This Christmas we will put ourselves in the shoes of Mary, Joseph and the other people along the Road to Bethlehem. Looking with fresh eyes at history, archeology, and the very human stories of the people who were there, we will discover that the Road to Bethlehem is a journey that still brings hope, love, and peace today.
Devotional: Plan to read along with daily devotions to accompany the sermon series December 1: Mary of Nazareth - Luke 1:26-38 December 8: Joseph of Bethlehem - Matthew 1:18-24 December 15: Elizabeth in Judea - Luke 1:39-56 December 22: Nazareth to Bethlehem - Luke 2:1-7
God's purpose for your life may look different from someone else's - and sometimes we don't respond as faithfully to our God-given purpose as God (or even we) might prefer. Yet, God's call on our lives remains. By looking at the story of David - who may have started out faithfully answering God's call but also found himself wrestling deeply with his own sin, his misuse of power, and the pain he inflicted upon others - this series reminds us of what our God-given purpose is, and challenges us in how we might truly live into it.
God's creation can be a source of awe, wonder, and lessons on faith. Jesus taught by inviting us to consider the birds and seeds and flowers and the psalms tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God. The book of scripture and book of creation both point to their creator. This summer we will take time to consider God's good creation and the lessons for faith and life we find as we consider God's creation and God's creatures!
Faith is more than just a set of beliefs or a feeling. It changes our lives and moves us to faithfully love God and our neighbors. This is one of the core messages of James, brother of Jesus, in his letter that we have in the New Testament. In June we will think about a faith that makes a difference and the 3 Simple Rules (Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God) of the Methodist Movement that help us have a living faith. Based on a series from Greater NJ Conference UMC.
How do we cultivate a life of inner joy that isn't dependent on external circumstances and the next big experience, but abides in the ups and downs of everyday life? Together we will explore practices from "The Book of Joy" that cultivate resilient and abiding joy.
Jesus spent much of his life among the lowly and outsiders. The gospel account of Luke highlights this more clearly than any of the other gospels. It is a joyful invitation to know and love Jesus who loved all people, and to follow his lowly way as we Live Like Jesus.
God is always at work in our lives and the lives of others, but God depends on us to tell God's story and make God's loving kindness visible. Learning to speak of God's work in our life increases our faith and lifts the faith of others.
We all know information is easy to find, but wisdom can be hard to come by. Start 2023 with some time-tested wisdom from the book of Proverbs. Read a chapter each day in January of this ancient book of wisdom. On Sundays we will explore what wisdom is, why we need it, and explore topics like friendship, words, and happiness.
We will look at the messages of the angels (messengers) in the Christmas story. We will learn about the role of angels and consider what it means to see and be messengers of hope, peace, joy, and love.
Generosity has the power to touch lives...partner with God...grow our faith...increase our joy...decrease our fear...and take hold of what is truly life. Interest rates are rising. Inflation is driving up prices. Housing costs are through the roof. Even with these circumstances, you can arrange your finances so that you do more than survive.
In a time of political polarization and divisive issues, BE part of this movement to make our communities and the world more like the Kingdom of God! In 700 BC, in a time with many similarities to today, the prophet Micah asked and answered the question: What does God require of us? The answer was simple: Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8) We believe we can love our neighbors and recover and reclaim these three essential practices.
From the day we are born we are told who we should be. We compare ourselves to others, conform to fit in, and project only the best parts of who we are. All of this keeps us from our true identity. When we learn to love ourselves as God loves us we begin to see that God created us to be unique. We invite you to join us for a series dedicated to discovering how to Be Yourself. (Based on a Sermon Series from Matt Miofsky - description from that series).
A series about who we are, where we go wrong, and how we get back to who wee are created to be.
Many of us know about the people of the Old Testament from what we knew as a child. Hearing their stories as grown-ups can help us find courage, hope, and purpose and find the same God that was faithful in their lives is also present and faithful in ours.
