The Landscapes of Life

Modern

John was waiting for this. He was born for this. He was
living in the wilderness and making space for God to come to
him. That’s what those wilderness times of life do for us. They
fill us up and prepare us for our purpose. That’s what the
wilderness had done for John. It had readied him and filled him
to carry out his purpose. God had come to John the Baptist in
the wilderness. Today, the word of God comes to us. God’s word comes to
us in many ways and by various means. God is God, so God’s
word comes in whatever way God wants it to come. But the
question is worth asking, “What are the ways God’s word
comes to us?” John was in the wilderness waiting
and making time and space for this event to happen, but

what about us? When and how has God’s word come to you
and me? What are the interior landscapes of our life today?
How do these states of being within us relate to ourselves and
others? As we consider the valleys, the mountains, and hills, the
crooked, smooth, and rough places of life, we view life with the
good news John brings from the wilderness, the good news of
Jesus Christ.

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"