The Branch Church

After our gathering, folks stuck around to ask questions about the current war, the larger Israel/Palestine conflict and what it might mean for our lives.

This is a moment in history full of change, questions, uncertainty and loss. So much is shifting so quickly -- including what it means to be Christian (not to mention...if...I want to be Christian). A moment like this calls for courage. Courage to dream new dreams; to allow our imaginations to be reignited. To admit our limitations let go of old patterns that no longer work. We are committed to be...

Presence is one of God's greatest gift to us, and in turn, it is one of the greatest gifts we can offer to each other. We consider this core value -- an intentional choice we can make to be present in our world, here and now.

Week 3: Relational Grace

Our first week on our core values considered the value of Partnership.

Week 2 considers the core value of Inclusivity.

Our final Sunday in Acts considers the last chapters of this book - chapters that show us the promising reality that God's Spirit is given to us precisely in our gritty, messy humanness.

One of the consistent themes in Acts (and the Bible) is conflict. From the very beginning of the story (Acts 6), we find rumblings of discontent. How do we overcome difference? Acts 15 doesn't give us a 1-2-3 step plan, but it does offer insight to steps we can take to help conflict become something that grows us.

We all know what it is to feel the tension between our differences. At the center of the stories in Acts is the tension between Jew and Gentile. Those first Christians were constantly having to work out what it means to not just tolerate 'the other', but to be their brother and sister.

Our dear friend Deborah leads us through the stories of Stephen. His life is the first witness to the scattering of those following Jesus -- out from Jerusalem to Samaria to the ends of the earth. Stephen is willing and able -- and that open posture leads to changed lives, including his own.

We consider Acts 3 and 4 - a story of boldness and courage, including a willingness to speak truth to those in power. How do we do the same?

Something has happened in Jerusalem -- a pouring out of the Sacred Breath (Holy Spirit) -- and it has begun to change people's lives. Today we look at the end of Acts 2 where we see the impact of this revolution of intimacy.

God promises to come - and that coming takes place at Pentecost. But could anyone could have expected the way in which the Divine Spirit came to those first followers? What might this coming of fire, wind and language mean?

The disciples pose a question to Jesus in the days following his resurrection - a question that exposes their longings and hopes. Jesus' response to their question was not what they expected. This week we consider this story and what it might mean for us.

We begin a summer long journey through the story of Christianity's beginnings. This week, we consider the larger context and themes of the book.

Our last installment in this series explores John 4 - a story of an ordinary, everyday encounter that ends up leading to a transformative connection — a connection rooted in vulnerability. Could it be possible that our everyday, ordinary connections offer the same possibility for change? 

John 9 is a chapter full of questions, and to be honest, some are better than others. We take a look at the host of questions asked in this story and consider what makes a lesser and better question? What mistaken assumptions often undergird our questions? And how might we follow the example of Jesus in this story who invites us to not just ask, but act.

It's a story we know well. Perhaps too well. Can we listen with fresh ears -- like that time we first heard encountered the unbelievable world of chemistry, poetry or jazz. When Mary meets Jesus in the garden she doesn't recognize him. The disciples who ran with her to the tomb don't understand. Questions abound. Confusion is everywhere. Into the fray steps the risen Christ - meeting M...

In Ezekiel 37 the prophet (by the same name) is given a vision -- a vision that not only captures the hopelessness of his world, but perhaps of his own life as well. And yet, this same vision also breathes hope and possibility. In our world, there is no shortage of hopelessness. What might this ancient vision offer us and our context today?

Our second week in this series (from March-May we'll be preaching roughly every other week and having Group Sundays on the other weeks - see our blog for more) considers the story of Nicodemus. This religious, pious and seeking leader is confronted with an idea that confuses and shakes him: you must be born again. To be willing to 'begin again' seems to be a consistent message in Jesus...

Our first Sunday in our Lenten series explores the question: "Who Will You Listen To?"

Our final week in the series considers what Sabbath has to teach us about our relationship with the rest of the created world.

We begin a series considering the ancient practice of Sabbath.

Teresa invites us to consider what Sabbath might mean for our work -- and our identity.

Joseph had a choice to make. Would he separate from Mary or stand with her? It, no doubt, was a difficult choice.  While our circumstances are certainly different, we too face the same type of choice: will we separate from those in need - those we disagree with - those who are on the edges of society -- or will we move toward and stand with?  Joseph's story invites us to choose a better...