Pastor Brian's Blog

“Living with Doubt, Finding Faith” Series Overview Everyone has doubts.   Where is God when bad things happen?   Does God hear our prayers?   Does God really love me?   Is there a heaven?   But questions and doubt are not the enemy of faith but the path to a deeper faith.   Let’s ask the hard questions and wrestle with faith together. Jan. 8 | Baptism of the Lord WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER?   We feel the unfairness of innocent people who suffer.   We struggle to understand senseless pain.   In John 9:1-7 , Jesus explains why a man was born blind.   Whose suffering upsets you? Jan. 15 IS THE BIBLE TRUE?   God speaks to us through the Bible, which contains all things necessary for salvation.   In 2 Timothy 3:10-17 , Paul teaches about the value of Scripture.   When is the Bible hard to believe? Jan. 22 IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY?   We live in a world of many religions.   Which one is right or are they all true?   In J...

  “God With Us” Series Overview Being human is hard.   When our hopes and dreams seem out of reach, when we are weighed down by the world’s expectations, when the future is uncertain, when we feel small and unimportant, we can feel at our wit’s end.   But the message of Christmas is that we are not alone in our human struggle.   God is with us.   Jesus was born into a moment when people faced overwhelming fears and worries.   This Christmas, we will enter their stories and be reassured that God is with us. Nov. 27 | Advent 1 THE SKEPTIC : There are moments when our circumstances can feel like a heavy burden with no relief in sight   Our dreams may be deferred.   We may have concerns about job security, financial obligations, or fragile relationships.   In Luke 1:5-16, 23-25, 76-80 , Zechariah learns that his long-anticipated son will be a prophet who will be a source of joy and delight.   Amid the uncertainties of tomorrow, we have t...

  “Now Thank We All Our God” Series Overview “Thank God!”   Do you sense the invisible hand of God at work in your life or the world?   All that we have and are is a trust from God.   Our giving, sharing, praying, and praising can reflect our gratitude for God’s generosity toward us.   In the Book of Common Prayer , one of the prompts before the offering is: “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High” (Psalm 50:14, BCP ).   Our stewardship series will explore this invitation to give back to God with gratitude. Oct. 30 (All Saints) OFFER TO GOD : We all depend on God to provide what we need.   It is not a guilt trip but a reason to celebrate.   In Exodus 23:14-17 , we find instructions for a festival commemorating God delivering the people into freedom.   But the people are not to come to the party empty-handed.   Describe the best party you attended. Nov. 6 A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING : Why does...