02/26/2023
We are looking at The Story of God’s relationship with God’s people,
beginning with the birth of Jesus and ending with the revelation of
eternity, offered by John. It’s no mistake that when followers of Jesus
have publicly declared their faith, they too have historically done so
as a narrative. There are many wonderful creeds that have guided
God’s people over the centuries, but I like this one which was written
relatively recently as a summary of our beliefs. It was put together by
Pastor and author Brian McLaren and is included in his book (which I
recommend) entitled, The Story We Find Ourselves In.
May these words and the story they tell motivate you to join us
this spring in reading through The Story, either on your own or within
a small group. I pray that together as a church we too might begin to
see ourselves in the story of God’s redemption of His creation.
We Believe
We believe that You created all things
In all their beauty and mystery.
We believe we broke the boundaries You gave
To keep this world in harmony.
We believe You called a family,
Blessing them to bless all families.
We believe You spoke and listened through sage
And prophet, priest, and poet.
This we confess, affirm, and believe.
We believe You walked among us in
Human flesh, to share our history.
We believe You reconciled us,
Upon a cross, brought hope from agony.
We believe You raised Jesus
From death to life, for our salvation.
We believe You send us out with saving love
For all creation.
This we confess, affirm, and believe.
We believe Your Spirit dwells in us now
With the power for life and mission.
We believe Your Spirit makes us one
In purpose, hope, and vision.
We believe You’ll banish evil and fill the earth
With holy glory.
We believe You call all people to life
Forever in Your story.
This we confess, affirm, and believe.
Adapted from: The Story We Find Ourselves In By Brian McLaren
Archived Posts
Such A Rich Passage (Luke 19:1-10)
I reflected a lot on the passage about Zacchaeus because it has been written off as “been there, read that, little guy in a tree.” But it is so rich in getting to the heart of what it means to be saved by grace through faith—to live our lives out of gratitude rather than obligation.
The Power of Presence
This last Sunday I had so much more to share than time to share it. The last Emotional Management Technique was to stay present in the process. Just as Jesus stayed with the woman who was judged and found guilty by the angry crowd, we stay by our children and our friends, especially when they need us the most. Here a couple of examples...
What’s In A Benediction?
Last Sunday I used one of my favorite benedictions.
It was inspired by a saying from about ten years ago:
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
There are several powerful and evocative artworks that depict the scene from Mark 9:14–29, where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit... Some of the following have internet links, the others are worth googling. Enjoy!
The Gift of Ourselves As A Gift of Love
The more the giving of myself costs me something, the greater the power of the gift. You know I love quotes, so after a little research, let me share a few of my favorites on this very subject:
The Loss of a Great Christian Leader
The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)