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 […]
Join us for our final summer BBQ and pool party on Sunday, August 18. Let us know you’re coming by signing up here: https://branch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/268994
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 […]
The Church is not a building. The Church is you and me. The work of the Church (you and me) is to bring God’s Kingdom more fully present to the places we live, play, work and worship. And so, we believe strongly in the importance of being good neighbors. Sometimes we do that together (corporately) […]
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 stories leading up to and immediately after Jesus’ birth involve a lot of coming and going. Relatives make the trek to share joy about their shocking pregnancies. About-to-be parents travel to ancestral homes and then flee as refugees. Unexpected visitors arrive from a unknown land. In the midst of all of these journeys we […]
Many of the parables of Jesus are well known, even making their way into popular culture. We have “Good Samaritan” laws, and Hallmark continues to turn out stories about a “prodigal” son or daughter who’s finally come home (or so I’ve heard). But as is often the way with Jesus, there is more to explore […]
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 […]
A few times a year — including this Sunday, September 2 — we join with our brothers and sisters at Communidad Cristiana de Grand Rapids (CCGR). These times of worship have become an incredible blessing – giving us a small glimpse into the larger Kingdom of God. We hope you can join us. The service […]
