Why Christmas Is Worth It by Carolyn Moore

December 24, 2016

At our downtown ministry this week, I watched a precious soul rock an invisible baby while “Away in a Manger”…

A Blue Christmas: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Jorge Acevedo

December 19, 2016

“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” We all have something in each list. Tonight, I want to remind you that life is a complex mixture of all three kinds of experiences…good to celebrate, bad to grieve, and ugly to heal.

The Word Became Flesh by Kim Reisman

The word became flesh and lived among us.

A Sabbatical that Helps the World’s Poorest People

December 14, 2016

The EMMS – Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society – has devised a beautiful opportunity for pastors to take a needed sabbatical, get physical activity, and provide the world’s poorest people. Their “Pedal and Pray” initiative engages clergy from around the world with the chance to take a sabbatical of a lifetime. Cycle with other pastors through Malawi for ten days this July and raise money for healthcare ministries in Malawi.

A Surprise: The Nobody-Baby by Kim Reisman

The King of all creation was born as a lowly, disregarded nobody-baby. In part, that was because Mary and Joseph were nobodies. Joseph was a craftsman from the small town of Nazareth in Galilee. Mary was a young woman with an apparently questionable character. Still, they were the nobodies God wanted to use, and that was a surprise.

The Creator God Who Redeems by Kim Reisman

December 12, 2016

God creates. God redeems. Christian faith is deepened and enriched when we get the order right. This is especially true in the arena of evangelism, where our focus is often on individuals and our fervent hope that they might come into relationship with Jesus Christ. There is no doubt this is an extremely important focus. Yet something significant is lost when the lens of our spiritual life remains set on zoom rather than wide angle.

The Will To Prepare The Way by Elizabeth Glass Turner

“The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win.” – Everyone from Vince Lombardi…

Why Advent Breaks My Heart by Kim Reisman

December 7, 2016

Maybe as we proclaim the good news that will bring great joy to all people, we ought also to recall the words of our Prince of Peace, who told us that God blesses peacemakers. Maybe in this season of peace and beyond, we need to ask how might we become more active in our peacemaking?

Flesh and Blood by Kim Reisman

December 5, 2016

Word and deed come together, as intimately entwined as breathing in and breathing out. Deciding which is more important depends on which you did last.

A Season Of Yeasting by Debra Wallace-Padgett

I have a delicious no-fail sourdough bread recipe!  It involves a three-step process spread over one and a half days. …