On Sunday, we continued our Godsway 66 journey into the book of Leviticus. Filled with detailed laws about ritual sacrifice and descriptions of things ritually clean and unclean, this book of Torah can seem long and unnecessary. Certainly, many of its instructions are out of date -- but the underlying lesson is still vital to our faith. The point of the instructions seems to be made explicit at the opening of Leviticus 19 -- the Israelites are to be a holy people, living in ways pleasing to God, who is holy.
This is a radical idea. So often we believe that our faith is meant only to point out our sinfulness -- how many mistakes we make and how far we fall short of God's expectations. But the purpose of learning about our imperfection is not to make us feel guilty, but to point us toward a different way of living and being -- to point us too toward a life that is holy. We may not worry about the finer points of unclean foods and ritual sacrifice, but God wants us to make deep commitments to our faith and to live in ways that make us more like God's co-workers than God's lowly subjects.
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 Sunday's communion meditation and closing benediction.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Prayer for Mission in Jordan
This week we pray for Ariel Royer, our missionary to Jordan. Ariel is a Global Mission Intern who serves as an assistant for refugee response and communications with the Orthodox Initiative, Jordan.
You can read more about the mission to Jordan here, including a reflection on the dreams of children that point toward a better future in troubled communities.
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.
You can read more about the mission to Jordan here, including a reflection on the dreams of children that point toward a better future in troubled communities.
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.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
September 21 Worship: "Exodus - Behold God's Mighty Hand"
On Sunday, we continued our journey along Godsway 66 focusing on the second book of Torah, Exodus. After opening with God speaking to Moses from the holy ground of a burning bush, we focused on God's power to save and protect through our songs, prayers, and the sermon.
The sermon drew its main inspiration from the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. The theme of God's miraculous power to save resounds throughout Exodus, in both dramatic and subtle ways as the chosen people are transformed from slaves in Egypt to God's free people traveling toward the Promised Land. The challenge is to see God's salvation, especially subtle and patient salvation, in our own lives.
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 Sunday's Communion meditation and closing meditation.
The sermon drew its main inspiration from the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. The theme of God's miraculous power to save resounds throughout Exodus, in both dramatic and subtle ways as the chosen people are transformed from slaves in Egypt to God's free people traveling toward the Promised Land. The challenge is to see God's salvation, especially subtle and patient salvation, in our own lives.
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 Sunday's Communion meditation and closing meditation.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Prayer for Mission in Hungary
This week we pray for Zoltan and Barbara Szucs, our missionaries to Hungary. Zoltan serves as a practical theology professor at Karoli Gaspar University in Budapest. Barbara serves with the Roma (Gypsy) Ministry of the Reformed Church in Hungary.
You can read more about the mission to Hungary here, including a reflection on the joys and challenges of being teachers for preachers overseas.
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.
You can read more about the mission to Hungary here, including a reflection on the joys and challenges of being teachers for preachers overseas.
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.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
September 14 Worship: "Genesis - First Things"
On Sunday, we completed the first week of Godsway 66 with the sermon on Genesis. Focusing on the covenant between God and Abraham (and through Abraham, with all of humankind), we considered that the first lesson of the Bible is that God wants to be in relationship with the created world, particularly the humans who are made in God's image (per Genesis 1).
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 Sunday's communion meditation and the closing benediction.
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 Sunday's communion meditation and the closing benediction.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Prayer for Mission in the Philippines
This week we pray for Eleazar Fernandez, our missionary to the Philippines. He serves as President of Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines.
You can read more about the mission to the Philippines here, including a bit about expanding theological education in southeast Asia.
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.
You can read more about the mission to the Philippines here, including a bit about expanding theological education in southeast Asia.
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.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
September 7 Worship: "Godsway 66 - Planning and Packing"
On Sunday, we enjoyed the promise of Autumn, with a beautiful September morning and the choir singing in worship. We also began Godsway 66, with a preview sermon on the upcoming trip through all 66 books of the Bible. The sermon drew on the promise of Jeremiah's letter to the exiled Jews in Babylon, one of many reminders that God is present to those who seek. This is the ultimate promise of our upcoming journey through the Bible.
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 Sunday's communion meditation.
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 Sunday's communion meditation.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Prayer for Mission in Israel/Palestine
This week we pray for Victor and Sara Makari, our missionaries to Israel and Palestine. Both serve with the Diyar Consortium, an ecumenical mission serving Palestinian Christians, especially youth, women, and the elderly.
You can read more about the mission to Israel/Palestine here, including the difficulties that the church faces amid the violence and mistrust of the area.
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.
You can read more about the mission to Israel/Palestine here, including the difficulties that the church faces amid the violence and mistrust of the area.
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.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
August 24 Worship: "Star Wars"
We concluded this year's Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series with one of the all-time great blockbusters, the original Star Wars, from 1977. We considered the spiritual meaning of the Force in George Lucas' space opera, comparing it with the armor of God that Paul describes in Ephesians.
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 Communion meditation.
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 Communion meditation.
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