Keep This Word Near The Top of Your List

Traditional

The second Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of peace. It’s been said that true
peace is perhaps the most elusive thing on earth. That’s true in terms of nations and
political parties and competing ideologies. But those things are not where true peace is
to be found. The peace God offers us through Christ begins within us, and spreads
outward into those other realms. A person can live in a time of peace when there is no
war, in a marriage or family that is harmonious, working at a place where everyone gets
along and yet still live with turmoil inside, in their minds and souls. And there are those
who live in tumultuous circumstances, with all kinds of difficult people and surroundings,
who are nevertheless filled with peace in their minds, and hearts, and souls.

Traditional

What words would you choose from the Bible that you find interesting?

Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a conversation around a table and ask your friends to list the one or two most important words in their life; the ones that have shaped them, that direct them? I can imagine people saying things like family, or
discipline, or effort, or love, or compassion, or kindness. Those are all good words to live by. This morning, I’d like to invite you to consider a word that I think we all ought to treasure and live by. The word is hope. Come listen to Dr. Tully talk about the word Hope and how it can change all our lives.

Modern

One of the signs of Advent is the Advent calendar. You may have one in your home today, or you may remember having one as a child. As a child, each day of the Advent calendar was a sign that Christmas was getting closer. We relished in the excitement and suspense of counting down the days. That’s what Advent was about back then. At some point in our lives something happened. Somewhere along the way adult life and circumstances got in the way. Real life took control, and Advent hasn’t the same carefree happy time of joy and anticipation it once was. Advent is no longer the season just before Christmas it was merely a countdown to the big, carefree Christmas holiday. Instead, Advent begins to describe the reality of life and the world. Luke’s scripture text takes on a personal meaning for us, and Advent becomes a season of personal change, of letting go and looking toward a future of hope in Christ. Come and hear how Jesus teaches us to interpret the signs in our Advent stories as Pastor Val Stewart preaches “There Will Be Signs” this 1st Sunday of Advent. Luke 21: 25-31

Are you in a place of satisfaction and peace?
This Sunday, we will hear Dr. Tully talk about how some strive and work to be where they have satisfaction and peace. Then, you will listen to how some never try to reach this point. He has several books as references that can be read that tell a lot about how faith can help a lot in getting to these places.
Genesis 1:26-31 (CEV)...

Traditional

Is your world in hardship and turmoil?
This Sunday, we are going to hear Rev. Jerry Krueger talk about the trials, hardships, and turmoils in people's lives and how to overcome them. The theme is appropriate for this time of year in the recently completed election cycle.  

Amid sometimes overwhelming parts of our lives, even in hardship, confusion, turmoil, distress, fractured relationships, and fear, our foundational faith life provides for each of us who choose to follow Christ, Something Better Beneath all that may swirl around us.  The message is one of hope.

Join us as we consider what life with hope  looks like and listen to Rev. Jerry Krueger preach "Something Better Beneath"

Modern

There is something that feels dishonest about preaching a passage about how everything is going right in life like Psalm 16. To many people have experiences that give them good reasons to not feel so positive. So, what do we do with passages like Psalm 16 when things are not okay? Perhaps this passage can serve as a reminder of God's character. God is not abusive. God means us no harm. We ought to look for God in the places where we find refuge from the harm and abuse that is often dealt to us.