Election season is upon us.  There’s not a day that goes by for most of us in which we are not hit with TV/on-line ads, phone calls, signs (of which, admittedly, I have two in my yard), and more.  But despite how tiresome it all can be, important matters are at stake.  I plan to vote, and before then, want to find out about the people running for various offices, and the issues that are before us.
 
To that end, I spent one evening poring through the “What’s On My Ballot?” booklet sent out by the Arizona Secretary of State.  I particularly appreciated (maybe even enjoyed?) looking through the various propositions, or “props”.  For each prop, the booklet gives us: the text of the proposed law or amendment to an existing law; an objective analysis; and arguments written by Arizona citizens who are either for or against the prop.
   
As I was reading through each prop, I got to Prop 139, which if passed will amend the Arizona Constitution to create a fundamental legal right to abortion in Arizona.  If I’m not mistaken, of all the props in the booklet, this one has the most people commenting, both for and against. The arguments are mostly well written, and I wasn’t too surprised by any of them.

That is, until I got to the bottom of p. 186.  There, many members of a church – Chalice Christian Church, one of our fellow Disciples of Christ churches, in fact – placed their argument in favor of Prop 139.  I wasn’t necessarily surprised by seeing Christians supporting the right of abortion.  That’s fairly common, and even in our own congregation, there’s a diversity of opinion on this matter.  What surprised me was the premise upon which the support is based – their support comes “because of, not in opposition to, the teachings of Jesus.”
 
(From here on, I mostly will refer to the published argument by the members of Chalice Christian Church as an “article,” written by “Chalice,” though I would guess that not all of the church’s members signed on.  I recognize that it’s signed by individuals, and not by the church as a whole, so the words are only for simplicity.)

I think this premise, and the article as a whole, are worth addressing, because if the teachings of Jesus do indeed undergird support for the right to an abortion, then there have been billions of misguided Christians throughout the centuries and into the present regarding this matter.
 
Their article comes in several parts, the first of which, if I may paraphrase, is that Jesus is against injustice, and if a woman can’t have an abortion – whether because it’s illegal, or unaffordable – that’s unjust.  Moreover, Jesus in His own day lifted up and supported women despite the very male-dominated society in which He lived.  Translated to our day, His followers ought to lift up and support women by doing what we can to provide abortion access.
 
It is most definitely true that Jesus is against injustice, and that He lifts up and supports women.  One of the Bible passages cited in the article is John 8, in which Jesus saves a woman caught in adultery from being stoned to death.  (It is that account from which we get the phrase, “You who are without sin, cast the first stone.”)  After challenging those who are condemning her, causing them to drop their rocks and walk away, Jesus doesn’t condemn her.  But He does tell her, “Go, and from now on sin no more.”  He is merciful to her (and in fact, protects her), but He is truthful, and respects her enough to guide her into what is right.  It’s basically a “love the sinner, hate the sin” approach.

Contrary to Chalice, I suppose I could use John 8 to support a position of “love the sinner, hate the sin,” with “sin” being that of abortion.  To be convincing to Chalice, and others who take a radical pro-choice position, there first would need to be an acknowledgment that at some point in a pregnancy, the aborting (i.e, killing) of an unborn child is sinful.
But at this point, you might be wondering – “What does John 8 have to with abortion?  It’s not about abortion at all.”  That’s correct.  In fact, NONE of the passages cited in the article by Chalice are about abortion.  Jesus didn’t talk about abortion in His teachings as recorded in the gospels.

Having said that, we do know that early Christians opposed abortion, a practice that was fairly common in the Roman Empire.  Moreover, Christians were quite involved in the care of abandoned children, “some with disabilities caused by unsuccessful abortions.” (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/abortion-and-early-church/)  It seems unlikely that the followers of Jesus in the early stages of the Christian movement, if they were alive today, would vote in favor of Prop 139.
 
Further, I noticed that the article left out some gospel passages that might call to question the premise of their pro-choice argument.  For example, a pregnant Mary (mother of Jesus) came to the home of her pregnant relative Elizabeth, and “when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.” (Luke 1:41)  The Greek word used for “baby” here refers to unborn children as well as infants.  It’s almost as if the baby in Elizabeth’s womb was an actual person, deserving of every protection that might be offered.  Jesus also said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)
 
Like the Bible passages cited by Chalice, neither of these are about abortion specifically.  But doesn’t abortion have to do as much with babies as it does with women?  There are, after all, two very impacted parties involved – one of whom has a choice, and the other whom does not.  If the one without a choice is not even considered (which in the Chalice article, he or she is not), where is the justice in that?
 
Moreover, if it is to be argued that the unborn do not have rights, I would ask Christians who support Prop 139 specifically, by what measure?  By what measure does each individual life, created under the providence and power of God, not deserve the opportunity, if not the right, to live?

To cover this, the article then moves from the gospels – which are about Jesus and found in the New Testament – to the Old Testament.  Here, Chalice says this: “nothing in the Hebrew or Christian Bible condemns terminating a pregnancy.” (“Hebrew Bible” is the Old Testament; “Christian Bible” is the New Testament).  Perhaps I’m stretching the meaning of their statement, but in it I am hearing that the unborn do not have rights.  They cite three passages to support this statement:

The first is Genesis 2:7 – the creation of the first man, Adam – out of which the article claims “life begins at breath.” I think the argument they are making is that, according to the Old Testament, an unborn baby is not an actual person because it hasn’t yet taken a breath.  I acknowledge that there is great debate over when personhood begins.  But this passage does not apply to that debate.  The creation of Adam and Eve was a unique event.  Exactly how unique?  Not only did Adam and Eve not come from a womb – they weren’t children.  Ever.  They were created by God as fully formed adults.  Using this unique case to make an argument for when life begins is a hasty generalization.
 
The second is Exodus 21:22. Chalice says this passage, that goes through verse 25, shows that a terminated pregnancy is not considered to be murder, and therefore presumably not condemned by God.  Since abortion is a terminated pregnancy, it likewise is not condemned.  I had heard this Exodus 21 argument once before (from another Disciples of Christ source), and after doing just a bit of research, realized how wrong this argument is.

To see why it is so wrong, I recommend a great article by Greg Koukl of “Stand to Reason” (https://www.str.org/w/what-exodus-21-22-says-about-abortion).  But let me make two quick comments: (1) IF the Exodus passage is about a terminated pregnancy, then it’s about an unintended miscarriage, not an intentional abortion (the practice that would be enshrined by Prop 139); however, (2) the passage is very likely not even about an unintended miscarriage. The Hebrew words do not indicate anything about a dead baby, but instead a living baby born prematurely due to two men fighting and accidentally hitting a pregnant woman.  The passage says that if there is no harm, there still will be a fine to be paid; but if there is harm, then there will be “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,” etc.  In Exodus 21, the harm is not specific to the woman.  Indeed, there’s little reason to believe it does not include the baby, and very good evidence to believe it does.  If that is true, then the Bible does indeed condemn the termination of a pregnancy, even if accidental.  Indeed, it seems to be closer to supporting the conclusion that life inside the womb is as valuable as life outside it.

The third is Numbers 5:11-31, which is about - according to the article - “potentially inducing a miscarriage to test marital fidelity.”  Numbers 5 is a very unusual Bible passage, which could be discussed at length.  But here’s what is relevant to the topic at hand: it says nothing either about a woman being pregnant or having a miscarriage, much less an abortion.  See another article by “Stand to Reason” to read more (https://www.str.org/w/did-god-ordain-abortion-as-punishment-for-infidelity-).
 
I am hoping the people from Chalice who signed onto this article did not know the facts of these biblical passages, and have been deceived by someone else promulgating false ideas about them.  Otherwise, using these passages to show that the Bible does not seem to have a problem with the practice of abortion – and therefore as Christians we should support Prop 139 – is being intentionally deceptive.  I would argue that’s not a good thing to do in general, and it’s especially not good to do using God’s Word.
 
The final sentence of the article by Chalice is: “Our faith inspires our support of Prop 139.”  If that number – 139 – rings a bell, you may be recalling another 139 – Psalm 139 – which is a song to the Lord of all creation.  In verses 13-14, the psalmist sings out: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  That’s quite a contrast from the ideology behind Prop 139.

As I wrote earlier, there is a diversity of opinion amongst Christians on the matter of abortion. As you can tell, I personally believe that as Christians we should generally be against abortion and in support of life, at all stages of a child’s development.  And yet, there are horrible, extenuating circumstances that at the very least cause many of us to support – or at least understand - legal exceptions for abortion.  I am glad to live in a nation, and a state, where we can have these opinions, talk about them, and take action on them.
 
As important, if not more so, we who are Christians should never condemn those who have gone through an abortion, or may be facing that decision now.  We ought to have Jesus as our model.  We are called to speak the truth, but in love. (Ephesians 4:15)  And we are called to be compassionate, forgiving, and loving.  I pray that nothing I’ve written has convinced you that Christians ought to do anything other than love our neighbors as ourselves.
 
But there’s still that “speak the truth” part that must not go by the wayside.  And the truth is that what the members of Chalice Christian Church have done is twist the Bible beyond what it will bear.  I wrote this article to bring clarity to what the Bible actually says and does not say.  Of course, you and I will vote as we will.  We each have various factors that influence our voting decisions.  But if you are a Christian who plans to vote in favor of Prop 139, I hope you will not do what they have done – wrongly use God’s Word as one of the factors to justify your vote.  

It is an understatement to say that our world seems to be changing at a rapid pace.  These changes are being readily embraced by some, summarily rejected by others, and causing many of us confusion.  The question for us who are followers of Jesus is which changes ought to be embraced, and which ones ought to be rejected.  As always, how we do this is important.  We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  Both elements – truth and love – go together purposefully, and ought to shape how we respond to our changing culture.

Some of the changes that are happening right now, which pose a challenge for all of us, revolve around sexuality and gender identity.  Probably all of us know someone among our families and friends who is struggling with one or both of these things, and/or is actively living in a way that took us by surprise, at the very least, or that has given us great concern.  
 
Because of the increasing number of people who are affirming and living lifestyles that the Bible calls immoral, and/or identifying as something different than the gender they were born as, and because these issues are very much in front of and around us, our Elders and Board felt that it was important to share where our church stands.  And so, we developed a statement on sexuality and gender identity, that we hope will be clarifying.  We recognize that this may cause some to be upset, though that certainly is not our intent.  We also know that for some, it may not go far enough, but we wanted to keep it as clear and simple as possible.  We hope you will read the entire statement, which is intended to speak the truth in love.  
 
As a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Community Christian Church of Marana believes, just like founders of our movement, that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God.  It is, as Alexander Campbell said, “Dictated by infinite benevolence, characterized by supreme intelligence, and perfectly adapted to the genius of human nature, it is worthy of universal reception and of the most profound and grateful homage.” 
{https://scholarworks.harding.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=hst-etd; Alexander Campbell, “Tracts for the People—No. I: The Bible,” The Millennial Harbinger 16 (October 1845): 439.}  
We also understand that individual believers, diligently studying God’s Word, may come to different interpretations of particular passages, and in no way should this hinder our unity as Christians.  Commenting on the uselessness of uniting around creeds and particular interpretations, Barton Stone said, “How vain are all human attempts to unite a bundle of twigs together, so as to make them grow together and bear fruit! They must first be united with the living stock, and receive its sap and spirit, before they can ever be united with each other. So must we be first united with Christ, and receive his spirit, before we can ever be in spirit united with one another." {Barton Stone, 1833, found in https://my.bible.com/events/7034722}
 
While individuals in our congregation certainly can and do have varying opinions on a wide variety of issues, and varying interpretations of biblical texts, we have felt the need to state where we - as a whole - stand regarding issues around identity and sexuality.  This is due to an ever-increasing polarization in our society around these issues, and an understandable desire on the part of people coming to our church to know where we stand.  This statement will noticeably avoid any comments regarding political or economic considerations, but only deal with what we understand to be God’s Word. 

Simply put, we affirm the Bible’s understanding that people are created by God either male or female (Genesis 1:27; Matthew 19:4).  Males and females (men and women) are both distinct from one another, and complementary to one another.  We affirm the New Testament’s understanding of God’s plan for human sexuality, one that Jesus clearly upholds – that marriage is to be a covenant between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:5-6; Ephesians 5:31; Genesis 2:24), and sexuality is to be practiced only within that covenant (1 Corinthians 7:2; Hebrews 13:4).  Any relationship that involves sexual activity outside of this plan is considered immoral.  We therefore make this the standard of our teaching and expect that our leaders will uphold it.
 
Does this mean that those who have not or are not fully practicing God’s plan are not welcome at our church?  Absolutely not.  Romans 3:23 reminds us, “… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….”  Indeed, all of us need to confess, repent of our sin, and be cleansed by Christ (1 John 1:7-9).  In addition, we need to seek the Lord’s will in every area of our lives (1 John 2:1-6).  As part of that, we are not called to condemn others (Romans 2:1-11; James 4:1-12) but love others unconditionally (1 John 4:7-21).  These passages (and many others like them) – which contain solid truth and deep grace - form the framework for considering any moral issue and help us navigate such issues using “… the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), not just picking and choosing certain scriptures. 

Jesus came full of grace and truth (John 1:14,17).  Our Board and Elders uphold the truth of God’s Word, and also the grace of God by which we are saved.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray that we will have this grace and truth in our own lives, and be willing to share it with one another. 
 
 

I was made aware recently that I have not submitted a post to this blog for almost a year.  Now, it may be that you really don’t want to read this blog, or simply don’t care whether it’s here or not.  But for me, since it’s something I committed to doing, this lapse is unacceptable.  When told about it, in fact, my out loud response was, “I have failed miserably….”  And later, I also thought to myself, “… again.”
 
Failing to write a blog on a regular basis (unless you count once per year as “regular”?) is not too big of a deal.  But what about my other failures?  Failure to be on time (that’s a favorite of mine).  Failure to speak the truth in love.  Failure to reach out to someone who has been on my heart and mind. (I think of the movie “Cool Hand Luke”: “What we have here is failure to communicate.”)  Failure to pray when I told someone I would (this one is pretty bad).  And the list goes on.
 
Maybe you feel like a failure sometimes?  There are all sorts of reasons for us to feel that way.  The apostle Paul, who actually had many reasons to be proud and boastful, experienced what he called “a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) There has been endless speculation about the nature of this thorn.  Whatever it was, it was not trivial, for Paul pleaded with the Lord to take it away from Him.  Apparently, the Lord was OK with a bit of failure, though, because instead of taking it away, He said to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Failure can – and should – cause us to understand our complete reliance on God.  It should reveal our need for Him, and draw us closer to Him.  “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t change.  In fact, as we draw closer to Him, it may mean (hopefully!) we will begin seeing things His way instead of our way; that we will begin to gain an eternal perspective rather than keep a merely human perspective.  And that may nudge us, if not push us, into some changes.  John Wooden, former head basketball coach of UCLA, said “Failure isn't fatal, but failure to change might be.”
 
For Paul, his change was attitudinal.  Rather than continued fretting over his thorn, he wrote this: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) That’s an attitude adjustment, from boasting in self, to reliance on God.
 
That may be what you need, too.  Or, if you are feeling like a complete failure, you may need to change your understanding of who you are.  You are loved by God, and when you receive Jesus into your life, you are His child that He has chosen for good things!  “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) What might be God inviting you to change?

As for me, while I used to tell people I would pray for them – and still do that sometimes – these days I often pray in the moment, with them, right when they ask.  Why wait?  (Thank you, Pastor James Blankinship, for that inspiration.)
 
And as for this blog, Greg King recently suggested to our Elders that from time to time, one of the Elders could submit a post, a suggestion they gladly received.  For me, this is changing a mindset – from “I’m the pastor, and I’ve got all these things to do, including writing a regular blog,” to, “I’m the pastor of wonderful church full of people with gifts and talents both similar and dissimilar to my own, who are more than capable of doing amazing ministry and evangelism!  What a blessing!  God is good!”  Of course, I’ve known this all along, but sometimes I need that thorn of failure as a reminder.

in Christ,
Pastor Dave Hedgepeth

The summer has been long, the monsoons have been a blessing, and I hope this finds you well.  A year and a half after the pandemic began, our church is continuing to expand our offerings, including coffee hospitality between our 9 am and 10:30 am services, and also, Sunday School classes for kids and youth of all ages at our 10:30 am service.  Of course, you are very welcome to join us in-person, or on-line!  (See the blue “button” near the top of this website).

Currently, we are in the middle of a sermon series on the letter to the Ephesians.  As we have gone through the letter, I have been struck - as I sometimes am, and as I always should be – by the incredible vastness of God.  This letter has been called “the Grand Canyon of Scripture,” partly because it so clearly reveals this vastness.  Ephesians 3:18, for example, expresses appropriate awe over “… how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”  Wider than the Grand Canyon?  Absolutely.  Higher and deeper than space, which contains 300 sextillion stars (that’s a 3 followed by 23 zeros)?  Yep.  God is beyond our comprehension, and yet, has revealed Himself to us in a way that is absolutely miraculous.  “With all wisdom and understanding, He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ…. (Ephesians 1:8-9) This mystery was and is made known to us – Jesus died, was resurrected, and: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” (Ephesians 1:7-8)

We are loved by Him, forgiven by Him, and invited into relationship with Him and one another.  This is for us to understand, deeply.
 
In fact, without this understanding, I’m not sure our walk with Jesus can ever mature.  Without this understanding, we always will be judging ourselves and others based on human opinions rather than divine truth.
 
Because, based on divine truth, we are encouraged, if not commanded (I know, we hate “commands,” but we’re talking not about human but divine will): “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)  

So, let me ask, where are you in your walk with Jesus?  What’s going on with you?  How are you treating your brother in Christ?  What grudge are you holding onto with your sister in Christ?  What kind of gossip have you either started or participated in?  In what situations have you jumped the gun with your emotions, and your words, rather than taking a pause and considering humility and gentleness?
 
If you ask yourself these questions, and you see a little room – or a lot of room – for improvement, I want to offer a place to start.  It’s not with guilt.  It’s not with beating yourself up.  It’s certainly not with continuing as you are, because “that’s just the way I am.”  No, the place to start is with God’s Word, and understanding WHO God is.  Because before you and I can humbly, and even joyfully, live in His ways, we need to understand, to the best of our ability, who He is, and where we stand relative to Him.  We are sinners saved by His grace – redeemed, forgiven – lost, but now found.  THANK GOD.  Thank our vast, almighty, loving, gracious, merciful God.
 
If you have never read Ephesians, I encourage you to do so today. It takes 20-30 minutes, or you can listen to it by audio, by using www.bible.com.  As you do so, consider your life in Christ, and may you “… be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19)

In Christ,
Pastor Dave Hedgepeth

In last October’s blog, I shared with you “The Truthfulness of the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus.”  But just because something is truthful, doesn’t mean it’s significant.  I might say something like, “Your shirt is green.”  You might respond, “Big deal.  So what?”  Even if the bodily resurrection is true, which I very much believe, so what?  What’s the big deal?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul said that Jesus “… was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

Two things are important in this verse.  First, that Jesus died for our sins.
 
Consider a conflict between you and a loved one over something that one or the other of you did wrong.  Until there is repentance (“I’m truly sorry”) and forgiveness (“I forgive you”), the relationship is broken, and that can be a source of sadness, despair, and separation.  Due to sin, humanity is in the position of separation from God.  Much of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament was built around the shedding of blood of animals (often lambs).  It was a way of allowing us to ask God for forgiveness, and hopefully bridge the separation.  It worked, in a sense, but not permanently.
 
When Jesus came, we hear John the Baptist – upon seeing Jesus - proclaim: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)  And unlike the shedding of blood of animals, which had to be done regularly, when Jesus the Lamb of God was crucified it was a once for all event.  As the writer of Hebrews states: “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God….”  (Hebrews 10:11-12)   Jesus died so that the separation caused by our sin, between us and God, could be forgiven permanently.
 
But does God forgive?  That’s where the bodily resurrection comes in, and the verse from Romans gives us our second important point: that Jesus was resurrected for our justification.
Going back to the conflict between you and a loved one, don’t you hate having to justify yourself?  Often, when I find that I am justifying myself, it’s because I know I did wrong but I’m trying to find some excuse as to why I’m not “that wrong.”  And when it comes to my relationship with God, I know I don’t have a leg to stand on.  He knows, and I know that He knows.  But here’s the good news – I don’t have to justify myself to God.  Neither do you.  Why?  Because Jesus justifies us.  He does all the work.  And it’s by His resurrection – His bodily resurrection – that He does that work.

What do you and I have to do, then?  Nothing?  Well, “no” and “yes”.  No, we don’t need to, nor should we, try to justify ourselves.  It will never work.  We don’t have what it takes to argue before a holy God that we deserve to have a relationship with Him.  But yes, we do need to have faith in Jesus, the one who died and was raised bodily to new life.  In Him, and what He has done for us, is our salvation.  As Paul wrote to the Romans: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

I’d say that’s a pretty big deal.

In Christ,
Pastor Dave Hedgepeth

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

We are now in the first full week of a new federal administration in our nation.  We prayed on Sunday, January 17 for a peaceful transition - before, during, and after the inauguration of President Biden.  I’m guessing that was a prayer lifted up by many, many people, and we can thank God, like we did this past Sunday, for answering it!

The election and the inauguration have been quite a stressful time for Americans.  As things finally have come to a resolution, some of us are pleased with the outcome, while others of us are disappointed.  As Christians, who are citizens of our nation and citizens of the kingdom of God, what should our position be?  I read a devotional last week, prior to the inauguration, that I found very helpful.  In fact, it would be helpful, like the prayer we lifted, no matter who won the election.  It’s based on the scripture from 1 Timothy 2:1-2. With permission from the author, I share it with you in full:

“Some time ago, I was in one of those church leadership meetings where it was obvious we were getting nowhere. People on both sides of the discussion were entrenched in their positions and we were clearly stuck. As lead pastor, I requested we simply stop and pray about the matter. One of the elders, who was and still is a good friend, asked “is it really that bad?” Everyone got a good laugh and many, but especially me, delighted in reminding him about his comment from time to time!

At the beginning of this inaugural week, I am requesting we in the believing community to simply stop and pray. Do I think it is ‘really that bad?’ This has the potential to be a very difficult time for our country and especially so for those on the more conservative side of the spectrum. But aside from that, stopping to pray for those in positions of political leadership is also quite biblical!

Paul included two critical ideas in his call to prayer. The first is in the word ‘urge,’ which implies a call to come alongside, an invitation to Timothy and the church to join in this prayer venture. ‘Urge’ carries a sense of urgency as if driven by a pressing need. The second is in ‘first of all,’ meaning a matter of utmost importance. Paul calls Timothy, and us through him, to join in this ministry of prayer and if need be, set aside other pressing matters to do so.

Notice who is to be lifted in prayer, ‘kings and all those in authority.’ I know we are not governed by a monarch, but the principle is still applicable. We should be praying for the new administration as they take office this week. You may or may not have voted for the Biden/Harris ticket. I get that. But as Nero was the Roman Emperor when Paul issued this call to prayer, I think it safe to say Paul wouldn’t have endorsed him! But that didn’t stop Paul from praying for Nero, and it shouldn’t stop us from praying for our leaders.    
 
The goal of these ‘requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving’ for our political leaders is ‘that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.’ In commenting of this verse, Dr. Ronald Ward writes ‘the result of this prayer, which is indeed its purpose, is not for the comfort of the church but rather for the opportunity to expand its worship, grow in its holiness and extend the work of evangelism.’ Sounds like pretty good reasons to pray!

So here is my challenge. Each time you consider saying or posting something about the new administration, stop and pray for them first. In the words of Dr. Ruth Tucker: ‘if we concentrate more on our legacy [in prayer], we and [those we pray for] would become the kind of people God has called us to be.’ Let’s respond to Paul's call and pray for God to work before it gets to be ‘that bad!’”
 
- written by Rick Grace, Disciple Heritage Fellowship

So, I think this helps answer the question, “what should our position be?”.  Recognizing that our church is composed of people of various political persuasions, along with some who don’t care a whole lot for politics at all, I want to remind us that we are not “Community Christian Democrats of Marana,” or “Community Christian Republicans of Marana.”  No, we are “Community Christian Church of Marana,” a caring group of Christians, challenging each other to grow, called to service in Jesus’ name, with a message of God’s grace for all people everywhere.  We pray for our leaders, our nation, our world, and one another.  “Whoever you are, wherever you are in your journey of faith, you are welcome at Community Christian Church.”

God bless you, Pastor Dave

It is the time of year that we all start thinking about giving and receiving gifts. Sometimes these are handmade gifts that show our heart to those who receive them. Sometimes they are store bought gifts but can still show someone how much we care about them. At other times it can be a gift of time or talents. It could be as simple as a phone call to wish someone a “Merry Christmas” or to say “I love you”.

            Whatever the case may be, the act of giving and receiving gifts has been around since the dawn of time. The act of gift exchange is one of the oldest forms of social interaction. In this act, we can see something of the culture of the person giving the gift, as well as the practices of the society in which they live. For instance, there is an old superstition (the origins of which reamin lost to the sands of time) that if someone gifts you a knife, you should in return gift them a coin.  According to the superstition, this prevents the friendship from being severed by the sharp blade.

            In some cultures, giving a gift in return for receiving one is expected, while in others it is not. For instance: when the English arrived in America, they were greeted by the native Americans who gave them gifts. The native Americans expected that the English would give them gifts in return, but this was not the custom in England and caused some strife between the parties.

            In most cases a return gift is not expected but is a very nice gesture. When a gift is freely given, however, there is no expectation of anything being given back.  We read in the Bible about gifts that we have received from God. In 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, 1 Peter 4, and Ephesians 4 we read about the spiritual gifts. These gifts are freely given, the only expectation being that we use these gifts to serve and glorify God.

            2 Corinthians 9:15 says “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”. In Ephesians 2:8 we read “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God “. This is the ultimate gift that God has given us. His name is Jesus Christ. Again, this gift is freely given to anyone who asks for it. Being given this gift gives us salvation from sin and eternal life with God.

            The funny thing about a gift is that it always requires one thing from the person who is being given the gift, even if the gift is freely given. This one important thing that is always required is that the gift must be accepted. If someone gives you the best gift in the world, but you don’t do accept it, then the gift is wasted. Just as with all other gifts, the ultimate gift that God has given us is worthless if we do not accept it.

            So, this Christmas season, as we celebrate Jesus coming to earth (the gift of God) by giving each other gifts and spending time with family and friends, ask yourself “Why wouldn’t I accept a gift given to me freely by God?”.

Merry Christmas to everyone and a very Happy New Year! God Bless!
in Christ,
Greg King

There is a growing movement in our denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), toward what is often called “progressive Christianity.”  Among other things, progressive Christians believe “… that the teachings of Jesus provide but one of many ways to experience ‘God,’ the Sacredness, Oneness and Unity of life, and that we can draw from diverse sources of wisdom, including Earth, in our spiritual journey.” (https://progressivechristianity.org).
 
And so over the past year, in various conversations with leaders and members of our regional church (the Christian Church in Arizona), I have raised the question of who we say Jesus is.  On more than one occasion, I have especially brought up the issue and importance of the bodily resurrection of Jesus.  I did so at first circumstantially – I was responding in a stumbling way to an unexpected comment from a colleague; and later, more intentionally, as I’m doing in this piece.

There are a number of elements of a traditional, orthodox Christian faith that are Christ-centered, as opposed to being “one of many ways.”  But this particular element of the bodily resurrection of Jesus is of personal significance.  Many years ago, when I was steeped in the ideas of progressive Christianity myself (though I didn’t call it that at the time, because I didn’t even know that phrase), and didn’t believe in the bodily resurrection, I overheard a pastor I knew tell someone else, “If you don’t believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus, you can’t call yourself a Christian.”  For me, that statement was “sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), and left a mark that penetrated my mind and my heart for many years.  Over time, the Holy Spirit used that statement, and other occasions, to get me to the point that I myself could confidently and joyfully proclaim, “Yes, Jesus rose from the grave bodily, and showed Himself to hundreds of people, before ascending into heaven.”  Once that happened – once I truly accepted that Jesus actually rose from the grave - the Christian faith that I now hold began to fall quickly into place.
 
In case you are wondering, that pastor’s statement didn’t simply come from his own opinion.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “… if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Corinthians 15:14) The bodily resurrection is FOUNDATIONAL to our Christian faith.  And yet, in conversations in which I’ve been involved over the last year, a variety of leaders and members of our region have made a number of comments dismissing it.  One leader, when I brought it up, referred to it as a “theological litmus test” that was unimportant to the conversation at hand.  Another leader made clear to me that there are many opinions about it, and that his faith certainly was not based on it.  If it’s true, it’s true, and if not, that’s OK.  Another person said it was “immaterial to my faith.”  To say the least, these kinds of comments are severe departures from Paul’s statement to the Corinthians.

It’s hard to imagine how it is that so many Christians have gotten so far away from such a basic Christian concept, a concept that is:
1. historical.  The Bible nowhere suggests that the bodily resurrection of Jesus was anything but an historical event.  In fact, quite the opposite, it goes into detail about an empty tomb, post-resurrection appearances, and a sighting of Jesus ascending into heaven.
2. logical.  What inspired Peter, James, John, and hundreds of others to begin proclaiming the risen Lord, and be martyred as a result of this proclamation?  There are various explanations I’ve read, but none of them come even close to the logic that Jesus actually did rise from the dead.
3. atypical.  Nothing like it occurred before (yes, Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus, but he died again), and nothing like it has happened since.  We share values in common with other religious groups, such as love and compassion.  But no other faith besides Christianity proclaims that God came to earth in the flesh: that He humbled Himself, died an actual death, and was then raised from the dead.  It’s an astounding, atypical claim, that sets Christians apart from others (not in a superior way, but nevertheless a special way).
 
If we don’t hold to this claim, what is the difference between us and, say, Unitarian Universalists?  That question is not intended to “down” the U-U’s.  I have known and been friends with people who hold to the U-U faith, and they typically are kind, compassionate people.  The question, somewhat rhetorical, has more to do not with friendship formation, but with faith foundation.   Once we as Christians move away from as basic a belief as the bodily resurrection of Jesus, we also move away from the specialness of our faith.

In addition, we also move away from the truthfulness of our faith.  Indeed, no matter what you believe about the bodily resurrection, in the end, it is either true or false, just as any purported event.  It either happened, or it didn’t.  My Christian brothers and sisters, if it didn’t happen, then we ought to close up shop and be done with this 2,000-year-old charade, because it is, at best, useless.  But if it did happen, then that changes everything.  Indeed, it has changed everything.

In Christ,
Pastor Dave Hedgepeth

Hi Everyone,

This letter is adapted from the one I sent out last week, with a few more details added.  Please read, and whether or not you will be able to join us in person on Sunday, please pray for our church, and that the gospel we proclaim will go forth!

Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, wisely observed: To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1) In April and May, we were in a season of on-line worship only.  In June, we entered into a season of re-gathering, meeting outdoors for worship, in addition to our on-line presence.  Things have gone well, and so the leaders of our church – our board members, elders, and staff – have been faithfully trying to discern stepping into the next season, re-starting indoor worship.

On Sunday, August 9th, we will do just that, with a 9:00 am indoor worship.  This worship will be in addition to our 7:00 am outdoor one, and in addition to what many of you have been doing, which is staying at home and participating in worship on-line.  Those options will continue, and I want to state very clearly: whatever option you choose is just fine!  The important thing is to worship!

Let me say several words about the 9:00 am service:

• This service – 9:00 am – will be the one used for live-streaming.  The 7:00 am outdoor service will no longer be live-streamed. 
• Enter through the south doors (the ones closest to the kitchen door).  When you come in, you immediately will see the Welcome Center to your left.  Stop and get your pre-filled communion cup and other items as needed. 
• Masks will be mandatory.  Please bring your own, or if you don’t own one, there will be some available at our Welcome Center.
• Chairs will be spaced apart, but there will be groupings for couples and families. 
• There will be a limited number of seats; once we get to capacity, we may need to turn people away.  This is not at all what we want, however, and if it happens, we will be working hard to get a second indoor worship time started ASAP. 
• Through the month of August, we will not have a few things you might be used to: Nursery, Sunday School for our preschool- and elementary-age kids, or coffee service.  (If you bring your own drink, please bring it in a closed container.)
• In order for everyone to feel comfortable, we are limiting people walking “in and out” during the service.  This will be helped by the worship being less than an hour.  Of course, if someone needs to use the restroom, that’s not off limits – but please consider using it before worship begins so you don’t need to get up.  If someone needs to step out for a phone call or “smoke break,” you will need to listen to the rest of the service outside.
• Bring your own Bible!  We will not have Bibles or hymnals out for use.  (Having said that, it has been my privilege on behalf of our church to give away a number of Bibles recently to those who have asked, and we will continue to do so!)
• Our theme this Sunday, as we continue with the series “Fruit of the Spirit,” is appropriate: PATIENCE.  I pray that you come with extravagant patience for those who are leading the worship, and with one another.  Things will look and feel odd… but let’s enjoy the blessing!

I recently received an email from Dave Drum, founder of J17 Ministries.  He was discussing grieving over the deaths of a couple of Tucson pastors, and said: “When everything else is stripped away, as this season seems to be doing in ever-increasing degrees, Jesus’ Holy Spirit, the Comforter remains. He doesn’t need a mask, He doesn’t social distance, and He isn’t limited to a computer screen. Come, Holy Spirit….”  I think this also applies to the grief I have (and maybe you too) over changes in our society, including changes in worship such as the ones I’ve listed above.  Hopefully many of these changes are temporary, but in any case, as we do come together, in this particular season, the Comforter remains, and the rock of our salvation, Jesus, does not change!

If you are planning on coming to the 9:00 am Sunday worship: (1) we’d love to know!  Please let Marjorie or me know, by calling the church (520-682-4201) or emailing (office@MaranaDisciples.org or pastor@MaranaDisciples.org).  And, (2) we will need extra help during this time, especially if eventually we wind up going to two indoor worship times.  If you would be willing to help with set up or clean up, or in other ways, please contact me at the email address above, or call 520-665-1545.

In Christ,
Pastor Dave

Hello Church.  Is it too much to say that this has been a challenging couple of months?  No, that’s probably the least we can say about it.  There have been blessings during this time, yes!  But let’s not pretend - for many of us, staying at home has been difficult.  For some, it has meant loneliness, for others, it has meant financial distress.  And for those who have been blessed to continue with work, there may be added health concerns, and/or added hours that feel exhausting.  I continue to give thanks that no one from our church has contracted coronavirus, though I have spoken with some of you about family and friends who have; I share your concern and, in a few cases, grief.
 
Even as the economy and society are beginning to re-open, our board and I have recently decided that our church is going to continue basically “as is” through the month of May.  This means that:

• We will have on-line worship, like we’ve been doing.  We are hoping to start having in-
• person worship in June.  But whenever we start back up, we have much to consider,and will need extra volunteers (more to come on that in the near future).
• In addition to on-line worship, we will continue doing “Prayer Knot” (Sunday at 10 am) and our “drive-thru” communion (starting this week will be on Saturdays, 9-10 am).
• We’ll continue on-line Thursday Bible study, led by me; and plan to start a “sit-outside-and-bring-your-own-chair” Wednesday morning Bible study, led by our Elder ChairElizabeth. 
• Our office and our Outreach Center continue to remain open, with safety measuresbeing taken.

For some you, news of our continuing “as is” comes as welcome news.  For others of you, it is disappointing.  I am looking forward to being together again, but I also go back to Proverbs: “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” (Proverbs 27:12)  Which also reminds me of a verse from the Psalms: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear.” (Psalm 46:1-2)  The leaders of our church – and, I hope you – are not fearful.  But we do want to exercise prudence, and if we are in error, err on the side of caution, knowing that caring calls of laughter and comfort are still being made, food and other items are still being distributed, and most importantly, God’s word is still going out.

Please keep up to date with information on those by: letting us know your email (if you haven’t been receiving “all-church” emails), logging onto our Facebook page, and/or reading the “CCCoMunicator” each week (which we are now sending via the postal service for those without emails).  If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.

God bless,
Pastor Dave

In Jesus’ name, greetings. Please keep reading to connect with various educational, worship, and prayer opportunities through Resurrection Sunday (Easter).

What a month it has been. I don’t have to tell you that just about everything is different. In some ways, the differences are, to say the least, bad: sickness and death from the coronavirus being the worst of it; layoffs and financial stressors being near the top of that list, too; all the way down to wondering if there will be toilet paper in the store the next time you go there. In addition, some people are feeling the loneliness from the abrupt social isolation, especially those who live alone. In other ways, the differences, at least for some, have been positive: less running around, more time with family, more opportunities to catch up with home projects and/or serving others; more time to read the Bible. I’m wondering if I’m going to get sick of on-line meetings… but right now, I have to say, it’s good to see people without having to get in my car to get to those meetings.

Through it all, we continue to be church. On-line worship is not only possible, but of good quality, thanks very much to our AV, IT, and worship teams. Not only is this happening in English, but Sergio has been sharing messages in Spanish as well. Our Elders regularly have been contacting as many as we can, to touch base and assess any needs. They, along with other wonderful people in our church, have delivered food, taught technology, taken elderly to appointments, and more. The teachers of our preschoolers, elementary kids, and youth have reached out to their students. In fact, the youth are meeting on-line every Sunday. Everyone is welcome to connect on-line – Sundays at 10 am - for our “Prayer Knot” where we share joys and concerns and pray together. And stay tuned for a new on-line Bible study that will start up on Thursday, April 23, 6:30 pm. Our property coordinator is keeping the church property clean, and doing other projects on-site. Our office remains open (though the door is locked to maintain a controlled environment). And, our Community Christian Outreach Center remains open, still distributing food and other supplies (using a safer system of having people drive up and not get out of their cars).

Here is information on upcoming opportunities, all of which will be able to be found on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/maranadisciples.
 
Thursday, April 9.  Maundy Thursday.  Learn more about the Jewish Passover, and how it connects to what we know of as the Lord’s Supper and the life, death, & resurrection of Jesus.  This is taught by Cathy Wilson, of Chosen People Ministries, who taught at our church a number of years ago. https://scottsdalebible.com/events/passover-seder/

Friday, April 10.  Good Friday.  Messages and worship in Spanish and English will be posted by 5 am on Friday morning. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsX58UdPPhOJcXrF5DjTplA

Sunday, April 12.  Resurrection Sunday.

• 8:45 am.  Livestream worship in English.
• 10 am.  Livestream message in Spanish.

Both will be able to be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsX58UdPPhOJcXrF5DjTplA

Also, on April 12, we will have our “Prayer Knot” at 10 am.  A Zoom meeting link will be sent out via email, and so if you are not receiving emails from our church, and would like to be part of this, please contact me.

I also want to let you know about a “Sunrise Easter Service in Your Car,” on April 12, 7-8 am, at the Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Rd., sponsored by 4Tucson.

Yes, we need to keep distant. But, we are striving to stay connected, because we are the body of Christ, and we truly are connected. If you need something, and/or are willing to be of help to someone in need, please let your Elder or me know! In the meantime, I miss you, I love you, and I am very much looking forward to the day that we can gather again.

Happy Easter to you! He is risen! He is risen, indeed!!

Pastor Dave Hedgepeth
520-682-4201
pastor@cccmarana.org

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” (Isaiah 41:10)

There’s understandably much concern over the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  But concern and proper precautions must not give way to fear, especially for us who are people of faith in God who is our strength.
 
As information becomes available, Community Christian Church of Marana is working to be informed and prepared regarding COVID-19. We are following recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the ministries statement from The Disciples of Christ General Minister and President, Week of Compassion, and National Benevolent Association: www.disciples.org

On Sundays, when you come to worship, please know:

• Surfaces are being wiped down.
• Hand sanitizer and tissues are provided.
• There are no-touch receptacles at the back of the sanctuary for disposal of tissues.
• Going forward, communion will be only in the individual cups at the 8:45 service, like it has been at 10:30, and we’re working to make it safe as possible.
• Warm, friendly greetings are encouraged, but please be respectful of each other’s         personal preferences regarding shaking hands or the giving and receiving of hugs.

Please remember if you choose to stay home because you do not feel well or consider yourself at high risk, you can still enjoy worship by going to Facebook: www.facebook.com/maranadisciples (which will redirect you to YouTube).
 
Please feel free to contact me with any concerns you have.  I would be happy to speak with you. In the meantime, let’s pray for our community, our nation and our world, and let us be witnesses to the power of God, living not with dismay but with joy even in the face of this outbreak.

In Christ,
Pastor Dave 

The following is a slightly edited letter sent out to our members and other friends who contributed financially to the mission of our church this past year.  But in addition to some financial news, it serves as a brief review of 2019 and a look forward into 2020.  Enjoy!

“Greetings!  I hope 2020 has been good for you so far.  In any case, the Lord is good, and I pray you are continuing to put your trust in Him!  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The start of a new year, as usual, has been a time for me to reflect on what has taken place in our church over the past year.  In 2019, we completed many capital-improvement projects: a much-needed exterior paint job; a new back porch; new tiling for our fellowship hall and bathrooms which replaced old, stained tile that was cracking; and a refurbishing of the garage located on our Outreach Center property.  For much of the year, we had three on-going adult Bible studies, one in Spanish.  And speaking of Spanish, we started “El Camino,” a Spanish-speaking worship service on Friday nights.  Our youth group grew (it basically doubled in size), and you may have noticed the youth being more active in worship leadership and service over the course of the year, in addition to the fun they have had.  These are just a few of the highlights.

Financially, there is good news and bad news.  There’s always good news and bad news, isn’t there?  A husband asked his wife, “Honey, would you like the good news first, or the bad news?”  The wife said, “Either one.”  The husband told her, “I’m losing my voice.”  She replied, “O.K.  What’s the bad news?”  For us, the bad news financially is that we spent more than we received in general offerings and fund-raisers.  $167,453 came in, and $178,785 went out, for a loss of $9,878.  The good news, however, includes:

            1. we look much better at the end of 2019 than we looked in 2018.  At the end of 2018, we had a much greater loss, not because expenses were much greater, but because income was much less.  In fact, 2019 income was up $20,816 from the previous year.  That’s something to celebrate!

            2. we have had other donations over and above our general offering that will help us cover the costs for our new Outreach Center project.  These include a variety of financial and other gifts.  For example, one gift was a 2011 RV, given by a generous person in our congregation, that we sold for $4,000, all of which will go toward the project.
 
            3. other pockets of money continue to help various ministries.  For example, Nada Beck, who passed away in 2014, left the church money in her will, and we continue to receive $1,000 per year in interest money, to be used for women’s ministry, children & youth ministry, and leadership development.

In the coming year, we have a number of goals, including:

1. break ground on the new Outreach Center, and if all goes well, see the project completed.

2. support the youth as they go on a summer mission trip, rather than camp this year.  Check out youthworks.com to learn about the Christ-centered mission trip (likely to San Diego) in which they will participate.

3. promote the growth of the church.  Last year, we held only one CLASS 101 for new members.  This year, we have three planned, along with a second year of D.I.G. (Disciples In Growth) classes for our 4th-7th graders.  Moreover, we will continue to expand our reach with technology, helping people to be part of our community even when they can’t physically be present.  We hope you will invite your friends and family to join us, either in person, or through Facebook or YouTube.    In fact, please “like” us on Facebook if you haven’t yet!

Of course, all of these goals are so that people have the opportunity to learn about Jesus, receive Him as Lord and Savior, and then grow as His disciples, shining His light by serving Him, serving our neighbors, and sharing His Word.  I am thankful for your support of our mission!

In Him,
Pastor Dave Hedgepeth

In the last entry, back in October 2019, I wrote about an invitation and attitude of Jesus that was prevalent throughout his ministry; His was a “come and see” ministry.  He was invitational, and He calls us today to be invitational as well.  Church is not an exclusive club, but an inclusive community.  “Come and see!”

I also mentioned, at the end of the entry: “Stay tuned for the next entry, two weeks from now, on the second invitation of Jesus.”  Well, that was the longest two weeks of my life!  It’s now January 2020, and as can happen, time got away.  I wound up leading five memorial services soon after October ended, and helping minister to the families whose loved ones had passed away.  Four of those families had little to no connection with our church, and two of the memorials were held at our town’s excellent Marana Mortuary and Cemetery.   Also in November, we had a “Fall Fest” at our church, with which I had a very small role due to the excellent leadership of many people in our congregation. The goal of the Fall Fest was to invite others in our community to a fun, family-friendly event (a “come and see” event), as well as raise money for our Mercy Fund, which reaches out into our community to help many people.  Then, a small but mighty group of us went Christmas caroling in early December, to some people who can’t get out and about anymore.  I guess you could say I’ve been “on the go.”   In addition, we also have begun discussions about changing our traditions in the summer, for our youth - from summer camp to a summer mission trip in 2020.

Which gets me to the second invitation of Jesus: “Go and do.”  He’s clear in the mission He has for us: “... go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20; NIV) This statement is known as “The Great Commission.”

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not always “going and doing.”  I find that much of my time is spent on internal matters of church life: worship preparation, pastoral care of our church’s members and friends, administrative matters.  And these need to be done, and they are good things too!  But if I – if WE – are not committed to The Great Commission, then we are not fulfilling the faith with which we have been gifted.

There are many ways to “go and do.”  Our church has long been supportive of, and initiators of, a number of ministries outside the walls of our building.  Historically, we started what is now the Marana Health Center and the Marana Food Bank.  Currently, we own and operate the Community Christian Outreach Center.  All of these are places to “go and do,” and the Outreach Center, in particular, is a place you can openly share your faith in your words and actions.  Moreover, any time you are in the world – at your job, in your school, with your friends – these are opportunities to “make disciples.”  Robert Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, on which we based our fall sermon series “Coming and Going,” has helpful suggestions.  Or, feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this more.

God bless,
Pastor Dave

Our blog post prior to January of 2020 were lost. In the first blog on our page Pastor Dave refers back to a blog he did in October of 2019. Unfortunately, those were lost.