Joy (not to be confused with happiness) resonates with the promises of Christmas and the coming of Jesus. The depths of joy leads us close to his second coming. Together, let us be enveloped by the musical atmosphere of this year’s Christmas cantata as we come to “jump into joy”. Cantata: Glory to the Newborn… Read More »Glory to the Newborn King (Cantata) (December 14, 2025)
As we light the 3rd candle on the Advent wreath, Joy, we recognize that Joy is far deeper than happiness. It’s good to be happy; to celebrate a birth, a birthday, a holiday or a wedding; we do rejoice in these circumstances. Joy, however, is deeper and can be our state of mind and heart… Read More »Advent 3 -Joy (December 15, 2024)
This is the third Sunday in Advent. We “Sing with the Angels”. Angels play a large role in the Christmas story. Our choir will present a Christmas cantata highlighting this. Appropriately this is also the day we focus on the gift of joy. cantata: “Sing with the Angels” (by Joel Raney) directed by Jan Thomas
“This is Paul’s happiest letter. And the happiness is infectious. Before we’ve read a dozen lines, we begin to feel the joy ourselves – the dance of words and the exclamations of delight have a way of getting inside us.” – Eugene Peterson’s Intro to Paul’s Letter to the Philippians in The Message As we… Read More »Infectious Joy: flipping through Philippians (Apr-Aug 2019)
The Christ of Christmas: Sometimes Christmas is shortened to Xmas. For some the X, as the first letter in the Greek of Jesus name is just a short form. For many though, the X, as in algebra represents the unknown. Over these weeks we will get acquainted with the Christ of Christmas. November 27: Advent… Read More »Advent 2016
Most of the time an interruption is an inconvenience. In these stories interruptions are a pivotal turning points. Be surprised by God this season. November 29th – Advent 1 – Hope: A Family Gathering (Luke 1:26-56) Welcome to the first Sunday in Advent. In Advent we prepare to receive the Christ who comes to us. Over these coming weeks, we… Read More »Advent Sermon Series 2015: Blessed Interruptions
November 30th “Advent 1 – Hope: John’s Birth Announcement” (Luke 1:1-25) Today is the first Sunday in Advent. Advent means, coming, and gives us a time to prepare and reflect on the coming of Jesus. Do you remember that before the miraculous birth of Christ there was a related but different miraculous birth? The announcement… Read More »Season of Advent: preparing for the coming of Jesus