Do you ever feel like you are stuck in a perpetual winter? Okay. Maybe now is not the best time to ask on the first full week of January when the outside temperatures are in the single digits. But then again, maybe it IS the best time to ask, because I’m not talking about an …
A Call to Worship
By Katie Kafka Here we are. At the beginning of the 2020 Advent season. As I take a moment to notice the shape of my heart, I find myself craving more Jesus and less world. It has become essential for me to make certain there is time in my day when I can lay aside …
Better Than Moses
By Gail Peo Last week Kathy asked us: “Have you ever found yourself putting your hope and trust in things other than God?” In our study of Hebrews this week (Hebrews 3:1-4:13), we considered the fact that Jesus is “Better than Moses.” Now, we don’t tend to worship Moses today, but the first readers of …
Gracious and Merciful God
By Carey Helmink The last time we were together, I was anticipating my daughter’s wedding. Today finds us on the other side of that wonderful celebration. So many special memories from that event. A couple of days before the wedding, I said to my daughter, “Let’s just assume that things will not go as planned, …
Awaken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XI2cTwJ6ok Our theme for this year is AWAKEN and we plan to help you wake up, beginning in practical ways . . . The coffee will be ready by 8:45. The room will be set. Moms, you can drop your kids off in their rooms.Catch up with a friend, read over your lesson, focus on …
Never Forget
By Carey Helmink As a musician, probably one of my greatest fears is “forgetting.” As a piano major in college, we had something called “juries” every semester. And it really was as horrifying as it sounds. Numerous pages of music had to be memorized and played for a “jury” of professors so you could receive …
A Meditation on Psalm 16
During our Worship Time this week, Carey Helmink led us through Psalm 16. If you weren't able to join us, take a few minutes from your day to read the words of this song and answer the questions. PSALM 16 “Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.” (v.1) In …
Blessing or Curse?
By Carey Helmink In one of Max Lucado’s books, he shares a folk tale called "The Woodcutter’s Wisdom." Basically it is a story about a poor, elderly man in a village and the events that take place in his life. At one point several beautiful, wild horses wander into the village and settle on his …
Deliver Us
One final request hangs ominously in the last verse of Matthew’s record of the Lord’s Prayer, “deliver us from the evil one.” For if we need deliverance, that means we have been caught by an enemy. Yes, we have an enemy - the devil. He is the Father of Lies, a disrupter of peace, a twister …
Our Great God
This week one of our teachers, Sara Eyster, shared her thoughts on the topic What Worship Means to Me. I know you will be blessed by what she had to say. What a good exercise for each of us to pursue. What does worship mean to you? It’s a personal exercise and a revealing one--even a …