Church of the Messiah UMC

This Sunday in our I’ve Always Wondered series, we’re asking some big, wonderful questions about faith, science, and wonder. Our guest, Dr. Linn Van Woerkom, is a distinguished physicist, longtime professor at The Ohio State University, and a devoted United Methodist who sees no contradiction between his faith and his scientific work—in fact, he sees a conversation. I’ve had the chance to talk wit...

This Sunday is going to be an exciting day at Messiah! We’ll be celebrating and learning about the many ways God has gifted each of us—and how those gifts can make a real difference in our church and community. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed…” He reminds us that we are one body, made up of many parts, and t...

This Sunday, we continue in our sermon series Bible 101. The Bible isn’t a book we merely study—it’s a story we step into. Jesus didn’t just call us to know what he taught; he invited us to live it. Scripture speaks to our lives today, calling us to grow in love, compassion, and purpose. We’ll also hear from several members of our Messiah community as they share what the Bible means to them and wh...

This Sunday, we continue with the fourth week of our Bible 101 series: “Why (and how) do I study the Bible? (It’s for us!)” We’ll explore some of the tools that help us interpret Scripture faithfully and thoughtfully. Whether you’re new to Bible study or have been at it for years, we hope this week’s message and the included Bible 101 Study Guide give you practical, sustainable ideas for deepening...

This Sunday marks Week Three of our Bible 101 series, and we’re asking a vital question: How do we read the Bible in a way that leads to understanding and transformation? The truth is, we don’t read Scripture alone. The Holy Spirit plays an essential role—both in the writing of Scripture and in our reading of it. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2, God's truth is spiritually discerned. Without...

This Sunday, we continue with Week 2 of our sermon series Bible 101. This series is all about rediscovering the Bible—what it is, why it matters, and how we can engage with it more deeply in our everyday lives. This week, we’ll explore a question many people have: Is the Bible just a book of rules? While Scripture is authoritative and God speaks through it, the Bible is far more than a list of dos...

This Sunday, we begin a new five-week sermon series that I’m especially excited about: Bible 101: Understanding the Bible, One Part at a Time. The Bible is the most important book in the Christian life—our primary guide and spiritual resource—but for many of us, it can feel intimidating, unfamiliar, or even confusing. Maybe you’ve wondered: Where do I start? How do I make sense of it all? What doe...

This Sunday is Pentecost—a day when we remember the moment the Holy Spirit filled the early followers of Jesus, empowering them to speak in new languages and share the good news with people from every nation. It was the birth of the Church, a powerful reminder that God is still moving, still speaking, and still sending us out into the world with love, courage, and purpose.

This Sunday marks the conclusion of what has been an impactful sermon series for many: It Is Well. Throughout this series, the focus has been on mental and emotional wellbeing—what it is, how it shapes lives and relationships, and how God is present in the midst of it all. The congregation has been invited to be honest about their struggles and to surrender shame to the God who cares deeply for th...

Compassion is a hallmark of the gospel stories. Time and again Jesus encounters a person in need and, seeing them, has compassion for them and responds to the need in some way. Sometimes it is lunch, sometimes healing, sometimes shared wisdom, and sometimes the simple gift of presence. This week we are continuing our sermon series It Is Well* as we reflect on ways we can offer compassion to one an...

This Sunday, we move into Week 3 of our sermon series It Is Well*, and we’re reflecting on what it means to live with perseverance and endurance—especially when the journey is long. Life with mental or emotional wounds is not a sprint. It’s a marathon of faith. Some seasons we flourish; other seasons we simply keep going. Through it all, we are not defined by our struggles, but held by God’s susta...

As we continue our sermon series “It Is Well*,” we are reminded that the journey toward mental and emotional wellbeing begins with one of the most courageous acts of all: honesty. This Sunday, we’ll explore how unspoken burdens can quietly shape our lives—and how naming them, and surrendering them to God, can be the first step toward healing. This work isn’t easy. Wellness rarely arrives all at on...

Human flourishing is holistic – heart, soul, mind, and strength. Our mental and emotional wellbeing is part of God’s hope for us. And yet countless people in our church and community struggle – often in secret – to honestly say “It is well” when it comes to mental and emotional health. Often, it is *not well. In this series, we’ll explore mental and emotional wellbeing – what it is, how it affects...

It was a delight to celebrate the resurrection with you on Easter Sunday. Flowers, singing, egg hunting, and, especially, gathering to be the church together I am grateful every week for the energy and faithfulness we all pour into our life together at Church of the Messiah. Throughout the Lenten season we took time to think of how and where we hear from God. This week we close that conversation w...

Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed! Welcome to Church of the Messiah on this joyful Easter morning. What a gift it is to gather together and proclaim the good news: Jesus is alive! Death has been defeated. Hope has been restored. Love has won. Our mission is simple, but powerful: to Know Christ, Grow in Faith, and Serve Others. Today, we celebrate the heart of that mission—the resurrection of...

Holy Week begins this Sunday—Palm Sunday—and I want to personally invite you to be part of it. This sacred week invites us to walk with Jesus through his final days, from the joy of palm branches waving to the heartbreak of the cross, and finally to the celebration of the empty tomb. Each moment matters. Each step draws us closer to the heart of our faith.

This Sunday, we continue our Lenten series, Hearing God, as we turn to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1–13. Elijah experiences God not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire—but in a still, small voice. In a world full of distractions and noise, how do we learn to recognize God’s voice within us? Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it shouts. Always, it calls us toward love, truth, and peace. Th...

“Pardon our Dust.” It’s a sure indication of progress when we begin dismantling something. Before anything new can happen, something old has to be removed. Jesus reminds his listeners that one never puts new wine in old wineskins. The old wineskins are no longer suitable to the task and will burst or split. “Pardon our Dust.” This phrase has been on my mind a lot this week as Phase 2 construction...

The Bible has the power to translate the world around us and tell a truer, better story that exposes lies and reveals the coming hope of life as it should be. And yet, the Bible can be a polarizing topic because we all come to it with different histories and experiences. We want to take time to understand where each of us began this journey and where each of us hopes to go with it.

Hearing God's voice is not about searching for a distant whisper—it’s about recognizing Jesus, the Living Word, as God's ultimate voice to humanity. Hebrews 1:2 declares that in these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son. When Jesus says, 'My sheep hear my voice' (John 10:27), He is not just referring to a moment of divine prompting, but to Himself as the very Word made flesh (John 1:14). To...

This Sunday, we’re launching something new—a recurring sermon series! Just like we introduced recurring series in 2024, we’re rolling out a new one for 2025 called “I’ve Always Wondered.” This series will happen multiple times throughout the year, diving into the deep and often unspoken questions of faith. We all have questions—about God, faith, life, and the world around us. "I've Always Wondered...

Relationships shape our lives in profound ways. The people we surround ourselves with, the way we treat others, and the choices we make in our interactions can lead to joy, connection, and fulfillment—or regret and brokenness. In the final message of Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, we’ll explore one powerful question that brings undeniable clarity to every relational decision you face. But be war...

Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets. This phrase echoed throughout our recent mission journey in Cuba. Sometimes, it was a sly remark after a mistake; sometimes it was a word of warning on an unlevel or slippery sidewalk. And, sometimes, it was an observation of lessons learned as we heard about how various ministries in Cuba have evolved and grown over the years. There is no substitute for experience...

As we continue our sermon series, Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, this Sunday, we’ll explore “The Conscience Question” through the lens of Ephesians 5:11–16. How do we tune in to the voice of wisdom in our decision-making? I look forward to diving into this important conversation with you!