As Christians, we learn that God breathes life into earth and Jesus teaches us to be humble, which means to "live close to the earth." In his two-part sermon series, Pastor Marc explores our two-fold call to be Earthy Christians, people who are "lovers of the earth" and offer others "down to earth" love.
I am. Two of the most powerful words...for what you put after them shapes your reality.
During the season of Lent we will focus on five of the seven "I am" statements in the Gospel of John and explore not only what they tell us about Jesus (and God!), but also how we are called to live out the life of faith. For we are called to be light, bread and gate, as well as a shepherding and resurrection-witnessing presence in the world.
Did you know that you are a trinitarian being - three-in-one - just like our Creator? Made in God’s own splendid image, you embody three ways of engaging with the world. You feel. You think. You do. In Enneagram language, we speak of these "centers of intelligence" as heart, head and gut. All three are within.
Advent is a season of waiting, but is idle waiting what God wants of us? In preparation for the coming Messiah, let's wonder together. What things can't wait? What demands our immediate attention? What requires our work and preparation? What is it that God can't wait for? Is it our praise, reconciliation and proclamation? Is it the end of suffering, isolation and fear? This Advent, we invite you to imagine, prioritize and prepare. As we wait, what can't?
Is doubt the enemy of faith, or is it a trustworthy companion? Pastor Marc's four- week sermon series explores the four stages of faith: simplicity, complexity, perplexity and harmony. Discover how to glean the important gifts from each stage, how to welcome faith questions and how to let go of beliefs that no longer serve you or others well.
This two-week sermon series is based on Pastor Marc's favorite definition of humility: Humility is being who you are, no more and no less. Humility is a central Christian virtue, but sadly it has been widely and at times wildly misunderstood.
Do you ever struggle with prayer? How to pray? What to pray for? Well, the disciples did! According to Matthew, they asked Jesus for help. And Jesus responded by teaching them The Lord's Prayer - the powerful prayer that sums up the entire Gospel in less than 75 words. Each week during Lent, we'll explore a different phrase from different angles and translations, adding depth and texture to the translation we know so well.
Why do innocent people suffer? That question lies at the center of the Book of Job. Job loses almost everything dear to him through a series of tragedies. In the end, he never receives a fully satisfactory answer (do we ever?), but he does learn and grow through the experiences. During this four-week sermon series, we explore how we can learn to be more direct with God, risk living and loving even when it's painful, and grow in our capacity to trust God's goodness and faithfulness through tragedy.
The birth of Jesus inspired a new way of living, loving, sharing and acting, intended to help all experience a better, more fulfilling life. Using our recently adopted core values - living contemplatively, loving inclusively, sharing generously and acting justly - as a guide, we'll consider how they help us live into and share the Good News of Jesus’ birth and the revelation of Christ.
Over the next six weeks we'll explore the deep connection between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the 12-step program. Both begin with an acknowledgement of our need for help and depend on grace, prayer, self-discipline and action in order to move forward toward a more fully mature and surrendered life of loving and humble service to others.
For generations, the Book of Revelation has sparked concern about the "end times" and inspired countless apocalyptic movies and novels. Join us as we pull back the curtain and take a look at this often misunderstood text for what it is - a message of hope to people who were suffering under the boot of the Roman Empire. A message that remains relevant today. Revelation is not about what WILL happen, but about what IS happening...and what we can do about it.
Our six-week sermon series explores how the Psalms mirror the ups and downs of a life of faith, guiding us not only during "good times," but also when the bottom drops out and we find ourselves searching for answers.