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When we find ourselves deep in trouble, it can be a time of coming afresh into the presence of God. Read More →

Sometimes God calls us in ways that leave us feeling we want to run in the opposite direction, as did Jonah! But in fact God would lead us in directions that bring fulfillment. Read More →

Easter is the movement from forsakenness – the feeling that God is absent – to the triumph of God’s redeeming power! Read More →

In the moment of greatest challenge and finally in the moment of death, we can entrust ourselves with confidence into God’s hands. Read More →

Using Psalm 46 as inspiration, Dr. Palmer reminds us how we can look to God in faith during the darkest of times. Read More →

For this year’s Youth Sunday, Katie Kulis delivers a heartfelt message about shaken faith and the love of God. Read More →

People often struggle with financial debt; how wonderful if it were all suddenly paid off! We struggle even more with our “spiritual debt”; but through Christ we are set free. Read More →

This sermon was delivered as part of the 2020 United Methodist Women’s Sunday celebrating the women of our church and involving members across the church. Read More →

The first amazing word of Jesus from the cross is to answer terrible human wrong with forgiveness. He invites us to receive and display that kind of mercy in our own lives. Read More →

How are we finally “set right” with God? We can never quite put ourselves right through our own efforts, but the answer comes to us in Jesus Christ. Read More →

The Biblical prophets declared that God is concerned about the entire society—whether a society is in line with God’s will for humanity. Too often human societies have gotten badly “out of plumb.” God calls us to join with the movement of His Spirit to set things aright. Read More →

We often like to think that we are pretty good people, at least better than some of the neighbors! But spiritual healing comes when we acknowledge our need for forgiveness and renewal, and open ourselves to the healing power of Christ. Read More →

The story of Epiphany has an important message for us today. Read More →

Just as God “dwelled among” the Israelites by means of the tabernacle, so now in a far greater way God dwells among us in Christ (John 1:14). Jesus is the new temple – the point where we experience and connect with God. This does not eliminate the need for church! (contrary to... Read More →

The first place Jesus goes (taken by his parents) after his birth is to church! They go to the temple to fulfill the sacrificial requirements of the Old Testament law. There they are met by Simeon and Anna, who have been in the temple awaiting what God would do. It is in the... Read More →

God dominates our lives like a majestic mountain. As we are drawn to the mountain, we are even more drawn to God. It is this God who sends us Jesus Christ, the ultimate source for peace within, as well as amongst us. Read More →

Thanksgiving! Psalm 100 says to “enter God’s gates with thanksgiving,” and numerous Psalms are an expression of thanks to God. Psalm 65 is a thanksgiving psalm, depicting the joy of coming into God’s temple with an appreciation for God’s blessings. Colossians likewise urges us to... Read More →

Psalm 100 says to come into God’s presence with singing. Biblical worship has always included song. Music in worship is not for entertainment, but is a profound form of expressing our praise and glorifying God. Significantly, the book of Revelation repeatedly depicts scenes of... Read More →

Water in the Bible is a symbol for cleansing and purification. It was used in this way in the Old Testament tabernacle/temple, and again was instituted by Jesus as a profound symbol of salvation in the sacrament of Baptism. It is also a symbol of life. Water in worship reminds us... Read More →

The book of Hebrews says that Biblical people of faith saw themselves as temporary sojourners on earth, and were looking forward to “a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” As we join in worship, we always look with expectant hope toward what God will do, and we trust in our... Read More →

In the building of the tabernacle, as described in Exodus, the people offered their very best—their best talent, and their best materials. So much that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing offerings! In worship we are inspired to bring God our best. This does not mean that we... Read More →

The vision of Ezekiel (as well as the passage from Job) shows that God is beyond our comprehension and beyond words. Worship helps us to embrace the mystery of God, to be receptive to a deep level of Reality that is beyond our understanding. We often want to have everything... Read More →

People throughout the ages have sensed that they should bring offerings to God. We are moved through worship to honestly give, and to do so generously, with sincere hearts. Read More →

God leads people not into private religion but into a community of faith. This was true in the Old Testament; and in the book of Acts, the first thing that happens after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is that people join in a community of faith together – the church. Worship... Read More →

Christian faith means becoming a part of a salvation story; therefore our worship involves telling the story, and moves in the cycle of church seasons through the central story of Jesus. We are invited to find our place in the story. The video “It’s Our Time” was created by... Read More →

The function of sacrifice in Biblical worship as a means of atonement. Ultimately, Christ is the final atonement for our sins and the way by which we can receive complete forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Read More →

Through Christ, the final high priest, we are all made into “priests” in that we all have direct access to God, and we are all called to be leaders in particular ways, to be instruments of God’s grace in the world. Read More →

Fire symbolizes multiple aspects of God. It is mysterious.  It is dangerous – one approaches with respect and caution! At the same time, it provides warmth and light, guiding one’s way through the dark. It is powerful. Thus Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)... Read More →

Food has played a role in all religions, sometimes as a form of offering, and sometimes as a means of fellowship. The Scriptures call for an authentic “holy meal” in communion with Christ, and we are also drawn to include the Lord at our table throughout the week. Read More →

Human beings have always been drawn to create sanctuaries, which are strikingly different from the space around them, and people have often devoted their greatest effort to those spaces (e.g. Stonehenge, cathedrals, the tabernacle/temple). Sanctuaries remind us that we need ... Read More →

The Scripture calls us to “come into God’s presence” (Psalm 100:2).  But is not God always present?  Yes, but people are often preoccupied with other things. So the Scriptures urge us to “come awake” (Matthew, Romans, Ephesians) to God. Worship is a movement of awakening and... Read More →

We close the prayer ascribing glory to God. This is based on the ancient Jewish practice of closing prayer with a doxology. The life of faith ultimately lifts glory to God. Read More →

Rev. Douglas Denton examines where God fits in the overwhelming feelings of helplessness we can all experience. Read More →

We can and must look to God for deliverance from evil. Read More →

Temptation is a spiritual trial in which we are lured away from God. But God is with us in the midst of trial, to enable us to endure. To pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” is to look to God for strength hold firm in faith. Read More →

In this installment of the sermon series, Dr. Palmer discusses experiencing God’s forgiveness, and likewise forgiving others. Read More →

In this sermon, Dr. Palmer discusses trusting in God for what we need and looking to God as the source of what we most deeply need. Read More →

In this sermon, Dr. Palmer discusses seeking to bring one’s personal life, and one’s society, into harmony with the will of God. Read More →

The opening petition of the Lord’s Prayer directs us to focus upon God, recognizing God’s love, power, and goodness, and giving honor and glory to God. Read More →

Rev. Douglas Denton outlines some prominent themes in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Read More →

The picture of God is as our heavenly Parent, who cares for us and who is perfectly good.  The beginning of prayer is to focus not on our needs but on God. Read More →

Jesus, in teaching about prayer, draws his hearers from thinking about how they look to directing themselves truly to God. Genuine prayer involves doing what Mary did – sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to what he was saying. This also means avoiding what Martha was doing –... Read More →

Prayer as the practice of ongoing communion with God; prayer is not an emergency appeal to God but a receptive connection with God. Such prayer involves intentional focus; we need to “do things that draw us closer to God” (one of the Methodist General Rules). Read More →

We are all confronted by challenges that are bigger than us. What can we expect from God in those situations? Read More →

The question is this, “How are we to know if God is going to stand by us and keep the promises we have come to feel God has made to us?” Read More →

Faith in Christ involves not just feeling or sentiment but action – doing things that draw us closer to God, and engaging in ministries of outreach to others. We commit ourselves not simply to believe in God but to actively follow Christ. Read More →

In times of loss, we can find much in the Bible with which to identify, as many central Biblical stories are stories of severe loss, including a sense of the loss of God. Such loss comes to its climax on the cross. But in the depths God is at work, to open up a glorious future,... Read More →

There are many popular concepts of what heaven will be like, but what is the Biblical truth about heaven? Audi commercial referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrgq2CIag6M&t=4s Read More →

The crowd is always wrong, thronging to the leader who promises quick fixes, big earthly rewards, and glory. The crowd turned from Jesus because he proclaimed instead a challenging message. But we are called to hear that message, break from the crowd, and follow as Jesus’ disciples. Read More →

When we look up to Christ in faith we find healing that is eternal. Read More →