The Branch Church

Dale shares his recent adventure (in retirement) of starting a new company focused on building net-zero homes. Not sure what a net-zero house is? Dale will fill us in -- and share something about how we remain hopeful in the midst of overwhelming challenges.

CJ and Elizabeth share their experience of growing up in the church, falling in love, and coming out as an LGBTQ couple.

The spaces through which we are changed tend to be experiences of great love or great suffering. Peter's life is an example of both.

It may seem like growing in our faith would mean that we would end up more certain. That may be true of some things (for example, God's love for us). But an important part of transformation involves putting on humility; admitting that we don't have all the answers (and may never have them); even embracing mystery.

God is always present. And it is in the present moment - no where else - that we experience God (and, each other). Growing, maturing, deepening our faith requires us, therefore, to be present - a very very difficult challenge for humans to believe and live.

The created world is a gift, teaching us things that are true about God and about ourselves. This week we consider what trees teach us about our growth and maturity.

Week 2: The End of the Rope is Not the End

We begin a new series in which we look at important principles related to our spiritual transformation (and transformation in general). Week 1 considers the truth that in order to grow we must learn to embrace BOTH death AND resurrection.

The six stories we've considered so far fall short of their promise. They give us something, but it is not what we really want. We need a seventh story. We see aspects of the seventh story in the hours before and after Christ's death and resurrection -- and we see it clearly in the resurrection itself. This story is hard to believe, if we're honest, but it is the story that leads to li...

The Story of Accumulation is everywhere. There isn't a day that we're not inundated with the message that we'll find our happiness and security in more (fill in the blank). But does this story give us what it promises? What is the alternative?

The Story of Victimization is a challenging one. It tells us that when we've been harmed we should let our pain define us. It's a story that encourages us to get stuck in our pain -- sometimes even fueling us to harm others while feeling righteous in doing so. But this story does not move us toward life. Instead, we must courageously face our pain -- almost certainly with the help and care...

Teresa leads us through a look at the Story of Isolation

Teresa and Chris (from Palestine) share thoughts on the third story in our series -- the Story of Purification.

We consider the story of revolution/revenge -- the story that tells us that the only way to happiness and security is to repay pain for pain.

We begin a series for Lent that considers six stories we encounter regularly in our day to day lives -- a series that ends on Easter, which is a seventh story of sorts. These six stories promise us happiness, security and fulfillment but rarely deliver. As we move through Lent we'll be asking ourselves which of these stories do we believe and might we want to leave them behind for a better sto...

We are choosing to be bold -- to take risks, to purposefully keep a compelling vision close to our heart, and to lean into each other.

Jesus is our example, and at every turn Jesus extends welcome to all. Those on the margins, those society considered 'last', those disregarded are all included. Within the community Jesus creates, we find significant difference (socio-economic, political, gender). This is by choice. Jesus chooses to include those who he knew would disagree -- those who would see the world very differently...

Who do we want to be? Who will we choose to be? These are questions often asked at the beginning of a new year. And while related, they are not the same. We may want to be many things -- or to change much -- but without a choice (likely, many, daily choices) those desires will go unrealized. We must be intentional - purposeful. Together we consider three choices Jesus invites us to make. This week...

From moving trucks to our hope for reconciliation to an inn (or house) in Bethlehem, it often feels like there is no room. No room for repair. No hope of things getting better. No space for this or that group. But the Christmas story reminds us that God is able to make room, to make the last first, to find space for all, to open our often-closed hearts.

For the final Sunday of Advent we consider the power of song - especially the way in which it can help rekindle hope. As we sing multiple carols, hear poetry and consider what lyrics to our own song of hope might sound like, we work together to find strength and resolve to move toward the lives and world we are invited to by God.

As we considered last week, it is possible for joy to surprise us and show up at any moment, in any circumstance. This week, Elliott shares the story of the days following John the Baptist's birth - a story in which Zachariah's muteness ends and he breaks into a song of sorts -- a blessing for the world and for his son. In this story, awe and wonder are prevalent. In fact, they are prevale...

"Choose joy!" This phrase has become an anthem of sorts, but is it true? Is joy something we choose? Can we, therefore, do certain things to create or manufacture joy? We look at the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah and explore these questions, working to clarify what joy is and how it arrives in our lives. The good news is that joy can be present in any circumstance, at any time. Even w...

Our theme this year is "a weary world rejoices". We're borrowing that line from the Christmas carol, O Holy Night. It's a line that holds tension and hope. Tension because both weariness and joy are present at the same time and hope because...well...weariness and joy are present at the same time. This morning we consider the ways in which we doubt joy and even resist it. We explo...

Teresa follows up on the conversation we had about Israel/Palestine (on 10/29) by asking the question - what is ours to do? How do we move toward wholeness in the face of constant pressure to perform, achieve and fix all things?

The attacks by Hamas, as well as Israel's response, have created so much pain and destruction. Our hearts are heavy with the weight of this war and the decades long conflict that has preceded it. What are we to do in the face of such violence and loss? What can we do, if anything? Chris shares some of his wrestlings from the last few weeks and invites us to wrestle too -- not just with this wa...