Mountainview CRC

Palm Sunday.m4a Palm Sunday Pastor Erick Schuringa continues our Lent Series “The Passion Story - Journey to the Cross” with a look at Matthew 21:1-17 , the story of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. There is a wonderful mix of prophecies in action in the Palm Sunday story. We have our children with us in this service, and so we will have an interactive time of trying to live into this story,...

The Power and People Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues our Lent Series “The Passion Story - Journey to the Cross” with a look at Matthew 26:47-68 - “The People and Power.” There are many twists on the theme of power in this story: mob rule, fake greeting, brandished weapons, manipulative conversation and physical abuse. The accusation of Jesus is a study in humanity's struggle to under...

Painful Prayer Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues our Lent Series “The Passion Story - Journey to the Cross” with a look at Matthew 26:36-46 - “Painful Prayer” This week we look at Jesus struggling with what he was facing. The powerful emotional struggle shows us how we are to face up to things when we are called to surrender. Prayer is a big part of this journey.

Peter's Denial Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues our Lent Series “The Passion Story - Journey to the Cross” with a look at Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75 - “Peter’s Denial” Peter shows us both our ability to boldly state our convictions and to fall far short of them. Following Jesus calls us to be very honest about our limitations and very thankful that Jesus knows. Let us enter into the hone...

Supper of the Lamb Pastor Erick

I Love to Meditate on the Law Pastor Jolene Pastor of Pastoral Care Jolene Veenstra will begin our Lent Series “The Passion Story - Journey to the Cross” with a look at Matthew 26:1-16 - “I Love to Meditate on Your Law.” On the first Sunday of Lent we're going to kick off Lenten Guided prayer together. We'll start with an introduction to Lectio Divina, locating it in scripture and in our cultural/...

Body Language Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa will present a message on location with the DIG Team in Guatemala. He will reflect on various passages from 1 Corinthians chapters 10 & 11, along with others with a message entitled “Body Language.” The theme for the DIG team this year is Body Language as we focus on the unity and diversity of God's people as well as the gifts he gives all of u...

Reverence Pastor Jolene Pastoral Care Pastor Jolene Veenstra will reflect on the book of 2nd Samuel chapter 6 verses 1-8 , with a message entitled “Reverence.” I have questions about reverence. What does it mean? What does reverence mean to you? How do you show it? Scripture tells us to "worship God acceptably with reverence and awe." ( Heb12:28 ) Today we will wonder together, what does this look...

God’s Vision for Life. Paster Erick

Stand Frim.m4a Pastor Erick Today is Cadet Sunday and Pastor Erick Schuringa will reflect on their theme, “ Stand Firm. ” focusing on their theme verse from 1 Corinthians 16:13–14. This year we can learn along with the Cadets  how we do not need to conform to the ways of the world. We are not expected to be unmoving, but rather act in love, living a life based on Christ. 

Walk on Water Pastor Erick Today is GEMS Sunday, and Pastor Erick Schuringa will reflect on their theme, “ Walk on Water, ” focusing on the story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-23 and their theme from Deuteronomy 7:9 . GEMS girls and people everywhere are battling the storms of life, being tossed and turned by waves of lies, doubt, and fear. But what if we  really  knew the One more powerful...

Healing and Helping without Hurting Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa will reflect on John, chapter 9 with a message entitled “ Healing and Helping Without Hurting. ” John 9 tells the story of a beautiful miraculous healing of a blind man. Around that event, however, there are all kinds of messy things going on that show how we can be hurtful even in the midst of trying to be helpful. This morni...

The Forms of Faith Paster Brady Pastoral Intern Brady DeBoer will present a message entitled “ The Forms of Faith ” , reflecting on the book of John, Chapter 11 verses 1-43 . Pastor Brady will lead us through the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Together we'll look at the many different characters present in this story and how they react to the tragedy at hand.

Seeing Simeon and Accessing Anna. Pastor Erick For this first Sunday after Christmas, Pastor Erick Schuringa will reflect on “Seeing Simeon and Accessing Anna.” He will be looking at the story as told in the book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 25-26. The story of Simeon and Anna is made for the week after Christmas because that is when it took place. It is also a grand story because this captured mome...

Jesus His story our story Pastor Erick On Christmas Day, join with us as we celebrate the arrival of Jesus. Gather with us at 10 am in person or online as Pastor Erick Schuringa shows us how Christmas is the coming together of all of our stories in Jesus.  He came to bring meaning to the great big story of the whole world. All are welcome as we rejoice together in the peace, love, joy and hop...

Mysterious Magi Paster Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa will present the last message in our Advent series, considering the “ Mysterious Magi ” , looking at Matthew chapter 2, verses 1-12 . For this fourth Sunday of Advent, we will consider the story of the Magi. We know they came, followed a star and brought three gifts. But what was their backstory? What had they experienced before this, and what di...

Listening for God-given Joy Pastor Jolene Veenstra Pastor Jolene Veenstra will present the third message in our Advent series entitled “Listening for God-given Joy”, looking at Luke chapter 2 verses 8-20. The Christmas story is full of people listening to angels. Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and some shepherds watching over their flocks all listened to angels and received incredible news. We think of...

Caller Into Trusting Obedience Paster Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa will present the second message in our Advent series entitled “ Called into Trusting Obedience ”, looking at Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 1:26-38 . Mary and Joseph are given a great gift, but it comes with a tough road. They both are told by an Angel that the Holy Spirit is on the move. How would you respond to such stretching news? Du...

Practice Makes Holy Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa will conclude the Sermon on the Mount series with a message entitled “Practice Makes Holy,” focusing on Matthew 7: 24-28 . For the last message in the Sermon on the Mount series, we’ll consider what it means to do what Jesus says.

The Course of Confession Pastor Brady Pastoral Intern Brady DeBoer will bring a message focused on Psalm 130 entitled “A Course of Confession.” We will walk through Psalm 130, which sets out a beautiful and profound guideline for turning to God in confession..

Choosing a Path Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues the Sermon on the Mount series with a message entitled “Choosing a Path.” He will be looking at Matthew 7:13-23. Jesus is calling us to action. He wants us to move forward. We are called to choose a path, and the path is determined by who our leader is, by who we follow. Jesus is inviting us to a difficult but life-giving journey of fol...

The Way Forward Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues the Sermon on the Mount series with a message entitled “The Way Forward.” He will be looking at Matthew chapter 7, verses 1-12. At this point in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provides a clear way to assess how much we have learned so far. Are we condemning others' faults, pushing our good stuff on them, or are we asking God to work the...

Jesus Stories Pastor Jolene Pastor Jolene Veenstra presents a message entitled “Jesus Stories.” She will be looking at Mark chapter 3 verses 31-34 . Mark 3:31-34 has always sat uncomfortably with me. It sounds like in this passage, Jesus is insulting the family who loved him and raised him, and preferring the presence of strangers. My discomfort with this verse stems from a deeper discomfort about...

Heart Treasure Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues the Sermon on the Mount series with a message entitled “Heart Treasure.” He will be looking at Matthew chapter 6, verses 19-34 . For the Thanksgiving weekend, we are reflecting on what we value and what we are thankful for. Jesus invites us to a whole different way of looking at the world; it is his kingdom.

Practice Your Righteousness Pastor Erick Pastor Erick Schuringa continues the Sermon on the Mount series with a message entitled “Practicing Your Righteousness.” He will begin in Matthew chapter 6, verses 1-18. In order to live out what Jesus taught in the first chapter of the Sermon on the Mount, we need to use spiritual disciplines that connect us with God. Prayer is the core practice, and Jesus...