paul reminds us that God p...

“Intervals of Faith” Series Summary Everything has a season, says the sage.   We experience the tug and pull of times for birth and death, for planting and harvesting, for laughing and crying, for loving and loathing, for war and peace.   Musical intervals can express the mood of these various seasons.   For example, a Major third has a bright tone that speaks of beauty.   A minor third suggests reflection.   Our faith encompasses every mood.   Whereas Psalm 22’s lament is like a minor third, Psalm 150 explodes with praise and joy as a Major third.   Jesus promises to be with us always, through the good times and the bad.   Join us this fall and explore the intervals of faith.   October 1 NECESSARY DISSONANCE (Minor 2nd): We all experience conflict from time to time, and dissonance is the sound of struggle.   In Genesis 25:19-26 , rival twins Jacob and Esau push against each other in the womb.   When have you faced intense conflic...

  “Superorganisms” Series Overview The world is full of wonderful creatures, and some are known as superorganisms - living beings that work diligently for the good of their group.   Their success depends on cooperation.   In a similar way, Paul describes the church as the living body of Christ with interdependent parts.   Join us in September for our creation series and discover the gift of living for the common good. September 3 ASPENS: An individual aspen tree may live up to 150 years, but the root system of an aspen colony produced by a single seed can live for thousands of years.   Rhizomes help aspens survive wildfires.   In Isaiah 43:1-7 , God promises to redeem us, even though we face hardship.   What builds your resilience? September 10 MUSHROOMS: Darkness can be unruly, scary, and disorienting.   Mushrooms teach us about the unexpectedly beautiful, nurturing, and healing work of dark places.   In Jonah 2:1-10 , the prophet turns ...

“Be Kind” Series Overview Are you concerned about the divisions in our country?   Hostility and contempt seem to be growing, but kindness can be intentional.   We can recognize the value of all people and learn from our differences.   The prophet Micah says God wants us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.   It is a blueprint for building the kingdom of heaven on earth.   In this series, we will explore the themes of justice, kindness, humility, and neighborly love, as we seek to live in peace with our families, our friends, and our neighbors, including those with whom we differ.   Join us in August for a series with the power to bring people together. August 6 BE KIND : Sometimes, people are mean-spirited or downright rude.   In 2 Samuel 9:1-7 , David practices kindness toward his rival’s family.   The Hebrew word for kindness is hesed .   When has someone shown you kindness? August 13 BE JUST : We cannot be close to God i...

We all have dreams.   They may be comforting or confusing.   Eleanor Roosevelt said: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”   The ancients believed that dreams are messages from God.   Join us in July as we explore dream messages in the Bible and how our dreams can empower us today. July 2 DREAMERS : Dreams affect all of us; sometimes they are good, sometimes they are bad. Dreams can be vehicles of messages you may not perceive in your waking hours--from yourself or even from God.   In Matthew 27:15-23 , Pilate’s wife has a disturbing dream with an important message.   When has a dream deeply affected you? July 9 DREAMS ARE JUST A START : In Joel 2:28-29 , the prophet says that God’s Spirit will empower all people to dream dreams and see visions.   If we listen to the Holy Spirit, it will guide us along paths aligned with God to the benefit all Creation and all peoples.   When have you dreamed of better worl...