A Deeper Dive for Authentic, Hopeful, Worshipful Faith

"I am a human being, not a human doing." - Kurt Vonnegut

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein

“Storms of every sort, torrents, earthquakes, cataclysms, 'convulsions of nature,' etc., however mysterious and lawless at first sight they may seem, are only harmonious notes in the song of creation, varied expressions of God's love.” -John Muir

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”  – African Proverb

The goal of our lives is not simply self agency or mastery but even more surrender to and embrace of God's will and being.

Tonight; we remember and anticipate all of the things that can happen in God…suddenly!

At Christmas, we celebrate and honor those who are culturally considered lowly but are exalted in the love and work of Christ.

Joy is to be found in accompaniment rather than control and exploitation.

Advent is the time of your to hold lights of mercy in any and every darkness to guide all feet in the ways of peace.

Advent means “coming.”  Advent is our yearly exercise of preparing our hearts, minds, homes, and schedules for the in-breaking of Jesus Christ.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.

You that have no money, come, buy, and eat!

In the not-knowing are the wells of creativity.

Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose hear.

You will know them by their fruits. …A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

Teacher, we know that you are sincere and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Old Testament:  Psalm 85  (Link to text:  https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=593001011 ) New Testament:  Romans 6:1b-11  (Link to text:   https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=593001062 )

‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’

Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

“Faith seeking understanding,” in the words of St Anselm, is our hope.  In the meantime, “wax on, wax off…breathe in, breathe out” can help us remember that we are called to live and serve in the present in humility, joy and confidence, because our future is assured through the grace and providence of God.”

Christ made it abundantly clear that only God knows the time and manner in which God’s Kingdom will be (re)established on earth.  He also made it abundantly clear that it will happen, Christ will come again to usher it in, and we have been invited to enjoy it with him forever.

Although our faith has ancient roots, it is thoroughly  forward  looking.

While the life and ministry of Jesus happened in a particular moment in human history, Jesus’ work continues, guiding us toward a future that is leading us toward the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom on earth.