Unity Presbyterian - Denver, NC

Another way we try to understand our indescribable God is by equating God to a loving parent. A nurturing mother. A loving father. A mentor we can follow. Someone who wants the best for us, who guides us and has our best interests in mind. We will look at this metaphor of God as our parent this week in worship as we continue our Indescribable God series.

We try to describe an immense God by giving him certain attributes and using similes and metaphors. In the second week of our series "Indescribable God," Pastor David takes a look at God as the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd watches over his flock, caring for them and making sure their needs are met and that predators are kept away.

How do you describe the indescribable? Throughout the Bible, the authors use metaphors to try to give us ideas about God - God is like a rock, or a loving father, or a lamb, or the wind. These give us a picture of a specific attribute of God. This week, Pastor David looks at God as our foundation, a steadfast rock on which we can always rely.

It's the third week of Advent and our characters this week are the Shepherds. These were outcasts, the poorest on the fringe of society, yet they were the first to hear of the birth of the Christ Child. Why were they chosen? What do we learn about how to treat others by looking at the shepherds? Who around us needs to be seen and needs the kindness of Christmas?

As we continue to look at the Characters of Christmas, Pastor Dana takes a look at Mary and Joseph. What trust did they have to have in the angels and in the promises of God? Do we put our trust in God or are we so skeptical that we miss the miracles God has planned for us?

The season of Advent begins this week, where we will take a look at the Characters of Christmas. We begin with the prophets, and their promise of the coming Messiah. 

This week in worship, we finish the story of Joseph as he comes face to face with his brothers after 20 years. How does he respond? Will he repay them for their evil toward him? Or will he find a way to reconciliation? And what about us? When evil is done to us, do we respond by putting out more evil in the world or can we find a way to bless our enemies? 

This week in worship we continue our series on Joseph as we find Joseph in prison on a false charge. But God is still working for good in his life, and his fortune is about to change. How does Joseph go from prison to the #2 guy in charge of the whole country? Join us and find out!

What does it mean to live a life of integrity? It means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. This week, we continue the story of Joseph and learn that the actions you take today have an effect on the future.

This Sunday we begin a new series on the life of Joseph, the dreamer. He came from a very dysfunctional family where his father played favorites, his brothers tried to kill him, and yet God still used the poor choices of those around him to work for good in his life. What is your family like? Are they on your last nerve sometimes? Remember, families are a gift from God.

It's Reformation Sunday! Although that probably doesn't mean much to you, it is our chance to talk about how we should always be looking to examine ourselves as a church and as an individual. We should remember our roots, honestly look at our sins, and humbly repent. Reformation Sunday challenges us to do better.

Everything we do is for the glory of God. What does it mean to accomplish God's purposes in the world? Our answer comes in the giving that we do, our response to disasters, and to illnesses, and to the offerings of the church. This is Visioning Sunday when we begin to look ahead to what God might have in mind for 2025.

Do unto others as you wish they would do unto you. This includes everyone - even the vile and evil. Can you offer that kind of forgiveness? What does it look like to turn the other cheek when someone hasn't apologized? What about for your worst enemy? Pastor Dana takes a look at Jesus' instructions to his disciples on the way to treat everyone.

Do you sacrifice justice for peace? How can we have both? Jesus holds the tension between these two values as we explore how we might live lives of wholeness and healing.

What is the truth? In a world where so much information comes at you, how do you know what to believe? Those around Jesus had these issues, too, and Jesus had a lesson for them about truth. Let's listen to the words of Jesus to find what is true and right. 

What do you value? Consider how you might answer the question, “What are your core values?” Or “What do you value the most?” As Christians, we want to make sure our values match with Jesus’ values. Over the next five weeks, we will study the values of Jesus, beginning with the value of seeing the “other” as a neighbor. 

The Church is ekklesia, a group of people, a community, a gathering. It is all of us working together. One of us couldn't do it alone. We need each other. That not only applies to the Church of Unity but also to the greater Church around the world. We need all Christians working together to make the world a better place. What are you doing? Where do you fit in? What is your role?

This week in worship, we are talking about the church as a family. What is your family like? How do you fit in? What roles do you play in your different family systems? What are we called to do as a church family to be good family members?  Let's look at what Jesus and Paul have to say about the church as a family as we explore this metaphor. 

This week we begin a new series, taking a look at the metaphors of the church. This week, The Church is A... Body, specifically, the body of Christ. Take time to explore your own role in this church. Where is God seeking to use your gifts? Where can you deepen your involvement in God’s work?

Our last Symbol of Faith is the offering box. Giving is a spiritual discipline that reflects the state of your heart. Are you quick to give to others, or do you hold on to what you have? If it is "more blessed to give than to receive" how are you being blessed? This doesn't have to be just in terms of money, but can also be in our time and the use of our God-given talents.

This week's symbol is baptism. Do you ever think about the promises that were made for you at your baptism? Or dwell on those you made if you can remember them? Baptism is full of grace, and Pastor Dana explores the deeper symbolism of the water as it washes us clean.

This week's symbol is The Lord's Prayer. This is the example of how to pray that Jesus gave his disciples. What do the different sentences tell us about how we should pray? Do prayers even work? What do we do when they don't give us the results we want? Listen as Pastor Dana digs into this ancient text.

This week in worship, we continue to talk about the Symbols of our Faith with a look at the Apostles' Creed. Do you know why we say we believe in the holy catholic church or the communion of saints? Pastor David digs into this ancient profession of belief and why we still use it today. 

When you take communion, give offerings, or recite the Lord's Prayer or Apostles' Creed, do you know why? Do you understand what you're doing or saying or do you just go through the motions? Let's dig into these ancient practices and what they mean for us as Christians today

This week in worship, Obadiah is asked to risk his life to obey God. What risks do we take? Do we rise to the occasion or take the easy way out? Do we give God the opportunity to prove God’s faithfulness? We see the amazing results of Obadiah's faithfulness and explore the possibilities for our lives, too.