The concept we have of ourselves and our congregation is significant. Though distorted by sin, identity is a condition of creation and character. God creates all with gifts and abilities and loves all unconditionally. All people are nurtured, developed and valued in the context of family school, and community. Identity is painted by these forces in all lives as well. This morning, we are invited to reflect upon and embrace the identity we have in Christ.

Welcome to our Advent worship series, Comfort and Joy. Each service in this 4-part series focuses on a selected portion of Isaiah 40. Today’s service is based on Isaiah 40:6-9 and reminds us that Christ is present with us now and that he will come again in glory on the Last Day. We pray you will find calm and rest in the soothing message that Christ came to bring us peace in our troubled times. Let the words, Scripture, music and prayers of this

Welcome to our Advent worship series, Comfort and Joy. Each service in this 4-part series focuses on a selected portion of Isaiah 40. Today’s service is based on Isaiah 40:1-2 and highlights for us that true peace comes only through Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that he brings. He ends warfare without and within and He is our one and only Prince of Peace. We pray you will find calm and rest in the soothing message that Christ came to bring us peace in our troubled times. Let the words, Scripture, music and prayers

Honor. We hear a lot about it in terms of the government and even corporations. People will call into question whether certain policies or business practices are honorable. But do we think much about how honor applies to our own lives? Do we give much thought to the honor of our own actions? In truth, we have the ability to bring honor to God in the way that we live. Today’s message challenges us to realize that God has expectations concerning how we use our finances. Scripture suggests that there are honorable ways to use our monetary blessings. We want to use our God-given resources in a way that brings honor to God. Just how do we do

Will heaven be a remake of what we’ve got now? Will we still be on this planet? Some claim that heaven will be on this earth. What’s the truth? According to the Bible, everything will be new. The old things will be gone. “New heaven and new earth” (and no more sea) is a Hebrew way of saying that everything we know now will be completely new and different. There won’t be anything “same-old, same-old.” In heaven, God will dwell with us. The majesty and wonder of heaven – including the massive dimensions – show us that we are in store for blessing beyond our imagination. You won’t miss anything in heaven, but rather have everything

Earlier in this series, we talked about Judgment Day. The undeniable truth is that one day Jesus will return to judge everyone on earth. However, how will He judge? Will He judge like we would judge? Let’s hope not. For if He did, few would be in heaven. We humans readily receive the grace of God for ourselves, but we are often unwilling to grant it to others. Likewise, if God judged like we judged, there would be few in hell. We humans are very uncomfortable with hell as a place of eternal punishment. We can hardly fathom that a good and loving God would even create such a place, let alone torment people in it forever. What to do? That is why we must readily agree with God’s Word through prophet Isaiah when He says, “my thoughts are not your thoughts.” Thankfully, God sees all things and knows

Fear. This was perhaps the central sin of the second church Jesus address in the book of Revelation – the church in Smyrna. In the face of suffering, poverty, and persecution from both Rome and the Jews, He tells this church to “stop fearing!” Who better to trust, than one who identifies Himself as “the First and Last,” The One who was “dead and came back to life.” (2:8) In this brief letter to the believers in Smyrna, Jesus reminds them that any suffering that comes their way, He allows. However, their suffering will be limited, and eventually will end. But when it