Service Archives

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “St. Lawrence Distributing the Treasures of the Church”, part of the Sermon Series, “Faith and Art, Redux”.  We will be reading from 1 John 3:11-24 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 23.

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:
This passage and this painting remind us that people are worth more than treasure.
What does it mean to you to know that God treasures you?
How does the love of God call you to treasure other?

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Our guest speaker, Rev. Jeanell Cox will bring the message, “The Great Divide”. We will be reading from Luke 16:19-31 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 103.

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Everything Happens for a Reason”, part of the ongoing Sermon Series, “I’m Just Trying to Help”.  We will be reading from Romans 8:26-39 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 105.

Questions for Further Reflection:

What role can the Christian community play in grief?
How does having a community help in all aspects of life?

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “There Go I”, part of the ongoing Sermon Series, “I’m Just Trying to Help”.  We will be reading from John 7:53-8:11 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 112.

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Bible Says…”, part of the ongoing Sermon Series, “I’m Just Trying to Help”. We will be reading from Matthew 4:1-11 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 19.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 19)
Leader: The law of the Lord is perfect,
People: Reviving the soul;
Leader: The decrees of the Lord are sure,
People: Making wise the simple;
Leader: The precepts of the Lord are right,
People: Rejoicing the heart;
Leader: The commandment of the Lord is clear,
People: Enlightening the eyes;
Leader: The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;
People: The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Leader: More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
People: Sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Leader: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
People: Be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus and Satan both use scripture to make their points.
What role does humility play in reading the scriptures?
How can we use the scriptures to lift others up?

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “More Than You Can Handle”. We will be reading from 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 123.

Brothers and sisters,

I wanted to briefly write about our upcoming sermon series, where the inspiration came from, and what I’m hoping we can do over the next four weeks. The sermon series is titled, “I’m Just Trying to Help” and, in this series, we’re going to take a look at some phrases that Christians will say that might not be as helpful as we think they are. In other words, we’re going to look at some cliches that get thrown around in casual conversation and ask ourselves, “Ok, but what does it mean to say that?”

Over these next four weeks, we’re going to look at four phrases. The first is a classic, “God will never give you more than you can handle”—a phrase usually said to folks going through some sort of trial. The second is, “The Bible says…”—something you typically hear when a person wants to make a more generic point about some-thing they believe. Third, the phrase, “But for the grace of God, there go I”—one that a person will sometimes say when they recognize how fragile life can be. Finally, the big one, “Everything happens for a reason”—when someone is going through the unthinkable, we Christians are quick to reach for this one.

In this series, we’re going to talk about why these phrases are not as helpful as we might initially think. But I do not want this to be a negative series. In other words, I don’t want anyone to think this is a series in which we’re going to dogpile anyone who has ever said any of these. Instead, I want this to be a series in which we acknowledge what the phrases are trying to say and how they can unintentionally be hurtful. But, in each sermon, we’re also going to take the time to talk about a better phrase that we can use in place of the four I just listed. At the end of the day, we’re all trying to help each other. If we have better language to use, I think we can help each other more effectively.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Praise and Joy”. We will be reading from Luke 13:10-17 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 71.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 71)
Leader: In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
People: In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
Leader: Incline your ear to me and save me.
People: Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me,
Leader: For you are my rock and my fortress.
People: Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
Leader: From the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
People: For you, O Lord, are my hope,
Leader: My trust, O Lord, from my youth.
People: Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
Leader: It was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
People: My praise is continually of you.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus heals a woman. Her immediate reaction is praise and adoration.
How does God remove obstacles to our joy?
How can being joyful be faithful?

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “A Word like Fire”. We will be reading from Jeremiah 23:23-29 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 80.

We look forward to joining you in Worship, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Listen to Your Heart”.  This message is part of an ongoing series titled, “Summer Traditions”.  We will be reading from Luke 12:32-40 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 100.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 100)
Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
People: Worship the Lord with gladness;
Leader: Come into his presence with singing.
People: Know that the Lord is God.
Leader: It is he that made us, and we are his;
People: We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Leader: Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
People: And his courts with praise.
Leader: Give thanks to him, bless his name.
People: For the Lord is good;
Leader: His steadfast love endures forever,
People: And his faithfulness to all generations.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus challenges His disciples concerning what they treasure.
What are the things you treasure in this world?
How can you be sure you don’t value them more than God?