Today is the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Be Perfect”. Our Scripture passage comes from Matthew 5:38-48 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 112. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 112)
Leader: Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord,
People: Who greatly delight in his commandments.
Leader: Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
People: The generation of the upright will be blessed.
Leader: They rise up in the darkness as a light for the upright;
People: They are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
Leader: It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
People: Who conduct their affairs with justice.
Leader: For the righteous will never be moved;
People: They will be remembered forever.
Leader: They are not afraid of evil tidings;
People: Their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
Leader: Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
People: In the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
Leader: They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
People: Their righteousness endures forever.

Question for Further Reflection:

In this passage, Jesus gives his disciples a simple command, “Be perfect.”
How can we take a command like that seriously?
And how does a command like that change the way we view the world?

Today is the sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Different Priorities”. Our Scripture passage comes from Matthew 5:1-12 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 15. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 15)
Leader: O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
People: Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Leader: Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
People: And speak the truth from their heart;
Leader: Who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends,
People: Nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
Leader: In whose eyes the wicked are despised,
People: But who honor those who fear the Lord
Leader: Who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
People: Who do not lend money at interest,
Leader: And do not take a bribe against the innocent.
People: Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Today is the fifth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Eldad and Medad”. Our Scripture passage comes from Numbers 11:24-30 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 104. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 104)
Leader: O LORD, how manifold are your works!
People: The earth is full of your creatures.
Leader: These all look to you to give them their food in due season;
People: When you give to them, they gather it up;
Leader: When you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
People: When you hide your face, 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: 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.

Question for Further Reflection:

In this passage, God’s spirit falls freely on whoever it wants to.
How does God continue to surprise you in your own faith journey?
What does this radical freedom say about God’s character?

Happy Father’s Day! Also, today we will celebrate our Graduates! Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Do As He Did”. Our Scripture passage comes from Matthew 9:35-10:11 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 100. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

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.

Question for Further Reflection:

In this passage, Jesus commissions His disciples to live a life like His.
What is something you could change today to live a little more like him?

Today is the Third Sunday after Pentecost and Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “In My Bones”. Our Scripture passage comes from Jeremiah 20:7-13 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 86. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 86)
Leader: There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
People: Nor are there any works like yours.
Leader: All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord,
People: And shall glorify your name.
Leader: For you are great and do wondrous things;
People: You alone are God.
Leader: Turn to me and be gracious to me;
People: Give your strength to your servant;
Leader: Save the child of your serving girl.
People: Show me a sign of your favor,
Leader: So that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
People: Because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Questions for Further Reflection:

In this passage, Jeremiah is going through a wide range of emotions.
Why might it be encouraging to see this passage in the Bible?
How can we, as a church, provide space for people who are struggling?

Today, Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Words as Gifts”. Our Scripture passage comes from John 17:1-11 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 68. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 68)
Leader: Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered;
People: Let those who hate him flee before him.
Leader: But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God;
People: Let them be jubilant with joy.
Leader: Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
People: His name is the Lord—be exultant before him.
Leader: God gives the desolate a home to live in;
People: He leads out the prisoners to prosperity.
Leader: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
People: Sing praises to the Lord,
Leader: O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
People: Listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Leader: Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel;
People: And whose power is in the skies.
Leader: Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel;
People: He gives power and strength to his people.
All: Blessed be God!

Questions for Further Reflection:

In this passage, some of Jesus’ last words are a prayer for His disciples.
Which of His words resonate with you?
What does He mean when he says “eternal life” comes from knowing God?

Today is Trinity Sunday. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Letting Others In”. Our Scripture passage comes from Matthew 28:16-20 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 8. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 8)
Leader: O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
People: You have set your glory above the heavens.
Leader: Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark,
People: To silence the enemy and the avenger.
Leader: When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
People: The moon and the stars that you have established;
Leader: What are human beings that you are mindful of them,
People: Mortals that you care for them?
Leader: Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
People: And crowned them with glory and honor.
Leader: You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
People: You have put all things under their feet,
Leader: All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
People: The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
Leader: Whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
People: O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Questions for Further Reflection:

In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples to bring people into the community.
What does it mean to truly be a part of a community?
Why is it risky to bring others in?
Why does God call us to do it anyway?

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.

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?