VUE Church

The Bible’s first idea of what it means to be human is that we've been given a calling to participate with God in the ongoing work of creation, to bring it forward, and to make something of the world we live in. SLIDES GEORGE READ IN THE GATHERING: Once upon a time men took into your temple the first fruits of their harvests, the flower of their flocks. But the offering you really want, the of...

Part 10 of the Apostles' Creed. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,  the forgiveness of sins , the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. SLIDES GEORGE READ IN OUR GATHERING There is an expanded sense of sin as anything we do to damage the world. It’s like air pollution—all of us contribute to it, all of us suffer from it. -Frede...

Part 9 of The Apostles Creed SLIDES GEORGE READ IN OUR GATHERING The church is God’s answer to our existential need for belonging, community, acceptance, support, and love. You don’t ever have to be alone. If you are part of a church, you are to take this seriously. It means looking around to see who is alone, who may need a friend, who needs encouragement. It means inviting people to sit by you,...

The word "catholic" in the Apostles' Creed is not a name brand for the Roman Catholic Church--although it may include it. It means the universal Church, from across all times and places, throughout history, which includes us in the 21st century. Any particular Christian community can realize only a fragment of the catholic whole. SLIDES READ IN THIS GATHERING: But Christian unity doe...

We are moving along on our journey through the Apostles' Creed to the line: "We believe in the Holy Spirit." We started with the understanding that something holy and sacred begins with the breath of life breathed into us by God at creation that animates our lives. The Christian tradition calls this Creative Power the Holy Spirit. SLIDES READ IN OUR GATHERING: When we speak about the...

This Sunday we were all immersed in God's love, and some by water in baptism. Water is symbolic of our trusting in the “buoyancy of God” to hold our lives upward so God’s life can be lived in us. Water is also sacramental; not just something we do but also something God does in and through the water. SLIDE GEORGE READ IN OUR GATHERING ABOUT BAPTISM: It certainly doesn’t mean “Now you’ve got al...

The Apostles' Creed says that Jesus was "crucified, died, and was buried." This is a world-altering moment in the Jesus story that has captured the imagination of Christians for two millennia now. There have been different ways we have made sense of Jesus' death through what historically has been called atonement theory. In this teaching, George explores a few of the ways people...

Easter is an opportunity to celebrate being alive. The whole physical and biological universe affirms resurrection all the time, everywhere. This is not a one-time miracle. It's a statement about how reality works with Jesus as a trusted guide for the journey. SLIDES GEORGE READ IN OUR GATHERING “It is absolutely gorgeous. You see the Earth as it exists with the whole universe in the backgroun...

Miraculous births were common in the ancient world. Is the virgin birth mentioned in the Apostles' Creed any different? Must we believe in a literal virgin birth to be biblical? Must we reject it to be reasonable? SLIDE GEORGE READ IN THE GATHERING Mary is not an icon to be reverenced, but the pattern for how the incarnation is to continue, for how God continues to take on flesh in this world....

What makes a better world? Jesus gives us a new way of understanding power to make a better world. The Apostles' Creed says: "We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only son, our LORD." The title of Lord, is the title of the God whose power is love. SLIDES GEORGE READ IN OUR GATHERING To call Jesus “Christ” is to say that human categories are too small to contain him, and to affirm ou...

If "God Is Love" why is the word love not written in the Apostles' Creed?  Because it might just already be assumed by the writers. When it says, "We Believe In Jesus," it is saying "We Believe In Love."  Jesus is love revealed. Love here is not abstract or theoretical. It is not a feeling or a concept. It is love embodied. SLIDE GEORGE READ IN OUR GATHERING As Jesus expressed it, we’re...

In this teaching, we explored the second line of the Apostles' Creed "creator of heaven and earth." George talked about the biological process of creation and the theological story of creation given to us in Genesis. The creed is an ancient way of narrating a particular story about reality that Christians have trusted for a millennium and a half. We want to root our community in this story and sim...

George-the Apostles’ Creed's first line begins with “I believe in God, the father…” Credo “I believe” in Latin means "I give my heart.” The word has the same linguistic root as love. May we all find our hearts drawn not just in ideas or beliefs but in trust and love of the God the Creed calls “Father.” SLIDES GEORGE READ IN OUR GATHERING The Creed is a statement of faith, not of beliefs. There are...

Stacia Freeman-Our actions of love make the invisible visible. God's love not only unites us with God but with all of humanity. God who comes in human form teaches us that we must search for God's love in flesh and weakness. Love is the epiphany of God in our poverty.

John 2 - Jesus changes water to wine. The story of this wedding is actually about transformation. Yes, the water is transformed into wine, and we are transformed into people made in God's image and who reflect his glory by being fully alive. SLIDES GEORGE READ IN OUR GATHERING: So John is saying: you are here in a trinitarian universe not just for survival but for thriving. There is an overflow to...

Matthew 17:1 (the transfiguration)-Jesus is being revealed for what and who he already is, but his friends now realize it and see him in a whole new way.   Like Peter, James, & John; we need moments of transfiguration in our lives when Jesus shows us who he really is and what is really good. And we can also see transfiguration in others, where we realize something new about who they are o...

Epiphany is about the surprise of finding God's light and love in Jesus. In this teaching, George talked about Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus, too, was someone on a spiritual journey from which we can learn. What changes us? The sacred voice that calls us beloved. And being beloved expresses the core truth of our existence. SLIDES READ BY GEORGE I believe in Christianity as I believe that...

George & Scott Reall in a part 2 conversation about transformation in our lives for a new year and this season of Epiphany. SLIDES READ BY GEORGE Epiphany is a wonderful celebration for those who are committing themselves more deeply to the process of spiritual transformation, for it contains themes of journeying from the known to the unknown with only a mysterious light to guide us. It has to...

George & Scott Reall talk in this gathering about transformation in our lives for a new year and this season of Epiphany. An epiphany is a moment of sudden insight, discovery, or realization of the essential nature or meaning of something. A one-word summary of the gospel might be “BELOVED.” It’s the realization that you are dearly loved, a much-loved person. Self-rejection is the greatest ene...

This Christmas we asked the question: what story or stories do we trust to navigate our lives and the world? The Christian story began on Christmas day with a baby and a joyous announcement that God is light and love. And this story isn’t over. Christmas is still happening through people like us, who with faithful hearts, trust in the story of faith, hope, and love. SLIDES George read in our gathe...

Stacia Freeman taught us on this Sunday the Advent of Love. You can download Gary Culley's song 'Good Morning Sweet, Sweet Child' at the web link below and you'll find it under music. Enjoy and share it with someone else! garyculleyguitar.com Visit us online at vuechurch.org

Christmas happened and is happening. And it's not automatic. Advent is about the arrival of God in our lives by preparing our hearts for Christmas and consenting to God's presence. You can visit us online at vuechurch.org SLIDES George read in our gathering: Image Displayed on Screen From artist Scott Erickson's book Honest Advent (Chapter 15, Mighty) Mary is a Model for All of Us We need to let t...

Matthew 7:21-29 - Jesus' sermon finale offers us foundational words to build a life on. Jesus essentially says, I've told you about the things that bring you flourishing and a good life, now go do it. This 19-week series through the Sermon on the Mount ended this Sunday, but living into it is just beginning for us as individuals and as a community!

TECHNICAL NOTE: the introduction of this teaching is missing because the power went out-so it picks up right when the power was restored!   Matthew 7:13-20 "narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." George shared how he thinks the "narrow road" is not doctrinal correctness, but rather the practice of what Jesus has been teaching in these few chapters of the Sermon on the...

Matthew 7:7-12 “Ask…seek…and knock.” We learned in this teaching from George/Dallas Willard how this text may first apply to our approach to others, and, then, in prayer to God. God’s gift to us in prayer is the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13) which is the “divine energy of life!” We'd love for you to join us in person at one of our Sunday gatherings--10a at Gower Elementary. You can visit us online at v...