Over the last few weeks, we’ve been exploring the “miraculous.” The word is in quotes because there’s not one agreed upon definition for the term. Dictionaries state that the “miraculous” can incorporate any idea from “that which can only point to supernatural intervention” to “that which creates a sense of wonder.”
The miracles that Jesus performed drew crowds. They drew attention to the power and truth of his teachings: that God’s love sustains everyone (miracles of feeding); that God’s love creates healing; and that God’s love is stronger than death (miracles of resurrection.) But the miracles were not the message. The message was then as it is now: God’s love sustains, heals and overcomes.
Those of us who call ourselves “Christian” inherit the duty of sharing this message and, take a breath here, we take on the mantle of “miracle worker.” We are the ones who promise to love, and feed, and heal, and rise up from the fear and lies that would leave us powerless and in despair. Our church gives us the strength, the courage and the joy to be a “miraculous” presence in our homes, in our communities and in our larger world.
This Sunday, we tell the story of Lazarus rising from the dead and complete our Stewardship appeal for 2021. We have special music from the choir. (Yay, choir!) and a new member joins our church. Please join us at 10 a.m. for our YouTube worship premiere.
Everything Changes
In our sermon series we are exploring how our brains were designed to be suspicious of change, and for good reason–homeostasis in good measure helps us thrive, protecting us from danger. But if we look closely at what the Creator set in motion, we find that change is the most constant part of life and necessary for animating our spirits as we find renewed purpose throughout life. Jesus advocated for changes that would keep us moving toward greater goodness! “Everything Changes” John 12:20-26 In our scripture this week Jesus asks us to let go of life “as it is” in order to create and multiply the love that is eternal. What feels like the chaos, or recklessness, of change is the breaking-open of possibility and the sprouting of new life. This is what it means to follow the change-maker Jesus and serve his purpose of more love in the world. -Pastor Courtney
No matter who your are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!
We worship whenever we are together, but we gather formally for worship Sunday mornings at 10:00 am.
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