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April Gathering Schedule
Here’s how we’ll gather in the month of April:
SUN APR 1 – PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP CELEBRATION
5pm @ 300 E Wayne St.
All MCs gather together for worship, storytelling, a word from Scripture, communion and prayer together.SUN APR 8 – JOINT WORSHIP CELEBRATION
11:15am at Grace Gathering (3157 Minnich Rd, New Haven)
All MCs gather together with Grace Gathering for a worship celebration.SUN APR 15: MISSIONAL COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
See individual MC pages for gathering times/places:
Northside | Open DoorSUN APR 22: MISSIONAL COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
See individual MC pages for gathering times/places:
Northside | Open DoorFRI APR 27 – PRAYER FURNACE
7pm @ 7116 Tanbark Ln || More infoSUN APR 29: MISSIONAL COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
See individual MC pages for gathering times/places:
Northside | Open Door -
Advent Blog 30: The Future is Now
During Advent, our daily exercises focus on the Scriptures we’ll be reading together on the forthcoming Sunday.
As we’ve been traveling through the Cycle of Light, Advent/Nativity/Epiphany, we’ve been holding two ideas in tension : expectation and repentance. In today’s lectionary reading, Titus 2:11-14, Paul is writing to a church overseer named Titus, on the island of Crete, and in our text he addresses these same two ideas.
Expectation: … while continuing to expect the blessed fulfillment of our certain hope…
Repentance: …renounce godlessness…in this present age.
Paul doesn’t leave his listeners clueless as how this happens. He cites Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross as the epicenter. There’s a new kingdom coming, a new way of living for which we were set free to now live, which is evidenced by ‘…self-controlled, upright and godly lives …eager to do good.’ Yes, be expectant, but you might need to change your thinking, and as a result, your actions, in order to live the life of freedom which Jesus’ death on the cross unveiled. BTW-this life of freedom is not just for Israel but it’s now available for everyone.
Is it hard for you to feel ‘free to live’ the life you were created to live? Do you need a fresh dose of unfettered expectation? Over the next couple of days, re-read the story of Jesus’ birth and take note of the multiple transactions of God’s kingdom breaking all the rules of rationale and decorum in order for first century humanity to anticipate his appearance. Maybe you will need to change your thinking (repent) in order to live in anticipation of the consummation of his kingdom. See the anticipation, both in the gift giver and gift receiver, and the marvel at the deepening of the relationship as this transaction takes place. The gift has been given….how will you say thanks?
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Was Jesus a Rebel?
The following was written by a friend of mine:
Sometimes Jesus is referred to as a rebel because of the things He opposed in His society, but He was not a rebel. He never marched against the government, or tried to overthrow the pattern of Jewish worship. He went to the synagogue, and told the people to do what the priests told them. What He opposed was the hypocrisy he found in people when they professed to be faithful to God and yet did things that hurt God’s people. Jesus sought to open hearts to the depth of love God had for them, but could become quite angry when they intentionally blocked that love. He would go against the taboos of His time by talking to women, touching lepers, doing good works on the Sabbath, and eating with tax collectors. He would shock the teachers by forgiving sins, something they knew only God could do. He did not try to overthrow anything in His world, but to change that world, and ours, by living the love of God for all people.
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Added Oct 18th’s Sermon!
Hey y’all, I finally found and uploaded Wes’s sermon from October 18 (Matthew 5:17-30). The link is here or you can find it on the right sidebar.