Bluegrass United Church of Christ

Advent is over, Christmas has come, the baby was born. He and his family are now migrants on the run, fleeing from a jealous and paranoid leader who will not jeopardize his power, even for an innocent child. The family eventually ends up in Nazareth, a town known for nothing. Power did love reside in Nazareth, it had no influence, it's name was common enough to be forgotten. But it was the pla...

This Advent season, we're asking:  What do you fear? This week, Pam shares how Joseph moves through his fears of rejection and shame in order to stand in solidarity with Mary, shielding her from harm. Their bond makes them each stronger. We don’t live out our callings in isolation—our communal flourishing depends on each person stepping into their calling despite their fear. How can we offer s...

Because of severe weather, the December 14th service at BUCC was canceled. The following week, Kenny shared a short homily with some of the highlights of what would have been the Advent 3 message. This Advent season, we're asking:  What do you fear? This week, sometimes saying “yes” to God’s call fills us with fear. Like Mary and Jeremiah, we fear that we aren’t enough. That we’ll be alone. Th...

This Advent season, we're asking:  What do you fear? This week, we will hear from their son, John the Baptist, from a prison cell. This story hones in when deep fear and suffering cause him to wonder if the work he'd been doing before prison was impactful. It's a story about cultivating a gritty and resilient hope that holds even when we are filled with doubt and fear. We hope you'...

This week, we begin the season of Advent and our new Advent series, "What do you fear? (Insisting on Hope this Advent)" There is an earned strength when we decide to acknowledge and face our fears. The story of Jesus' arrival and the months leading up to it are filled with people pivotal to the Advent story who were forced to face their fears. Join us as we spend time with them and l...

This week, we complete our fall series designed to encourage a heart of gratefulness. As we make the final push to Thanksgiving Day, we hear Jesus pray a prayer of thanksgiving that the deeper truths and revelations of God are revealed to those who may not be the best known, the most powerful, or the most knowledgeable. MESSAGE: "Unexpected Gratitude” by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:21 Lea...

This week, we continue our November series designed to encourage a heart of gratefulness. As we make our way to the season of Thanksgiving, we spend some time today looking at James' words that encourage us to trust in the God who provides "every good and perfect gift. We are reminded that gratitude itself can be a blessing. MESSAGE: "Grateful Gifts” by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: James...

November is a special time to express our gratitude for the blessings we've known throughout the year. It's also a time to acknowledge that gratitude itself is a blessing. We hope you can join us as we begin a series of services designed to lead us into Thanksgiving. MESSAGE: "Give a Little Thanks” by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Learn more about us at: bluegrassc...

This Sunday, we celebrate All Saints Day, honoring those who have transitioned this past year. Each year, as we move through this very special service, so many of the people who've touched and mentored us come to mind. Sometimes, there is someone pressing on our hearts, and we desire to remember them in some way. This week, we pause to remember them and allow them to bless us again. MESSAGE: &...

This Sunday, we conclude our fall series called "This is Us: stories, mission & ministry." We will take a look at worship at BUCC. While worship can happen anytime, there is something special that happens when we gather in our space on Sundays and join our hearts, our minds, our voices, and acknowledge the presence of the Holy. Worship is an invitation to engage with other Divine peo...

Today, we will take a look at the Educational Ministry of BUCC. Education at BUCC is about learning and evolving in our understanding of God, Faith, and Transformation. In small groups, whether it be “telling the stories of our faith’ or studying a book that we have chosen to read together, we wrestle with hard questions, we challenge each other, and through our experience with each other, we broa...

This Sunday, we continue our new fall series called "This is Us: stories, mission & ministry. We look at our stewardship through the lens of who we are and where we will go as we look ahead. We'll share stories that offer a glimmer of how we experience our faith, our community, and, more importantly, how we can continue to be the church in an increasingly difficult world. Today, we fo...

Jesus tells the story of a certain rich man who clothed himself in fine linen and feasted luxuriously every day while, just outside his door, lay a certain poor man named Lazarus. Both men died, but their lopsided relationship did not come to an end. What happened next? Join us as we discuss the story of the rich man and the poor man and the lesson Jesus wants us to know. MESSAGE: "Have You S...

Jesus tells the story of a rich man who had entrusted his business to a manager, but the manager squandered his boss's wealth and was fired. The failed manager set about trying to make things right by smartly collecting on his boss's debts, and soon was back in good favor. Jesus uses the story to remind his listeners that we've all been entrusted with precious things, and the expectati...

Charlie Kirk was a polarizing figure. For some, he was seen as a model Christian man who advocated for solid Christian values. But for others, his message was far from anything Jesus would teach. His violent death this week has stirred up lots of strong emotions from both sides, some of them strong and bitter. Do we who believe that every life is sacred believe that Charlie's life was too? MES...

Where is God in the battlefield, in the hospital? Where is God in the life of those who are suffering? Is it possible to see God? What does God look like? Is God appealing to us today, or is God outdated and irrelevant to the world we live in now? MESSAGE: "I Saw God?” by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:5-13 Learn more about us at: bluegrasschurch.org⁠ Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

How long should we wait for God to show up? How long should we hurt, worry, and be afraid before God's promises become real to us? In our instant society, we've grown less and less patient with each other, and almost certainly with God. But when it is time, we can count on God to be there for us. MESSAGE: "Hello? Are you there, God?” by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40:31 Learn mor...

There's a story in the Bible of the time Jesus healed a woman who was bent over with sickness. One Sabbath, she happened to encounter the healer, and his compassion went into overdrive. He was moved by her pain and how it was limiting her ability to live and serve others. However, the religious authorities were not moved at all by her pain; they were angry that Jesus would break their rules an...

There is a thought among some charismatic evangelical Christians that living as a Christian means joining Jesus' army of spiritual fighters. Some go as far as incorporating warfare language in their lessons and songs. Did Jesus ever advocate for "violence"? What should we do with Jesus' confession that he came to cause division? Why would he want to "bring fire upon the eart...

Many of us have been brought up to believe in the rapture, the notion that one day, at any time, Jesus will return to earth and snatch all the Christians away, leaving a world full of "bad people" trying to endure God's wrath and survive the tribulation. How truthful is this teaching? What does the bible have to say about it? MESSAGE: "Left Behind” by Kenny Bishop SCRIPTURE: Luk...

THIS WEEK WE ARE IN AWE OF SELF-GIVING: A sense of awe can include witnessing acts of “moral beauty.” Jesus’ life was an example of moral beauty–a ministry of lifting up the cause of the lowly and advocating for the power of peace and justice. Research shows that when we witness with awe others’ kindness, courage, strength, and overcoming, we are more likely to feel inspired to give ourselves in s...

THIS WEEK WE ARE IN AWE OF CONNECTION: Awe is a gateway to connection. As we have experiences that give us a sense of being part of something larger than “just us,” our penchant for self-preservation and obsession with the competitive default-self gives way to a renewed commitment to the greater whole. We need moments of “collective effervescence” that increase hope and joy at being part of the hu...

*We had some audio issues during today's sermon. We are so excited to have noted pastor and author Josh Scott with us today. Josh has written several books that speak to our need and ability to read and understand the bible with proper context - considering the time, the culture, the people, and the politics of the times in which they were written. Josh helps us understand that everyone, wheth...

Today, we continue our spring and summer series, "Purveyors of Awe," focusing on the awe of delight. We humans love repetition... up to a point. But sometimes, we just need a good “Wow!” and some goosebumps to help us feel fully alive. Our physical response to awe-filled moments come from a very ancient part of our evolution–even before language. And those goosebumps? They helped us forg...

Today, we resume our spring and summer series, "Purveyors of Awe." Our world is as uncertain today as it's been in a generation. But we have the tools to make a difference if we use them. When we are curious, we give God an opportunity to use our seeking to find resources and help for those in need. MESSAGE: "Curiosity" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE: excerpt from Proverbs 2 L...