“Love Yourself Unconditionally”

Inspired by the tenets of ubuntu—the Zulu philosophy that we are each impacted by the circumstances that impact those around us, and that the world won’t get better until we all get better—the author, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, of Fierce Love lays out the nine daily practices for breaking through tribalism and engineering the change we seek. From downsizing our emotional baggage to speaking truth to power to fueling our activism with joy, it demonstrates the power of small, morally courageous steps to heal our own lives, our posse, and our larger communities.

In her book, she suggests that there are harmful images and beliefs about God that needs to be let go of before we are able to embrace God as love.  She writes, “Unfortunately religion is too often weaponized.  Wars are waged in the name of religion.  People are enslaved and terrorized in the name of religion…. I’m a Christian pastor, and these are things my tribe has done, all in the name of Jesus.  If humankind is to thrive, we need to let go of any religion that wounds and kills…  But we need to exercise a spiritual imagination free of fear and shed the constraints of unhealthy religion”. (Fierce Love, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, p. 129)

Siblings, we must see the world through the eyes of God who is love and believe with all our heart in love.  And all this begins with loving yourself unconditionally.  Are you good about loving yourself?

We begin our first Sunday of 2024 with reflecting on loving ourselves as God loved us.   Join us.

The Table of Joy

Howard Thurman writes, “I will light candles this Christmas, Candles of Joy, despite all sadness, Candles of hope where despair keeps watch. Candles of courage where fear is ever present, Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days, Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens. Candles of love to inspire all my living, Candles that will burn all the yearlong.”

We light all Christmas candles on the first Sunday after Christmas and we give God thanks for Emmanuel God with us.  And we make room for the table of joy as we give God thanks for all his good and perfect gifts throughout the year and immerse ourselves in Scripture readings, and singing all your favorite Christmas songs!  Send the end of the year photos to Pastor Sunae by this Friday, 12/29 by 6pm and we will witness our tables of community of love, peace, hope and joy as we wrap up 2023!

Remember to join us for a breakfast gathering at 9:30am in the fellowship hall before the worship service for a light breakfast together and a time of gratitude and prayers!  Come and join us.

The Table of Grace

This Sunday, we celebrate Christ’s birth. Our children, youth, and adults are preparing the Christmas Pageant and it is our hope that the traditional Scripture story to break open and speak, to be reflected. There are four scenes in the Christmas Pageant:  Journey to Bethlehem, The birth, The shepherds, and Tableau at the Manger.  Susannah Wood has been working very hard joyfully and rehearsing with our precious children and adults to bring this story alive.  We invite you to journey into the story.  Come and let us adore Him. Amen.

The Table of Hope

Our hope is renewed as we direct our attention to the well-being of others. Advent directs us beyond our own immediate thoughts, feelings, and limitations towards the bigger picture of what God is doing in radical identification with the highest possibilities for all people and all of life.  We are told that as John Wesley lay dying at 88 years of age, he summoned all of his strength and forcefully proclaimed two times, “The best of all is, God is with us.”  Those words capture the transformative reality of incarnation, God with us. Let us make room at the table of Hope!   – Pastor Dale

Next Sunday, we will gather to celebrate the birth of our Christ child. Our children, youth, and adults are preparing the Christmas Pageant.  Join us!

The Table of Peace

We live in a time in which a strange counter-cultural figure like John the Baptizer may seem to be more relevant than ever.  Who can predict what historic shifts, transitions, debacles and transformations may happen next?  When the patterns of our lives get shaken up, the fire of the Holy Spirit burns brightly, lighting the way through the darkness.  This Advent is a time for claiming Jesus’ promise of a “peace that passes understanding”.

The Table of Love

“Apocalypse” in the Greek language means “unveiling,” or “revelation”. The church year begins apocalyptically. On the First Sunday of Advent, Mark warns us three times to be awake and to be ready because something new is occurring, events so new that they are beyond human abilities to create.

Although Christ is light and love, his advent—his coming to us in our place and time—can instigate change. And that change can be costly, even painful. Who likes change? Are there any earth-shaking events happening in our lives?

In this season of Advent, literally “coming to” or “arrival,” Jesus says not only that there are some frightening things on the horizon but also that the Son of God is on the horizon. Something new is occurring! As we enter this new season, we are invited to gather around the Table of Love where Jesus showed us the most profound act of love as giving himself away for us to experience newness.  Join us.