by Amy Norton-Benfield, May 28, 2026
This Sunday, we’re taking a moment to celebrate and acknowledge those in our midst who have shared their gifts of teaching and learning with us over the past year. Almost every week between September and May, our church school teachers and Bible study leaders prepare lesson and discussion plans to help our church family grow closer to God and to whom God calls us to be. Come Sunday morning, they prepare their space, greet their learners, share their gifts of leadership and teaching, and joyfully and humbly receive the gifts their learners offer in turn. Our church school students model… Read More
by Kent M French, May 21, 2026
This Sunday we will re-tell the story of Pentecost, that wild, fiery day in the first century CE when a diverse crowd could speak in their own languages and still understand each other clearly (Acts 2:1-21). Amy has shared with me an engaging church-y book she’s been reading called Unstoppable Outreach, by United Church of Christ pastor Tracy Barnowe, about, among other things, “how to transform your congregation’s fear of offending people into excitement about inviting everyone they meet.” In it, she has a compelling chapter about Pentecost, focusing on the phrases about “God’s mighty deeds of power,” (verse 11)… Read More
by Kent M French, May 14, 2026
This Sunday is Consecration Sunday, when we bring forth our pledges of money and service for the coming program year (July 1-June 30). We will celebrate with a potluck after worship. If you cannot attend in person, I’m making a special request for you to complete your pledge by Sunday. You can do it online HERE. You can also download the form here or we’ll have extra copies on Sunday. Pledging helps us plan proactively for the year ahead. Every contribution is precious. In worship, we’ll look again at Paul’s “love letter” to the churches at Philippi, in which he outlines what it looks… Read More
by Amy Norton-Benfield, May 07, 2026
In these weeks following Easter, we are learning alongside our church school students how the good news of Jesus’ resurrection begins to spread. As more and more see the risen Messiah, their doubt changes to belief and they share the story of Resurrection. Through the faithful service of disciples, those who are least likely, come to follow in the hope of Jesus’ ministry and teachings. Regardless of whether or not we’ve ever been diagnosed with a mental illness, I feel fairly confident making the claim that we all have experienced ups and downs in our mental health, just as we… Read More
