Branches Humboldt

If you've ever felt exhausted from caring for those around you, or felt like giving up, or even unqualified to help others for whatever reason, you are not alone. This coming Sunday is Mother's Day, and it's an opportunity to recognize all women who care, love, and serve others. It's an inspiration for all of us to consider those in our lives who we're called to serve and nurtu...

What is the meaning of life?   Isn't that the question so many of us wonder about?  What on earth are we here for, anyway?  This Sunday, guest-speaker Tim Celek looks at the last speech of Jesus, His final, parting words before He ascends into heaven. This charge of Jesus contains a command and a promise. It contains instructions for a life of meaning and purpose. It sums up our mission as a c...

Every Sunday is, in a way, a “Mini-Easter” here at Branches; a celebration of what Jesus has done for us. But, we know that there are many problems and challenges in life that we face, and one difficult emotion that has left its mark on all of us is fear. There are so many fears out there, and the list seems to be growing every day. Some say we're currently living in the “Age of Terror."...

"I have one last thing to say to you..." Isn't there something about that statement that makes you want to lean in and listen? Death bed confessionals and Last Will & Testaments grab our attention, don't they? Bob Marley's last words words were "Money can't buy life." Deep stuff. There's something about the ending of things that brings an intensity of fo...

Our Easter morning message and Ivy Gordon sharing her faith-story!

Why is Good Friday "good"? Hear Steve Taylor and Monica Hicks unpack these truths in a passionate way (*with a live rendition of "How Deep the Father's Love")!

We wrap up our 5-week series this Sunday with a time to reflect on what we've learned and what God is showing us. As we "Remember & Celebrate", we get to hear from members of our community as they share their reflections. As you ponder these values of Jesus; His "welcome", His "freedom", His "faith", His "care", and His "leadership&quo...

Who was your most favorite leader you've ever had? What were they like? What about them inspired you? Did you know that YOU'RE a leader, too? John Maxwell says, "Everyone is a leader because everyone influences someone." We wrap up our series on the five values of Jesus that shape who we want to be as a church family this Sunday, and our last topic is the LEADERSHIP OF JESUS. Jes...

Our series continues on the five values of Jesus that shape who we want to be as a church family, and this Sunday we look at the CARE OF JESUS. Jesus served and cared for others with loving compassion, and we want to be a community just like that! Jesus' care for others was boundless, inexhaustible. It was practical; He saw the whole person and met tangible needs. And His care, ultimately, is...

Is there something BIG in your life that you need to trust God with in a new way? In this new series; the five values of Jesus that shape who we want to be as a church family, we've looked at the WELCOME of Jesus and the FREEDOM of Jesus. This Sunday, we turn our attention to the FAITH OF JESUS, displayed in Matthew 8:5-13. Jesus encouraged faith, rewarded faith, and lived by faith, and we want to...

Freedom!! We all long for it, but what's it all about, and how do you experience it? The FREEDOM OF JESUS is what we're looking at this Sunday at Branches. Jesus modeled and lived out a freedom that transformed those around Him, and we want to be a community that embodies that value; a freedom to be, to live, to serve, to love radically. Once again, Jesus leads the way, and following Him is n...

Our new series kicks off this Sunday, and we can't wait to examine the five values of Jesus that give shape to what Branches is all about! In these next five weeks, you'll learn firsthand where our vision for the church comes from, and how we seek to follow Jesus' example. We'll find that much of what He does is (no surprise) controversial and challenging but ultimately leads to a life with God be...

This Sunday, we pause at the end of our series "Start with Jesus" to reflect on what God is showing us and what He's saying to us. We hear from three people in our community, as they share their reflections and thoughts. How awesome it is to know that God has a unique journey He's leading each of us on!

What's the greatest invitation you've ever received? Did you know there's an invitation from Jesus to a purpose and a life we could barely imagine? Peter, Andrew, and the others were so excited to get this invitation in Matthew 4:18-22 that they didn't hesitate. And, this invitation is extended to us, as well.  Jesus doesn't invite us to follow a bunch of rules… Jesus doesn't say, "...

This Sunday, we look at Jesus' FIRST EVER recorded sermon in Luke 4:16-21... and it was about 2 minutes long! But it's packed with promises and passion as Jesus addresses what burdens us most; poverty, sorrow, suffering, bondage, oppression... it's all here, and somehow there is hope.

How do you stand strong through the testing and temptations of life? What weapons do you need to win the battles you face?  Our series continues with the early, formative moments in Jesus' life, and this Sunday we follow Him into the desert for a time of testing and challenge. His entire ministry stretches out in front of him, so he spends solitary time in the desert to pr...

Find a time to sit down for thirty minutes or so in a comfortable, quiet, undistracted place – preferably in the early part of each week. Have your Bible and journal handy as you prepare for each week’s devotional. Start your time with a few, calm breaths to still your heart and mind. Ask God to help you focus on Him. As you meditate on these various passages of Scripture, focusing on the life of...

Find a time to sit down for thirty minutes or so in a comfortable, quiet, undistracted place – preferably in the early part of each week. Have your Bible and journal handy as you prepare for each week’s devotional. Start your time with a few, calm breaths to still your heart and mind. Ask God to help you focus on Him. As you meditate on these various passages of Scripture, focusing on the life of...

Can you imagine Jesus growing up, from around 2-12 years old? Because there's no written record of his life at that time, there's lots to wonder about. What kind of child was he? How did he act with his parents? What were his childhood friends like? The first words we have in the Bible out of Jesus’ mouth are very telling; his first sentence is a question ( of course, right?! ). It all starts...

Find a time to sit down for thirty minutes or so in a comfortable, quiet, undistracted place – preferably in the early part of each week. Have your Bible and journal handy as you prepare for each week’s devotional. Start your time with a few, calm breaths to still your heart and mind. Ask God to help you focus on Him. As you meditate on these various passages of Scripture, focusing on the life of...

Find a time to sit down for thirty minutes or so in a comfortable, quiet, undistracted place – preferably in the early part of each week. Have your Bible and journal handy as you prepare for each week’s devotional. Start your time with a few, calm breaths to still your heart and mind. Ask God to help you focus on Him. As you meditate on these various passages of Scripture, focusing on the life of...

This Sunday, we join thousands of churches around the world in reflecting on the visit of the Magi; the wise men who came to see, worship, and offer gifts to Jesus. This reflection is traditionally called "Epiphany" because it marks the first moments when the reality of who Jesus was began to set in. When did you first grasp the reality of who Jesus was in your life? How did He...

The angels form a choir and announce the Good News! This Sunday, Steve Taylor is guiding us as we ponder the poetic, dramatic declaration of the heavenly hosts. They knew what this moment was all about, and they held nothing back. Let's see together what these words and promises can mean for us! 

“Joy to the world, the Lord is COME!” Joy is a product of the presence of God. When God steps into our lives, it’s a time to rejoice, and to trust that He will be faithful; He will do what He promised. Mary's song in Luke 1 reminds us that God shows up with mercy, with a mission, and with a promise. Let's discover what all this means for us!

The Christmas season is here, and there's so much to anticipate! Many churches call these weeks in December "Advent", and that's where we get the word adventure . Are you ready to take an adventure together as we discover what God wants to show us this season? The birth of Jesus is the greatest news ever. This Sunday, we'll look at how a man named Zechariah was invited into the story and how...