Bread, Bath and Beyond: Beyond the Boundaries – Feb 4, 2018

     Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of
him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching–with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” Mark 1:21-28

Sometimes we are captured by the boundaries of our own making. Things have become so toxic in our lives that we are bound, imprisoned, by them. Today, along with the awestruck worshiping community in the scripture story, we experience the power of Jesus to call out unclean spirits–those things that rage within us, limiting our ability to love and grow. We can lean on the authority of Jesus in our lives to conquer and be freed to move beyond our boundaries.

 

Bread, Bath and Beyond: Beyond the Horizon – Jan 28, 2018

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea–for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:14-20

The scriptures today tell of the calling of fishermen on the shores of the Sea of Galilee to leave their work and follow Jesus. He is calling them to work they probably never in a million years imagined themselves doing. For years they had sailed that sea, perhaps never thinking what was beyond the horizons, beyond the distant shores. Where is Jesus calling us that just might be beyond the horizons we now see for ourselves?

Bread, Bath and Beyond: Beyond Belief – Jan 21, 2018

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1: 43-51

As this season progresses, we will see people discovering this remarkable man named “Jesus of Nazareth.” The people had been waiting so long for a Messiah that it was hard to believe for some that the Savior had come out of a little town like Nazareth, much less the son of a common carpenter. How can we go beyond our own beliefs and assumptions about where God shows up? Can we move beyond these to open our eyes to the holy in unexpected places and people?

Bread, Bath and Beyond: Bath – Jan 14, 2018

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then Paul said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” Acts 19:1-7

Christian baptism is rife with meaning. Paul invites the early believers depicted in the Acts story to go beyond one teaching of baptism into the fullness of living in the Spirit of Christ available to them. On this day we remember our baptism and affirm the Spirit that lives and moves and breathes through us–offering power and strength beyond what we think we have.

Bread, Bath and Beyond: Bread

“While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.'” — Matthew 26:26

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” … Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” Rev 21:1-6a

As Christians, we believe that when we gather around the communion table to remember the last night Jesus was with his disciples in the Upper Room, it is beyond just an “historical” remembering. It is also a remembering “into the future.” We gather around the table with all who have ever done so, who do now, and who ever will do so. It is a “little heaven below” that transforms us into the One Spirit. As we stand on the precipice of the new year, we begin this series with a commitment to “break open” our lives to God’s future for us.

I Believe in New Beginnings

Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

Because we believe in the incarnation of the Christ, we believe in new beginnings, in a better world. As we look over the past year and into our future, we do so with purpose and with passion, our belief guiding our vision, utilizing a basic Watch Night Service format.

I Believe Even When . . .: I Believe Christmas Eve 7 pm

“Unto you a child is born and he will be called Prince of Peace.”

The night of mystery and awe has arrived. And Jesus is born into a world fully human and finite in its pain and beauty. And God breaks in upon our lives yet again in and through our belief of that which transcends our human limitations. We believe. We believe.

I Believe Even When . . .: I Believe Christmas Eve 4 pm

“Unto you a child is born and he will be called Prince of Peace.”

The night of mystery and awe has arrived. And Jesus is born into a world fully human and finite in its pain and beauty. And God breaks in upon our lives yet again in and through our belief of that which transcends our human limitations. We believe. We believe.

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I Believe Even When . . .: I Believe in the Light

“What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people…”

In this last week of Advent, our anticipation, our yearning, for the light is palpable. What is this growing within us? As our theme song has proclaimed, even when the sun is hidden from sight, even when love feels remote, even when we’re not sure of God’s presence… we sense that the light is coming, love is near and the holy is born yet again in the midst of the pain of life. There is hope. There is light.

I Believe Even When . . .: God is Silent

“Look, I am sending my messenger before you… he will prepare your way…”
A seeming madman named John is prophesying in the wilderness. He speaks of one who will come after him, puzzling the people. “Who are you,” ask the people. “Are you the one who will deliver us from our fear and hardship and oppression?” Often we are left wondering these same questions. At times in our lives when we feel unsure of our next steps, when fear grips us in the face of uncertainty, when we look around and wonder when God will address injustice… when God will show up and save us… we yearn for the messenger, for the way to be made plain before us.