Abide - Congregation & Community Blog
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John 15:4
Our congregational community’s musings on what it means to abide in Christ and with one another.
A Meditation on Isaiah 35: ‘Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom’
This post was written back in 2013, but since the recent evening sermon series covered Isaiah 35, I thought it might be nice to post it. One night when I was in the depths of depression, I was getting ready for bed. Out of force of habit, I sat down to read a psalm....
On Revelation and Humility
By Elizabeth Sunshine “By what right … do you say that you know God better than they do, that your God is better than theirs, that you have an access that I can’t claim to have, to knowing not just that there is a God, but that you know his mind. You put it modestly,...
Three Ways We Can Blossom Together
By Hayley Mullins “Bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10 That’s our goal as Christians, yes? We want the truth of the gospel that God has put into our hearts to grow up into something beautiful. We want to know Him more so...
To Another Elizabeth
Originally posted on Revive Our Hearts True Woman Blog When I was a child, I always enjoyed the third Sunday in Advent. This was the week when our church talked about Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, the biblical character who shares my name. As I grew older, I began to...
Communion
A poem by Elizabeth Sunshine Warm hands. Kind eyes. We speak our word of peace Then walk the center aisle to where the Word of peace waits. He who walked the long, dusty paths of earth To save those made from dust. Broken in pieces that we might be one, He...
Son of God
Our sermon this past Sunday focused on the baptism of Jesus. Our pastor pointed out that in Mark, at Christ’s baptism the heavens are said to be “torn,” not just opened, and that Mark uses this word only twice: here and when the Temple curtain is torn at Jesus’ death....
The Tabernacle: God in our Midst
The first few times I tried reading the Bible through from start to finish, the place where I ran into trouble was the section on the Tabernacle. I could get through the genealogies in Genesis, which only lasted a chapter or so at most, but the tabernacle account...
Beauty, a poem
By Lena Wallace Some people think Beauty is Youth Perfection Flawless skin Shining locks of hair, no gray to be seen Perfect health Perfect makeup Perfect smile Perfect body, smooth, shining... Do you know what Beauty is? I know elderly women Who wear their gray hair...
Welcoming Audrey
By Elizabeth Sunshine A few weeks ago, for the second time I had the tremendous privilege of introducing a child to my church in Chinese. The Lynn family, who are members of our church, just adopted a daughter from China. Her name is Audrey. Since I studied Chinese in...
How do THEIR kids sit so quietly?
This is the question in the minds of many parents of small children as they struggle to parent in the pew. The answer to this question is pretty simple: those parents were YOU at one point. Those children were not born quiet and obedient! A child’s natural, normal...
Learning From Stories: 2016 Ladies’ Tea Devotional
By Elizabeth Sunshine I was honored to be asked to lead a devotional at the 2016 MCPC women’s tea on the topic of “books.” I asked my dad for suggestions, and he pointed me to Ecclesiastes 12:12. “My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is...
Finding Joy in Christmas
A Facebook post from Rachel Jankovic (12/9)... I can't imagine that in 20 years when my kids get together they will look back in joy on the year Mom finally figured out a way to keep the snow clothes tidy. A bunch of adults sitting around, "Remember that year when...
Faith & Authority
By Lindsey L. Tollefson (FenleyFlat) When Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, saying, “Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” Jesus saith unto him, “I will come and heal him.” ...
We Are Created to Be More Than This
by Virginia Wallace I said yes. Because it seemed like the right thing to do. I am not the leader-type – but I am also not the type that likes to be told how to raise my kids – or how I am not raising my kids – or respecting my husband, or whatever the thing is that...