The United Church of Canandaigua

In this final Sunday of Advent, we consider the extreme faith and submission of Mary. Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and told that her life is about to dramatically change. His news must have been disturbing and filled with uncertainty. May we be challenged to live in the same sort of all-out trust in God's movement in our lives.

The prophet speaks of the coming Messiah as one who will seal the covenant of God with His people. This covenant is rooted in the character of God and provides a permanence that is beyond our performance.

In this season of Advent, we celebrate the coming of Jesus. In Isaiah 40, the prophet reminds the people that God deeply desires to rescue them. The prophet declares that God is making a highway to rescue us, we are incapable of our own rescue (we are grass), and God's promise is good news for us.

Advent is the season of waiting, yearning for God to show up. The Old Testament prophets lived in the tension of two truths. God is able to deliver His people. Yet, His people are in terrible shape. Are they beyond repair? Why would God respond to a people so far gone? It is in this tension that Isaiah calls for God to respond. In Isaiah 64, Isaiah pleads for God to do the impossible, to redeem Hi...

As we conclude our series in 1 Corinthians 12-13, we explore the eternal nature of love. While spiritual gifts, along with the world as know it, will pass away, we are reminded that love will remain. Paul paints a picture of love remaining when all else fades away. This vision for the coming Kingdom should fuel us to prioritize and practice agape love.

Paul's description of agape love is direct. He carefully describes love as not... While love is patient and kind, it is not characterized by envy, pride, arrogance, self-interest, and keeping a record of wrongs. We are challenged to exhibit agape love in how we respond and act toward those around us.

We often celebrate spiritual people who act in visible ways. People who speak spiritually, preach and teach the Gospel, understand God's ways, exhibit great faith, and offer themselves sacrificially command our attention. But such acts are good-for-nothing without love. Paul urges the church in Corinth and us to consider our motivation in everything we do. May it be from a heart of agape love for...

Paul explicitly applies his previous illustration to the church at Corinth. The members of the church are the body of Christ, and each member is a part of it. As each person functions in the way that God designed, the church will be built up and able to fulfill God's calling. Paul urges us to desire and utilize our gifts as a response to God's grace in our lives.

Paul personifies our physical body parts as he illustrates the absurdity of them competing. But the body will benefit as the parts learn to support and encourage one another. A healthy church body requires all the parts working together to support and rejoice with one another. As we work toward vitality and health, we must all participate and use the gifts that God has bestowed on us.

While the church in Corinth is feuding over the importance of particular spiritual gifts and the cultural divides of the day, Paul urges followers of Jesus to reflect on their conversions and the continual work of the Holy Spirit to bring unity in the church. As we seek unity in 2023, may we learn to submit ourselves to God's leading and allow Him to bring us together around His work and plan.

Spiritual Gifts ( Charismata in Greek) are ways the power of God flows through us. Let us use that God-given charisma in a way that glorifies God and makes us “fully alive”.

As Paul writes to the church at Corinth, he instructs them in regards to the gifts of the Spirit. He urges them to turn away from idol worship, which permeates their world. They must learn to live and worship by the Spirit of God. And as they do, Jesus will rule and reign in their lives.

David is old and knows that his time is limited. He gathers his people and his son (Solomon). His final words to them are overflowing with gratitude and humility. David challenges those around him to live in faithful relationship with God. His words relate to each of us as we seek God in our lives. 1 Chronicles 28-29.

Toward the end of David's life, pride gets the best of him. While his advisors attempt to keep him in check, David defies God's rule on conducting a census. In 2 Samuel 24, another crisis leads David to true humility and repentance.

David's heart for God has challenged us in many ways throughout this series. Once again, we watch David as he deals with a first-class jerk. David is willing to extend grace to Shimei because he has received grace from God. In 2 Samuel 16 and 19, we witness David's interaction with Shimei. We learn what it looks like to forgive.

The tragic events of 2 Samuel 14-19 include David's son, Absalom, conspiring against his own father. He leads a rebellion that will result in his death. David is distraught and torn apart by these events. Yet in the middle of these circumstances, God provides friends that help him through. Each one plays a different role as friend to David. As we reflect on David's friends, we are challenged to li...

While David is forgiven, the consequences of his sin continue to play out in the palace. 2 Samuel 13 describes an undisciplined, self-indulgent family with little leadership. David fails to step up and instruct his sons. In time the family falls apart and David is heartbroken.

The story of David and Bathsheba would qualify for a TV mini-series or blockbuster movie. We have all the elements; adultery, sex, misuse of power, lying, and murder litter the story. But the Bible records more than just the historical account. We have insight into David's heart during this period. Psalm 51 records his response to God after being confronted by Nathan. As we explore this text, we f...

As we come to a familiar story of lust, adultery, lying and murder, we are reminded that God followers are not exempt from temptation. As David travels the slippery slope of sin, he continues to commit one sin after another in an attempt to save his dignity. All the while, he walks further away from God.

As we engage the story of Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9), we are reminded that God often gives us more than we deserve. As we reflect on Jonathan's crippled son, we are presented with a beautiful image of serving the least among us.

David has a dream of building the Temple of God. Yet God instructs him that this is not in the plan. David responds with humility, submission, and praise. His posture is similar to Jesus in the Garden. We are challenged to submit to God's leading no matter how disappointing it may be.

David decides to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem in order to highlight the centrality of God in his kingdom. However, he gets in a hurry and does not pay attention to important details. God teaches David about authentic worship in 2 Samuel 6. May we learn to follow God's way and submit our lives to Him, even in the small matters.

1 Samuel 25:1-34

Acts 13:26-41

After Saul's death, David assumes the throne. However, his initial kingdom is limited as Saul's family claims portions of the kingdom. David remains patient and confident that God will provide. In time, David's territory and prosperity expand to impressive size. As we transition from uncertainty to blessing, the road becomes fraught with danger. As we learn from David's life, comfort and security...