Rather Than

April 27, 2025
Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:27-32
“Rather Than”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Second Sunday of Easter, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, ““Rather Than””. We will be reading from Acts 5:27-32 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 150.

Call to Worship, from Psalm 150
Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary;
People: Praise him in his mighty firmament!
Leader: Praise him for his mighty deeds;
People: Praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
Leader: Praise him with trumpet sounds;
People: Praise him with lute and harp!
Leader: Praise him with tambourine and dance;
People: Praise him with strings and pipe!
Leader: Praise him with clanging cymbals;
People: Praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Leader: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
People: Praise the Lord!

Praying for Students

Brothers and sisters,

We are at a unique time of year. Spring has fully sprung as flowers are blooming and sunny days are becoming more common. The temperatures right now mean that spending time outside grows increasingly tempting. We’ve had a few hot days that remind us that summer is coming, but for the most part the world is opening up and inviting us to take time to relax and enjoy ourselves.

At the same time, students at colleges and high schools across America are having to stay indoors and pore over notes and books and articles as they prepare for final exams and write final papers. I was reminded of that this week as I prepare for the fantasy book club I’m in.

You’ll remember a couple months ago when I wrote about Water Moon that I’ve been attending a book club in Chapel Hill once a month. Well, most of the people in the book club are undergraduate students and back in March they were already dreading the end of the semester. Several of them have multiple exams within a day or two of each other. A few have final papers to write in the midst of those exams. Our book choice this month was purpose-fully short so they wouldn’t be stressed.

In addition to the universities, though, high schoolers all across the country are preparing for AP exams. I would imagine you all know this already, but AP stands for “advanced placement” and are college level courses taught at high schools. If the students can pass these ex-ams, they get college credit when they go off to school. Needless to say, there’s a lot of pressure placed on these kids.

So, as good neighbors, I want us all to take time over the next few weeks to pray for these students. Pray for them as they study, that their studying would be effective. Pray that they would get good nights of sleep the day before their exams. Pray for nutritious breakfasts that al-low them to focus on their tests and not on their stomachs. Pray for calm nerves, that they would be able to show all that they have learned over the last semester or the last year. For those writing final papers, pray that they would be able to communicate their thoughts effectively. For those running final experiments, pray that they are able to run them efficiently and analyze the results correctly. Pray that all these students would have a sense of accomplishment regardless of the final results.

We can be good neighbors to these students even if they don’t know that we’re praying for them. God has made each and every one of them and given them talents. Let us pray that they can learn to use those talents for the good of God’s kingdom!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

The Whole World Shook

April 20, 2025
Easter Sunday
Matthew 28:1-10
“The Whole World Shook”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Easter Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Whole World Shook”. We will be reading from Matthew 28:1-10 and our Call to Worship comes from Isaiah 25.

Call to Worship, from Isaiah 25:6-9
Leader: On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
People: A feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
Leader: Of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
People: And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
Leader: The covering that is spread over all nations;
People: He will swallow up death forever.
Leader: Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
People: And the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
Leader: For the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day,
People: “See, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
Leader: “This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
People: “Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
All: For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.

Questions for Further Reflection:
The resurrection of Jesus changes everything.
How can it affect the way you interact with the world and with other people?

“The Lord Needs It”

If you are unable to attend the service in person, you can watch it online at this link:

April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday
Luke 19:28-40
“The Lord Needs It”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Lord Needs It”.  We will be reading from Luke 19:28-40, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 118

Call to Worship, from Psalm 118

Leader: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

People: His steadfast love endures forever!

Leader: I thank you that you have answered me

People: And have become my salvation.

Leader: The stone that the builders rejected

People: Has become the chief cornerstone.

Leader: This is the Lord’s doing;

People: It is marvelous in our eyes.

Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made;

People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Leader: Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!

People: O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

People: We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Leader: You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

People: You are my God, I will extol you.

Leader: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

People: For his steadfast love endures forever!

Questions for Further Reflection:

Palm Sunday is a day for unrestrained joy!

What does it mean to you to think of God as joyful?

How can you cultivate joy within your own faith?

Holy Week Services 2025

Brothers and sisters,

Next week is Holy Week. Starting on Sunday the 13th, we will make our annual pilgrimage through the final week of Jesus’ life. It is a week in which we will celebrate his arrival, consider his service, contemplate his death, and celebrate his resurrection. Holy Week tends to be a rollercoaster of emotion, but it is a re-minder to all of us of the wondrous love of God in Christ and his commitment to all of us. So, let me give you a quick rundown of what these services will look like.

First, on Sunday, April 13th, we will celebrate Palm Sunday during morning worship! This service is one of joy and celebration as we remember Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Our children will wave palms as we all join in song to praise our God and remember the promise of eternal life he brings.

Then, on Wednesday, April 16th, we will have our annual Service of Handwashing. That service begins at 6:30 PM and will be in our sanctuary. This service will be focused more on those last few moments Jesus had with his twelve disciples during the Last Supper. It is a service that is focused on service and calls us all to humility. We will take time that evening to wash each other’s hands as tangible signs of our love for one an-other and our commitment to serve God together.

Next, on Friday, April 18th, we will have our Good Friday Service. It will begin at 7:00 PM in our sanctuary. This is a service that leans into the difficulty of that first Good Friday. We remember the crucifixion. We remember the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf. As part of that, the Good Friday service ends in darkness and silence as we contemplate the gravity of what has happened—the light of the world has been snuffed out. It is always a powerful service; be sure not to skip out on it!

While it’s not a worship service, do remember that on Saturday, April 19th, starting at 10 AM, we will have our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Crafting Fair. All children are invited to come and participate, so be sure to invite kids, grandkids, neighbors — whoever! If you’d like to volunteer, we’d love to have you and will be more than happy to find work for you!

Finally, on Sunday, April 20th, we will celebrate Easter. We will celebrate the resur-rection of our Lord and the defeat of both sin and death! That morning we will have a time of fellowship before Sunday School starting at 9:15 AM. More details on that are printed in this newsletter. But this Sunday morning will be one of exuberant, joyous celebration! We look forward to seeing all of you that Sunday!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

Creation Waits

April 6, 2025
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Isaiah 43:16-21
“Creation Waits”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Creation Waits”.  We will be reading from Isaiah 43:16-21, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 126

Call to Worship, Psalm 126

Leader: When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

People: We were like those who dream.

Leader: Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

People: And our tongue with shouts of joy;

Leader: Then it was said among the nations,

People: “The Lord has done great things for them.”

Leader: The Lord has done great things for us,

People: And we rejoiced.

Leader: Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

People: Like the watercourses in the Negeb.

Leader: May those who sow in tears

People: Reap with shouts of joy.

Leader: Those who go out weeping,

People: Bearing the seed for sowing,

Leader: Shall come home with shouts of joy,

People: Carrying their sheaves.

Questions for Further Reflection:

How do we see evidence of God’s grace in Creation?

How do we see abundance in Creation?

How might our redemption be good for the world around us?

Love People First

March 30, 2025
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
“Love People First”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Love People First”. We will be reading from Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 32.

Call to Worship, Psalm 32:1-7
Leader: Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
People: Whose sin is covered.
Leader: Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
People: And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Leader: While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
People: For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
Leader: My strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
People: Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity;
Leader: I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
People: And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Leader: Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you;
People: At a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
Leader: You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble;
People: You surround me with glad cries of deliverance.

Questions for Further Reflection:
Meditate on this phrase, “The Gospel is not fair.”
What does that idea stir up within you?
Does it bring you hope?

The Fox and the Hen

March 23, 2025
Third Sunday of Lent
Luke 13:31-35
“The Fox and the Hen”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Fox and the Hen”.  We will be reading from Luke 13:31-35, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 27.

Call to Worship, Psalm 27:1, 4-9

Leader: The Lord is my light and my salvation;
People: Whom shall I fear?
Leader: The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
People: Of whom shall I be afraid?
Leader: One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
People: To live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
Leader: To behold the beauty of the Lord,
People: And to inquire in his temple.
Leader: For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
People: He will conceal me under the cover of his tent.
Leader: Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me,
People: And I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
Leader: I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
People: Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
Leader: “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
People: Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus is defiant for the sake of others.
What does that say about who God is?
How can a defiant Christ help our faith grow?

Sin and Repentance

March 16, 2025
Second Sunday in Lent
Luke 13:1-9
“Sin and Repentance”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Where You Came From”. We will be reading from Luke 13:1-9, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 63.

Call to Worship, Psalm 63:1-8
Leader: O God, you are my God,
People: I seek you, my soul thirsts for you;
Leader: My flesh faints for you,
People: As in a dry and weary land where there is not water.
Leader: So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
People: Beholding your power and glory.
Leader: Because your steadfast love is better than life,
People: My lips will praise you.
Leader: So I will bless you as long as I live;
People: I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
Leader: My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
People: And my mouth praises you with joyful lips
Leader: When I think of you on my bed,
People: And meditate on you in the watches of the night;
Leader: For you have been my help,
People: And in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
Leader: My soul clings to you;
People: Your right hand upholds me.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus speaks to the people with a sense of urgency.
How can his urgency challenge us to be better disciples?
How can we channel that to do good things for our neighbors?

Video Stop

Brothers and sisters,

For this week’s Illuminator, I want to highlight a story I heard the other day of someone going way above and beyond to be kind to another person. While I don’t know the religious affiliations of anyone involved in this story, the thought and dedication to another person is something we Christians ought to emulate.

In Pocatello, Idaho, there was only one video rental store still in business, a place called Video Stop. Run by its owner, David Kraning, the store had been there for years. Kraning had actually taken over the business from his father years ago, but his profits had taken a huge tumble due to the rise of streaming services like Netflix. Within the last year or so, Kraning finally came to the difficult decision that he needed to close the store. Video Stop closed on February 1st this year. He was losing money on it and had been for a while, but there was a reason he’d kept it open even when it wasn’t turning a profit.

Christina Cavanaugh is the Video Stop’s most loyal customer. She also has Down syndrome and is mostly non-verbal. As part of her weekly routine, Christina and her mother, Toni, would come to the video store three times per week and that has been going on for the last fifteen years. Christina loves Disney movies, especially Mulan and Hercules, and it brings her a sense of order and security to have these excursions to the video store. She also gets to work on life skills while she’s there—picking what she wants, interacting with cashiers, presenting cash, and thanking the cashier. It’s an important part of her life.

When Kraning realized he needed to close the store, he said that he was upset not just because of the death of the business, but he was worried about how it would affect Christina. Routines are extremely important for folks struggling with disorders like Down syndrome. As it happens, Kraning also owns the convenience store next door. So, as February 1st approached, Kraning cleared out a corner of his convenience store and set up shelves from Video Stop. He then stocked them with about 200 videos—50 Disney movies for Christina and his next 150 top rentals. His employees christened the display, “Christina’s Corner.”

One day, when Toni came to the convenience store, Kraning showed her Christina’s Corner and Toni said she burst into tears, barely able to thank him. “David is such a humble person, and he’s usually very quiet. I had no idea he’d been worrying about how closing the shop would affect Christina. I thought, ‘My gosh—he’s been losing money, but he came up with a plan just for my daughter?’ Who knew this guy’s heart was so big?” Regarding all this, Kraning said, “It felt good to know that Toni could continue to bring Christina in. I wanted to do something nice for them both. I knew there had probably been some struggles over the years.”

May we all look out for our neighbors the way he looked out for Christina.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben