Elm City Church Podcast

In Colossians 4:2–6, we explore how devoted prayer is a shared calling that fuels Gospel opportunities and prepares us to speak with clarity. As we pray, live wisely, and speak graciously, God uses our everyday lives to open doors for others to encounter Jesus.

In part 1 of our 2 part mini series on our 2026 theme of “Devoted” we explored what it means to be truly devoted to prayer, and how intentional attention to God reshapes our hearts, realigns our lives, and deepens our dependence on His grace.

Sunday, Joe helped us see how the Bible’s story truly ends—not with escape, but with restoration. Beginning in Revelation 21:1–7, the sermon explored the hope of the new heaven and new earth, showing how God is undoing what sin has broken and inviting us to live as a preview of that future right now. Scripture calls listeners to trust the story God is telling and step into the purpose they were cr...

In this Christmas Eve message from Luke 2:1–20, Albie showed how the Christmas story is more than just a familiar story—it’s a royal announcement. Set against the power of Caesar and the promises of empire, the birth of Jesus declares a greater King, a true Savior, and a new decree of grace. This sermon invites listeners to move beyond sentimentality and step into the story God is telling through...

This week we explored Mark 1 to see that Christmas is not a sentimental tale but the arrival of Jesus the King.  Jesus’ unexpected kingdom confronts us and calls us to repent, believe the good news, and surrender our lives to Him.

This week’s sermon explores Act 3 of God’s story through Genesis 12 and Matthew 1, showing how God’s promises to Abraham and David are fulfilled in Jesus. Albie Powers called the church to embrace faith, risk, and obedience . Elm City Church is celebrating how God has multiplied the mission through bold steps in church planting and student ministry. In this next stage, this challenges listeners to...

This Sunday, we continued our Advent series with Act 2: What Went Wrong?, exploring the story of the Fall in Genesis 3. We looked at how sin entered the world, why our relationships feel fractured, and how this ancient story explains the brokenness we experience today. But even in humanity’s failure, God speaks hope—promising a future Redeemer who would crush the serpent and restore what sin destr...

Albie kicked off Advent by showing how the Christmas story fits into the bigger story of Scripture, beginning with Creation. We were made by God, made for God, and made with purpose—and the incarnation is God stepping into His own story to redeem what He created. Christmas invites us to live into God’s true story and find our place in it.

In Philippians 4:4–9, Paul reminds us that thankfulness isn’t the result of an stress-free life—it’s a practice that reorients our hearts and minds toward God’s peace. Joe McGarvey shared how, even in anxious or chaotic seasons, intentionally remembering and expressing gratitude—through journaling, prayer, or sharing with others—shifts our perspective, reduces stress, and strengthens our resilienc...

This Sunday, we explored Baptism as Public Testimony of God’s Grace—why we do it, what it means, and how it declares the transforming grace of Jesus. Baptism is more than a symbol; it’s a public proclamation that through Christ our old life is gone and a new one has begun. Join us as we unpack why Jesus commands baptism, how it connects to the early church, and why every testimony—even the ordinar...

This week, we explored Psalm 32—a powerful invitation to freedom through confession. In a culture that hides weakness, David shows us that the blessed life is found not in perfection, but in forgiveness. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven.” Join us as we unpack how confession restores our joy, unburdens our hearts, and leads us back to the God who covers, carries, and forgives.

“Everyone who is made new in Christ is sent out with the message of reconciliation—because the love of Jesus reshapes our identity, purpose, and mission.”

This Sunday, Albie shared from John 14, where Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In a world filled with competing ideas about God, Jesus alone provides the way to the Father and the promise of eternal life. Join us as we explore what it means to know Him personally, trust Him completely, and experience the life only He can give. “When the good news becomes your good news, Jes...

This Sunday, Pastor Albie Powers returned from sabbatical to share from John 10, where Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” In a world full of competing voices, Jesus alone offers true life. As Albie put it, “A rich and satisfying life is given to those who stay close to the Good Shepherd.” Join us as we explore what it means to trust His care and follow Him into the kind of full, abundant life o...

This Sunday, we explored John 11, where Jesus makes one of His most powerful declarations: “I am the resurrection and the life.” In the story of Lazarus, we see that God’s glory isn’t revealed by avoiding pain—but by entering it. Together, we’ll reflect on what it means to believe that Jesus is not just the giver of life but life itself, even when hope feels lost.

This week, we explored what it means that Jesus isn’t just a giver of bread, but the Bread itself, the One who satisfies the deepest hunger of our souls. As we looked at the hungry crowd, the true bread from heaven, the offense of His words, and the responses of those who heard Him, we wrestled with a vital question: Are we seeking Jesus for what He gives, or for who He is?

This Sunday, we dived into John 10:1-10, where Jesus declares, “I am the door of the sheep.” In a world full of competing voices, Jesus stands apart as the True Shepherd—the one who calls us by name, protects us, and leads us into abundant life. Together we’ll explore what it means to recognize His voice, trust His care, and follow Him into the kind of life only He can give.

This week, Steve Aldrich preached on Jesus’ claim, “I am the vine.” We reflected on how abiding in Christ is the only way to experience true life and lasting fruit. The pruning process may be difficult, but it leads to growth. The invitation is to remain connected to Jesus each day, drawing strength from Him and bearing fruit for God’s glory.

This week in our series I AM: Believe and Abide, guest speaker Jeff Ebert preached on Jesus’ claim: “I am the light of the world.” We explored how Christ’s light is greater than any darkness, both infinite in power and personal in care. To follow Him is to trust His direction one step at a time, believing that His light is enough for each day. Receive the Light. Follow the Light—Jesus Himself!

This week we explored John 1:35–46 and Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see.” Abiding with Christ means more than curiosity—it means remaining with Him in fellowship. That abiding naturally draws us into community and sends us on mission, echoing the disciples’ invitation: “Come and see.” The message reminds us that faith is never “me and Jesus alone.” To follow Jesus is to follow Him together, root...

The Least of These. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the suffering in the world. Unintentionally, we can become numb to the suffering simply because we are inundated with so much of it. But it is clear in Matthew 25 that to serve the hurting is to serve Christ.

This week we welcomed guest speaker, Pastor Paul Voltmer, from Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Windsor, VT. Paul is also our Northwest Regional Superintendent from the EFCA and part of the church that originally planted the church that planted us! Paul is preaching from the passage John 4:1-26. In this passage we see a source and strategy for sharing the Gospel that is worth replicating. Once t...

We wrapped up our Lord’s Prayer series by looking at “Garden Moments”—those times when we must choose between God’s will and our own desires. Temptation is a trap; testing is an opportunity to trust. Jesus invites us to pray in advance for God’s protection and guidance, knowing our weaknesses. And because Jesus overcame His Garden Moment, we can face ours with His Spirit’s strength.

This week, we explored Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer. We learned that sin is a debt we owe to God—and forgiveness is the act of releasing that debt. Through confession, we receive healing and freedom. And as people who have been forgiven, we’re invited to extend that same mercy to others. Forgiveness isn’t weakness, it's an invitation to freedom.

This week, we explored what it means to pray, “Give us today our daily bread.” Jesus teaches us to depend on God for our most basic needs and to trust Him one day at a time. In a world of anxiety and self-reliance, this prayer calls us into peace, presence, and participation—both receiving from God and becoming a source of provision for others.