At a special meeting on October 13th, our Session unanimously approved plans for indoor worship to resume beginning Sunday, November 1st. For the five Sundays in November, we’ll offer one worship service at 9:30 am in the sanctuary. This service will have the feel of a Fifth Sunday service, blending traditional and contemporary elements. We’ll continue offering our live stream for those who can’t come to church or feel safer watching from home. Beginning the first Sunday in December, it’s our intention to offer two worship services: traditional worship at 8:30 am in the sanctuary and contemporary worship at 11:00 am in Miller Commons.
 

In the month of November,

Pastor Stuart Spencer and Kelly LePenske, Director of Congregational Ministries, preach a sermon series called, “Passing the Peace: God’s Gift of Shalom.” The Hebrew word “shalom” means many things: Prosperity. Health. Wellness. Completeness. Safety. Harmony. Satisfaction. Fulfillment. Unity. Victory. Restoration. There’s not one English word that captures of the fullness of shalom. Shalom is more than the absence of conflict. It’s the sense that one has “enough.” As Nicholas Wolterstorff puts it, “To dwell in shalom is to enjoy living before God, to enjoy living in one’s physical surroundings, to enjoy living with one’s fellows, to enjoy life with oneself.” (Nicholas Wolterstorff, Until Justice and Peace Embrace, Grand Rapids, MI, 1983)
 
 
 

The Prince of Peace Speaks

Sunday, November 22, 2020
John 14:22-31
Kelly LePenske preaching
 

 
 
 

A Prayer for Peace

Sunday, November 15, 2020
Psalm 85:1-13
Rev. Stuart Spencer preaching
 
 
“The promise is that God will ‘speak peace.’ Peace here translates the Hebrew term shalom. The word in some contexts means peace in the sense of absence of conflict or war (Joshua 9:15). In this verse, however, shalom seems to connote something like “welfare” or “prosperity” or perhaps simply “goodness.” What the Lord will speak will be good news because it will promise salvation (v. 9). The announcement of salvation is similar to that in Isaiah 40-55, which declares to the people who have experienced defeat and humiliation that God’s deliverance is at hand.”

 
 
 
 

A Portrait of Peace

Sunday, November 8, 2020
Isaiah 62:1-121
Rev. Stuart Spencer preaching
 
 

“These first verses of Isaiah 62 are like a geyser erupting in hopefulness and wild abundance. This is like a prophetic fireworks display with a never-ending grand finale as color and light fills the skies, eliciting a long string of “Ooohs” and “Ahhhs” from those seeing the spectacle. This is one of those passages so chock-full of promise and imagery of joy that it is almost impossible to overstate it, almost impossible to stray into the realm of exaggeration in talking about it. Because here Yahweh promises that his people—desolate, barren, bewildered, and long held in foreign captivity—will soon be transformed at every level.”

 
 
 

Good Morning! Peace!

Sunday, November 1, 2020
John 20:19-21
Rev. Stuart Spencer preaching
Communion Sunday
 

 

A CALL TO FASTING AND PRAYER ON THURSDAYS:

September 24 to December 17, 2020


“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7: 14

Join Pastor Stuart Spencer on Thursdays for a day of full or partial fasting. However or whenever you fast on Thursdays, be sure to participate in our Evening Prayer service at 7:00 p.m. If you are unable to fast for medical reasons, plan to make Thursday a special day of prayer for yourself, our church and our nation.
Let’s get started!
 
 
 
Prior to attending an approved Worship Service, meeting, small group, rehearsal or any gathering on the church campus we are asking each of our members and visitors to complete ONE waiver form and ONE health screening questionnaire for EACH member or visitor. You may find online and printable forms here…