The first Sunday of the New Year is traditionally the week when we turn our attention to the story of the Magi. These visitors are not what anyone would have expected — and they create a stark contrast when held up against Herod and the religious leaders. Ultimately, it’s a story posing the question: empire […]
The Branch is officially 20! Join us on January 11 from 10am-noon as we look back and celebrate 20 years together. There will be music, pictures, memories to share, collective art to create, snacks…and of course cake! A lot has happened in 20 years. There have been highs and lows and everything in between. But […]
Christmas Eve – 5pm Sunday after Christmas: Potluck brunch and carols This Advent, we’ll be considering four stories from Jesus’ birth narratives. Sanctified Art, whose poetry and art we will use throughout the series, outlines the series this way: Luke’s Gospel begins the story of Jesus with this opening line: “In the time of […]
On November 9 we invited the community to join us a local pizza shop to consider The Future of Christianity. From the gathering: A pdf version of the slide deck can be found here. An audio recording is on our podcast. Additional Resources: One of our topics Sunday night was Empire. Interestingly, I’ve had a […]
With surprising regularity, humans choose to live in a way that harms others and/or themselves, not to mention the planet. And no one is immune. Every. Single. Person knows what it is to “feed the compulsions of selfishness” (Galatians 5:16, The Message). Today, we see all too well the poisonous outcomes of such a choice […]
NOTE: August 24 – 10:00am We’re taking a field trip! A member of our community, Dale Hulst, has been building a net-zero home on the NE side of the city. This home is cutting edge in its construction – and has been visited by local and state-wide politicians, building groups, architects so that they can […]
Summer has a different rhythm in Michigan. We lean into this unique time by gathering on Sundays in different ways during the summer. August 24 – 10:00am – Field Trip! A member of our community, Dale Hulst, started a company and has been building a net-zero home on the NE side of the city. This […]
Sunday, May 25 – 10:00-11:15am 9:45am – meet at building (973 28th St. SE) for coffee and donuts 10:00am – walk down to Mackay/Jaycee Park We’re partnering with the Alger/Garfield Green Team to clean up wooded areas in the park. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, considering bringing a pair of gloves. We’ll have […]
Here’s what we have planned this weekend. Good Friday – 7pm This poignant evening invites us into the final hours of Jesus’ life. We’ll share the bread and cup of the Last Supper, as well as other foods commemorating the feast of Passover, as Jesus would have with his disciples. We’ll then turn to the […]
Janelle offers insight into Luke 13 – the story of the fig tree. It’s a story filled with tension, a call, and hope.
In this moment of great upheaval, we need each other to help us stand up and find our way forward. We’re holding three conversations on what a Christian response might be to the first 100 days of the current administration. So much has changed — too much to keep track of — yet we must […]
Join us the week of June 16 from 6:30-8:30 pm for a week of creativity and fun! Classes will be in session Monday-Wednesday. We’ll take a break Thursday night in observance of Juneteenth. And then we’ll come back on Fridya night for a party to celebrate creativity! Friends and family are invited to see what […]
Fabulous February Fundraiser: Prize Winners! Gift Cards Pupusaria Las Comadres gift certificate ($40) Winner: Janelle DeBlaay The Gilmore Collection gift card ($50) Winner: Kroondyk family Bonefish Grill gift card ($50) Winner: Nate and Andrea DeWard Amazon gift card ($50) Winner: Mindi and Kevin Freng Old Goat gift card ($50) Winner: Phil Ackley Brass Ring 2 […]
Step 1: Purchase your favorite squares! Fundraiser starts February 12 @ 6PM Squares are purchased first come first serve by going to the FB Event Page. Do you have a favorite number, a child’s birthdate, anniversary? Pick as many numbers as you want! We have squares numbered from 1 to 125, with each square priced […]
In the first week of a three week series, licensed therapist Bethany Ackley DeBlaay (MA, LLP, SEP) invites us to see our emotions as hardwired, autonomic responses to the world around us. If we are to integrate our emotions, we first need to understand that they are automatically happening all the time, whether we are […]
In November, we gathered at a local pizza shop to hear from a licensed therapist on how we might better understand and integrate our emotions. We had a lot of great feedback, but we also knew we had just scratched the surface. In response, we’re taking part of time during three Sundays in January to […]
October 6 – Alternatives to Christian Nationalism What happens when a growing number of Americans believe that the United States was and should be a Christian nation? That being a Christian is important if you want to be a real American? We’ll look at the roots and dangers of Christian Nationalism, and share thoughtful alternatives […]
