• Sun Dec 4: Advent 2 • Sun Dec 11: Advent 3 • Sun Dec 18: Advent 4
• Sat Dec 24: Christmas Eve • Sun Dec 25: Christmas Day

Sun Nov 27 – Advent 1: There’s Room for Every Story

9:00 am Traditional Worship • 11:00 am Contemporary Worship

Matthew 1:1-17 | Isaiah 2:1-5

Our series begins with Matthew’s genealogy. In that long list of names, we remember the trauma and triumph of those who came before; each name holds a story and their story gives way to Christ’s story. God works through the unexpected people and stories of the past and present. When you zoom in, you may not be able to see how each character propels the story forward, but when you zoom out, you can see how each story is woven together into a larger tapestry. The Isaiah passage illustrates a convergence of opposing groups and identities coming together. Instead of the way of the past—of war—they learn a new way by transforming their weapons into gardening tools. What are the old paths that we’ve followed, and where must we diverge into a new way? [back to top]

Sun Dec 4 – Advent 2: God Meets Us in Our Fear

9:00 am Traditional Worship • 11:00 am Contemporary Worship

Luke 1:26-38 | Isaiah 11:1-10

When the angel Gabriel comes to Mary, she is perplexed and confused—and no doubt, afraid. And yet, the angel’s news is: “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid. We hear this refrain all throughout the Christmas story and remember it is the most common phrase in the Bible. From generation to generation, God shows up in the midst of our fear and uncertainty, and confusion. From generation to generation, faithful people have said, “yes,” despite apprehension. From generation to generation, our ancestors in faith have accepted the invitation. The prophecy in Isaiah paints a vision of what we work toward when we say “yes”: righteousness and equity reign, the wolf lives with the lamb, no harm or hurt shall destroy the earth, and a child shall lead the way. This is the vision passed down to us: we must pursue it and make it real. [back to top]

Sun Dec 11 – Advent 3: We Can Choose a Better Way

9:00 am Traditional Worship • 11:00 am Contemporary Worship

Matthew 1:18-25 | Isaiah 35:1-10

As far as Joseph knows, his new wife has been unfaithful to him and broken their marriage contract. And yet, instead of punishment, he chooses not to publicly disgrace or humiliate her. This interruption in his life becomes a holy invitation when the angel comes to him in a dream and says, “Do not be afraid.” When he awakes, Joseph once again has the courage to choose a better way. He chooses to stay with Mary, to become an adoptive parent. He chooses peace over violence, grace over condemnation. Like Mary, he chooses to say “yes.” When have our ancestors also chosen a better way, and when have they not? Isaiah 35 is a vision of what happens when we choose a better way: the wilderness blooms, water breaks forth in the desert, eyes are opened, ears are unstopped, and sorrow and sadness flee away. A highway shall appear and it will become a holy way. [back to top]

Sun Dec 18 – Advent 4: We See God in Each Other

9:00 am Traditional Worship • 11:00 am Contemporary Worship

Luke 1:39-45; 56-58 | Luke 1:46-55

This week we return to Mary’s experience. After receiving the news from the angel, she retreats to her cousin Elizabeth’s house. When Mary arrives (perhaps unannounced), Elizabeth doesn’t just welcome her—she is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks a blessing upon Mary as her own child leaps and kicks within her womb. She sees how God is at work and names it out loud. In this moment of profound solidarity, Mary and Elizabeth see the divine in one another. This connection inspires Mary to sing her radical hymn of praise, declaring how God’s liberating love remains steadfast throughout the ages. From generation to generation, we can see how God is at work in our relationships. We find God in each other. The way we see the divine in each other impacts how we live and move in the world. When we view every human being as a child of God, we generate a different world. [back to top]

Sat Dec 24 – Christmas Eve: We Tell This Story

4:00 pm Family Contemporary Service • 7:00 pm Christmas Concert • 11:00 pm Traditional Service

Luke 2:1-20

We tell this story every year. We tell this story because it illustrates so clearly God’s desire to be in a relationship with us. We tell this story because we, too, are invited to come to the manger and witness the miracle of birth. We tell this story because it brings us hope and good news—hope especially for those deemed powerless, unworthy, or unwelcome. We tell this story because it is a story we need to hear again and again; if we didn’t tell it, what would become of our faith? And so, on this night, we tell this story to pass along this good news and to continue to thread together the generations with hope. [back to top]

Sun Dec 25 – Christmas Day: God Dwells with Us

10:00 am Contemporary Service

John 1:1-14 | Luke 2:15-21

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” (John 1:14a). Unlike the other gospels, John’s gospel offers us a cosmic glimpse of Christ’s birth. Christ’s beginning was with God, therefore, Christ has been with us since life began. On this Christmas Sunday, we celebrate the many ways God dwells with us from generation to generation, since the beginning of time. Like Mary pondering the angels’ message in her heart, we invite you to dwell in your worship, perhaps embracing stillness, contemplative practices, creativity, and prayer. In the fullness of this season, come dwell with God—in silence or in song, in prayer or in stillness. [back to top]