Worship Series:
| Empowered by the Spirit | Rev. Thomas G. James | May 23, 2021 | Watch |
As we celebrate Pentecost, it’s helpful to consider the difference between the power of God in Christ and the power of God in the Holy Spirit. Understanding how the Spirit empowers the us is essential to claim our identity as the Church. The power of God in Christ is what makes new life possible. The power of God in the Holy Spirit is what equips us to proclaim the power of God in Christ. | The Ascension and Human Fragility | Rev. Thomas G. James | May 16, 2021 | Watch |
The Church has this historical problem of thinking that our knowledge of Christ gives us power over the rest of humanity. But the ascension makes clear: Jesus doesn’t embed himself in us. Jesus doesn’t even stick around so that we might chain him up in our limited ways of understanding. No, Jesus ascends. | Signs, Wonders, and Deep Debates | Rev. MaryAnn McKibben Dana | May 9, 2021 | Watch |
Perhaps this biblical story of the Jerusalem Council – this argument over the basic claims of the gospel – is more relevant to our time than we might think at first. The debate over accepting the Gentiles into the early Christian church gives us some helpful tools for engaging in dialogue over change in the church today. | A Freeing and Invitational Gospel | Rev. Thomas G. James | May 2, 2021 | Watch |
Hear this Church, we need to stop trying to limit who can receive the Good News – who can be welcomed into the body of Christ. It is our calling to preach and teach the good news, and then to rejoice in celebration and welcome all who proclaim that Christ is Lord. | A Threat to Institutional Powers | Rev. Thomas G. James | April 25, 2021 | Watch |
The power of Christ and the work of the Church is a threat to societal powers – whether political or institutional. The power of Christ is a threat to any individual who seeks wealth and power for themselves, especially at the expense of others. The Church today needs to reclaim the early church’s prayer for boldness in proclaiming this power-threatening truth. | The Good News is Life Giving | Rev. Thomas G. James | April 18, 2021 | Watch |
We – the Christian Church – have strayed so far from whom God created us to be. In the coming few weeks we’re going to consider how we might reclaim for the Church our call and our witness. Today’s text in Acts 3 invites us to consider that when we begin to witness to the power of Christ as Peter did, the invitation for others to embrace this power will carry the weight of the glory it proclaims. | |||