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In the midst of severe trials, God sustains our spirit in hope as we look to God in faith. Read More →

God is working in ways beyond what we may understanding at the time, weaving everything according to God’s purpose. Read More →

When things keep getting worse, keep on trusting, for God is yet at work. Read More →

People often complain about what they lack and are always craving more. Our perspective changes when we join in God’s purposes and understand that we are journeying toward God’s promises. Read More →

Even when we have experienced God’s providence, it is easy to lose heart when new challenges arise; we need to persevere in faith and support one another in the process. Read More →

In a time of deprivation and uncertainty, with no clarity how this is all going to work out, we are led to trust God on a daily basis and keep on in faith. God supplies our need, supremely through Jesus, the bread of life. Read More →

Do we get “riled up” about things that really should get us fired up? The book of Jonah challenges us to be “appropriately aggrieved,” and become passionate about the purposes of God. Read More →

God’s desire is for all to turn and be saved from sin and death. Read More →

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 →

Rev. Douglas Denton examines the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet and its message for our own acts of humility and love. 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 →

Jesus joins fully in our human weakness and our brokenness. No matter what you are experiencing, you are not alone. Christ is with you. Read More →

In the midst of suffering, Jesus acts in compassion. We can find an answer to our own pain when we join with Jesus and turn outward in love toward others. Read More →

What is our destiny as sinful human beings? Jesus from the cross offers a startling promise. 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. 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 →

Every religion has religious leaders. Priests in the Old Testament serve as leaders and as intermediaries between the people and God. 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... 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 →