There Will Be Signs

Modern

One of the signs of Advent is the Advent calendar. You may have one in your home today, or you may remember having one as a child. As a child, each day of the Advent calendar was a sign that Christmas was getting closer. We relished in the excitement and suspense of counting down the days. That’s what Advent was about back then. At some point in our lives something happened. Somewhere along the way adult life and circumstances got in the way. Real life took control, and Advent hasn’t the same carefree happy time of joy and anticipation it once was. Advent is no longer the season just before Christmas it was merely a countdown to the big, carefree Christmas holiday. Instead, Advent begins to describe the reality of life and the world. Luke’s scripture text takes on a personal meaning for us, and Advent becomes a season of personal change, of letting go and looking toward a future of hope in Christ. Come and hear how Jesus teaches us to interpret the signs in our Advent stories as Pastor Val Stewart preaches “There Will Be Signs” this 1st Sunday of Advent. Luke 21: 25-31

On Sunday, we kick off a new sermon series, "The House the LORD Built." In October, Pastors Adam and Val guide us through a keystone practice of the United Methodist Church that John Wesley taught to help us apply and understand the Christian faith, the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. This first week, we examine the foundation of our faith - Scripture. Come hear how Scripture, especially when we study it as a whole —not just the parts we like—can help us build a life that is fulfilling and enduring.

In Romans, chapter 12, the Apostle Paul asks us to "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." What does it mean to present our bodies to God? We say we are the Church Universal, the Body of Christ, the hands and feet of Jesus, one body - this Sunday, we explore this idea both literally and figuratively within the context of our sermon series, Beyond the Walls. See you Sunday!

"... and I by my works will show you my faith." - James 2:18
As we enter the month of September, we enter a season of service for First UMC. Each year in the fall, we host our annual Worship Outside the Walls event. It is only fitting that this month, we prepare our hearts and minds for service and consider how the church reaches beyond the walls of our building. In the first of a three-part series titled "Beyond the Walls", this Sunday's sermon explores which comes first, faith or works? See you Sunday!

Life is full of seasons, and this Sunday's reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us that each one has its own purpose. As a child, you may have experienced the death of a pet or grandparent. At a young age, we learn that life is temporary and will one day come to an end. This doesn’t have to be a heavy thought—it can actually free us to live more fully and faithfully in the time we’ve been given. In this final sermon in our series, Back to Basics, we ask the question, "How is God calling us to live within the time we have now?"

Remember the wonder of planting a seed in a cup at school, watching roots push down and a sprout push up? Jesus uses this same image in the parable of the sower, teaching us that His Word takes root in people’s hearts in different ways. We are not called to judge whether someone’s heart is ready—we are simply called to scatter the seeds, nurture growth, and trust God to bring the harvest. God invites us to look with wonder at His creation and at the ways He brings life and growth all around us. See you Sunday for the 4th in a series of sermons on Back to Basics.