Second Sunday of Advent 2021 - Peace

The Advent season is often characterized by longing and waiting, but it is also a season full of wonder. Before the birth of Jesus, the Bible introduces us to characters who are learning how God makes the impossible possible, showing us that we can have joy, hope, wonder, and peace in the longing and waiting. Their stories help us see the fulfillment of God's promises and how that gives us hope in our own lives. Advent is an invitation to renew our sense of the wonder of the impossible and find hope, peace, and joy in the amazing love of God.

This week, Rev. Tyler Jackson asks these questions for our reflection:

1. How does the story of Elizabeth give us peace for our lives?

2. What redemption are you seeking in your life to bring you peace?

3. What act of obedience is God calling you to bring peace to yourself and others?

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Luke 1: 24-25, 57-64 (NIV)

First Sunday of Advent 2021 - Hope

The Advent season is often characterized by longing and waiting, but it is also a season full of wonder. Before the birth of Jesus, the Bible introduces us to characters who are learning how God makes the impossible possible, showing us that we can have joy, hope, wonder, and peace in the longing and waiting. Their stories help us see the fulfillment of God's promises and how that gives us hope in our own lives. Advent is an invitation to renew our sense of the wonder of the impossible and find hope, peace, and joy in the amazing love of God.

This week, Rev. Ellynda Lipsey asks these questions for our reflection:

1. How does the story of Zechariah give us hope for our lives?

2. What work of God (miracles) are you waiting and hoping for in your life?

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Luke 1:5-23 (NIV)

Service of Thanksgiving 2021

This Sunday we acknowledge our commitment to serve throughout 2022 with our prayers, presence, financial gifts, service, and witness. We give God thanks for all that God has done, is doing, and will continue to do!

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Colossians 2:6-7

Hope and Healing Service 2021

This Sunday we embrace the healing work of God in and through our worship together speaking and reflecting on various scriptures and topics that range our shared human experience.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:

• Ezra 3:3, 6, 10-13 (NIV) | “Grief and Lament as Worship” by Rev. Tyler Jackson

• Psalm 42: 1-6 (CEB); 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (CEB) | “Hope in Times of Frustration, Disappointment, & Anger” by Rev. Ellynda Lipsey

• Psalm 46 (CEB) | “Peace During Suffering” by Grace Whittaker

• Psalm 30 NLT | “Love and Joy in Times of Shame and Sorrow” by Rachel Hockman

Giving Thanks for the Light - All Saints 2021

In our last series we talked about taking the next step of faith to keep pressing toward God so that we will become faithful to God’s greater story of redemption and transformation for the world. Through Jesus, God became a living light of hope, help, and salvation for all people. As followers of Jesus, we want to share the light of Christ that has touched and transformed our own lives in order to support the ongoing ministry of Mountain Park UMC. Together, we offer ourselves in service to Christ to let that living light shine brighter and further than ever before – here and now.

This week, Rev. Ellynda Lipsey shares how the light we experience from God compels us to share the light for all people here and now.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: 1 John 1:5-7 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: The light we experience from God compels us to share the light for all people here and now.

Cultivate the Light

In our last series we talked about taking the next step of faith to keep pressing toward God so that we will become faithful to God’s greater story of redemption and transformation for the world. Through Jesus, God became a living light of hope, help, and salvation for all people. As followers of Jesus, we want to share the light of Christ that has touched and transformed our own lives in order to support the ongoing ministry of Mountain Park UMC. Together, we offer ourselves in service to Christ to let that living light shine brighter and further than ever before – here and now.

This week, Rev. Dr. Mike Owenby shares how cultivating our light means consistently being recharged by God’s light in order to continue to shine in the darkness.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: 1 Peter 2:9 (CEB); Matthew 5:14-16 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: Cultivating our light means consistently being recharged by God’s light in order to continue to shine in the darkness.

Be the Light

In our last series we talked about taking the next step of faith to keep pressing toward God so that we will become faithful to God’s greater story of redemption and transformation for the world. Through Jesus, God became a living light of hope, help, and salvation for all people. As followers of Jesus, we want to share the light of Christ that has touched and transformed our own lives in order to support the ongoing ministry of Mountain Park UMC. Together, we offer ourselves in service to Christ to let that living light shine brighter and further than ever before – here and now.

This week, Ed Birt shares how we can shine brighter and radiate farther when we let our light work together.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Isaiah 58:10 (NLT)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: We can shine brighter and radiate farther when we let our light work together.

People Need the Light - Part 2

In our last series we talked about taking the next step of faith to keep pressing toward God so that we will become faithful to God’s greater story of redemption and transformation for the world. Through Jesus, God became a living light of hope, help, and salvation for all people. As followers of Jesus, we want to share the light of Christ that has touched and transformed our own lives in order to support the ongoing ministry of Mountain Park UMC. Together, we offer ourselves in service to Christ to let that living light shine brighter and further than ever before – here and now.

This week, Pastor Ellynda shares how God wants us to share the Redemptive light with each other to overcome our darkness so we can have light-filled life.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: John 1:1-5 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: God wants us to share the Redemptive light with each other to overcome our darkness so we can have light-filled life.

People Need the Light - Part 1

In our last series we talked about taking the next step of faith to keep pressing toward God so that we will become faithful to God’s greater story of redemption and transformation for the world. Through Jesus, God became a living light of hope, help, and salvation for all people. As followers of Jesus, we want to share the light of Christ that has touched and transformed our own lives in order to support the ongoing ministry of Mountain Park UMC. Together, we offer ourselves in service to Christ to let that living light shine brighter and further than ever before – here and now.

This week, Pastor Tyler shares how we need the hope of God’s light daily to transform the darkness within and around us.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: John 1:1-5 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: We need the hope of God’s light daily to transform the darkness within and around us.

Light of the World

In our last series we talked about taking the next step of faith to keep pressing toward God so that we will become faithful to God’s greater story of redemption and transformation for the world. Through Jesus, God became a living light of hope, help, and salvation for all people. As followers of Jesus, we want to share the light of Christ that has touched and transformed our own lives in order to support the ongoing ministry of Mountain Park UMC. Together, we offer ourselves in service to Christ to let that living light shine brighter and further than ever before – here and now.

This week, Pastor Ellynda shares that when we press toward God’s light, God will shine throughout all of our life.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Matthew 5:14-16 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: When we press toward God’s light, God will shine throughout all of our life.

Faithful in God’s Greater Story

What does it mean to take the next step of faith as we all learn to trust and respond to God more in our lives? What does that look like? Where does it lead us? Join us as we follow the story of Joshua and Caleb as they transition from the wilderness into the promised land. Together, we will learn how calling, thresholds, and God’s greater story are all connected and how they relate to your every day life as a follower of Jesus! 

This week, Pastor Ellynda shares how God is calling us every day to be faithful with our part in God’s greater story.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Numbers 14:17-24 (NIV)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: God is calling us every day to be faithful with our part in God’s greater story.

No Turning Back

What does it mean to take the next step of faith as we all learn to trust and respond to God more in our lives? What does that look like? Where does it lead us? Join us as we follow the story of Joshua and Caleb as they transition from the wilderness into the promised land. Together, we will learn how calling, thresholds, and God’s greater story are all connected and how they relate to your every day life as a follower of Jesus! 

This week, guest preacher, Ed Birt, shares how walking through the threshold means recognizing the work that God continues to do on our behalf.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Joshua 5:10-15 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: Walking through the threshold means recognizing the work that God continues to do on our behalf.

Answering the Call

What does it mean to take the next step of faith as we all learn to trust and respond to God more in our lives? What does that look like? Where does it lead us? Join us as we follow the story of Joshua and Caleb as they transition from the wilderness into the promised land. Together, we will learn how calling, thresholds, and God’s greater story are all connected and how they relate to your every day life as a follower of Jesus! 

This week, Pastor Tyler shares how each step of faith is answering God’s call day by day.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Joshua 14:7-11 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: Each step of faith is answering God’s call day by day.

What Have We Learned?

Our new series, “Great Expectations: Finding God in the Wilderness” follows much of the journey of the Israelites transitioning from one major experience into another. We take a look at the lessons we can learn as we hear stories about the Israelites successfully fleeing Egypt; how the Israelites wrestle with their new found freedom and following God; and the small works that God does daily to build hope in the lives of the Israelites for what is yet to come. We, too, want to take a look back to see where God has done big things in both our lives and in the life of our church over the last year as well as pay attention to what God is doing now in our midst. We look forward to how all of these lessons will build excitement, enthusiasm, hope, and – of course - great expectations for what God will do! 

This week, Pastor Ellynda shares how we should have Great Expectations to find God wherever we are and for God to help us take our next step in faith.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Joshua 1:6-9 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: We should have Great Expectations to find God wherever we are and for God to help us take our next step in faith.

Celebration of Life Service - Rev. Charles W. Barnes

You do not need a Facebook account to view this service. Click on the “play button” overlaid on the image above to start watching the service. Know that here is no audio with the service countdown and slideshow when the video starts. Please skip ahead 15 minutes to the start of the service. Lastly, make sure your volume is on - both on your viewing device AND on the video itself (bottom right hand corner of the live video above).

What's Next?

Our new series, “Great Expectations: Finding God in the Wilderness” follows much of the journey of the Israelites transitioning from one major experience into another. We take a look at the lessons we can learn as we hear stories about the Israelites successfully fleeing Egypt; how the Israelites wrestle with their new found freedom and following God; and the small works that God does daily to build hope in the lives of the Israelites for what is yet to come. We, too, want to take a look back to see where God has done big things in both our lives and in the life of our church over the last year as well as pay attention to what God is doing now in our midst. We look forward to how all of these lessons will build excitement, enthusiasm, hope, and – of course - great expectations for what God will do! 

This week, Pastor Tyler shares how Great Expectations means coming before God to be sent by God.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Exodus 34:1-8, 29-32 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: Great Expectations means coming before God to be sent by God.

What Are We Doing?

Our new series, “Great Expectations: Finding God in the Wilderness” follows much of the journey of the Israelites transitioning from one major experience into another. We take a look at the lessons we can learn as we hear stories about the Israelites successfully fleeing Egypt; how the Israelites wrestle with their new found freedom and following God; and the small works that God does daily to build hope in the lives of the Israelites for what is yet to come. We, too, want to take a look back to see where God has done big things in both our lives and in the life of our church over the last year as well as pay attention to what God is doing now in our midst. We look forward to how all of these lessons will build excitement, enthusiasm, hope, and – of course - great expectations for what God will do! 

This week, Pastor Ellynda shares how Great Expectations requires us to have a foundation in God’s faithfulness

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Exodus 17:1-7 and Exodus 32:1, 7-9 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: Great Expectations requires us to have a foundation in God’s faithfulness

Where Are We?

Our new series, “Great Expectations: Finding God in the Wilderness” follows much of the journey of the Israelites transitioning from one major experience into another. We take a look at the lessons we can learn as we hear stories about the Israelites successfully fleeing Egypt; how the Israelites wrestle with their new found freedom and following God; and the small works that God does daily to build hope in the lives of the Israelites for what is yet to come. We, too, want to take a look back to see where God has done big things in both our lives and in the life of our church over the last year as well as pay attention to what God is doing now in our midst. We look forward to how all of these lessons will build excitement, enthusiasm, hope, and – of course - great expectations for what God will do! 

This week, Pastor Tyler shares how Great expectations also means recognizing God in the small things

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Exodus 16:2-7a, 11-14 (CEB)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: Great expectations also means recognizing God in the small things.

Celebration

Our new series, “Great Expectations: Finding God in the Wilderness” follows much of the journey of the Israelites transitioning from one major experience into another. We take a look at the lessons we can learn as we hear stories about the Israelites successfully fleeing Egypt; how the Israelites wrestle with their new found freedom and following God; and the small works that God does daily to build hope in the lives of the Israelites for what is yet to come. We, too, want to take a look back to see where God has done big things in both our lives and in the life of our church over the last year as well as pay attention to what God is doing now in our midst. We look forward to how all of these lessons will build excitement, enthusiasm, hope, and – of course - great expectations for what God will do! 

This week, Pastor Ellynda shares how our great expectations for the future start with remembering and celebrating the big things God has done and will continue to do!

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Exodus 14:5, 19-31; 151-18 (NRSV)

THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA: Great expectations start with remembering and celebrating the big things God has done and will continue to do.

Back to School Sunday - "Staying Strong in the Lord"

We’re so excited to offer a Sunday morning of worship celebrating our students, families, and teachers. We offered words of love, encouragement, and blessings to each as they begin a new school year together!

On this Sunday, Amy Stephens and Rachel Hockman offer a skit showing and sharing how important it is to stay strong in the Lord!

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Ephesians 6:10 (NRSV) (GNT)