God With Us: Shepherds (Week 4)
Listen here for the brief Christmas Eve sermon, concluding our “God With Us” series.
Christmas Eve at The Branch
Christmas Eve is one of our most anticipated gatherings and we’d love for you and your loved ones to join us. The Branch is a place where everyone is welcome.
Our time together on the 24th will include the singing of carols, a performance by our choir (and drum circle!), a dramatic reading of Christ’s birth story and the lighting of candles.
The service is kid-friendly (in fact, many kids will be leading and participating in various aspects of worship). That said, we are providing childcare for the littlest ones (birth to four years old).
The service starts at 9:30 am (yes, in the morning). We hope to see you then!
God With Us: Joseph (Week 3)
We continue our Advent series this week with Joseph’s story. What was it like to be in Joseph’s shoes? What do we learn about God and about ourselves through this story. We invite you to explore these questions and more while listening to this podcast. There are times of silence in the podcast to allow for times of reflection or discussion.
We hope you join us for worship next Sunday at 9:30 am as we celebrate Christ’s birth during our Christmas Eve worship service.
God With Us: Elizabeth and Zechariah (Week 1)
God is with those who are heartbroken, feeling lost, those who are wondering if hope has run out.
This week’s sermon was more interactive than normal, so instead of listening to the noise of our individual conversations, we invite you to have your own conversations or reflections, using the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Read Luke 1:5-25 and then reflect on these questions:
- From the text, what do we learn about Elizabeth and Zechariah?
- What can we imagine about Elizabeth and Zechariah? If we were in their shoes, what might we be feeling or thinking?
- How have you experienced (or are you currently experiencing) loss, heartache, hopelessness or confusion?
- What is God’s response to Elizabeth and Zechariah? What does it say about God?
- Let the story help you remember what is true about God. Of what truth is God trying to remind you?
God with us. God with you.
God With Us
God with us.
This is the promise of Advent. That Christ has come to be with us; to walk our earth, know our pain and guide us home. And, this same Christ is coming again to finally and fully be with us.
God with us.
Could there be anything more significant or shocking? God? Coming to us? Coming to Elizabeth and Mary? Coming to Joseph and some shepherds? This is the promise of Advent.
This December we’ll explore the people God came to in the lead up to Christ’s birth. Their stories are not all that different from ours and teach us about the ways God is with us today.
December 3 – Elizabeth and Zechariah
December 10 – Mary
December 17 – Joseph
December 24 – the Shepherds
December 31 – God’s Loyal Love to us
The Adventure of Coming Home: “I am always with you” (Week 6)
As we end our series, we look into the verse that ends the story of the prodigal sons. In verse 31, the Father says “You are always with me and everything I have is yours.”
The Adventure of Coming Home: Receiving Your True Self (Week 5)
As we start to wrap up this series, it’s our hope that many of you have been able to take a step towards home. The journey doesn’t end here, though. It’s a lifelong journey, not an overnight one. Listen here.
The Adventure of Coming Home: Discovering Your True Self (Week 4)
This week, we move from the lies of the False Self (we must earn our identity) to discovering our True Self (we can receive our identity). “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” Luke 15:31
The Adventure of Coming Home: Unmasking Your False Self (Week 3)
What mask are you wearing? This week, we dig into the hard work of uncovering the parts of ourselves that we like to keep hidden. Often, we don’t even know those parts exist. But our loving God wants more for us than the identity for which we are willing to settle.
The Adventure of Coming Home
“God is at home. It is we who have gone out for a walk.”
Meister Eckhart
The story of the prodigal son(s) in Luke 15 points us to what is true: we easily wander from home. And, when we turn back for home, God runs toward us to welcome every single part of who we are.
This is good news. And yet, turning back for home can be scary. What if we’re not welcomed? What if there are parts of ourselves that won’t be accepted? And what will we find out about ourselves on the way?
To be sure, the journey home is nothing short of an adventure. It is full of risk, uncertainty and…life. Join us as we explore what this parable teaches us about ourselves and the journey home.
The Journey Inward (Week 1)
Bringing Our Whole Selves (Week 2)
Unmasking Your False Self (Week 3)
Discovering Our True Self (Week 4)
Receiving Our True Self (Week 5)
“I am always with you” (Week 6)
Luke 15:31
Additional Resources
“The Gift of Being Yourself” by David Benner
Practicing Spiritual Practices
Transformation doesn’t come from effort alone. We can’t just hope or wish or even try really hard. Instead, we have to train ourselves into a new way of being. We have to practice.
To that end, Join us any Wednesday morning from 8-8:45am at the Garfield Park Nature Center (see map below, entrance is on Jefferson) To begin, we head into different parts of the Nature Center to practice prayer and contemplation on our own. We then gather together after a set amount of time to share any reflections. Any one is welcome any week.
Can’t make it? Below is a growing list of resources we’re using . You can engage with these at anytime, anywhere it works for you.
- Download and use the Centering Prayer app (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/centering-prayer/id844280857?mt=8). We use this most Wednesday mornings.
- Pick up a copy of Seeking God’s Face
Want more info? Email chris@thebranchonline.org
Fall at the Branch
The weather has turned cooler. The more relaxed pace of summer seems to be over. Here at The Branch, things are no different. Take a look at some of the things happening this Fall. Join us for one or join us for all. We’d love to have you!
Fall Kick-off Party
When: Saturday, Sept. 16 @ 3pm–?
Where: Oeverman and DeBlaay yard – 2020 and 2030 Madison Ave. SE
What to bring: Sign up here for food, lawn chair, any yard games you love, and blankets/pillows for the outdoor movie
Who: Everyone from the youngest member of your family to the oldest is invited.
Why: For fun! And to connect with each other as the fall season begins
BranchStudents Kick-off
When: Sunday, Sept. 17 @ 5:30
Where: Workman’s home
What to bring: any side dish to share
Who: 5th graders and older, along with their parents are invited to this first meeting of BranchStudents. (Please make other arrangements for younger siblings.)
Why: To learn more about what BranchStudents is all about
Fall Partner Gathering
When: Sunday, Sept. 24 @ 3pm
Where: Seymour Church in Alger Heights
What to bring: nothing
Who: All partners (members) and those who call the Branch home, even if not officially affiliated
Why: To discuss and reflect on the vision God has laid before us; to discern what that means for us corporately and individually
Childcare is provided. Please RSVP here.
Vision Series: Reconciled
Reconciliation finds its roots in the Latin meaning to bring back together what has been separated; to make good again. The Scriptures tell us that reconciliation is exactly what God is up to in the world, and we are called to join in that work.
The Branch is a church committed to reconciliation that is both personal, relational and moves us towards greater justice in the world. Join us each week as we not only consider where we are headed as a church, but what God may be inviting each of us to do in the months ahead.
9/10 – reconciled: me
9/17 – reconciled: you
9/24 – reconciled: us
Racial Reconciliation Training
This spring, we are offering free training aimed at helping address systemic and individual racism and bias. Our goal is “to see and learn about racism in a new and redemptive way, to gain insights into systemic racism through the eyes of faith and Scripture, to see more of the connections between history and contemporary race relations, and to identify organizing opportunities to eliminate racism, both causes and effects, within the body of believers and throughout the world.” Please join us as we pursue reconciliation in this part of the world we call home.
April 22 – Noon to 6pm
April 26 and May 3, 6-8pm*
*While we’d love to have you at all three pieces of the training, you can attend only Saturday if your schedule requires.
To register, simply check our our Facebook event and click “Tickets Available.” We look forward to your presence in our community and welcoming you into the family of the Branch!
Love Over Fear (a story)
Loving the other is rarely easy, and more than often requires more of us than we think we can give. Thanks to Jeff and Sarah for being willing to share their story of how God has been at work in and through them as they chose love over fear.
Verkaik from Chris DeBlaay on Vimeo.
Church on the Road
Join us this Sunday (2/26) at 10am as we head to RiverTree to join them in worship and have lunch together. RiverTree is located at 5625 Burlingame Ave.
KIDS: Nursery (0-2) begin the morning in nursery. Kids 3 years old and up start in worship and then are dismissed 15-20 minutes in. Parents will find the RiverKids sign in table to their left in the gym.
TEENS: all middle and high schoolers are encouraged to participate in youth group. These students are released at the same time as the younger kids.
LUNCH: bring a dish to pass! place settings and drinks will be provided
Unity, Liberty, Charity: Week 2
In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, LIBERTY. In all things, charity.
This week we look at how to allow freedom of thought and freedom of will in things that are non-essential.
Please utilize the handout below to fully engage with this message.
Unity, Liberty, Charity: Week 1
We begin this series by looking at Christ’s unmistakable call to unity. We also work to reclaim the often forgotten truth that there is much more that binds us together than separates us, even in this debate.
We also strongly encourage you to engage with these questions and readings this week to further reflect on this issue and prepare you for the next week:
New Year’s Breakfast
Welcome the New Year with us as we share breakfast before worship. Come anytime after 8:30am.
Sure, it’s a bit early, but we’re keeping things low-key and simple.
Click here to sign up for something to bring.
Merry Christmas!
Over the last month we’ve been humbled and grateful as the Branch has repeatedly been an extension of Christ to the world. Here’s a snapshot of ways in which God has worked through us to spread the Good News:
In the last month, our kids gave offerings totaling $175 to purchase 5 pairs of shoes, 3 mosquito nets and 1 set of new bedsheets & blanket for kids with Kenya Matters (we know that many of you also purchased items from the gift catalog)!
We came together to ensure a Congolese refugee family of six had all the winter gear they needed.
We were approached by a school social worker about a GR mother of four who was in need of basics (bedding, underwear, socks). We used resources from our Helping Hands Fund (a fund completely supported by your gifts) to provide the needed items as well as a gift card that would give her the ability to purchase gifts for her kids.
And, this week we’ll write year-end gifts to our two ministry partners: Frontline Recovery and Kenya Matters.
We use the pronoun “we” throughout this email because each expression of love was possible because of God’s work through us. This wasn’t about individual efforts or solo heroes, but a community of people doing their best to listen to and respond to what God is doing around them.
Thank you for being a part of the Branch and making a difference in the world around you.
Merry Christmas!
