First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo

The New Storyteller
2023-05-07 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Detroit)
There are many storytellers at work in this brief text from Acts chapter 7 that we will hear on this day in worship. The “old guard” storytellers casting stones at Stephen work to preserve an old narrative. The new storyteller, Stephen is empowered by the Holy Spirit to tell a story of love and life and resurrection. Luke, the gospel writer elevates Stephen’s martyred voice in the written word. And then there is the liturgy of our worship grounded in The Great Thanksgiving of our communion celebration telling the story of God’s work throughout human history and in our lives today. We, the worshipers are challenged, like Stephen to tell a new story which presses against an old narrative. The new story is one of love seemingly defeated and yet redeemed in resurrection. The old story rejects such powers and cowers behind fear and violence. On this fifth Sunday of Easter which story will you choose?
Join us this week in person or online at 10:00 AM for service! to immerse ourselves in worship and discover the love that makes us whole. All are welcome.

A Love That Makes Us Whole: Tender Mercies
2023-04-30 10:00 - 11:30
The Twenty-third Psalm is a great comfort to us as we imagine the green pastures and still waters. It also recalls the dark valleys and calls us into the not-so-easy practice of sitting down at the table with our enemies. A God of peaceful presence is with us in the good times and in the difficult times and invites us to be radically present to each other in the same way. This Sunday we celebrate the love of God that finds us just where we are and welcomes us into a love that makes us whole in tenderness and mercy. Our prayers will lead us into a time of anointing our foreheads as a sign of accepting the love that God offers and believing that surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
Join us this week in person or online at 10:00 AM for service! to immerse ourselves in worship and discover the love that makes us whole. All are welcome.

A Love That Makes Us Whole: A Sense of Place
2023-04-23 10:00 - 11:00
This Sunday we delve into the powerful story of the Road to Emmaus, found in Luke 24:13-36. We’ll gather to reflect on the scripture where Jesus reveals himself to two of his followers, offering hope, healing, and a sense of belonging.
In this passage, the disciples Cleopas and an unnamed companion, experience a profound transformation as they journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Engaged in conversation with the risen Christ, they begin to understand the meaning behind the recent events in Jerusalem. Their hearts burn within them as Jesus opens the scriptures, and they finally recognize him in the breaking of the bread. Through this transformative encounter, we learn that Christ’s love accompanies us in our personal journeys, providing guidance, reassurance, and a sense of belonging even during times of doubt and despair.
Join us this week in person or online at 10:00 AM for service! to immerse ourselves in the story of the Road to Emmaus and discover the love that makes us whole. All are welcome.

Christ is Risen!
2023-04-16 10:00 - 11:00
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.
Easter is now one week behind us. All the leftovers from Sunday’s ham dinner have long been consumed along with the chocolates from plastic eggs. And then we come into worship to see the word EASTER still written on our bulletins, our liturgy yet proclaims “Christ is Risen!” and we continue with hymns singing of resurrection. Then we open our Bibles to the Gospel text for the day finding ourselves taken back in time where it is only evening of the day of Christ’s resurrection. The disciples are hiding in the upper room reeling from the events of the past three days. The women among them have spoken implausible things about an empty tomb and so they wait for confirmation, for Jesus to appear to them…from behind the doors they have locked. We too wonder if resurrection is real, if the tomb is truly empty and so we come to worship, driven by our curiosities, cautiously optimistic that like those earliest disciples Jesus will come to us. May it be so.

Easter Sunday: Who Are You Looking For?
2023-04-09 10:00 - 11:30
Join us this Sunday for Easter. April 9, 10:00 a.m.

After nights of deep darkness, we come in the bright light of Easter morning and celebrate that Christ is risen indeed! Resurrection is possible. It is a glorious morning filled with tulips, lilies, brass and timpani, voices raised in joy, all proclaiming “Alleluia!” On this glorious morning let us listen for a stone rolled away and the sounds of new life. Let us hear death moved aside for the sounds of life, wholeness, and resurrection. Jesus is alive and together we will sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” once again.

Palm Sunday
2023-04-02 10:00 - 11:30
Seeking: Where are you headed?
If you were raised in the church, then this is not your first palm parade. If you have never been in the church on the Sunday before Easter you might find things a little more than out of the ordinary. What’s with the Palm Branches? What’s with the marching? By the end of this worship you may be thinking “What’s with all the celebrating one minute and the low hum of grief the next?” This is the tension of Palm and Passion Sunday. One moment we remember when crowds of people celebrated Jesus, while the next moment we remember how they denied him as he made his way to the cross.
What may seem chaotic and disorienting is in fact deliberate. Jesus resolutely paraded into a place that would ultimately see to his crucifixion. Jesus continues to walk into the suffering of the world and invites us to follow trusting in the good news proclaimed in the text to the Philippians that death would not have the final word. Today in our worship we ask the question, “Where is Jesus Headed?” The answer is “To the cross.” Which begs the follow up question, “Where are we headed?”

Can These Bones Live?
2023-03-26 10:00 - 17:00
In this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we gather to remember and reflect on the powerful vision Ezekial experienced. He was led by God into a valley of dry bones, and there, amidst the lifeless remains, God posed a crucial question to him, “Can these bones live?” As Ezekial prophesied to these bones, God commanded that they would be filled with the breath of life and come to know their Creator.
This compelling story invites us to ponder the abundance of life that God provides. Can we recognize the glimmers of God’s abundance in our present lives? Will we persist as we receive the resuscitating breath of life from God? Do we have faith that life is possible, always?
In this season of Lent, our journey of questioning and seeking may not always yield clear answers. However, we are drawn ever closer to the sacred center, the Source that is God, and our hope is nourished. We are called to come together, to experience, celebrate, and share God’s love this Sunday.
Join us as we delve into the mysteries and wonders of our faith, seeking solace and inspiration from the story of Ezekial and the dry bones. Let us embrace the challenge of finding God’s abundance, even in the most unexpected places, and rejoice in the gift of life that our Creator so graciously bestows upon us.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Who sinned?
2023-03-19 10:00 - 17:00
In John 9:1-12, we read about the transformative power of Jesus’ love and grace as he healed a man who was born blind. This story reminds us that just as Jesus healed the man in the story, he can also heal us and open our eyes to the truth of his love and grace. Through prayer and reflection, let us offer our praises and thanks to God for his blessings in our lives and for his healing power.
We have sinned. We put our heads in the sand. We ignored people in need. We make false assumptions and fail to be kind. We are in need of forgiveness. Good news! Our God is a merciful God. God does not punish, hold grudges, or keep score. When you suffer, God weeps. When you sin, God forgives. When you lose your way, God comes running.
Thanks be to God for a love like that.

Saving Jesus
2023-03-12 11:00 - 2023-06-12 12:00
Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? “Saving Jesus” is a DVD-based exploration of a credible Jesus for the 21st century. Join Marcus Borg, Walter Brueggemann, Amy-Jill Levine, John Dominic Crossan, and a host of others for a conversation around the relevance of Jesus for today. They encourage us to embrace a deeper understanding of our Christian faith that is inclusive and reconciling rather than unique and exclusive. John Clark will facilitate the discussion.

The class will run for 12 more-or-less consecutive Sundays (except Easter and probably Memorial Day). That takes us into mid-June! The class will meet at the parlor.

“Will You Give Me a Drink?”
2023-03-12 10:00 - 11:00
This third Sunday of lent Jesus crosses cultural, religious, and societal boundaries by leading his disciples through Samaria. In the heat of midday, he seeks out connection with a Samaritan woman drawing water from the well. His command to her is also a question and an invitation to a new way of life: Will you give me a drink? For the woman, to respond is risky but life-changing. This question creates a dialogue between them in which Jesus sees the woman fully; she leaves the well transformed. This week, we might imagine ourselves at the well and as we do this, we will engage with the living water during our worship celebration as the First Beats lead us musically. All will be invited to the fountain to remember that Jesus seeks us to be in a relationship of sacred mutuality. If you are worshipping from home, make sure to have a bowl of water nearby. We will also be taking a loose change, change the world offering for the UMCOR initiative of WASH that helps to provide clean water to communities. Let us come thirsty for the Living Water that Jesus provides.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Seeking: How do we begin again?
2023-03-05 10:00 - 12:00
This Second Sunday of Lent, two texts will guide our worship. The first featuring Abram and Sarai in Genesis Chapter 12. At the end of Genesis 11, all things pointed to death for this couple, and then in chapter 12 all things point towards life. In chapter 11 they were without direction. At the beginning of Chapter 12 they were called to new adventure. The rest of their lives would be spent seeking the God who first called them. In the gospel lesson, Nicodemus comes seeking Jesus in the cover of night. Both men are Rabbi’s, and Nicodemus is curious about Jesus’s teaching. The result is an invitation from Jesus to Nicodemus to be born again. In both texts God casts an invitation for new life. In Lent, in all times really, God casts an invitation to all for new life. Are you curious? May our worship be a time of seeking God’s newness, to begin again.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Lenten Organ Series
2023-03-02 12:00 - 2023-03-30 13:00
Make sure to keep an eye out for these dates. Our Lenten Organ Series kicked off on March 2 and will continue throughout the season of Lent. Please join us!

March 9
Marilyn Ossentjuk, Organist and Minister of Music at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Kalamazoo

March 16
Dr. Andrew Meagher, Pastoral Musician, St. Kieran’s Catholic Church, Shelby Township

March 23
Dr. Thomas Fielding, Director of Music at St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo

March 30
Mi Zhou, Doctoral Student in Organ Performance at the University of Michigan and Mayumi Naramura, Graduate Student in Early Keyboard Instruments at the University of Michigan

SEEKING: HONEST QUESTIONS FOR A DEEPER FAITH
2023-02-26 10:00
“Who Will You Listen To?”
Are you distracted? What are the messages that fill your days? Do you listen to the demands of “do more” and “be more?” The season of Lent calls us to slow our pace, make space for silence and reflection, and have ears and hearts to listen to the still, small voice of God. Our worship series for Lent is about the spiritual discipline of seeking and asking the questions that will lead us to a deeper faith. On this first Sunday of Lent, we ask, “Who will you listen to?” To be faith filled seekers we must maintain a posture of listening that allows us to stay open and curious rather than closed and calloused. Our Ash Wednesday worship was cancelled due to an ice storm. We will have an imposition of ashes as part of our worship. If you are joining us online, please find something to symbolize ashes. Come, worship and hear Love calling your name.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Grief & Being Present to the Process in Hope: The Blessing of Light
2023-02-19 10:00 - 11:30
Join us this Sunday in worship. We celebrate the transfiguration of Jesus as we ascend the mountain with Peter, James, and John to witness Jesus the Christ revealed in dazzling glory. The disciples may have other mountain treks on their minds, as mountaintop experiences are marked with significance, change, and greater understandings of the one named “I Am.” This week we conclude our worship series on “Grief and Being Present to the Process in Hope.” As we are present to our past and current grief, we also embrace the grace of transfiguration that offers us eyes and hearts to see the divine presence within the world and within ourselves. As we seek to be reflections of divine love and light, we light individual candles of prayer that will join in a collective light that is a witness to the potential of resurrection. If you worship with us online, please bring a candle to your worship space. Let us experience this dazzling light and trust that God can transfigure us.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Grief & Being Present to the Process in Hope: Releasing
2023-02-12 10:00 - 12:00
light candles? How can we be open to the spirit moving through us as we move through darkness? How do we find space for rest? Anointing?
Grief can come with being overwhelmed by life’s demands. During the pandemic the lines between “home space” and “workspace” were blurred and remain so. When the world opened up, for many, the pace of life moved quickly from zero to one hundred and it feels as though we cannot catch up or catch a break. We grieve for a slower time, and for the opportunities to notice one another, to pay attention, to love, and to be loved. God’s intention was never for us to work and consume 24/7. God’s intention was, and is, for us to have space to rest, to play, to release, and to renew. It’s called SABBATH, and it is a practice grounded firmly within our scriptures. Come to worship this day and learn to live a SABBATH Centered Life.

Grief & Being Present to the Process in Hope: Prayers
2023-02-05 10:00 - 11:00
“While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God.“ ~Hebrews 5: 7
Join us this Sunday in worship
We are beginning to move forward after the intensities of pandemic living. Yet, we may experience lingering grief. Grief is more easily named if we have experienced a great loss but when the loss comes about more subtlety, or it is layered we may be confused by our lack luster approach to living. Grief is inevitable because loss and disappointment are inevitable experiences of life. This week we begin a short series on grief, and we ask ourselves “how do we let grief heal us rather than devastate us in the long run?” Jesus sighs, cries, laments, even groans but does not let sorrow hinder his passion for life. His responses to grief and the grief of others can help us to heal and to help others who grieve. Prayer is healing and facilitates a release of the multitude of emotions felt in grieving. Let us pray. Let us heal. Let us worship Christ, the healer of our every ill.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Laity Sunday
2023-01-29 10:00 - 11:00
Join us this Sunday in worship
This is Laity Sunday, and our worship will be based on Paul’s first letter to Corinthians (1: 10-18)
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul emphasizes the importance of unity and harmony within the community of believers. He writes in chapter 1, verse 10, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. Paul goes on to explain that this unity is not just a nice idea, but is essential for the effectiveness of the church’s mission.
The Corinthian church like our current society was plagued by divisions and factions, with different groups fighting for power and recognition. In his letter Paul reminds them that this kind of behavior is not in line with the teachings of Jesus, and that true unity can only be achieved through humility and a shared commitment to the gospel.
Lay Leaders, Tammy Eaton and Donna Dunyak, will be putting effort into organizing and promoting small group activities this year to create community and a means to build relationships within our congregation.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

January 22, 2022 The Invitation
2023-01-22 10:00 - 11:00
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” ~Matthew 4: 23
Jesus is on the move. He has emerged from the wilderness, and he begins his ministry with an undeniable energy. His movement is invitational, and he meets people right where they are living their lives in ordinary ways. His invitation beckons people to dare to believe in the possibility of collective change. He feeds those who are hungry for justice, and he claims those who have been outcast and despised. He is love on the move. This Spirit of Christ still moves in and around us. We are invited each day, to come and follow and allow the life of Christ to grow in us. Will we hear the summons and answer?

End Gun Violence Michigan Conference
2023-01-18 12:30 - 17:00
End Gun Violence Conference January 18th 2023

No matter what your political views are, there is no denying there is a huge problem with gun safety in our country. The End Gun Violence Conference aims to explain why and how these things happen. The aim of the conference was to create awareness for legislature to pass new anti-gun laws. No, no one is taking anyone’s guns away but rather these laws aim at preventing disasters from happening, there is a long way before we get to the point where gun violence is a non-issue.
End Gun Violence Michigan is a coalition of over 130 faith and secular leaders from across the state dedicated to reducing gun violence in our state.
Rev. Julie Kline started by talking about MLK and his views on nonviolence and the juxtaposition of how he in the end got struck down by that same violence he so loudly detested. The absurdity of that still lives on today, FUMC, moms demand action and the end gun violence Michigan conference are asking for new laws and more importantly a change.
Dr. Oreste Romeo discussed the long-term impact from gunshot injuries and how it affects the psyche of communities. He emphasized that this is not a political statement, but rather common sense. He also talked about the importance of correct ownership and how mass casualties take the spotlight, but multiple casualties are largely forgotten but remain a big issue in our state.
He also emphasized the trauma doctors can have when treating children and young adults. Specifically talking about High-velocity rounds that create very significant wounds, and even with intervention, it is almost impossible to return to normal life.
Dr. Bob Beck discussed how gun violence is as an actual health epidemic it affects more than just the victims. The issue is deeper than it may seem it affects doctors, children’s parents, and the community as a whole. He also explained gun violence is the #1 leading cause of death in children in America, over health conditions, car crashes, etc. We have a moral responsibility to call for health and safety.
Rev. Heather McDougall-Walsh and the End Gun Violence Michigan conference proposed 4 main changes.

Universal background checks
Safe storage for firearms in household
Education and training for storage safety
Red Flag laws. This because of the relation between domestic violence and gun violence.

Advocates of gun safety are not about taking away the 2nd amendment rights, it is about what we can do to ensure the safety of our communities. It is this generation’s responsibility, not the next, to take action now.
Link to the whole conference.

Manna and Mercy: A Brief History of God's Unfolding Promise to Mend the Entire Universe
2023-01-15 11:00 - 2023-02-26 17:00
We are excited to announce an 8-week Bible study with Pastor Matt Weiler, beginning on Sunday, January 15th, after worship. During this study, we will walk through the Narrative Arc of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, learning to read and interpret scripture in ways that reveal God’s intentions of love and life for all of creation and humanity.
This class is open to adults and youth and while each session will stand alone, there will be a reading guide with reflection questions for any participants who wish to dig a little deeper during the week between sessions. If you would like a reading guide before the first session, please email Pastor Matt.
We hope you will join us for this exciting opportunity to grow in your understanding and knowledge of the Bible.We hope you can make it! For more information, please contact Rev. Matt at mweiler@umc-kzo.org.

2nd Sunday After the Epiphany
2023-01-15 10:00 - 11:00
Join us this Sunday!
On this Second Sunday after the Epiphany we continue in a line of Gospel readings through which we either discover, or are encouraged to seek out Jesus, the one who has come as a light for the world. This week our text picks up following Jesus’s Baptism, with John the Baptist pointing away from himself and towards Jesus. We hear a playful exchange between Jesus and two of his earliest disciples asking Jesus, “Where are you staying?” Jesus’s response sets the tone for the entire Gospel of John answering them, “Come and see.” This is the invitation of Jesus to us in this New Year, in this season of Epiphany – to “Come and See”, to discover where Jesus may be leading, and to know God more fully. Along with Jesus’s invitation to Come and see” let the opening line of our Psalm be our guide, “I waited patiently for the Lord…”
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Christian Nationalism & Dominionism
2023-01-15 08:00 - 2023-02-15 17:00
“Christian Nationalism” and “Dominionism” in discussions about the intersection of religion and politics in our current society. But what exactly do these terms refer to, and how do they impact our daily lives? If you’re looking to gain a deeper understanding of these movements, then you’ll be interested in a new Academy Class that’s being offered from January 15th through February 5th, taught by John Boley. In this class, you’ll learn more about the origins and beliefs of Christian Nationalism and Dominionism, as well as the ways in which they influence our society and culture. Additionally, you will also explore the implications of these movements on our politics, economy and society at large. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your knowledge and become more informed about these issues that are affecting us all. Join John Boley’s class, and take the first step in understanding and becoming aware of the impact of Christian Nationalism and Dominionism on our nation.

Baptism of the Lord
2023-01-08 10:00 - 11:00
Join us this Sunday in worship as we learn of the Baptism of the lord.
As we celebrate the love of God, let us set aside the struggle and instead embrace acceptance – both for ourselves and for others. Let us remember that Jesus was named and claimed by God, and we too are called to live into this same identity. May the splash of baptismal water upon our foreheads serve as a reminder of the love and grace that surrounds us, and may we carry this love into the world as we offer acceptance and belonging to all those around us.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am. Before you join us for in person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Chosen Home: First Sunday after Christmas
2023-01-01 10:00 - 23:30
Join us for worship on New Year’s Day, the 2nd Sunday of Christmas. We will continue singing some of the favorite Christmas carols in our hymnal, hear the story of the Wise One’s who followed the star to Bethlehem, and share the bread and cup of communion. Pastor Matt will be preaching a sermon titled “Plagiarized Epiphany”, as we look towards the season of Epiphany.

There will not be Nursery, Godly Play, or Sunday School for children. But children are welcome to attend worship on these two holidays Sundays in the sanctuary with their families! Nursery, Godly Play, and Sunday School return Sunday, January 8, 2023.

Join us in person or online for worship. Before you join us for in-person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Christmas Day
2022-12-25 10:00 - 11:00
We want to extend a warm and heartfelt invitation to join us for our Christmas day service.
We will come together as a community to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the love and hope that His arrival brings. The service will be filled with the sounds of carols and the readings of beloved scripture passages, as well as a message of joy and peace.
We believe that Christmas is a time to come together and remember the greatest gift of all: the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Whether you are a regular attendee or are new to our community, we would love for you to be a part of this special day with us.
We hope that you will consider joining us for this celebration of faith and love. We look forward to seeing you there!
As we open ourselves to worship, remember that this is not really our day or the family’s day. This is about Jesus. First and foremost, this is the day when the distance between heaven and earth was removed and God set up camp among us; God moved into the neighborhood or “tented among us,” which is proclaimed in the Gospel of John. It is about the closeness of the living presence of God, incarnate in the one we call Jesus.

This Service will not be live streamed!

11:00 pm Service Carols & Communion (4 pm and 11 pm services are canceled. We will still have 7 pm )
2022-12-24 23:00 - 2022-12-25 00:30
Lessons, Carols, and Communion.Nursery not available
Mary and Joseph are journeying even though she is in the last stages of her pregnancy. They travel to be counted in the census; it is a fulfillment of their civic duty. As the time comes for the birth, they need a safe place. There is no room and yet, one person finds a space, extends an unexpected and holy invitation. Jesus is born into this world without an invitation, but his birth only comes into fruition because repeatedly, humanity says “yes” to unexpected blessings and guests. On this Christmas Eve, may we make room in our own lives for the holy. As we raise our candles amid a darkened night, we sing our hopes of a dawn of redeeming grace. Let us celebrate this holiest of nights and find ourselves invited home.
Join us in person or online for worship. Before you join us for in-person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service: Lessons & Carols
2022-12-24 19:00 - 20:30
Important update for the 4pm and 11Pm Service!
Due to inclement weather, the 4pm and 11pm services on Christmas Eve have been cancelled. However, we will still be holding a service at 7pm, which will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person. We are still having Sunday service at 10 am tomorrow.
Scripture lessons and Christmas carols with the choir, organ, and brass ensemble. Make sure you join us in person or online, this Service will be livestreamed.
Mary and Joseph are journeying even though she is in the last stages of her pregnancy. They travel to be counted in the census; it is a fulfillment of their civic duty. As the time comes for the birth, they need a safe place. There is no room and yet, one person finds a space, extends an unexpected and holy invitation. Jesus is born into this world without an invitation, but his birth only comes into fruition because repeatedly, humanity says “yes” to unexpected blessings and guests. On this Christmas Eve, may we make room in our own lives for the holy. As we raise our candles amid a darkened night, we sing our hopes of a dawn of redeeming grace. Let us celebrate this holiest of nights and find ourselves invited home.
Join us in person or online for worship. Before you join us for in-person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

4:00 pm service Children & Family Worship (4 pm and 11 pm services are canceled. We will still have 7 pm)
2022-12-24 16:00 - 17:00
This service will include a sweet and simple retelling of the night of Jesus’ birth and the singing of Christmas Carols.
Mary and Joseph are journeying even though she is in the last stages of her pregnancy. They travel to be counted in the census; it is a fulfillment of their civic duty. As the time comes for the birth, they need a safe place. There is no room and yet, one person finds a space, extends an unexpected and holy invitation. Jesus is born into this world without an invitation, but his birth only comes into fruition because repeatedly, humanity says “yes” to unexpected blessings and guests. On this Christmas Eve, may we make room in our own lives for the holy. As we raise our candles amid a darkened night, we sing our hopes of a dawn of redeeming grace. Let us celebrate this holiest of nights and find ourselves invited home.
Childcare will be available during this service.
Join us in person for this special Christmas Eve service. Before you join us for in-person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.

Advent Academy Class (week 4 of 4)
2022-12-18 11:00 - 12:30
Prepare the Way of the Lord!
In each of the Gospels, the story of Jesus is intertwined with that of his cousin John, the one whom the prophets foretold would come to “prepare the way of the Lord.” For centuries, Christians have turned to the story and message of John the Baptist in the weeks leading up to Christmas. In this video-based class, Rev. Adam Hamilton explores the Advent themes of John’s life and ministry and how John calls all followers of Jesus to prepare our hearts for his coming. When we hear the message of John the Baptist, it makes us and our world ready to receive Christ. John Clark will facilitate the discussion.

Link to the hardcover book below:
Prepare the Way of the Lord! book Rev Adam Hamilton

Fourth Sunday of Advent Close to Home: Seeking Sanctuary
2022-12-18 10:00 - 11:00
Mary has received the news from the angel Gabriel that she will bear a son named Jesus, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary then travels to Elizabeth and Zechariah’s home to find refuge and absorb her new calling. With Elizabeth she receives a safe haven which allows her to open her heart and sing praises. Sanctuary is essential for all and is established anywhere God’s love dwells freely and abundantly.
Praises on this morning will be sung by the First Beats musical ensemble as they present the Christmas musical “Room for Christmas.” Through this musical the children will lead us to discover the true joy and wonder of Christmas by making room for what really matters. Come and worship and let us experience the love and wonder offered by the advent of Christ.
Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10 am. Before you join us for in-person worship, please review our updated mask optional practice.
