What more could we ask than to gaze upon your beauty with eyes and heart of faith in our journeying with you. In times of plenty and in times of want, in lofty places and low you keep us safe, secure from harm. What more could we ask than to gaze upon your beauty with […]
Forgive us, gracious God, when we tire of the journey and wander from the path; when our heart is set not on the goal toward which you point but toward a distant shore that offers a temporary comfort. Forgive us when the light that once shone within our soul is dimmed; when first love is […]
Your love does not fade as we choose to walk a different path, or listen to voices persuading us to put faith aside and pick up instead a forbidden fruit. Your love is constant and accepting. Your love is merciful and forgiving. Your love is grace-full and inspiring. Your love is… Your love is… all […]
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who […]
Have mercy upon us, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercies, blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin. For we know our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and put a […]
Come, all who are thirsty says Jesus, our Lord, come, all who are weak, taste the living water that I shall give. Dip your hands in the stream, refresh body and soul, drink from it, depend on it, for this water will never run dry. Come, all who are thirsty says Jesus, our Lord.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23, 24
Join the Refugee Mission Circle this Sunday, March 3, at 6:30 for dinner and conversation about this mission circle’s purpose and work. It’s a great chance to connect with others — hear about what this MC will be doing — and discover how you could join in. Kids are welcome — no need to […]
This Friday, March 1st, from 7pm to 9pm at the building our third mission circle invites everyone to an evening of great food and conversation. Come and learn more about this mission circle, which is interested in helping the arts community — specifically artists — here in Grand Rapids. At this meal we’ll share more […]
After months of careful thought, honest discussion and God’s leading, we are excited to enter into a relationship with Beechwood Reformed Church…
Loving Father, all the fancy words in the world, expressed in eloquent prose, decorated with emotion, spoken with conviction, cannot compete with a heartfelt ‘sorry’ when all other words fail. There are times when we are all too aware of our limitations, conscious of sin, and the distance it creates between us. Sometimes ‘sorry’ is […]
O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to delight in Thee, to follow and […]
Forgive those things we have done which have caused you sadness, and those things we should have done that would have brought you joy. In both we have failed ourselves, and you. Bring us back to that place where our journey began, when we said that we would follow the way that you first trod. […]
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith and a generosity of service that gives without counting cost. A life overflowing with Grace poured out from the One who gave everything, that we might show the power of love to a broken world, and share the truth from a living Word. Lord, grant us simplicity of faith, […]
Lord, we would grow with you New shoots reaching out Hands stretched upward Like leaves newly formed Soaking up your light and warmth Lord, we would grow with you Lord, we would grow with you In sunshine and rain In darkness and light In cold days and summer days From Springtime to Winter Lord, we […]
I prayed “Please Lord, my life is a mess, let your love flow through me and bring healing.” And like a river cool refreshing water you flowed through me. Not as a gentle stream, a rivulet of hope, but a torrent, sweeping debris away. All those broken branches, rust-encrusted items, and accumulated debris, which were […]
There’s a number of reasons we use the lectionary throughout the year at the Branch. One reason is that it allows us to join with hundreds of thousands of other Christians around the world who are also using the lectionary. Reading the same passages at the same time reminds us that we are part of something much, much […]
