Lose Your Life or Save it?

Mikal Farley brought today’s message about “Lose Your Life or Save it?” The Scripture focus was Mark 8:27-38 and Mark 9:1-13. In order to best understand this topic, Mikal led us in understanding that Peter had just discovered that Jesus was the ‘Messiah’ or the ‘anointed one.’  Jesus was careful to allow people to decide for themselves who Jesus is to them.  As we move forward in the scripture, Peter is scolded for questioning Jesus’ mission and how he will later be persecuted and put to death.  Jesus made clear that he must suffer and would be the one who would die on the cross. Later, Jesus makes clear that people… Read More

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Face Our Temptations

As we began the journey through Lent as a congregation, we shared in a period of reflection using Doctrine and Covenants 163:2(b). Generously share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles through redemptive relationships in sacred community.  The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith. • Relationship with God:  Where do you resist the movement of the Holy in your life?  How are you invited to tend your deepest longing for God? • Relationship with Others:  What… Read More

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Compassionate Ministry

Cindy Rugg guided the message on February 4th.  The message was all about Community of Christ Sacraments. “We encounter God through the sacraments of the church, which touch our lives at important times and places.  Sacrements bring God’s grace, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the example of the life of Jesus Christ together with One’s personal commitment of faith. Community of Christ has eight sacraments, most of which are celebrated in worship experiences at appropriate times.”   Baptism Jesus began his work by asking to be baptized (Matthew 3:13–17). Baptism is a public act announcing you are choosing to follow Jesus Christ with all of your heart, might, mind,… Read More

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Jesus, the Teacher

  What is this? What can it do? … Sure it can change the channel, adjust the volume, navigate guides, term TV’s on and off… but it can also do many more things! Just like we today’s Scripture reminds us that Jesus is always in control of any situation.  He heals, teaches, loves… He seeks to be a part of our lives (not as a “control freak”) but as some one who wants us to make positive choices! As you think about Jesus… what do you think some of his most well-known teachings are?  The congregation came up with a few about getting washed; the sinless casting the first stone;… Read More

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Jesus Calls

Jami Smith brought a beautiful message applying the focus scripture from John to our world today.  Take time to read the scripture and consider recent events and it isn’t hard to understand the applicability to the present. John 1:43-51New International Version (NIV) Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from… Read More

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Be Baptized

  Following a video of President Veazey sharing his own baptismal story, Cindy Rugg brought the message.  After reflecting on some memories from her baptism, Cindy reminded us that baptism is all about making a commitment to following Jesus.  As an eight year old child, we may not understand that, but as adults, hopefully we do. Cindy focused on the meaning of commitment and practical ways that we can demonstrate it.  We may be tempted to look at the “big” ways that others demonstrate their commitment and feel less than adequate in our own efforts.  Cindy used a story about a World Service Corp minister who unknowingly was able to share… Read More

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Testify to the Light: LOVE

Today, our children acquainted the congregation with the meanings behind many of the Christmas symbols, including the giving of gifts. Advent Reflection on Love We celebrate Love’s season with glittering lights and pregnant credit cards. We feed the faceless in crowded church cellars and salvation shelters, our gloved bells ringing, our kettles swinging, our madrigal singing giving voice to the birth. Yet deep within the din and dance Nativity whispers our name; Stop! Look! Listen! Hope is birthed in a feeding trough! Lean forward, celebrate the gift anew! Receive Love’s child again! —excerpted from “Nativity’s Whisper” by Danny Belrose, Wave Offerings, (Herald Publishing House, 2005, ISBN 9780830912117), 124. For our… Read More

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Come, Lord Jesus; Hope

Hope…  Where do you see Jesus amid the chaos and turmoil in our world? What does a posture of hope look like to you? The congregation was asked to consider these questions. Aaron B. shared his reflections on the questions with the congregation. He observed that chaos and turmoil are often rooted in loss, which caused him to think of the 23rd Psalm.  We aren’t promised that Jesus will lift us up out of the valley, but that he will accompany us through it.  We can see Christ in other people as they walk with us through difficult times, times of loss and times of despair. For the second question,… Read More

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“Who is this Jesus?”

The congregation explored the theme by watching a video entitled “Who is Jesus to Me?” from World Church.  You can watch it by going to the following web address: After watching the video, we spent some time exploring how we would answer the question: •  What about you? • Who is Jesus to You? (If you’d like, please feel free to leave your reflections in the comments, on Facebook or twitter!) Isn’t it wonderful that his life and example has different meanings to each of us and perhaps even different meanings to us at different times in our lives?   From the Daily Bread Blog for Saturday, November 25th: Up… Read More

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“Receive and Be Trustworthy”

“Receive and Be Trustworthy” The congregation explored today’s theme and The Message version of the scripture using a Dwelling in the Word and considering these questions: Matthew 25:14-30 The Message (MSG) The Story About Investment 14-18 “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money. 19-21 “After… Read More

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