Chrissy and Steve continue their conversation in Part 3 of the series, talking about Joan Chittister’s book Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope.

We are so glad you’re here. This morning you are in for a treat as many of the elements of the service are created and led by our graduates! That’s right; it’s Graduate Recognition Sunday! Today’s Gospel reading fits the theme of graduation quite nicely as it tells the story of Jesus commissioning the disciples. Like today, the commissioning in Matthew 28 didn’t happen exactly like the disciples might have imagined. Like us, they found themselves embracing their calling to go out into the world in a very uncertain time. Perhaps they felt unprepared? Perhaps they were afraid? Perhaps they wished things could be different? Still, Jesus commissioned them to Go! How will we respond to a similar calling?

Chrissy and Steve continue their conversation talking about Joan Chittister’s book Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope.

Guest Proclaimer: Randy Ashcraft

Today we celebrate Pentecost, which is known by many as the birthday of the church. It all started when the disciples had gathered in a room with closed doors. They were afraid because their world had been turned upside down following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Luckily, the Pentecost story does not end there. The birth of the church isn’t characterized by fear. Rather, the Holy Spirit burst into the room and called those fearful disciples to move beyond their fear and to create something new. This is certainly a season of fear for so many – perhaps even for us. So I wonder, could it also be a time for us to expect that same Holy Spirit might just be up to something new?

As we prepare for worship, our prayer might be that God open our hearts to the movement of the Holy Spirit in us, around us, and among us, casting out our fear and giving us a spirit of hope and courage.

Chrissy and Steve open their podcast series talking about Joan Chittister’s book Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope.

This morning we gather once again from our homes to worship God who is with us wherever we are. Our theme for worship today is the struggle of exhaustion, and so we are considering all the ways that we are being sustained, even in the midst of struggle. Some of you submitted pictures representing the people and the things … Continued

As we are all getting used to new rhythms of life in this season of Coronavirus, I imagine that many of you are growing fond of having the ability to worship in your living rooms, wearing bathrobes, exercise clothes, and pajamas… Others are longing for the return of in-person gatherings and dressing up in our … Continued

On this fourth Sunday in the season of resurrection, we read from the book of Genesis, the story of Jacob wrestling a stranger all throughout the night. It seems appropriate that we read this story of struggle-born hope as we, too, are in the midst of struggle. Some of our struggles are longstanding and some are brought on by social distancing, isolation, and threat of the new Coronavirus. Either way, perhaps today we might fight some hope in the midst of struggle.

Today we place ourselves on the road to Emmaus with two of Jesus’ disciples who are heart-broken and stricken with grief over the events that have taken place in Jerusalem. As they walk the road, a stranger meets them and transforms despair into hope!

I wonder if we might need a little hope in the midst of our own despair? If so, let us worship God this day asking for hope, and opening our hearts to God so that we might see and recognize the resurrected Christ in our midst.