Grace in Community

Texts: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23; Luke 12:13-21 Series: Messy Spirituality “All is vanity and a chasing after the wind,” says the teacher in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. Another translation of the word for vanity is "vapor." If everything created is vapor - here today and gone tomorrow - then we must place our trust in what is not created. In the midst of the vapor of this world,...

Texts: Colossians 2:6-19, Luke 11:1-13 It can be tricky - messy, even - to figure out what most deserves our focus in following Jesus. There's a concept from the Lutheran tradition that can be helpful in this discernment. It's called adiaphora. Listen to hear more, and to help set your priorities in following Jesus.

Text: Luke 10:25-37 Series: Messy Spirituality Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates that loving others is challenging and complex work. We are called to bear fruit – and fruit is messy! But there are such blessings in the mess. Are you willing to get messy?

Text: Luke 10:38-42 Series: Messy Spirituality Worship & Arts Director Sara Lehman uses music and story to illustrate the connection God creates with us - a God who sings over our mess, inviting us to lift our cracked hallelujahs and lullabies at the edge of loss. In our Messy Spirituality series, we're exploring a love that listens, holds, and doesn't flinch when we forget the melody or the r...

Text: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Series: Messy Spirituality When Jesus sends the disciples out in mission for the first time, he warns them that it will be messy. Not everyone will be ready to receive the good news they have to share. When it comes to our own work, we must be careful not to wrap our identity up with results. On this 4th of July weekend we hear a countercultural message: true freedom is k...

Text: Luke 9:51-62 Series: Messy Spirituality “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” These are hard words from Jesus in today’s gospel reading, because the truth is, none of us is fit. We all look back. Our lives are a messy mix of competing priorities. This hard word causes us to run to him once again. Recognizing we can never do it on our own, we fall...

Something a bit different this week. We pray that what this recording gives you matches its sound: hope that is raw, honest, and alive.  You can watch the whole service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT0Gap3c0Uo&t=2276s Texts: Psalm 46, Psalm 40:1-5, Mark 1:9-15, Philippians 4:4-9, Acts 1:1-11 Music, in order: "It is Well With My Soul" arranged by Jason W. Krug  “My Feet Are On the Rock...

The doctrine of the Trinity has caused a lot of controversy – even violence – in the history of the church. Does it really matter if we get it exactly right? Here Pastor Matt Anderson makes the case that it does. The point is not knowing about God, but knowing - and being known - by the God who is love itself. 

Text: John 14:18-27 Here on Pentecost and Confirmation Sunday, our prayer over our Confirmands becomes a prayer for renewal for all of us: “Stir up once again in us the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever.” The same Spirit that ca...

Text: Luke 24:36-53 Today we read the final post-resurrection appearance of Jesus, and find there a summing up of all the answers we have seen so far to our question: Jesus is risen! Now What? Now at last, the disciples will be ready to share and be his presence in the world, because they will finally understand more fully the radical message Jesus is calling them to share. Series: He is Risen! No...

Text: Luke 24:13-35 "But we had hoped..." These words from this Sunday’s gospel reading, from the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, express an aching and longing that all of us feel at some point in our lives. We had hoped that things would be different than this. We had hoped for a different sort of future than the one we’re getting. A sudden diagnosis. The loss of a loved one. In a moment, ou...

Text: Matthew 28:16-20 When people think of the message of Christianity, they most often think of something like, "You are a sinner, and you need to believe Jesus died on the cross to save you from your sins in order to be saved." That message talks about what we're saved from, but says nothing about what we're saved for. The message of Jesus is so much bigger.

Text: John 21:15-19 Is it possible for shame to be a good thing? As the scene with the risen Jesus and the disciples on the beach continues, Jesus has some business to take care of with Peter. The last time he stood by a charcoal fire, he denied he even knew Jesus. Now Jesus re-establishes the relationship - and so much more - turning Peter's shame into a moment of growth.

Text: John 21:1-14 Where do we encounter the risen Jesus? Maybe...at breakfast? We see in this week's post-resurrection appearance that Jesus shows up in the disciples' daily rhythms - in their working, eating, and playing. Perhaps that's where we should expect to find Jesus, infusing our routines with new meaning. We encounter him in worship, so that we may be given new eyes to see him everywhere...

Text: Luke 24:1-12 Not quite sure about the resurrection? You're in good company - neither were the first disciples. But when we join the community of the church, we are joining a long tradition of people who dare to believe that more is possible. 

Text: Luke 22:39-23:56 Accompanying Jesus to the cross. Hebrews 12:2 says it was for the joy set before Jesus that he endured the cross. You are that joy. 

Texts: Luke 19:29-40, Zechariah 9:9-10 As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people hailed him as king. In recent years some theologians have begun referring to the "kin-dom" of God rather than the kingdom. Is this a good move? What are we losing with this language? 

Text: John 12:1-8 This week we have a guest preacher, Pastor Karin Boye. Pastor Boye is originally from Germany, and has served congregations in Southern California for the past couple decades. She contrasts Mary's provocative act of anointing Jesus' feet with Judas' reaction, pointing out that Jesus' rebuke of Judas is a warning not to judge others, no matter where they are on the spectrum of act...

Text: Luke 1-3, 11b-32 The prodigal...who? Of all the parables Jesus tells, this may be the one that best encapsulates the gospel. Like the one called the "prodigal son" in Luke 15, we wander, go our own way, and chase false dreams. But we have a prodigal God, a Father who always pursues us, and rejoices when we come back home. Will we join in rejoicing when he also welcomes others—even those we d...

Text: Luke 4:1-13 Have you ever heard yourself saying this? I just have to get through this time, and then I'll get serious about working on myself. But life never seems to settle down. Discipleship happens amid the crisis. Our true priorities reveal themselves in the hard times. And here's the good news: Jesus comes to meet us right there - not just when we get it together.  Series: One Life. Fol...

Text: Luke 13:1-9 Tragedy, fig trees, and...condemnation? Jesus' message in this text appears quite cryptic, but it's much more straightforward than it seems. Following him requires submission - to his way, and to his grace. Series: One Life. Follow Jesus. 

Text: Luke 13:31-35 What is the beginning of discipleship? Perhaps it starts with a dream - Jesus' Kingdom dream. In Jesus' dream for the world, our dreams and hopes find their place.  Series: One Life. Follow Jesus. 

Text: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (read at the beginning) On Ash Wednesday, Pastor Matt introduces our Lenten series on discipleship. What does it really mean to follow Jesus? That's what we'll be exploring together this season. It begins with recognizing...that we can't. 

Text: Luke 9:28-36 Is Truth always dependent on fact? On Transfiguration Sunday, Pastor Matt invites us to open our minds to seeing the Better Story not just in literal history or propositional truth, but art, poetry, music, and myth. The last 5 minutes includes a meditation with visuals. We strongly suggest you view the video here: https://youtu.be/KqyaF8MCUkA Series: A Better Story  

Text: Luke 6:27-36 It was radical then. It is still radical today. “Love your enemies” is one of the simplest teachings of Jesus, yet the most difficult to follow. Believe it or not, it is also one of the most practical. Yet it is only possible to sustain through experiencing God’s unconditional love ourselves, and through the Spirit of the risen Christ. Series: Telling A Better Story