The Branch Church

We look at a second psalm of disorientation - this time a song of communal lament. We know what it is like to feel communal loss -- and in these psalms the psalmist is willing to say just about anything to get God's attention. Perhaps we can be encouraged by this brutal honesty and see it as an act of bold faith.

We take our first look at a Psalm of Disorientation - a song for those times in our life when everything seems to be falling apart. In these ancient lyrics we find an encouragement to be honest and to bring whatever it is we are feeling or thinking to God.

Our third "orientation" psalm this week is Psalm 37. This longer song offers a hope for a world that is ordered and just, even though wickedness succeeds. Speaker: Chris DeBlaay

We begin a summer series on The Psalms. One way to consider the 150 Psalms is see them as either psalms of orientation, disorientation or reorientation. Psalm 1 is a psalm of orientation as it grounds us and orients us toward a particular way of life.

Teresa and Christ wrap up this series by reflecting back on each week and sharing key take aways.

We begin a three year journey toward making the building we own a place accessible to all - a place where we and our community partners can grow, be transformed, and belong. 0:00 - Our building is not just for us. We own and care for it so that it can be a safe and transformative space for others. We remember those partners together. 2:36 - We remember and celebrate what we have already accomplish...

Hope often seems elusive. In those moments, wisdom teaches us that hope remains alive if we find our proximate purpose. Text: John 21 - Jesus giving Peter 'the next right thing' Speaker: Chris

Week 4 In order to embody hope we would be wise to lean into all of life, know when to hit the lower power mode, and cultivate joy. Speaker: Chris

The Good News is Inspiring Us to Act Mark 11:1-11 Preacher: Teresa Kinnear (it really is her -- a technical snafu recorded the podcast at a different rate changing the tone of her voice :)

The Good News is rooted in justice, mercy, and faithfulness John 8:2-11 Preacher: Neil Carlson

The Good News Is...Together, the Impossible is Possible Mark 6:32-44 Preacher: Bethany DeBlaay

The Good News Is Protection and Care for the Vulnerable Deuteronomy 24:17-22; Matthew 19:13-15, Matthew 18:1-5

Elliot leads us this morning. The Good News is...Great Love for God and Neighbor Luke 7:36-50; Matthew 25:35-40

Teresa leads us this morning. The Good News Is...so good it catches us by surprise. John 2:1-11; Matthew 13:31-3

As we continue our look at our Core Values, we consider Purposeful Presence. We look at a story from Luke 17 and conclude by reflecting on examples of people - including those in Minneapolis -- who are purposefully choosing to show up for each other.

Our second core value is Inclusiveness. This morning we consider together three different passages connected to this value and what it means to not only extend belonging, but to receive it as well.

Our series begins with the value of Partnership. The Scriptures are full of accounts of God's people relying on each other. Even Jesus did not go it alone.

The first Sunday of the New Year is traditionally the week when we turn our attention to the story of the Magi. These visitors are not what anyone would have expected --- and they create a stark contrast when held up against Herod and the religious leaders. Ultimately, it's a story posing the question: empire or shalom? A question relevant to us today.

Teresa invites us to consider Mary's "yes" as a model of courage in the midst of fear -- courage that arises in knowing that she is not alone.

The second Sunday of Advent traditionally focuses on the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry. Today, Chris invites us to consider the end. There, in prison, with his life hanging in the balance, John asks a question many of us know well: was the sacrifice and pain and risk worth it? Jesus' answer invites John, and us, to look and listen with new eyes and ears, and in doing so, find ou...

Our final week in the series has us considering what fruits we have received from others or from God's good world? We also reflect on what fruit is currently being born in us and what fruit we'd like to see in more abundance.

As we bring the series to a close, we consider larger principles about virtue development, including the unity of all virtue and the motivations behind our virtue.

On November 9 we gathered at a local pizza shop to consider a necessary and daunting question: what is the future of Christianity? To consider such a question requires that we first have some sense of where we have been and where we currently find ourselves. This community conversation was the fourth we've offered and has been an important space for anyone longing to live a life of meaning and...

We consider the final fruit in the list: self-control. Is this fruit simply a pulling back and restricting - or is it something more?

Bethany invites us to see gentleness from a different angle -- a purposeful moving toward. There's lots of good stuff in this episode to challenge and encourage us how we live today.