John 12:1-8 | Before entering Holy Week, we join with Mary as she anoints Jesus’ feet. Experiencing this story for ourselves, in our midweek worship we will be invited into a different form of meditation reading and prayer. Join us as we humbly come before Jesus in thanksgiving, love, and adoration.
John 12:1-8 | Of all the five senses, the sense of smell is often quite powerful. Whether a pleasant aroma, or something that turns up your nose, one scent has the power to convey an array of emotions and bring back a host of memories. Within our Gospel passage, Mary pours out a pound of perfume onto Jesus’ feet as an act of love, thanksgiving, and mourning as she prepares Jesus for his coming passion and death. But juxtaposed against this scent of love is the scent of betrayal, jealousy, and looming violence as Judas reacts against Mary’s worshipful act. As we, too, prepare for Jesus’ coming passion and death, join us for worship as we are reminded of the gesture of love, thanksgiving, and mourning that we are summoned to offer to Christ – and to each other – in this coming Holy Week.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 | In the words of Rev. Ashley DeTar Birt, “For a very long time, my challenge was the parable of the prodigal son. …Trying to make sense of these characters was hard for me, but what I eventually came to realize is that every single one of them, regardless of what they’ve done, receives grace.” Though we may resonate with one or more characters of this story, together we challenge ourselves to immerse ourselves in the story of each character, and we open ourselves to receive God’s unique gift of grace.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 | Many of us are familiar with the story of the prodigal son. But as we look deeper into this story, it’s apparent that not only is the younger son’s actions “prodigal” in nature. The father’s actions also exemplify that which is prodigal—extravagant, lavish, and even illogical love. Join us for worship as we hear the promise that we, too, are offered that same prodigal love of our God, and as we are invited to receive the compassionate embrace of our Father.
Isaiah 55:1-9 | What do you consume on a daily basis? Our dietary habits may be revealing, pointing to what nutrients we are and are not offering our physical bodies. But what about everything else we find ourselves consuming? Are we consuming that which fills us to the brim? Or, leaves us craving something more? In our worship this weekend, we’ll take stock of the difference between what we “think” fills us and what “actually” fills us, and after hearing the story of the Israelites, we too will be offered Christ’s invitation to come to his table of mercy and grace. Join us for worship, as we pull up a chair to the only meal in which we are filled and sent forth to bear fruit in Christ’s name.
Luke 13:31-35 | Jesus is clear that he desires to gather all his children under his wings of care. And yet, when Jesus looks upon Jerusalem, he is grieved. Today, when God looks upon the world in compassion, desiring nothing more for God’s children other than abundant life, there may be many things that grieve God’s heart. Join us for a time of midweek worship as we offer our prayer and praise to God, and as we uplift the things of this world and the things of our own lives that grieve God’s heart.
Luke 13: 31-35, Psalm 27 | Above all, it is Jesus’ desire to fulfill the purpose for which he was sent: to safely gather us under God’s wings of mercy. At times, we might get in the way of Jesus’ mission taking shape within us by resisting or rejecting God’s Word. And, at times, it may seem as though the powers of this world get in the way of Jesus’ mission to bring healing and liberation to all people. But in the end, as people of faith, we trust that nothing will get in the way of Jesus completing that which he was sent to accomplish: to reconcile humanity to God and to each other. Join us for worship as we hear God’s faithful promises, and as we receive Christ’s gift of mercy in the sacrament of communion.
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 | After our first Sunday in Lent, we ventured into the wilderness with Jesus. From that place of wilderness, Jesus would be led into ministry, and finally led to his cross and resurrection. But what about us? Where do our journeys lead? And even more deeply, what might it mean for us not to race ahead to the “destination” of our journey, but to simply “be” in the spot we are—right now—on our journey? Might that be exactly where we are meant to be? And might that be exactly where Christ meets us? Join us for worship as we consider where we are on our journeys and as we claim the truth that God, our refuge and strength, fills us to the brim wherever we find ourselves.
Luke 4:1-13 | As we continue into the season of Lent, we are brought into the wilderness where Jesus was tempted. There, the devil craftily tried to take away from Jesus the only things he had to hang onto his identity and his assurance of the Holy Spirit sustaining him. In the same way, when we find ourselves in places of the wilderness, we may be tempted to let go of our identity in Christ and let go of our reliance on the Holy Spirit to protect us and provide for us. And yet, it is precisely in our identity in Christ and in our reliance on the Holy Spirit that we are filled to the brim, even in the desert. Join us for worship as we acknowledge areas of wilderness in our lives and in our world, and as we boldly dare to claim that we are filled to the brim…even in the desert.
Psalm 51:1-17 | Ash Wednesday begins our annual Lenten journey to Christ’s cross and resurrection. At the same time, one could also suggest that Ash Wednesday begins our annual “cleaning” as we prepare to stand in God’s presence? But how much of this work can we do on our own? Join us for worship as we begin the Lenten season and as we invite the Holy Spirit to cleanse us and fill us to the brim.
