First Church has been exploring the series “Unraveled: Seeking God When Our Plans Fall Apart” since Sunday June 16th. This worship series comes from Sanctified Art. Every Sunday we will explore a Bible passage, art image, and our experiences of unraveling and weaving. Accompanying devotional books and bookmarks (outlining the order of topics) are available… Continue reading Unraveled: Seeking God When Our Plans Fall Apart
Category: Worship
Gratitude: Giving Thanks Activites
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 17-18 Last week we talked about how hard praying without ceasing might seem… especially when we are tied to a particular form of prayer. This week, we are looking at gratitude…… Continue reading Gratitude: Giving Thanks Activites
Prayer: Tuning In Activities
Sunday we talked about the many ways to pray. Often, we are very good at talking, or making requests, but not so good at listening.Here are some ways to practice tuning in to God: As a family: Take a walk, a hike or just find a comfortable place to sit outdoors with the idea of… Continue reading Prayer: Tuning In Activities
For such a time as this…
Over the next five weeks, we will take a look at the book of Esther. If you haven’t read Esther, I’d encourage you to read it! It reads like a thriller or even a romance novel. And yet, we can learn much about what it means to live a life committed to God and to one… Continue reading For such a time as this…
It’s. All. About. Love.
Who doesn’t love to hear the parable of the prodigal son? Or the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin? We love hearing these stories about God’s immense love for us and being reminded of our value as children of God. But there’s the rub. These stories are not necessarily about us. They… Continue reading It’s. All. About. Love.
A Quest for Jesus – Journeying toward a deeper relationship with Jesus
Dear Friends, Over the past year, I have found myself wondering about our country’s current expression of Christianity. I have often felt overwhelmed with Christian mud slinging in the name of Jesus, words of judgment and hate paraded across the Internet, and sometimes-downright heresy. I confess that at times I found myself feeling ashamed to call… Continue reading A Quest for Jesus – Journeying toward a deeper relationship with Jesus
SAVE THE DATE — NOAC — SEPTEMBER 4-8, 2017
OLDER MEMBERS OF FIRST CHURCH – Where else can you go to: 1) Get your faith strengthened – Bible studies, great speakers and wonderful music 2) Your body filled with food (3 full meals a day – prepared for you) 3) A body shaking with laughter (ask Larry Glick about his two year old bologna… Continue reading SAVE THE DATE — NOAC — SEPTEMBER 4-8, 2017
Multiply
Multiply 4 x 5 = 20 6 x 8 = 48 9 x 7 = ? Those of us old enough to remember [before the “new math” etc.] had the multiplication tables drummed into us and we still know them. But “multiply” at First Church is a new thing just now. Starting this Sunday,… Continue reading Multiply
Mini Sermon Series: Ezekiel
Feeling dry? Beginning Sunday September 13th, we will begin a two part sermon series focusing on renewal and restoration. The book of Ezekiel was written during a time of extreme persecution, spiritual dryness and disillusionment. The prophet Ezekiel offers us a beautiful picture of how God can bring renewal and restoration to seemingly impossible situations.… Continue reading Mini Sermon Series: Ezekiel
New Sermon Series Beginning July 19th, 2015
Be the Gospel There is no doubt that the most famous teachings of Jesus are found in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. One of the reasons for this is because we all care about authenticity. In a world that is inundated with information and technology, it has never been more important for the church to… Continue reading New Sermon Series Beginning July 19th, 2015