South Bend City Church

Jason Miller - As we face the world with all of its pain, fear, and violence, we might feel some common ground with the disciples of Jesus who find themselves in dangerous waters. The Gospel of John, with its interest not merely in the events of Jesus' life, but the meaning of Jesus' life, invites us to a practice of the presence of God that can help us bring peace to others. The Substack written...

Jason Miller - When Jesus and his disciples face a situation of scarcity, Jesus ratchets up the tension with a question to Philip. The scene is set with important details, and the action has some surprises.  What's Happening Save the date for our Lent Workshop "The Cross Through the Ages: Artistic Shifts that Inform Our Faith" guided by Dr. Macie Sweet. This workshop will happen on Thursdays (2/26...

Jason Miller - When religious leaders confront Jesus and Jesus condemns them, is their failure a failure of doctrine? Should we easily condemn them, too? Or are they showing us a liability we share with them, and inviting us into a braver posture in the world?  This weekend, in response to the grief that we carry in our own lives, the lives of our neighbors, and after the events of the past week,...

Jason Miller - We're returning to our walk through the Gospel of John, with the story of a man in search of healing, a community that failed to help, and the resistance he faced once he had been healed.  What's Happening RSVP to our New to SBCC Table happening on January 11th Register your family for Family Dedication happening on January 25th Give to our  Christmas Offering . Support the ongoing...

Jason Miller, Zach Gillis, and team - The arrival of God comes not with shock and awe, not with the overwhelming power of morning, but with the subtle, even vulnerable presence of a candle flame in the darkness. But together, as we carry that light, may it fill the world. We pre-recorded our Christmas Eve gathering so that, wherever you are, you can sing, pray, celebrate and reflect, lighting cand...

Becky Ykema - On the shortest day, or "longest night", of the year, our local and long-distance community joined together on Zoom for a guided time of reflection, song and prayer as we held space for grief and longing, in a season often marked by joy and celebration. This liturgy was also pre-recorded for those that couldn't join us and for those that want to revisit it throughout the year. You ca...

Jason Miller - As we begin our Advent path, walking together toward Christmas, we’re celebrating the good news that God’s love isn’t love in the abstract; it’s love in the neighborhood. This last week of Advent, we're looking at a subtle feature in Luke's story of Christmas, one with powerful implications for where and when we expect to meet God.  What's Happening Join us on Christmas Eve at 4p or...

Jason Miler and Dave Armstrong - As we pursue a vision of love in the neighborhood, we've been continually inspired by a kindred community in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The people of Redeemer Central Church are following Jesus and stewarding a sacred space in the heart of their city, and as we've taken on the call to reactivate the Tribune as a place for the people of South Bend, their story is en...

Mark Waltz, Grace Baker, Pam Blair, and Marty McIntosh - As we begin our Advent path, walking together toward Christmas, we’re celebrating the good news that God’s love isn’t love in the abstract; it’s love in the neighborhood. This week, we're hearing from members of SBCC's American South delegation who recently traveled to New Orleans, Selma, and Montgomery to learn more about our complicated an...

Beth Graybill, TaKisha Jacobs, and Corrie Commisso - As we begin our Advent path, walking together toward Christmas, we’re celebrating the good news that God’s love isn’t love in the abstract; it’s love in the neighborhood. This week, as we light the Advent candle for peace, we're sharing the story of TaKisha Jacobs and her work to intervene in the face of gun violence in South Bend, and the way t...

Jason Miller - As we begin our Advent path, walking together toward Christmas, we're celebrating the good news that God's love isn't love in the abstract; it's love in the neighborhood. What's Happening Give to our  Christmas Offering . View our  Advent Art Guide  online, or stop by in person for a physical copy. Find our Holiday schedule  on our website! Support the ongoing work of SBCC by  givin...

Jason Miller - To celebrate Thanksgiving, we took a few minutes to consider the reasons it’s good to give thanks, and then members of our community shared some of the things they’re thankful for.  What's Happening View our Advent Art Guide online, or stop by in person for a physical copy. Find our Holiday schedule  on our website! Reach out to Karen Grant if you need more information about Kids Si...

Michael Hidalgo - Many of us struggle with the faith we were handed earlier in life. We find it too narrow or exclusionary or harmful. But how to do we pass on something better. Michael is a trusted friend of SBCC, was the pastor of Denver Community Church for 18 years, and joined us this week to share a teaching on how we can give something better to the world.  What's Happening Join our Discord!...

Jason Miller - Jesus chooses to enter Samaria and meet with a Samaritan woman in an act of cultural subversion. While there, his strange conversation with the woman illuminates the surprising ways God might be speaking to us as we seek the beautiful life to which God calls us.  What's Happening View our Quarterly Financial Report (Q1) Check out our conversation with Becky Ykema , our new full-time...

Jason Miller and Becky Ykema - As SBCC's staff leadership grows, we're excited to welcome Becky Ykema to our team full-time, focusing on the areas of worship and formation. Becky sat down with our lead pastor, Jason Miller, to share some of her story, and for the two of them to think out loud together about the ways SBCC worships and is formed.

Sean Palmer - John the Baptist is confronted with the growth of Jesus' ministry and baptisms, raising questions about John's significance and our relationship to humility.  Sean Palmer is the author of Speaking by the Numbers: Enneagram Wisdom for Teachers, Pastors, and Communicators (IVP 2022) and 40 Days on Being a Three (Enneagram Daily Reflections). He is also the Teaching Pastor at Ecclesia H...

Jason Miller - A religious leader whose world has just been threatened by Jesus' cleansing in the temple comes to Jesus in the night in curiosity and confusion. Jesus has a lot to say to Nicodemus, including that he must be "born again". What might Jesus have meant, and what does it mean for us today?  What’s Happening RSVP to the next New to SBCC Table , happening on November 9th at 12:15p. Get t...

Becky Ykema - We are continuing the sermon series looking at the life of Jesus through the gospel of John. Today's teaching is from John 2:13-25 where Jesus turns tables and opens doors.  What's Happening Get tickets for INKSTORIES at Stockroom East on November 8th at 7p or submit your storyteller application RSVP to Student Friendsgiving on November 2nd at 5:30p (for students in grades 6-12 and t...

Jason Miller - In what the gospel writer calls the first sign of Jesus' glory, Jesus responds to a shortage of wine at a wedding. It's a beautiful story with plenty of meaning at the basic level, but what happens when we also understand its symbolic levels of meaning?  This week's gatherings also featured an interview of Prashan De Visser, founder and president of Global Unites. To learn more, vis...

Becky Ykema, Beth Graybill, and team - This Sunday, we took an intentional pause from diving into one particular passage in the book of John and hosted a DTR or “define the relationship” with Jesus. The sermon includes three reflection points: noting when we first encountered Jesus in our own lives, when it got complicated, and finally what what we are seeking after in our relationship with Jesus...

Jason Miller - Our journey through the Gospel of John continues with the question of John the Baptist and the calling of the first disciples.  What’s Happening RSVP to our upcoming New to SBCC Table on Sunday, October 5 at 12:15p. Join us for our  Fall Picnic at Leeper Park  on October 12 from 11a-1p. Register for the South Bend Pilgrimage  happening October 31-November 1. Support the ongoing work...

Jason Miller - As we enter the fall season, we’re also beginning a new project together: following Jesus through the gospel of John. We begin with the prologue to the gospel, where the writer re-tells the creation story and includes within it a vision of the Word of God that calls us forward to our own best selves.  What’s Happening Register for the South Bend Pilgrimage happening October 31-Novem...

Jason Miller - As we enter the fall season, we're also beginning a new project together: following Jesus through the gospel of John. Before we begin in earnest, we took a week to explain why this text might be important for our community right now.  What's Happening Find more information about, or register for, our two Fall Workshops:  Recovery from Distorted Images of God, Self and Others  with D...

Kierre Bjorn Lindsay and Karen Grant - On Sunday, August 31st our community took some intentional time to pray for the start of the school year.  This is a two-fold community prayer that begins with praying over students of every age and stage as they begin their studies.  It concludes with an intentional prayer over all educators, administrators and other support staff within the education system...

Jason Miller and Karen Grant - Many of us grew up in one faith tradition or another, and some of us with no church background at all. We have ideas of what we don’t want our kids to hear or experience as it relates to God, church, or the Bible. Yet, we want our kids to know God and develop a faith in God. We just need some help. Karen Grant, our Director of Kids and Families, is here to help! Kare...