Today is Pentecost Sunday.

Our Guest Speaker, Dr. Steve Bolton, will bring the message, “The Wonders of Pentecost!”. Our Scripture passage comes from Ephesians 1:15-23 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 107. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 107)
Leader: O Lord, how manifold are your works!
People: The earth is full of your creatures.
Leader: These all look to you
People: To give them their food in due season;
Leader: When you give to them, they gather it up;
People: When you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
Leader: When you hide your face,
People: They are dismayed;
Leader: When you take away their breath,
People: They die and return to their dust.
Leader: When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
People: And you renew the face of the ground.
Leader: May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
People: May the Lord rejoice in his works—
Leader: Who looks on the earth and it trembles,
People: Who touches the mountains and they smoke.
Leader: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
People: I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
Leader: May my meditation be pleasing to him,
People: For I rejoice in the Lord.

Questions for Further Reflection:
Pentecost has been called The Birthday of the Church – God’s Holy Spirit infusing Christ’s followers with His presence and power.
What signs and wonders of God’s Holy Spirit have you noted in your own spiritual journey?
List and give thanks for those moments you became convicted, convinced, converted, or perhaps when you especially felt led, reassured, encouraged, or empowered by God’s Spirit.

By the time you’re reading this article, I will hopefully be done with some of the most tedious parts of moving into a new place. It’s not the packing up I find the most tedious. Nor is it even the unpacking of boxes that gets to me (that can be weirdly fun, i.e., “What’s in this box? Oh! That thing!”). No, the most tedious parts of moving into a new place, in my opinion, are laying down contact paper in all the shelves and cabinets, getting everything cleaned, and deciding where everything is going to go in the kitchen.

First of all, while I recognize the importance of using contact paper to line shelves, it is persnickety and the paper loves to bubble up, fold up, or stick to itself. All I’m trying to do is lay it flat; why won’t it lay down?! Then, there’s all the cleaning that comes with getting a new place. Running cleaning cycles for the dishwasher, the washing machine, the dryer. Cleaning the bathroom and getting it ready to be used. Wiping down all that contact paper in all those shelves while ignoring all the egregious folds and bubbles. Cleaning dishes, glasses, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, and more! And then deciding where everything will go so it’s in the easiest place to get to while cooking, maximizing ease of use without minimizing counter space. It’s … a lot.

But once it’s all done, it’s amazing the sense of peace that settles in. A kitchen that has been fully prepped is a wonder-ful thing to behold. Y’all know that I like to cook and it is amazing how relaxing it can be to walk into a kitchen and know, “I have everything I need. It is here, at my fingertips.” Weeknight meals come together quickly. Friends can casually chat as the cooking happens. And holiday gatherings are so much easier when the kitchen feels like it is actively helping you. Taking the time to set things in order makes extraordinary things possible.

When I think about what it means to be a Christian, I believe there are certain basic things we have to set out first, things that must be done before moving on to more complicated, extravagant theology. We believe that God is the Creator of all things in this world. We believe that God created human beings and called them, “very good.” We believe that even though all people have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, God still loves them. We believe that the kingdom of God is not just a place far off, in another time and place. We believe that because of Jesus, his life, his death, and his resurrection, the powers that would hold humanity back have been defeated. These are basics, yes. They are nowhere near as annoying to lay down as contact paper, but once these basics have been laid down, more beautiful theological convictions become possible.

Because God created all people and loves all of them, we Christians have the audacity to believe all people deserve respect and dignity. Because we have been convicted of our own sins and found that God’s grace is sufficient, we can build community with people others might steer us away from. Because of the stories of Je-sus’ ministry, we know how to reject ideas that would deny the image of God in another per-son. By the way, the most effective way I’ve found to address those ideas that would tell us another person is unworthy of love, respect, dignity is to simply ask, “Would Jesus love that person?” If the answer is, “Yes,” then my faith actively moves to help me say, “Then I will love them, too.” And, thanks be to God, the answer to that question is always, “Yes.” Lay the foundations and extraordinary faith becomes possible.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

Today is Ascension Sunday.

Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Father of Glory” Our Scripture passage comes from Ephesians 1:15-23 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 93. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 93)
Leader: The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty;
People: The Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.
Leader: He has established the world;
People: It shall never be moved;
Leader: Your throne is established from of old;
People: You are from everlasting.
Leader: The floods have lifted up,
People: O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice;
Leader: The floods lift up their roaring.
People: More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
Leader: More majestic than the waves of the sea,
People: Majestic on high is the Lord!
Leader: Your decrees are very sure;
People: Holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.

Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Building Bridges” Our Scripture passage comes from Acts 17:22-31 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 23. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 23)
Leader: The Lord is my shepherd
People: I shall not want.
Leader: He makes me lie down in green pastures;
People: He leads me beside still waters;
Leader: He restores my soul.
People: He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Leader: Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
People: I fear no evil, for you are with me;
Leader: Your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
People: You prepare a table before me,
Leader: In the presence of my enemies;
People: You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Leader: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
People: All the days of my life.
Leader: And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
People: My whole life long.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Paul is bold enough to meet the Athenians where they are.
Why does it take courage to open up to people?
How does openness on your part change the way others hear the gospel?

This week’s article is pretty simply summed up by saying, “Thank you.”

First of all, thank you to everyone who participated in Operation Inasmuch. Because of your support we were able to put together over a dozen “Thinking of You” bags for those church members who cannot come to the church as often as they’d like. Those bags included some freshly baked cookies from our congregation!

In addition to those, we were able to put together one hundred “Community Bags” to give out to our friends and neighbors here in Durham who are struggling. As I write this article, there are still plenty of bags that need to be distributed. So, when you come to church on Sunday, be sure to stop by the vestibule and take a couple to keep in your car. When you see someone on the corner, on the median —wherever — who needs some help, you can offer them that bag and let them know they are loved.

Also, thank you to the volunteers who went to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC on April 28th! That group of volunteers continues to represent our church well by reaching out to folks in need.

Thank you as well to the children, the children’s ministry, and the music ministry here at Hope Valley for taking a trip to Carolina Reserve to sing for the residents there. I know you all brightened their day.

Finally, on behalf of myself and my family, thank you all for the celebration this past Sunday. The luncheon itself was a wonderful time of fellowship together. It is hard to believe it has already been five years since I came to Hope Valley Baptist Church. We’ve had plenty of wonderful times together reaching out to our community, helping those in need, celebrating the goodness of God, and lifting one another up. We’ve also endured plenty of difficult moments in the life of the church, the wider world, and in my own personal life. I’m grateful for all of you and the ways God has continued to bring us together. Thank you for Sunday. May we continue to seek God together and live faithfully according to our call as Christians.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Faithful Foundations” Our Scripture passage comes from 1 Peter 2:2-10 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 34. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 34)
Leader: I will bless the Lord at all times;
People: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Leader: My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
People: Let the humble hear and be glad.
Leader: O magnify the Lord with me,
People: And let us exalt his name together.
Leader: I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
People: And delivered me from all my fears.
Leader: Look to him, and be radiant;
People: So your faces shall never be ashamed.
Leader: This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
People: And was saved from every trouble.
Leader: The angel of the Lord encamps
People: Around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Leader: O taste and see that the Lord is good;
People: Happy are those who take refuge in him.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Peter encourages his readers to pursue the simple truths of their faith.
What are the building blocks of faith?
How do they help you delve into deeper truths?

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Devotion” Our Scripture passage comes from Acts 2:42-47 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 66. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 66)
Leader: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
People: Sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.
Leader: Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
People: Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
Leader: All the earth worships you;
People: They sing praises to you, sing praises to your name.”
Leader: Come and see what God has done:
People: He is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
Leader: He turned the sea into dry land;
People: They passed through the river on foot.
Leader: There we rejoiced in him, who rules by his might forever,
People: Whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
Leader: Let the rebellious not exalt themselves.
People: Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
Leader: Who has kept us among the living,
People: And has not let our feet slip.

Questions for Further Reflection:
Luke casts a vision of what the early church looked like.
Which of the early church’s practices (v. 42) caught your attention?
How could you incorporate that practice into your daily life?

This past Sunday, April 19th, I mentioned the idea that becoming a Christian does not require us to forget who we are or where we came from. That point was prompted by Peter’s encouragement to Christians to remember they were “ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from your ancestors” (1 Peter 1:18) and I wanted to expand on it here.

I think the reason Peter says this to Christians is because he understands that if we fall back on old habits, old routines, or old ideas, and expect them to save us the same way God saves us, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. The things we’ve inherited from “our ancestors” cannot save us—only God can. But I want to make sure to emphasize that I don’t think God wants us to disown our histories — the people, the places that made us who we are. Rather, they need to be put in their proper place and understood through a Christian lens.

For example, I’ve told y’all this before, but I have been deeply formed by my hometown, Goldsboro, NC. A wonder-fully strange little city in Eastern North Carolina, I am who I am in part because of this odd place. It is a city filled with eccentricities and contradictions. I sat in classes with friends whose families would travel to New York City every year to see Broadway shows or go to the US Open. Right next to those kids were others who were given special absences when the Wayne County Agricultural Fair started because they needed to go and prep their tractor for the tractor race that night!

Goldsboro is a city that has always encouraged a sense of service and community. It’s easy to get plugged into volunteer opportunities in Goldsboro, helping build houses with Habitat for Humanity, serving at booths during the Relay for Life, or basically anything the Goldsboro YMCA gets up to. You know, positive things to bring people together. At the same time, when I was growing up, one of our most beloved traditions was a celebration of civic unrest. For years, Goldsboro celebrated something called, “The Derailebration.” Over a hundred years ago, a railroad company ran tracks through Center Street in downtown Goldsboro. Frustrated by the noise and inconvenience of the trains, the citizens of Goldsboro went out one night and took up all the tracks! For over a century we celebrated this act of collective vandalism. Those celebrations ended years ago when Amtrak—you know, the train company—started courting Goldsboro to put a station there! (Admittedly, it’s a connector bus stop four blocks over from Center Street, but my point stands!) My hometown is ridiculous; I’m so proud to be from there.

My point in all this is simple: I don’t believe God would want me to disavow Goldsboro. For better or for worse (I think better), I have been shaped by that strange little city. And I’d like to think God loves the weirdness that comes from a place like Goldsboro because God loves how wonderfully unique each person is. I’m sure each of you has a strange story from where you grew up. Or you have memories of wacky events in your life that make you chuckle. You’ve been shaped and molded by those things — and I don’t think God wants you to for-get them. Rather, I think God always wants us to understand that these wonderful, unique, weird stories are all part of God’s story. Let us place our faith in God’s story and bring our whole selves to it.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter.

Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Building Faith and Community” Our Scripture passage comes from 1 Peter 1:17-23 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 116. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 116)
Leader: What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
People: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,
Leader: I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
People: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.
Leader: O Lord, I am your servant;
People: I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
Leader: You have loosed my bonds.
People: I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
Leader: And call on the name of the Lord.
People: I will pay my vows to the Lord
Leader: In the presence of all his people,
People: In the courts of the house of the Lord,
Leader: In your midst, O Jerusalem.
People: Praise the Lord!

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Peter emphasizes the need for Christians to be in community together.
How does God’s character enable us to build lasting relationships? How can God’s character help us navigate challenges?

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter.

Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Outcome of Our Faith” Our Scripture passage comes from 1 Peter 1:3-9 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 16. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 16)
Leader: Protect me, O God,
People: For in you I take refuge.
Leader: I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
People: I have no good apart from you.”
Leader: The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
People: You hold my lot.
Leader: I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
People: In the night also my heart instructs me.
Leader: I keep the Lord always before me;
People: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Leader: Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
People: My body also rests secure.
Leader: For you do not give me up to Sheol,
People: Or let your faithful one see the Pit.
Leader: You show me the path of life.
People: In your presence there is fullness of joy;
All: In your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Question for Further Reflection:
The author of 1 Peter wants to make it clear that our salvation has already been accomplished.
How should that fact inspire your actions in the present?