Month: November 2023

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“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved”
-Psalm 80:19

And for now, we wait. This first Sunday of Advent brings us back to texts of lament and breakthrough, as we wait. As I read through the Old Testament reading from Isaiah and the gospel from Mark I was struck by the tearing open of the heavens and the falling of the stars. In Isaiah it’s lament as the people wait for God to bring deliverance and to make them a people renewed, in Mark it’s waiting as Jesus encourages his followers to look forward to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering. But it’s the Psalm that brings is all together for me, I wonder if it’s when the heavens open and the stars fall upon us that we will then see His face, shining upon us, and we shall be saved.

As we await the birth of Christ I hope that we find ourselves looking towards the heavens and guided by a God of wonder who comes to us first in lowly manger, as the most vulnerable, and who will come again in glory to usher us into his eternal kingdom. It’s a lot to think about, the beginning and the end, the incarnate breaking through in ways that are seen and unseen. I hope that as we enter into this season, we can find wonder in the beginning and the end and all that we experience in the time of waiting and hope.

-Pastor Carrie Baylis

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“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Matthew 25:35 

Jesus tells this parable about the end times and the last judgement. I’m not sure what to make of the judgement and the separation of sheep from the goats, good from bad and all of that. But I can’t help but think that the standards this story sets are right. There is something very good, I think, about a God who will judge the world according to how we treated the most vulnerable among us. God cares about the poor, the hungry, the sick, the naked and the imprisoned. God sends us out to be his hands and feet to care for them. I’m happy to serve a God with these values.  

–Pastor Travis Norton

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“Master, you handed over to me fine talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him. “Well done, good and trustworthy slave.” Matthew 25:20 

We quote this passage a lot. “Well done good and faithful servant.” The passage is about how we spend our life as we wait for Jesus to come back. Do we use what God has given to advance His mission, or do we live in fear and make no progress while Jesus is away? The talent was a form of money, but it can be a symbol of anything. I take it as a symbol of our whole lives. Take stock of all your abilities, opportunities, charisma, intelligence, interests, gifts. How can you employ those things in the interests of God’s work? That’s how we prepare for Jesus’ return. 

–Pastor Travis Norton

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Matthew 25: 1-13
Sermon Series: People Get Ready

Already and not yet…
This week we begin a new sermon series “People Get Ready”.  As we close in on the end of the church year our scripture points us in the direction of Christ’s return.  It points us that way reminding us that we don’t know when his return will be, yet our lives should be shaped by the uncertainty that it could come at any moment.  People be ready.

This week our text is the parable of the bridesmaids.  The bridesmaids were gathered and heading to meet the bridegroom.  They brought lamps with them, but only half brought extra oil.  They didn’t know the bridegroom would be delayed and they would be waiting.  Those who brought the extra oil were prepared for the delay and for the eventual arrival of the bridegroom. 

We have been waiting for the return of Christ for over 2000 years now.  When was the last time you thought about his return or how you might be prepared?  It’s hard to wait.  It’s especially hard to wait in this day of instant gratification.  So let’s explore what it means to wait expectantly and prepare ourselves for Christ who comes to us already and not yet.

-Pastor Carrie Baylis

Looking for last weeks worship? You can find it here!