July 27 Worship: "The Wizard of Oz"

We ended July with the beginning of the annual Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series, considering religious themes in popular movies.  This year the focus is on classic movies across the decades, starting with the Golden Age of Hollywood -- 1939 and The Wizard of Oz.

There is an oddly similar story in the Bible, without the Scarecrow, Tin Man, or Cowardly Lion, of a person seeking wisdom from a mysterious, perhaps magical, person.  Toward the end of his reign, King Saul journeyed into the wilderness to consult the Witch of Endor -- specifically, to have her contact the spirit of the dead prophet, Samuel.  This story, and the classic movie, raise the timeless question, "Where is wisdom to be found?"  Who should we listen to?  Who should we not listen to?

If you missed the sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can find an audio recording here.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation.

Prayer for Mission in Swaziland

This week we pray for Diane and Terry Hutter, our missionaries to Swaziland.  They serve as coordinators of development programs with the Khukhany'Okusha Zion Church.

You can read more about the mission to Swaziland here, including how the church is trying to cope with the ongoing challenges for orphans of parents who die from AIDS as they grow into adulthood.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in many countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights the work in one of these countries and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

July 20 Worship: "Hold Fast to What Is Good"

Sunday's worship was bright and pleasant, followed by the wonderful Asian luau.  Happy faces were everywhere -- a wonderful sight on a sunny July morning.

Sunday's worship marked the end of our six week sermon series on Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians.  We concluded our reading of the joyful letter by focusing on Paul's closing words of encouragement and advice.  During the sermon, several people shared how people had encouraged them and their faith over the years, which was a wonderful reminder of how we do not live as Christians alone.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can find an audio recording here.

You can also listen to the communion meditation and the closing benediction.

Prayer for Mission in Fiji

This week we pray for Niko Tapaeko, our missionary to Fiji.  He serves as pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Suva.

You can read more about the mission to Fiji here, including the story of tentative steps toward mutual work between different denominations in the island nation.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in many countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights the work in one of these countries and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

July 13 Worship: "Let Us Not Fall Asleep as Others"

Frankly, I'm still a little overwhelmed by Sunday's worship service, especially the sermon, which was meaningful as I prepared it, as I preached it, and as I listened to it again.  The Holy Spirit was at work in our midst, and the hand of God was noticeable.

We continued our study of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians by considering the issue of death and salvation.  After briefly exploring Paul's response to the Christians worried that those who died before Christ's return might miss out on heaven, we considered the type of salvation that Paul describes.  We considered the types of lives that God made us for, how we glimpse them today before living them fully in heaven.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can find an audio recording here.

You can also listen to the related communion meditation and the closing benediction.

How Should We Live?

Here's an interesting recent story from Religion and Ethics Newsweekly related to questions of integrity and ethics in the business world.  This explores an issue raised by last Sunday's sermon, which admitted that we live in communities with conflicting values -- our Christian church and the wider culture.  How should we live and act in our wider community as Christians?  This piece considers that question specifically in the workplace.

Click here for the story and video.

July 6 Worship: "Do So More and More"

On Sunday, we concluded the Independence Day weekend with a spirited worship.  As part of the service, we continued our study of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, focusing on the apostle's encouragement for the new Christians not to backslide, but to hold onto their new faith.  In particular, Paul reminded them not to turn back to certain actions that were considered appropriate by the wider culture, but disrespectful through the eyes of faith.

In focusing on this text, we considered how we face a similar challenge today.  There is a certain way of life that is strongly encouraged by our surrounding culture -- what might be called "looking out for #1" -- and our Christian faith suggests different priorities and a different understanding of the value and integrity of each person.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can listen to it here.

You can also listen to the communion meditation and the concluding benediction.

June 29 Worship: "The Good News of Your Faith"

On Sunday, we continued our study of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, focusing on the end of Paul's extensive opening section.  In it, the apostle writes of how he longs to see them, but how happy he is to hear Timothy's glowing report about them.  Paul seems to focus on their response to persecution and their ability to encourage each other through such challenges.

In my sermon, I emphasized two things.  First, it is also necessary for us to encourage each other through life's challenges.  More than this, though, Christians need to be willing to face challenges in order to live out their faith.  One cannot be a peacemaker unless one tries to make peace, for example, but doing so opens a person up to criticism from multiple sources.  In the afternoon, I amused myself by imagining that the sermon's subtitle should have been: "In Defense of Christian Meddling."

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, of if you'd like to share it with other, you can find an audio recording here.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation.