Branches Humboldt

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Well, since we're at the beginning... how about we take it all the way back... to the origin of the universe! As 2025 kicks off, we thought we'd start from the beginning - the beginning of it ALL! So many of us have asked those big questions; Where did this all come from? How did we get here? What's the meaning of it all? And those of us on a journey of faith have wondered where...

As 2024 comes to a close... There's a lot to reflect on! What's this year been like for you? What were the highs, the lows? What do you hope to take with you into the new year - and what do you hope to leave behind? Join us for a very special, unique time this Sunday to lean into this new year with faith and courage! Jakob Clark, our area Young Life Lead, inspires us with his own story and Zacchae...

Promises made, promises kept... Most of us have experienced the heartache and disappointment of broken promises. Human attempts at real love seem to fail us at every turn. But, Jesus actually comes to us from a story of promises. This is not a small story for the devout and faithfull, no; it’s a big, covenant story that includes everyone! Yes; every. person. in. your. life. It is the story of God...

"I was born in a small town And I live in a small town Probably die in a small town Oh, those small communities..." (J. Mellencamp) Here in Arcata, this is definitely our song! Do you like how small, remote, and out-of-the-way we are? As a teenager, I hated it and couldn't wait to get out! These days, I'm finding some hidden treasure in this place. And we're in good company; Jesus was from a small...

Jesus came from a people who wrestled with God. His family line was a complex tapestry of characters, some noble and some not so much - proving that God is able to do amazing things in your life  through  your family background, and not just in spite of it! Have you ever had a sleepless night “wrestling with God”? Wondering what He’s doing in your life? Wondering where HE IS??? Does He care?? To k...

...and Jesus had a family, too! We each come from a people, a place, and a story, and this December we trace the family of Jesus; His people, place, and story. We’re in for a fascinating journey together based on what has been called the Jesse Tree, an historic way of reflecting on the season of Christmas by recalling the people, places, and story that are a part of Jesus’ own deep family legacy -...

"If people would dig to the root of their fears, they would certainly find unbelief there.”  (John Flavel) What do you think about that? Does your fear come from unbelief? So often, our fears overcome the faith needed to experience real unity. This election week has been a roller-coaster for so many. Whether you're glad or grieving about the outcome, it seems the uncertainty of our future is color...

This All Saints Sunday, we reflect on those "saints" in our lives, imperfect people who left us a legacy and inspired us in our faith. Those who went before us and lived lives of grace remind us of who WE really are: “You are a chosen people. You are royal priests (saints!), a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the...

YEAR THREE BEGINS...with a BANG! Our Young Adults group is "taking over" the gathering this Sunday for an amazing morning together! At Branches, we deeply believe in the development of our next generation's leaders. These awesome young adults are not just the "church of the future"; they are the Church NOW! Get ready to be encouraged! You won't want to miss this unique, inspiring time! Arcata Vete...

LET'S PARTY! We made it, Fam; TWO WHOLE YEARS OF SUNDAY GATHERINGS!!! Through another four seasons - thankful for God's leading and goodness in our community! We look back on a full year through our 2nd annual Christmas Eve at the Vets Hall, launching two services, the annual Egg Hunt, the Good Friday art experience, Easter baptisms, summer beach nights, the Crabs Game, Serve Sunday, Church at the...

This Sunday, we reflect on and celebrate the REFUGE that God's mercy makes for us. With repentance, we run to God and find His safety and grace bring us joy! Nehemiah and his people discovered this truth in new ways, as they continued leaning ALL IN to what God had for them. And here at Branches, we get to experience the same! Listen in as our new intern; Youth Coordinator Chase Fichtner walks us...

IT'S OFTEN DIFFICULT to discern what to do or how to respond to various kinds of challenges. Do you lean in, or get out? Do you give, or withhold? Last Sunday, Nehemiah HIMSELF traveled through time to share with us (through Justin's first-person message) about his difficulties, and this Sunday those challenges continue - just in new and different ways... There will always be challenges that come...

WHEN IT ALMOST FAILED... Every great dream or grand plan will face challenges and opposition. The question isn't "if", it's "when". What do you do when things get really tough - when you feel like it's too much and giving up starts to sound like the only option? For Nehemiah, his passion project faced a critical moment where he not only worried it wouldn't get d...

ARE YOU READY??? Have you felt the nudge to try something new, to make a difference around you with some practical action? What if you’ve gone through some of those steps we talked about last week; you’ve seen the vision (the need), you’ve been honest about your part of the problem (confession), and then you’ve got this deep conviction (a courageous heart) to do something about it…Have you been wa...

HAVE YOU EVER ...had an idea to try something new? Create a new way forward? To help others? To grow yourself? To find PURPOSE? “Live Your Passion”? Don’t we all want to do something with our life that really counts? What if we could be ALL IN, whole-hearted, every day, on a mission that makes a difference in the world? We kick off our fall season with a new series called "ALL IN", looki...

B.L.E.S.S. (B)egin with Prayer (L)isten with Care (E)at Together (S)erve in Love (S)hare Your Story How did we do? Have you had a chance to bless some people in your life this summer? Have you been blessed by someone in a special way? Which one of these five everyday practices resonates with you most? In our LAST Sunday of the BLESS series, we hear from Heidi Fox, Letitia Yund, and SK Montiel as w...

Can I get a witness???...that's when you shout back, "Yaaahhhh!!!" Sometimes it's not that easy, though - to talk about our faith. There are so many fears and distraction that get in the way of sharing the good news of grace with those around us. What are some of the things that hold you back? In Acts 1:8, Jesus leaves His friends with some final, powerful words; "But you wi...

Can I get a witness??? ...that's when you shout back, "Yaaahhhh!!!" Sometimes it's not that easy, though - to talk about our faith. There are so many fears and distraction that get in the way of sharing the good news of grace with those around us. What are some of the things that hold you back? This Sunday, we took our entire gathering out for Beach Church! We tackled some of the...

WE'VE BEEN CHALLENGING one another to identify the people and the places we’ve been called to BLESS. To practice reaching out to those around us by beginning with prayer, listening with care, eating together, and now this Sunday, Mike and Ella Price help us look at the power of SERVING. And living out this practice is an “as you go” kind of thing. It’s about a posture of readiness that doesn’t...

WE ARE A CULTURE that is serious about our food. In fact, our very own Miguel Montiel was a top chicken-wing eater at Six-Rivers Brewery's contest this year! We love just about everything that has to do with food. But here’s where we’re headed on Sunday: we believe that eating is actually one of the best ways to carry out the Jesus mission! Jesus modeled the power of a shared meal and how impo...

"BEING HEARD is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” (David W. Augsburger) Can you relate to this? Listening to people – really hearing and understanding what they are saying – is a critical expression of love. So how do we make sure we aren’t mishearing? As we continue in our series of outreach and care to the community around us - finding...

ARE YOU the "prayin' type"? Does it come natural to you, or is praying kind of a struggle? Jesus was definitely the "prayin' type", as every step and turn of his life was surrounded by prayer. He prayed all night before choosing his 12 disciples! He also prayed some passionate prayers the night before he chose to complete his mission of sacrifice and suffering for us. H...

DO YOU WANT TO Be happy? Feel fulfilled in life? Experiencing these feelings is not about getting the right stuff; it's about giving the right stuff. The kind of community begun in Acts was a generous, courageous one, and we want to be a passionate, sold-out, bold family of faith like that; a community that is always leaning outward, on the move, reaching out (like the big Redwood branches aro...

ARE YOU READY...for THREE generations of Foxes??! This Sunday is Father's Day, and what better way to reflect on the day together than to have the esteemed Dr. Larry Fox, his son Justin Fox, and Justin's son Brennan Fox all together in one place??? Join us for a fun, memorable, extra-special time together as Justin, his dad, and his son share from Luke 15:11-32 and unpack the "Parable...