The Bible is full of stories of people and communities who have had to journey through liminal spaces. Today, are in a liminal space too — caught between the world as we knew it and an unknown future. What do these stories have to teach us? This week we look at Israel, as they journeyed […]
Here’s a portion of our time together on Easter! https://vimeo.com/407675601
We’ve all been there. In fact, we’re there right now. Liminal spaces are in-between spaces. They are seasons in which we find ourselves between one reality that has ended and another that has not yet begun. Covid-19 has caused life as we knew it to end. The world is simply not, nor will it be, […]
Sunday mornings: two options Zoom Every week at 10am we’ll continue to use Zoom in the weeks and months ahead. Here’s the link (it is the same link every week): https://zoom.us/j/864871555 Option: Sunday Morning Watch Parties With winter bearing down, watch parties are on hold for now; however, if we get a warm weekend in […]
We begin our 16 week journey through the Gospel of Mark in Chapter 1, focusing especially on the 1st half of the chapter.
For the first 16 weeks of 2020 (January to Easter) we’re going to walk through the Gospel of Mark taking one chapter a week. Our hope and desire is simple: to purposefully and thoughtfully reflect on the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth so that our lives may more reflect his. We invite you […]
This season we are about to enter is busy. Like, really insanely busy. You’re invited to take an hour to step away from it all. An hour to rest, breathe, connect. Everyone is welcome – regardless of their level of experience with yoga. The class meets at the Branch building at 7:30pm starting 12/1 and […]
As is our tradition, the first Sunday of the month is a chance to get together, connect, and enjoy some good food. This time, we’ll be having a good ol’ fashioned potluck so bring a dish to pass. We’ll provide water and place settings. We’ll start right after worship is concluded and wrap up around […]
A number of years ago my wife and I spent some time in Las Vegas. The city was remarkable. But we also knew we wanted to get to the Grand Canyon. Neither of us had ever been. So we got in our rental car and made a long day trip. After about four hours we […]
Who are you becoming? Often our growth is hard to see. We race through life not realizing that every day we are becoming a certain kind of person. Incredibly, we have a choice about how we become this certain kind of person. We can either be passive in our formation – letting whatever comes along […]
Hurricane Dorian was a massive storm. Its power was felt for two long weeks. From the severe destruction on the islands of the Bahamas to the wind, rain, and flooding in parts of the southeast US still actively recovering from previous storms, this storm’s impact will be felt for years to come. Hurricane Dorian left […]
Life is busy. The demands seem endless. So much is clamoring for our attention. Which means it is all too easy to lose focus of the things we say matter. This is true for individuals and for groups — including churches. That’s why we’re taking four Sundays to consider again the things we’ve said are […]
a·tone·ment: the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ. We all know the image of the cross. It’s the symbol most associated with Christianity because Christ’s death is fundamental to Christianity. And yet, what exactly does Christ’s death mean? What precisely ‘happened’ in his sacrifice? Believe it or not, different Christians would answer those […]
Throughout the year, we worship with our sisters and brothers from Communidad Cristiana de Grand Rapids — and this Sunday (7/7) is one of those weeks! Join us at a different time — 11Am to noon — and stay after for drinks and snacks.
“I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 This promise — both for us and all of creation — can be hard to believe. It’s easy to only see the brokenness of our […]
Join us this week as we retrace the final days of Jesus’ life, and in doing so, find purpose and courage for our days ahead. Maundy Thursday: 6-7pm We’ll share a variation of a Seder/Passover meal — the same meal that Jesus would have shared with his disciples at the Last Supper. Kids are encouraged […]
Lent. A six week period that ushers us towards Easter. A time of reflection and surrender. A gift. This year, we’ll use James Bryan Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Life to frame our conversation on Sundays. AND…we invite you to join with others for the six weeks of Lent in one of these three […]
Hope is the fuel that propels us into the future. That may seem a bit cliche, or perhaps overstated, but we all know the darkness that settles in when hope is gone. For the next three weeks we will turn our attention to what is propelling us into the future. We’ll consider what unique role […]
We all love something. And whatever we love, we will pursue (i.e. worship). Now, here’s the thing. We probably all know what we should love. But is knowing enough? (I may know that I should love foods low in fat, but…). Does just having the right information actually lead us to pursuing the right thing? As […]
The dominant theme of the Scriptures is one of renewal; of a God determined to create and recreate a world in which peace, justice, beauty and love reign. And our mission as a church is to be a community that is joined with God in that restoration. And yet, renewal can feel elusive. Brokenness often […]
