“Making and Maturing Disciples of Jesus Christ”
Much has been made about the psychological toll of the pandemic. With increased isolation, mental health markers have deteriorated while stress levels increased. When looking at people’s face swathed in bands of cloth, we have lost the ability to see one an- other’s full humanity and their complete responses to our presence. A lot of
Read MoreTitle: But I Want Cupcakes Theme: Sometimes, we should take what we need not what we want Objects: none needed Scripture: 17“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” Matthew 11:16-19 Good morning! I know we talked about food last week, but I’m
Read MoreCall to Worship/Lighting the Advent Wreath 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all
Read MoreCall to Worship/Lighting the Advent Wreath 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God
Read MoreCall to Worship/Lighting the Advent Wreath 5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, He said, “Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but a body have You prepared for Me;6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no pleasure.7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God,
Read MoreCall to Worship/Lighting the Advent Wreath 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7
Read MoreCall to Worship/Lighting the Advent Wreath 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that He
Read MoreCall to Worship/Lighting the Advent Wreath 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
Read MoreLast month, this page contained a devotional about Jesus sending out the Twelve Apostles as told in Mark 6:7-13. Now, we need to consider where God may be sending us to embody the love of Jesus for this world. Even before our mission trip was canceled, there had been conversations about focusing more on our local
Read MoreAt this time of the year, I am reminded that August might be the most in-aptly named month of the year. After all, august is an adjective that means: marked by majestic dignity or grandeur. The name implies that this would be the month to celebrate some grand event, movement, or individual, and yet this
Read MoreLast month, I compared last year’s journey with Jesus in the Upper Room in the Gospel of John with this year’s walk with Jesus from Palm Sunday to His Ascension in the Gospel of Matthew. Well, I’m going to do that again this month. Last year, in July’s newsletter, I included the fol- lowing graphic
Read More10 “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be hum- bled, and he who
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