Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 25, 2022

We gather in person / livestream / recording this 16th Sunday in Pentecost, Sept. 25th at 10:00 am.

The bulletin and Celebrate scripture readings and prayers are attached, so that you can participate in worship even if you are not able to attend church in-person. Holy Communion will be celebrated, so please have some bread and fruit of the vine ready if you are at home.

Let’s continue to be gracious and merciful with one another as we continue to struggle with a lingering pandemic.

  1. Masks are still highly encouraged due to our singing in church.
  2. Physical distancing is still highly encouraged.
  3. Holy Communion will be offered from Pastor Jim at the front of the church. You can still choose to receive it from the pre-sealed elements.

You can still attend worship through the Livestream at 10:00 am Sunday found here on our website and as a recording later in the day.

There is usually a Children’s Church / Sunday School program planned during worship. It is held in the Family Room adjacent to the sanctuary beginning right before the scripture readings and ending after the offering. We love having children in church and all that brings as part of worship! Thanks to Leslie Lapp for leading this ministry.

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Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 11, 2022

We gather in person / livestream / recording this 14th Sunday in Pentecost, Sept. 11th at 10:00 am.

Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. Sounds good to us, but not to those who don’t want to share and think that God only loves “good” people. God loves all people and wants all to share in the abundance of the creation that God has made. When one strays from God’s ways and will for our lives, God seeks out and saves. All are worth saving and keeping safe. When we follow Jesus, we remember this and look for ways to do the same.

The bulletin and Celebrate scripture readings and prayers are attached, so that you can participate in worship even if you are not able to attend church in-person. Holy Communion will be celebrated, so please have some bread and fruit of the vine ready if you are at home.

Let’s continue to be gracious and merciful with one another as we continue to struggle with a lingering pandemic.

  1. Masks are still highly encouraged due to our singing in church.
  2. Physical distancing is still highly encouraged.
  3. Holy Communion will be offered from Pastor Jim at the front of the church. You can still choose to receive it from the pre-sealed elements.
[Read more…]

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 4, 2022

We gather in person / livestream / recording this 13th Sunday after Pentecost, Sept. 4th at 10 am.

We are blessed to welcome retired Pastor Gary Stevenson (former Mt. Cross Director and Light of Life member), as our presider and preacher this Sunday. Pastor Jim and family are attending a wedding in San Diego.

This Sunday the gospel reading is one of those “hard sayings” of Jesus. Sorry Gary…  J.  But it is meant to really grab the attention of those around Jesus as he prepares them for the resistance to his message of God’s love and grace for all, which they already are beginning to experience. “Hate” is a very strong word in our culture and needs to be understood differently in Jesus’ context as “turning away from”, instead of the more evil connotations we associate it with. One thing is for sure: when we truly live out the gospel of Jesus Christ, there will be those who are deeply offended because it tears down things that people have built up to exclude the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind.

The bulletin and Celebrate scripture readings and prayers are attached, so that you can participate in worship even if you are not able to attend church in-person. Holy Communion will be celebrated, so please have some bread and fruit of the vine ready if you are at home.

[Read more…]

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost – August 28, 2022

Restorative Hospitality

We gather in person / livestream / recording this 12th Sunday in Pentecost, August 28th at 10:00 am.

 Restorative Hospitality is a hallmark of our readings this Sunday which call us to embody the generosity of Jesus Christ, and the extravagant grace of God. We are to look for the ways to restore those who are hurting and left out of God’s blessings and abundance. This is done with a deeply grounded humility that identifies with the lowly and then looks for ways our communities can better care for one another. There is always room at God’s table!

The bulletin and Celebrate scripture readings and prayers are linked, so that you can participate in worship even if you are not able to attend church in-person. Holy Communion will be celebrated, so please have some bread and fruit of the vine ready if you are at home.

Let’s continue to be gracious and merciful with one another as we continue to struggle with a lingering pandemic.

  1. Masks are still highly encouraged due to our singing in church.
  2. Physical distancing is still highly encouraged.
  3. Holy Communion will be offered from Pastor Jim at the front of the church. You can still choose to receive it from the pre-sealed elements.
[Read more…]