Posts by Deb Uchtman

Fully Rely on God: Trusting God's Redemption

Fully Rely on God: Trusting God's Redemption We continue our journey to learn how to fully rely on God as we encounter God's redemption through...

Fully Rely on God: Trusting God's Promise

Fully Rely on God: Trusting God's Promise We continue our journey to learn how to fully rely on God as we journey with Abraham

Fully Rely on God: Trusting God When the Flood Comes

Fully Rely on God: Trusting God When the Flood Comes We continue our journey to learn how to fully rely on God as we journey...

Fully Rely on God: Life in God's Garden

Fully Rely on God: Life in God's Garden We begin our journey to learn how to fully rely on God in the garden

Simple Money, Rich Life: How to Enjoy it All

Simple Money, Rich Life: How to Enjoy it All We learn that everything we have is meant to be enjoyed in God, shared for God's...

Simple Money, Rich Life: How to Cheerfully Give Away as Much as Possible

Simple Money, Rich Life: How to Cheerfully Give Away as Much as Possible Giving cheerfully requires planning so that we can obey God and support...

Simple Money, Rich Life: Money is a Terrible Master, but a Useful Tool

Simple Money, Rich Life: Money is a Terrible Master, but a Useful Tool We cannot serve two masters. Many of us make money our master...

Simple Money, Rich Life: The Battle is the Lord's and He Calls Us to Show Up

Simple Money, Rich Life: The Battle is the Lord's and He Calls Us to Show Up Jehosaphat takes his real battle to God without pretense....

Preparing a People: God Will Provide

Preparing a People: God Will Provide Abraham takes Isaac to offer as sacrifice and we struggle with this account as we discover that God will...

Preparing a People: Hearing the Voice

Preparing a People: Hearing the Voice Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness; God hears their distress and responds

Preparing a People: A Miracle Called Laughter

Preparing a People: A Miracle Called Laughter Abraham and Sarah welcome strangers who tell them they will have a child now that they are senior...

Preparing a People: to Be a Blessing

Preparing a People: to Be a Blessing We observe Abram and Sarai as they are called by God to become the foundation for the people...

Held, Commissioned, and Blessed by the Triune God

Held, Commissioned, and Blessed by the Triune God We celebrate Trinity Sunday and discover that we are held, commissioned and blessed by the Triune God

Power, Purpose, Possibility

Power, Purpose, Possibility We celebrate Pentecost

Whatever

Whatever We discover that whatever kind of suffering we face, we can depend upon God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to be...

The Way that Holds Us

The Way that Holds Us We discover that Jesus is the Way, not a map; He is the Truth, not an argument, and He is...

Abundant Life

Abundant Life We consider if we think about salvation negatively, as a subtraction of sin or do we think about what we gain, abundant life...

Open Our Ears, Warm Our Hearts

Open Our Ears, Warm Our Hearts The disciples engage in the practice of selective hearing before meeting the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus

A Living Hope for Fearful Hearts

A Living Hope for Fearful Hearts The resurrection of Jesus is followed by an appearance to the disciples in their fear and hiding bringing them...

The God Who Goes Ahead of Us

The God Who Goes Ahead of Us The resurrection of Jesus shows that Easter is God's initiative. In all of our trials and tribulation, all...

Meditation

Meditation Meditation on the events of Holy Week in the gospel of Matthew to help us grasp the love and forgiveness of God for humanity

Inhale, Exhale

Inhale, Exhale God chooses Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones of God's people to bring breath and life.Sometimes it is good to remember to...

Seeing as God Sees, Living as Children of Light

Seeing as God Sees, Living as Children of Light God chooses David, not by outward human appearance but by what God sees in his heart....

Living Water, Living Love

Living Water, Living Love We hear from the woman at the well as she is the first to discover that Jesus is the Christ, the...

Guess What?

Guess What? During our Lenten journey we hear from Peter about the inner circle's experience during the Transfiguration of Jesus. Service begins at 11:10 on...

Tools to Resist Temptation

Tools to Resist Temptation We enter the season of Lent as we examine the temptation of Jesus through the eyes of Satan. We learn tools...

I Love My Church: Sharing

I Love My Church: Sharing We learn how we can love our church by sharing the good news of the Gospel to love the people...

I Love My Church: Giving

I Love My Church: Giving We learn how we can love our church by loosening our grip, tightening our belt and giving it all to...

I Love My Church: Serving

I Love My Church: Serving We how we can love our church with the spiritual gifts given to us by God and taking action on...

I Love My Church

I Love My Church We begin a series to discover how we can love our church, not simply the people in the building, but people...

Christ for the World

Christ for the World We celebrate the baptism of the Lord and recognize that Jesus Christ was sent by God to forgive our sins and...

Revealed

Revealed We look for the face of God with indecisiveness and hope and we find delight in God's form of Peek-A-Boo when Jesus is revealed

The Slow Work of God

The Slow Work of God We welcome Executive Presbyter, Lisa Algood who brings the good news as she explains the slow work of God. Service...

Meek and Mild, Really?

Meek and Mild, Really? We consider why we want the birth of Jesus to be a beautiful picture as opposed to the reality of the...

A Mother Remembers

A Mother Remembers Join us for this fictional account of Mary's response to being the mother of God's Son, Jesus as she gives us a...

Advent III: Music of the Season

Advent III: Music of the Season Enjoy singing along with the BMPC Congregation as we celebrate the birth of our Savior through the music of...

Advent II: Blue Christmas

Advent II: Blue Christmas We take time to recognize that many of us have grief and loss. We lift up our hearts and concerns to...

Advent I: Hanging of the Greens

Advent I: Hanging of the Greens We consider the items we use to celebrate the season and explore the meaning of each one in relation...

How Well Does Your Life Hold Together?

How Well Does Your Life Hold Together We often leave out the glue that would hold our lives together by compartmentalizing Jesus Christ instead of...

Gratitude: Fullness of Life

Gratitude: Fullness of Life Gratitude to God is a way that we can become better citizens of the world and have a full life as...

Gratitude: What Unites Us

Gratitude: What Unites Us There are many things that divide us in this world, however Gratitude to God is a way that we can become...

Gratitude's Nemesis: The Grumble

Gratitude's Nemesis: The Grumble We have been gifted by God and gratitude would be the right response. When we complain and grumble we are expressing...

Gratitude: The Receiving and Giving of God's Grace

Gratitude: The Receiving and Giving of God's Grace We consider how we need to both give and receive the grace given to us from God...

Persistence

Persistence We consider how we need to pray with persistence in order to deepen and bring meaning to our relationship with God to build our...

Living a Life for God

Living a Life for God We consider how we have been self centered and turned away from God. We are called back by our faithful...

Trusting in God Through Times of Trial

Trusting in God Through Times of Trial We find it easy to trust God when things go well, yet we are called to trust God...

Be Generous: The Practice of Generosity

Be Generous: The Practice of Generosity We are taking a deep dive into the story of the Good Samaritan and considering how we should get...

Be Generous: The Cost of Generosity

Be Generous: The Cost of Generosity We are taking a deep dive into the story of the Good Samaritan and considering how we should get...

Be Generous: Opportunities of Generosity

Be Generous: Opportunities of Generosity We are taking a deep dive into the story of the Good Samaritan and considering how we should get off...

Be Generous: The Heart of Generosity

Be Generous: The Heart of Generosity We are taking a deep dive into the story of the Good Samaritan and considering how we should get...

Holy Experiment: Types of Prayer

Holy Experiment: Types of Prayer Exploration of Praying the Hours, Lectio Divina, Guided Meditation and Corporate Prayer as ways to enact and embody our faith...

My Faith is a Hot Mess

My Faith is a Hot Mess Our faith is sometimes a Hot Mess and we learn from the best way to go from chaos to...

My Job is a Hot Mess

My Job is a Hot Mess Our jobs are sometimes a Hot Mess and we learn from the best way to go from chaos to...

My Schedule is a Hot Mess

My Schedule is a Hot Mess Our schedules are sometimes a Hot Mess and we learn from the best way to go from chaos to...

Hot Mess: Family

Hot Mess: Family Our families are sometimes a Hot Mess and we learn from the families of Genesis how God would have us go from...

The Sent Ones

The Sent Ones As Christians, we are sent into the world to spread the good news by being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ

The Answer is Always Jesus

The Answer is Always Jesus When telling others about Jesus, share your energy and enthusiasm, reverence and awe, your delight and wonder for what Jesus...

Changing the World One Meal at a Time

Changing the World One Meal at a Time Jesus came eating and drinking around tables and created community and created community while mirroring God

Surprising the World

Surprising the World In order for Christians to share the Gospel they must lead questionable lives that are intriguing and surprising to the world

Will You Go Where the Spirit Leads?

Will You Go Where the Spirit Leads? It is time for Christians to choose between "We have always done it that way" and going where...

Immersed in Scripture

Immersed in Scripture We place ourselves in the story of the demoniac as Jesus' disciples so that we can more fully live out the experience

Walk Through It

Walk Through It Executive Presbyter, Lisa Allgood brings a message to stop looking at the past, so we can walk into God's future with confidence

Pentecost Dramatic Reading

Pentecost Dramatic Reading We experience a dramatic reading of the Pentecost story and then contemplate how the birth of the church effects our lives as...

Loving Worship Embodied

Loving Worship Embodied We are called to tell forth where and how the faith community and the world run counter to God's justice and peace

Us and Them

Us and Them We dehumanize others by splitting people into groups of Us and Them instead of recognizing each person as a child of God

Marked by God's Love

Marked by God's Love We are challenged to love one another, even if we don't like everyone, we can do so with God's love

Who We Are and Whose We Are

Who We Are and Whose We Are We are being reminded that there is a call on our lives and that God has claimed us...

Skit: Emmaus

Skit: Emmaus We are hearing the experiences of two people who watched the crucifixion of Jesus, then encountered the Risen Christ

Easter Hymn Sing

Easter Hymn Sing We sing hymns and songs of praise to celebrate the Risen Christ during this Easter season. Join us in making a joyful...

Encountering the Risen Christ

Encountering the Risen Christ We come to the tomb to discover that Jesus is not there. He has risen from the dead and that encounter...

From the Ashes: Sacrifice

From the Ashes: Sacrifice We consider the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf and how it prepares us to give up our lives to sacrifice...

From the Ashes: Confession

From the Ashes: Confession We are reminded that we must take notice of our sin, confess our sin to God to receive forgiveness and live...

From the Ashes: Contemplation

From the Ashes: Contemplation We consider the example of the contemplation of Jesus and are challenged to create times of stillness and silence to be...

Shared Ministry

Shared Ministry As Bethel Murdoch and Loveland Presbyterian Churches enter into shared ministry, the Mission Planning Team of LPC explains their outreach

From the Ashes: Humility

From the Ashes: Humility Jesus demonstrates how we are to be humble by not lording it over another, serving others and giving our lives away

From the Ashes: Temptation

From the Ashes: Temptation Jesus demonstrates how he resisted temptation by Satan as the Son of God. We are encouraged to claim our identity as...

Astonished!

Astonished! At the Transfiguration of Jesus, like the disciples, we can open hearts and minds so that we can be astonished at God's plan of...

Winners or Losers

Winners or Losers Our society focuses on being winners or loser just like the Romans. Jesus challenges that thinking as he calls us to be...

Practicing Faithfulness

Practicing Faithfulness Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick, Synod Executive challenges us to practice faithfulness as we engage in a three person dance

Love: The Heart of Our Gifts

Love: The Heart of Our Gifts We consider that each and every person, even those we don't agree with are children of God and we...

Are You Needy?

Are You Needy? The abundance of God's grace and blessings are demonstrated in the first of Jesus' miracles at the Wedding in Cana

A Wedding Miracle

A Wedding Miracle The abundance of God's grace and blessings are demonstrated in the first of Jesus' miracles at the Wedding in Cana

You are Beloved

You are Beloved On this Baptism of the Lord Sunday, we remember our own baptism and that we have been called by name as God's...

Light in the World

Light in the World It seems as if the dark is so prevalent in the winter months, however, we must remember that Jesus came to...

The Creation

The Creation Presbytery of Cincinnati Executive Presbyter, Lisa Allgood brings the good news of God's creation with the Twelve Days of Christmas Service begins at...

Stunt Doubles

Stunt Doubles Making a blockbuster film from the Christmas story helps us realize that it is to ordinary people that the Messiah came to restore...

Cast of Christmas: Magi

Cast of Christmas: Magi We consider how Herod and the Pharisees respond to the announcement of the birth of the Messiah as compared to the...

Blue Christmas Service

Blue Christmas Service A time of reflection, scripture and prayer for those who have experienced loss or grief so that they may find hope. Service...

Cast of Christmas: Shepherds

Cast of Christmas: Shepherds The shepherds demonstrate the joy that is everlasting by sharing the joy that they have found in the baby, Jesus Christ..

Cast of Christmas: Angels

Cast of Christmas: Angels The angel proclaimed peace and we are challenged to be peacemakers, not peacekeepers in our families and our lives.

Prophets: Preparation and Expectations

Prophets: Preparation and Expectations The prophets of the Old Testament were watching and waiting for the Messiah to rescue them. Jesus has come and rescued...

A Service of Hanging of the Greens

A Service of Hanging of the Greens A service of scripture and music that gives the reason for why and how it is that we...

Authentic Worship

Authentic Worship To come before God as a community of faith that is responding to grace received from Jesus and being moved by the Holy,...

Worshipful Giving

Worshipful Giving The widow's offering encourages us to realize that if we offer what we have to God from the depth of our love, God...

The Most Important

The Most Important We think about what it is that we consider to be Most Important in our lives; is it God or something other...

Jesus Calls You

Jesus Calls You We explore the ways in which Jesus calls each of us through scripture, life experience, and the music of the church. Service...

Let's Make a Deal

Let's Make a Deal We often try to make a deal with God, much like James and John tried to do with Jesus. A reminder...

First or Last?

First or Last? The things we find important in human eyes are far different than the things that are important in God's eyes. Service begins...

You Think You've Got Troubles!

You Think You've Got Troubles! When bad things happen in our lives, we often become indignant and demand God's attention, much like Job. Yet, we...

Can You Pray Without Ceasing?

Can You Pray Without Ceasing? Praying without ceasing seems overwhelming, yet James tells us there are many ways that we can engage in prayer that...

Purify Your Hearts

Purify Your Hearts Paul Harvey's prophetic vision shows that the Devil has infiltrated our lives. This is a call to purify our hearts and turn...

Wisdom Warning

Wisdom Warning Wisdom sees the people have turned away from God and are ignoring her warning to turn back to God. What about you? Can...

Picking Favorites

Picking Favorites James tells us that we are not to pick favorites based on wealth or lack thereof, instead we are to be merciful as...

Moral Pollution

Moral Pollution We consider in what ways we pollute not only the world we were meant to protect, but also our own morality through our...

Are You Going Out Half-Dressed?

Are You Going Out Half-Dressed? A football player's uniform protects them during a game; Christians have the armor of God that protects us from evil,...

Renewed in Christ

Renewed in Christ As Christians, we have been gifted with a clean slate from our sin and brokenness so that we can begin each new...

Madder than a Wet Hen

Madder than a Wet Hen We consider a warning by Paul about not allowing anger to manifest itself in order to avoid giving Satan an...

Building Up in Love

Building Up in Love In the face of the cruelty people show one another, Christians are challenged to overcome this evil with the love of...

Which Hunger to Feed?

Which Hunger to Feed? We consider three hungers: the hunger of temptation, physical hunger and spiritual hunger to determine which we should feed.

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place Jesus called the disciples to go away to a quiet place to rest. We can find a quiet place through breath prayer...

Becoming Known

Becoming Known How will you become known to others? Will you be anxious and angry, hurtful and negative? Or will you live so that Christ...

Leave Your Stuff Behind

Leave Your Stuff Behind Jesus asks us to teach, preach and spread the good news. In order to do that, we need to leave behind...

Taking the Hand of Jesus

Taking the Hand of Jesus Whatever we face in life, we can be confident that Jesus will always be with us in good times or...

FEAR...Then Peace

FEAR...Then Peace When we face times of deep trial or troubles and we feel as if we are sinking, we can rest assured that Jesus...

Providence and Priorities

Providence and Priorities We consider God's providence in relationship to our chosen priorities and discover that God's is always present to us in good or...

Hymn Sing based on Psalm 34

Hymn Sing based on Psalm 34 We make a joyful noise before the Lord as we sing songs of the faith and we experience the...

Working on the Sabbath

Working on the Sabbath We consider our first encounter with God when we arrive in heaven; will we be demanding answers to our questions or...

Face to Face with God

Face to Face with God We consider our first encounter with God when we arrive in heaven; will we be demanding answers to our questions...

That's the Spirit!

That's the Spirit! Peter is confronted by the Roman authorities responding to the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to explain what had happened....

In the World, Yet with Protection

In the World, Yet with Protection We consider that even as Jesus is facing death on the cross, he prays for protection from God the...

A Song in My Heart!

A Song in My Heart! We consider the concept that sacred music, happy, sad, anxious or glad, whether sung or listened to, is a form...

It's Pruning Time!

It's Pruning Time! We are challenged to remember that we need to be pruned from our sin, much like a plant needs pruning, to become...

Twelve Step Journey, Part I

Twelve Step Journey, Part I Elder Mike Schepers invites us to explore a twelve step program for Sinners Anonymous.

No Doubt About It!

No Doubt About It! We consider how our own faith waivers in the face of trials and how we are similar to the disciple Thomas...

Easter Cantata: Celebrating God’s Love in Jesus Christ

Easter Cantata: Celebrating God’s Love in Jesus Christ Celebrating with joy the resurrection of Jesus Christ through Scripture and Song.

Good Friday

Good Friday We experience the events of Good Friday as we hear of Jesus' suffering and crucifixion. Service begins at 9:53 into the video

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Out of the Mouth of Babes We experience the events of Palm Sunday through the eyes of the donkey that carried Jesus to the triumphal...

What Do We Need to Encounter Jesus?

What Do We Need to Encounter Jesus? As Lent continues we are challenged to consider how we encounter Jesus and find our path to become...

What's Keeping You from Living?

What's Keeping You from Living? As Lent continues we are challenged to consider how we grumble like the Israelites instead of being grateful for all...

When Someone Knows You

When Someone Knows You As Lent continues we are challenged to recognize that others may know us from a particular perspective, yet Jesus knows us...

Living on the River of Denial

Living on the River of Denial As Lent begins we are challenged with setting aside the temptation to hurt other people in any capacity. The...

The Time Has Come!

The Time Has Come! As Lent begins we are challenged with setting aside the temptation to hurt other people in any capacity. The Lord's time...

A New Way of Seeing the World

A New Way of Seeing the World Peter is on the mountain top with Jesus, Moses and Elijah and wants everything to stop. The voice...

All Things to All People

All Things to All People Paul did his best to be all things to all people in order to spread the Gospel. Jesus is all...

Who Has the 'Say So'?

Who Has the 'Say So'? Moses tells the the qualities of a true prophet sent from God. Jesus meets and surpasses them. Do we give...

Turn and Follow

Turn and Follow We have seen in the Bible God gives second chances. God has given us a second chance by sending Jesus to redeem...

For Crying Out Loud!

For Crying Out Loud! God called to Samuel at a time when Eli could not hear God. Are we able to listen like Samuel or...

Bless You!

Bless You! God blessed Jesus at his baptism to prepare him for what was to come. We receive God's blessing as we prepare for the...

A Year for Prayer

A Year for Prayer Elder Mike Schepers shares how every year is truly a year for prayer as the New Year begins.

Lessons and Carols

Lessons and Carols We hear the Scriptures and music that tell the story of God's greatest gift to humanity, the Son, Jesus Christ.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

A Case of Mistaken Identity The Pharisees have engaged in a case of mistaken identity when they say John is the Messiah. John says that...

The Joy of Rejoicing

The Joy of Rejoicing We consider the difference between the emotion happiness and the joy that is deep within our souls. We see in the...

A Service of Hanging of the Greens

A Service of Hanging of the Greens A service that explains in Scripture and narrative why we engage in some of the traditions of the...

Giving Thanks: A Skit

Giving Thanks: A Skit Elder Jim Redslob and Trustee Randy Evans share the importance of giving thanks to God in all things on this Reign...

What Do You Know?

What Do You Know Elder Steve Thiel brings a message of the importance of considering just what it is that we know about God.

The Monastery

The Monastery Presbytery of Cincinnati Executive Presbyter, Lisa Allgood brings a message of the importance of being in loving relationship with God and one another...

A Song of Realities

A Song of Realities Chaplain Pat Reiber of Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care gives a message of the realities of death with the hope that...

Because You Are Chosen

Because You Are Chosen Paul encourages Christians to remember that during times of stress and trial, God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit...

Rejoice! Do Not be Anxious, the Lord is Near!

Rejoice! Do Not be Anxious, the Lord is Near! Paul encourages Christians to realize that even in times of anxiety and conflict, they can rejoice.

Press On

Press On Paul encourages Christians to disregard the trappings of secular life and the things of the world that are considered important. Instead, Paul says...

A Life Worthy of the Gospel

A Life Worthy of the Gospel Paul invites Christians to consider the Gospel and if they are living a life that truly reflects the idea...

Can We Do Anything without Grumbling?

Can We Do Anything without Grumbling? Thinking about why, as long time Christians, we grumble about those who will receive their reward in heaven even...

Why Do We Judge and Treat Others with Contempt?

Why Do We Judge and Treat Others with Contempt? Considering why we judge, even though that is God's job and why we treat others with...

Love Does Not Harm

Love Does Not Harm Celebrating the church's 209th anniversary by recalling the ways in which the Gospel has been lived out within this beloved community.

Celebrating the Love of God in this Beloved Community

Celebrating the Love of God in this Beloved Community Taking a moment to consider how we are living out and sharing God's love in this...

Hope from Being Members of the Body of Christ

Hope from Being Members of the Body of Christ The apostle Paul reminds us that we can find hope in not being alone as we...

Hope from Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Hope from Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs The apostle Paul reminds us that we can find hope in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs of the...

Hope from the Flood

Hope from the Flood The whole of Creation has been overrun with Corruption and God chooses to wipe it out with a flood, but still...

Hope from the Garden

Hope from the Garden The Garden of Eden is a place of beauty and danger. Even though the humans disobey God, the Good News is...

Paranoid?

Paranoid? The world around us can make us feel as if someone is out to get us, but we are called to a higher purpose...

Lemons or Lemonade?

Lemons or Lemonade? The parable of the wheat and tares challenges us to consider when encountering difficulties, do we focus on the bad or do...

Nothing Can Separate Us

Nothing Can Separate Us The apostle Paul tells us that as believers nothing that we have done in the past, even those things that we...

What Am I Doing?

What Am I Doing? There are times when we respond to situations out of fear, anger or anxiety and we do those things that we...

Interdependence Day

Interdependence Day The founding mothers and fathers of America had a deep conviction that they lived with interdependence on God and without God, there was...

Do You Take God Seriously?

Do You Take God Seriously? We consider if we are taking seriously the God has given us our hope in Jesus Christ and sustains us...

Promises and Hopes

Promises and Hopes We consider if we are laughing at or taking seriously the promises and hopes that God has given us.

On My Honor, Duty to God

On My Honor, Duty to God Honoring BSA Troops 53 and 1053 with a Homecoming to celebrate the ministry of Scouting in Bethel Murdoch Presbyterian...

A World of Dichotomy

A World of Dichotomy We think about how we can live a life showing that God's grace is sufficient even though we live in a...

Dramatic Reading for Pentecost

Dramatic Reading for Pentecost We experience the Pentecost story via Readers Theater and watch the events unfold. (Technical difficulties with audio)

Where is Your Hope Grounded?

Where is Your Hope Grounded? We are asked to consider where it is that we ground ourselves and encouraged to ground our hope in God,...

Whatever

Whatever We discover that whatever is going on in our lives, be it good or bad, God is always near, Jesus walks with us and...

Rock and Stone

Rock and Stone We are like rocks with broken edges from sin. Jesus smooths our rough edges God is our rock and salvation so we...

Abundant Life

Abundant Life Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly. Our challenge is to see when others are being robbed of abundant...

Are You a Fool?

Are You a Fool? An exploration of what the Bible has to say about fools and how we can learn from this understanding.

Hope - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Hope - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow As Christians, the hope we have is found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ because Jesus...

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ as we hear God's Word and the Festival Choir sing of Christ's rising. Christ is risen....

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday We follow Jesus through the triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper. We witness Judas' betrayal and Jesus' arrest and crucifixion..

Does Your Attitude Smell?

Does Your Attitude Smell? Our attitude can be made smelly by the negativity with which we surround ourselves. When we turn to Christ, we are...

Sharing the Light of God

Sharing the Light of God Even in the face of a disbelieving world, let us be ready to share our faith so that the light...

The Shocking Truth

The Shocking Truth Have you ever been shocked by Jesus? Like the woman at the well, we are offered the opportunity to drink from living...

Tempted? Always Say a Prayer

Tempted? Always Say a Prayer The way in which Jesus responds to the Devil's temptations is to refer to Scripture and pray; we too can...

The Scout Law

The Scout Law The Scouts of Troop 53 lead the people of God in worship on Scout Sunday.

Mine is Better Than Yours

Mine is Better Than Yours When we put anyone or anything in a position of authority over our lives, we have usurped God from the...

My Way or God's Way?

My Way or God's Way? We consider if we are living our lives to follow God's way of discipleship or if we are living self-centered...

Walk with God

Walk with God We explore the ways in which Christians walk a path of discipleship throughout their lifetime so that they may walk closely with...

Are You Selfish or Do You Share?

Are You Selfish or Do You Share? We are asked to consider if we freely share the Good News about Jesus and God's love for...

Stop, Look and Listen

Stop, Look and Listen We are challenged as believers to take the time to stop, look and listen for how God works in the world,...

Christ for the World

Christ for the World The love of God to all of the world is embodied in Christ's baptism by John. We have received the sacrament...

Strangers

Strangers Taking time to consider that the Holy Family were strangers in a foreign land to protect themselves and further God's plan for the world.

Sharing Pain, Finding Peace

Sharing Pain, Finding Peace Blue Christmas service with prayer and music speaks to the loss that humanity faces each day, but also the hope of...

Believing Brings Peace

Believing Brings Peace It is sometimes overwhelming to our sensibilities with all of the chaos in the culture. Our challenge is to set the chaos...

Live Into Hope

Live Into Hope Even in the darkest of time, we can be assured that our repentance opens us for God's hope that will be born...

Hanging of the Greens

Hanging of the Greens We hear the good news about the way in which we decorate for the season and prepare our hearts for the...

The King of Life

The King of Life On Christ the King Sunday we consider the kind of King Jesus is and discover that he is the King of...

Will You Share YOUR Testimony?

Will You Share YOUR Testimony Giving our testimony about what God has done for us can be with words, deeds or silence as we bring...

Stand Firm and Hold Fast

Stand Firm and Hold Fast Paul encourages Christians to stand firm and hold fast during the chaotic times of the world and our lives as...

Out on a Limb

Out on a Limb Even when we are at our lowest, Jesus calls us to invite him into our homes and our hearts to repent...

Are You catholic?

Are You catholic? As Christians we are called to be in the church catholic as in universal. The church universal transcends the boundaries of the...

Persistence

Persistence As Christians we are called to pray without ceasing, to do that we must be persistent in our prayer habits and in deep conversation...

Living a Life for God

Living a Life for God We were never promised an easy path when we became Christians, but we have the assurance that Jesus always walks...

Times of Trial

Times of Trial As human beings, we often face a time of trial. As Christians, we know that Jesus walks with us in those times.

Scripture and Song based on Psalm 146

Scripture and Song based on Psalm 146 Taking a moment to praise God through Scripture and the hymns of the church.

Wrestling with a Parable

Wrestling with a Parable Thinking about a difficult parable by considering the historical setting and situation may help shed light on Jesus' message to the...

Put Yourself in God's Hands

Put Yourself in God's Hands Things are always changing around us in our lives, homes, community and the world. The one thing of which we...

Always the Same

Always the Same Things are always changing around us in our lives, homes, community and the world. The one thing of which we can be...

Mountain of Fear or Mountain of Joy

Mountain of Fear or Mountain of Joy There are two mountains that people can choose upon which to live: the Mountain of Fear or the...

Put Yourself in God's Hands

Put Yourself in God's Hands Regardless of the ways in which our lives are malformed by sin and death, God can reshape each one of...

Sent Out from the Huddle

Sent Out from the Huddle While huddles are important for the team to receive instruction and get pumped up for the work they are called...

A Heart for God

A Heart for God We have all met someone who by their thoughts, deeds and words show that they have a heart for God. Having...

God's 9-1-1

God's 9-1-1 We respond to physical distress by dialing 9-1-1, but how do we respond to emotional or spiritual distress? We might find the solace...

Praying as Jesus Taught

Praying as Jesus Taught Prayer is communication with God and Jesus instructs us to pray without ceasing. We can sit with hands folded, kneel, or...

Martha or Mary or...?

Martha or Mary or...? We have always heard that Mary is right sitting at Jesus feet and Martha makes the incorrect choice working. Is it...

Listening, Observing, and Acting

Listening, Observing, and Acting We consider the ways Jesus listened, observed and acted so that we may listen intently, observe fully and act faithfully in...

Interdependence Day

Interdependence Day Humanity is not independent of God. The founding forefathers and mothers viewed the opportunity to dwell on this land with an interdependence on...

Will You Go Where the Spirit Leads?

Will You Go Where the Spirit Leads? We are asked to consider if we stay with the status quo because "it has always been done...

Experiential Scripture

Experiential Scripture We fully immerse ourselves in the scripture by using our imaginations and becoming the disciples who are with Jesus on his journey.

The Day of Pentecost - Encountering the Holy Spirit

The Day of Pentecost-Encountering the Holy Spirit While none of us experienced the birth of the church, we still encounter the Holy Spirit and are...

Come, Lord Jesus!

Come, Lord Jesus! Considering how it is that humans perceive time even as we try to remain faithful to God saying, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Us and Them

Us and Them Considering how it is that humans create divisions among themselves and ignore how God considers all people to be God's children.

Hymn Sing!

Hymn Sing! Join us for an old fashioned hymn sing to praise God by making a joyful noise.

Who We Are and Whose We Are

Who We Are and Whose We Are Who are we? Children of God. Whose are we? The sheep of the flock of the Good Shepherd,...

Nourishment and Encouragement

Nourishment and Encouragement Jesus nourished and encouraged his disciples on a beach at breakfast to prepare them for ministry. How have you been nourished and...

Believe in Me

Believe in Me Imagine being a disciple following the death of Jesus hiding behind locked doors. Then Jesus appears to you. Will you doubt or...

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday We welcome Easter morning to celebrate that Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday We listen to Holy Scripture hearing the account of the Triumphal Entry through the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus as we prepare...

Layer of Guilt

Layer of Guilt We consider if we feel we should carry our guilt or if we should ask for forgiveness because God in Christ has...

Stalled Growth

Stalled Growth We consider if a denial of our own sin which turns us away from God has caused a stalled growth in our faith.

Layer of Anger

Layer of Anger We consider if our anger has gotten out of control so that we must forgive those who have caused us to be...

Layer of Grief

Layer of Grief Grief can cause us to turn away from God instead of sharing our pain with and drawing nearer to our ever present...

Layer of Doubt

Layer of Doubt Satan tempted Jesus and continues to wreak havoc in human hearts and lives with his siren call to doubt Jesus is the...

Astonished!

Astonished! The Transfiguration of the Lord takes us to an astonishing experience on the mountaintop, then sends us down and out into the world to...

Scout Sunday

Scout Sunday The Scouts of Troop 53 and 1053 lead worship on Scout Sunday

Resurrection Doubts

Resurrection Doubts We are assured that when we die as believers, we will be resurrected in Christ because of the resurrection of Christ.

Hanging On!

Hanging On! Exploring how we are able to face each day of our lives and the challenges of living by listening to Paul's words telling...

Being a Prophet is Hard Work!

Being a Prophet is Hard Work! Biblical prophets were often challenged when they tried to share the Good News of God's love. We are called...

Good News: You Are The Body of Christ

Good News: You Are The Body of Christ Good news is only good news if we admit that we are living in a broken and...

The Time is Right

The Time is Right Timing matters and we discover that Jesus' first miracle was prompted by his mother, Mary because the time was right.

Baptism of the Lord

Baptism of the Lord As we celebrate the baptism of the Lord, we recommit to remembering our own baptism and choosing to work as Jesus'...

Three Ways to Make the Christmas Spirit Last

Three Ways to Make the Christmas Spirit Last Elder Mike Schepers provides three ways that can make the Christmas Spirit last in your life.

Lessons and Carols

Lessons and Carols We light the Christ candle welcoming our Savior to be born anew in our world and in our hearts on this Christmas...

Sharing Pain, Finding Peace

Sharing Pain, Finding Peace On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we engage in a Blue Christmas service acknowledging our pain and angst now and over...

The Joy of Rejoicing

The Joy of Rejoicing On the third Sunday of Advent, we explore joy that is not simply happiness, but something deep and sustaining that brings...

Peace Through Prayer: A Guided Meditation

Peace Through Prayer: A Guided Meditation On the second Sunday of Advent, we engage in a meditation to meet Jesus and find God's peace for...

New Year, New You

New Year, New You As we begin the new church year with the first Sunday of Advent, in what ways will you allow the gospel...

Listen to the Truth

Listen to the Truth Jesus is God's truth yet the religious and government leaders of the day would not listen to him. Will you listen...

Not One Stone

Not One Stone Jesus shares that we should be aware of those who want to spread doom and gloom; to keep our heads and not...

Worshipful Giving

Worshipful Giving Let us consider do we give to glorify ourselves, or do we give to glorify God from our gratitude for all that God...

That Your Days May Be Long

That Your Days May Be Long Elder Mike Schepers encourages us to remain faithful throughout our lives of devotion to God the Father, the Son...

How Far Away Is Close Enough?

How Far Away Is Close Enough? Rev. Jim Brazell shares with us some thoughts on how to come closer to God.

See?

See? Let us consider how we are blinded to the ways of the world through spiritual blindness instead of seeing the grace and love of...

We are Not in Control

We are Not in Control Let us consider how we are playing "Let's Make a Deal" with God, instead of admitting that God is in...

The Debt Collector

The Debt Collector Elder Mike Schepers wrestles with the parable of the unmerciful servant.

Born to Trouble

Born to Trouble The human condition suggests that we are born to have trouble in our lives; the good news is that we have a...

The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer A time to examine prayer: What is it? How do we pray? Is it effective?

Root of Conflict

Root of Conflict An examination of Paul Harvey's 1965 "If I Were the Devil" and his vision of a demonic future should make us seriously...

Taming the Tongue

Taming the Tongue What do we have in common with a fire breathing dragon? Let us consider the fiery damage we leave behind that has...

Picking Favorites

Picking Favorites Do we pick favorites based upon the world's vision of wealth? Or do we look through God's eyes and have no partiality of...

The Obstacle of Anger

The Obstacle of Anger Taking a moment to consider how anger is an obstacle in our relationships with God and one another.

Hymn Sing: Songs of Life

Hymn Sing: Songs of Life Join us as we make a joyful noise unto the Lord with the singing of hymns and spiritual songs as...

To Give Thanks

To Give Thanks An invitation to turn away from the things of the world and remember to be grateful for all that God has given...

Speaking Truth

Speaking Truth We must actively look for God and be aware of the pitfalls of this world in order to speak the truth about God,...

A Life Worthy

A Life Worthy Consider the echo-chamber in which you live - how does it help or hinder you to live a life worthy of the...

Rooted and Grounded in Love

Rooted and Grounded in Love An invitation to look beyond the material world and focus yourself upon the spiritual so that you may know God’s...

The Dwelling Place of God

The Dwelling Place of God Central to the understanding of being the dwelling place of God is that the church is a place of peace...

Faith: Considering Why You Have It

Faith: Considering Why You Have It An exploration of faith and the foundations of why we have faith in God, the Father, the Son and...

Show Me the Way to Go Home

Show Me the Way to Go Home Jesus redefines the understanding of home and instructs us to build our relationships with others to spread the...

To Give What You Have

To Give What You Have Consider the gifts God has given you and how you can give back to God by using those gifts for...

Storms Rage Around Us: Where is Our Help?

Storms Rage Around Us: Where is Our Help? A time to reflect if you are permitting the things of the world to overshadow and lead...

Living by Faith in the New Creation

Living by Faith in the New Creation An invitation to think about where you are on your faith journey to help you become a better...

Holy Spirit on the Move: Being Renewed

Holy Spirit on the Move: Being Renewed The Holy Spirit is active and moving in the world ready to renew us by breathing the breath...

Loved by God the Father, Saved by Jesus the Son, Led by the Spirit of God

Loved by God the Father, Saved by Jesus the Son, Led by the Spirit of God Trinity Sunday explores the three persons of God in...

Holy Spirit on the Move: Claiming Hope

Holy Spirit on the Move: Claiming Hope Pentecost celebration of the Holy Spirit's movement in our lives and how we claim biblical hope for our...

Living the Resurrection: Jesus Is With Us

Living the Resurrection: Jesus Is With Us Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection by knowing with certainty that Jesus...

Living the Resurrection: Listening When the Spirit Testifies

Living the Resurrection: Listening When the Spirit Testifies Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection by listening to the Holy...

Living the Resurrection: Loving One Another

Living the Resurrection: Loving One Another Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection by following the example set by Jesus...

Living the Resurrection: Keeping God's Commands

Living the Resurrection: Keeping God's Commands Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection by keeping God's commands to believe in...

Living the Resurrection: Turning Toward God

Living the Resurrection: Turning Toward God Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection with the reminder to turn away from...

Living the Resurrection: Walking in the Light

Living the Resurrection: Walking in the Light Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection as we are reminded to walk...

How Can We Keep Silent on Easter?

How Can We Keep Silent on Easter? Are you too afraid to tell of Christ's resurrection like the women who encountered the angel in the...

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday Listen to the Gospel of John as we encounter Jesus' acts of service for his disciples and think about where you fit into...

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday It is on Palm Sunday that we thrill to Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem as we wave our palms. We witness the Last...

The Cross You Carry: The Music of Lent

The Cross You Carry: The Music of Lent The music of the Lenten season is beautiful and meaningful to people of the Christian faith. Our...

The Cross You Carry: The Secret You Keep

The Cross You Carry: The Secret You Keep Jesus tells us that we should pick up our cross and carry it if we want to...

The Cross You Carry: Works of Love

The Cross You Carry: Works of Love Jesus tells us that we should pick up our cross and carry it if we want to follow...

The Cross You Carry: Repent

The Cross You Carry: Repent Jesus tells us that we should pick up our cross and carry it if we want to follow him. Jesus...

The Cross You Carry: Prayer and Fasting

The Cross You Carry: Prayer and Fasting Jesus tells us that we should pick up our cross and carry it if we want to follow...