We all need encouragement, and it is so important to surround ourselves with people who will share our highs and our lows.  In our scripture story today, we see how Elizabeth was that sort of person for Mary, her much younger cousin.  As Mary received word from the Angel Gabriel that she would soon bear Jesus, the Messiah, God knew that she would need to connect with someone like Elizabeth who would encourage her that her baby was a gift

One look at Christmas advertising tells us a lot about what our culture thinks of Christmastime. It’s all about happiness, cheer, and materialism. But what happens when this season brings sadness, despair, and weariness? How do we reconcile these two seeming opposing emotions? As we begin our journey into Advent, leading unto celebrating Jesus’ birth, we acknowledge that while we are weary, joy oc

On this Sunday before we begin the Advent Season in which we prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ birth, we learn more about Jesus’ threefold office as prophet, priest, and king. As prophet, Jesus speaks for God. As priest, he forgives us of sin. As king, he rules over us forever, and we see how Jesus’ coming made the Old Testament Law obsolete and replaced it with a new law based on love and grace.

In some African Christian cultures, the most joyful part of the worship service is the offering as people dance down the aisles with their offerings. The Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver.  In today’s bible story, we see how King David danced with all his might before his people in thanksgiving to God. In this season of Thanksgiving, may we stop and consider how everything we have and everything we are is a gift f

At some point in our lives, we have all encountered the metaphorical burning bush…some event or activity that really captured our attention.  It could have been a health scare that woke us up to a much-needed lifestyle switch, a financial decision that greatly blessed us, or a simple note from a friend that encouraged us.  What if it were really God who was speaking to us through these “bushes?&r

The Old Testament of the Bible contains all sorts of stories of God speaking through various means such as burning bushes, donkeys, and graffiti written on walls. Another such story is of young Samuel who heard God’s voice for the first time as he was serving as a priestly assistant in the temple. Samuel's story highlights how we often hear God’s voice through various means in the Church today. 

In the Gospels alone there are fifty-one references to angels who bring God’s word to people.  In fact, throughout the Bible there are multiples stories of people who heard God speak through certain dreams, visions, angels, or the unconscious.  While our modern minds tend to discount these voices, the truth is that God spoke of a day when he would pour out dreams, visions, and special prophecy to all people. &n

Jesus’ world must have been full of a lot of noise and people constantly vying for his attention. No wonder, he often went away to lonely places for silence, solitude, and Sabbath where he could hear the small quiet voice of God the Father. Elijah the Prophet thought it would come during the big moments in life. But instead, it came when he had stilled himself enough to be able to hear God speak in the silence. 

Each Sunday during worship, I am so grateful for member Bill Gibson who reminds us during the prayers of the people to pray for world peace.  As we have seen throughout the war in the Ukraine with Russia and now most recently with what is unfolding in Israel, that peace is fragile.  Just when it seems that all is well, something evil happens to destroy that peace.  In this season leading up to Advent, we are reminded that Jesus is our Prince of Pe

Ever since the beginning of time, God has desired to communicate with us through prayer. Jesus said, “seek and you will find, ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened to you.”  He also said that we often don’t receive because we don’t ask. This is not to say that God is some cosmic vending machine who gives us everything we want. But it does indicate that if we align our hearts to