February 11, 2019
Popeye the Sailor Man loved to declare that “I am what I am and that’s all that I am!” (He also ate a lot of canned spinach which was sorta gross and weird). Long before Popeye, St. Paul ran around saying the same thing. After being saved by grace, Paul devoted his life to building faithful, reckless communities of faith willing to risk it all in order to reach others with the gospel.
Scripture: Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11
Song: "Here We Are" written by Nate Bergengren; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
February 4, 2019
Not too long after his notoriety begins to rise, Jesus visits his hometown and is met with skepticism and bewilderment. “Didn’t we grow up with this guy?” Jesus reminds the gathered hometown crowd that he isn’t going to give them any kind of advantage just because he is “one of them."
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10; Luke 4:21-30
Song: "Good Good Father" written by A. Brown & P. Barrett; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
January 29, 2019
Jesus returns home and is invited to speak at the worship service that weekend. He did a great job reading the scriptures and everyone was so pleased with this hometown boy. If only someone would have given the benediction at that moment so everyone could enjoy the coffee and cookies like they did after every other service. You won’t believe what happens next!
Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Luke 4:14-30
Song: "What A Beautiful Name" written by B. Fielding & B. Ligertwood; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
January 21, 2019
There's no cliché for this one. In honor and recognition of MLK, Jr. weekend, Chad and Natalia preach back and forth from selections from “The Drum Major Instinct” by Martin Luther King Jr. and we experience the power and relevance of these words in a new way...
Scripture: Amos 5:18-24; Mark 10:35-40
Song: "God of Justice" written by Tim Hughes; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
January 14, 2019
When we made promises to these students long ago, we were serious about seeing it through. Back then, they were unable to speak for themselves and yet they heard the promise of being "sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ, forever." Today, a piece of that promise has been honored. Now, we get to hear their words as they respond to that promise, and we take the next step in faith together...
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Song: "We Are Called (let us not forget)" written by Nate Bergengren; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
January 7, 2019
What would it take you to leave all logic behind and follow? That’s the story we have in front of us for this Epiphany Sunday. Epiphany, which means reveal, is a season in the church that begins today, and teaches us to look for the many ways in which God is revealed to us through the world and those around us. It’s also handy that this season begins at a time of year where resolutions and intentions are abundant. So what star will you follow? And how will God be revealed to you this year?
Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12
Song: "What A Beautiful Name" written by B. Fielding & B. Ligertwood; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
December 31, 2018
Every Christmas tends to function like a kind of time machine, taking us back to every other Christmas we remember. Today we are reminded that Christmas also keeps moving forward, calling us into a future filled with hope and promise.
Scripture: Psalm 148; Luke 2:41-52
Song: "Love Came Down" written by Brian Johnson, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
VIDEO: An Unexpected Christmas
December 10, 2018
Russian bots, fake news, fact checkers, Snopes, Urban Legend… It feels like finding the truth has become a bit more challenging these days. The bible talks a lot about the truth. I wonder how John the baptist would get his message across today? Can we face the truth even when it hurts?
Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
Song: "Even So Come" written by C. Tomlin, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
December 3, 2018
Last year, Pr Chad reminded us that Advent was a promise, not a threat. How can we say that when this text is in front of us today? This certainly seems less than hopeful doesn’t it? Advent means arrival. Something is on it’s way - and today Jesus is telling us just what to look for.
Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-32
Song: "Here We Are" written by Nate Bergengren; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
November 26, 2018
[10:30am gathering] A few times a year, we depart from our usual preaching schedule and hand over the mic to… you. So you can ask any and all questions pertaining to faith, community, theology. And we see what happens. We adjust the usual format of our worship service in order to leave as much time as possible for our pastors to respond to the questions of the day. Though there is no "sermon" the message is loud and clear... God meets us in our uncertainty, fear and even doubt, and gives us some good news to share.
Scripture: John 18:33-37
Song: "Come Thou Fount" written by D. Crowder, et al.; performed by the Prince of Peace worship band
