In this season of preparing for the coming of the Christ Child, we are reminded of the importance of generations of preparation before us. In this story we are reminded of the ways others – not just Mary and Joseph and their family – also prepared in ways they perhaps didn’t fully understand. What might we need to do – or stop doing as we make time to listen – in order to prepare and make space for the miracles of this season of our lives?

This weekend we begin our advent series titled "A Simple Christmas." Today we hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from Luke 1. She shares the "Preparation" that took place prior to the birth of Jesus with the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth and what that preparation looked like.

God has already given us all we need… are we ready to step up? We might feel like we aren’t worthy to proclaim the good news because of our history, or status.

Together, we will explore ways God uses “ordinary” — faithful — people, and some of the many gifts God has given us.   

In this weeks Message of the Week, we are blessed to be lead by our FirstChurch Youth. Alayna Nelson shares from John 13 the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet. She reminds us of the joy that comes from a life of service.

How do we use, let alone recognize the abundant gifts God has given us? All that we acquire comes from God. Our management of these gifts is an important part of stewardship. It matters what we do with our time, talents, and finances.   

In this weeks Message of the Week, we encounter the question; how do we give of ourselves fully? We hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from Mark 10, and highlights that the first will become last, and the last will become first.

Evangelism is a fundamental part of who we are. The first step to inviting others to know Jesus better, is to seek to set an example to all we meet through our own words, actions, and interactions.   

In this weeks Message of the Week, we recognize all the saints that have gone before us. What does their example of a life of witness show us today? Pastor Bryce Blank shares from 1 Peter and challenges us to live a life of witness.

How important is church, really? Is it that necessary to connect with others believers? Old Testament and New Testament authors would stress that it is. In our church culture today, how do we connect with God AND each other? Is there more than one way to be present in our church community?    

In this weeks Message of the Week, we hear from Pastor Jen Tyler. She shares from Ecclesiastes 4 and reminds us that together is better than apart; unified is better than divided. What does it look like to prioritize our presence in the body of Christ?

Prayer is an essential part of our lives and connection to God. How and why does it matter? What does it mean for us to commit to supporting the church with our prayers, and why is that so important? We might ask ourselves, does God really answer prayer? How do we know that God is listening?    

In this weeks Message of the Week, we begin our stewardship worship series titled "Membership to Discipleship: Our Greater Mission." We start this series with a message from Pastor Bryce Blank. He shares from Romans 8 and focuses on how we can grab hold of the Power of Prayer.

We are called to recognize our God for all that we have been given. We are called to praise God. Praise is often thought of in accompaniment with music in the context of worship. Why is that? How has our praise evolved over the years? What does it mean to praise God? How can we do so in other ways?   

In this weeks Message of the Week, we wrap up our Back to the Basics worship series with a message from Director of Worship & Discipleship, Lucas Severson. He shares from Psalm 150 and leads us in an investigation into what "praise" means and challenges us to praise God when something feels deserved AND when our relational foundation with God is all we have.

How are we connected? One of John Wesley’s main focuses was that we remain connected; to God, to those around us, and to our world. This means working with our brothers and sisters in Christ to discern God’s work and then act in ministry to/with our world. Connection points to Methodism’s origins by referring to the relationships that exist between preachers, people, and God. This practice of joining together for God’s work is one that even the Apostle Paul knew to be very important.   

In this weeks Message of the Week, our Back to the Basics series brings us to the topic of Connection. How do we stay connected to God? To our family and friends? To our church community? Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Philippians 1, and gives us some tangible ways to connect in every aspect of our lives.

Prayer seems like it should be so simple. Yet when it comes to actually praying it often feels awkward and complicated. What should you actually pray about? What do you say? Is there anything you shouldn’t say? Do you have to speak out loud? Where do you even start? Who even has time to pray? The truth is, prayer is simple. It’s like talking with a good friend. And here’s the best part: No matter where we are in life, God can’t wait to talk with us.  

In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our Back to the Basics worship series. We hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from John 15. Pastor Jen recites prayers we've all prayed in the past, and challenges us to pray from our hearts because when we call, God answers the phone.

Our Bible is often very confusing to read. How do we read it? What is the difference between the various translations and why are they important? Understanding how to read scripture will allow the Word of God to speak to our lives.  

In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our fall sermon series, Back to the Basics where we revisit the basics of faith. This week we hear from Pastor Bryce Blank who shares from Romans 15 and highlights the Hope found in scripture.

We are a people following after Christ. However, that is not always easy. We are called to support one another through the various seasons of life and the challenges that come our way. We are also called to lean into God.  

In this weeks Message of the Week, Pastor Bryce Blank shares from the second half of the book of Jude. He reminds us that we can't do life without a firm foundation. He challenges us to find a support system so we don't have to do it alone.

As we step into this new fall season, with school and activities back into full swing, we are called to remain focused and faithful to God. In times of transition, it can be hard to look to God. How are we preparing to continue growing closer to God? What are we doing to live like Jesus? We are to live in the reality of who Jesus really is and who God is calling us to be. 

In this weeks Message of the Week, Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Jude 1, and reminds us that transitions can be stressful, but challenges us to remain focused on a faithful God.

Throughout history, God has called people to follow Him. They followed as He led them out of captivity into a new land. That call continues today with a commandment to love others as Jesus loved. This call to service is not a solo mission. It is a call to band together and change the world. 

In this weeks Message of the Week, our Lost worship series continues with a sermon from Pastor Jen Tyler. She shares from Hebrews 13 and highlights the call for all people to outwardly show the love of God to all.

We make decisions every day. What to eat. How to dress. How many hours we spend scrolling social media. We make millions of tiny decisions every day. Many of them are acceptable, but how many are truly beneficial to our faith journey. You might ask, “how do I identify the essentials of life? How do I separate the temporary from the eternal? 

In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our Lost worship series with a message from Pastor Jen Tyler. She shares from Hebrews 12, and challenges us to discern which things in life are worth pursuing for the sake of eternity. What things can we cling to so we are "Unshaken?"

God has called us to grow in faithfulness, turn from greed and selfishness, and grow in our service and witness to proclaim His mercy and peace. The law and prophets are an example of a path that has been laid out for us to follow. Their witness and example spur us onward. With that knowledge all we need to be is BOLD. Easy, right? 

In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our Lost worship series with a message from our summer intern, Alayna Nelson. She shares from Hebrews and reminds us of those who came before us, and challenges us to look at the path they set before us and be bold in our journey of faith.

Often, parting words serve the function of offering the highest points and ideals we wish to relay to others. Either in summary or by means of a larger conclusion, often the very best and most important parts of a message come as a part of our final instructions. The end of the book of Hebrews works to summarize the most important aspects, not only of the book itself, but of a life of faith. These exhortations, warnings, and guidelines are a helpful overview of the traits of a faithful Christian, and they also serve as an opportunity for self-reflection. 

In this weeks Message of the Week, we begin a worship series focusing on scripture guiding us to our true home. We are sometimes lost, confused, or even on the wrong path without knowing. Our sermon today highlights the Hebrew people and how God led them home.

We’ve all heard metaphor in scripture, but do we use our imagination like the authors of the Bible did? Some scripture even demands understanding of metaphor: God as a fortress, as Rock, as a bird sheltering its chicks in a storm, and even as light. Being a good Bible reader can sometimes require a creative imagination. 

In this weeks Message of the Week, Rev. Dr. Joel Allen challenges us to use our imagination. He directs us to many places in scripture that use creative and imaginative words to describe God, His word, and His work in the world. 

St. Paul’s Mental Health Manual deals with the ways that Paul, from prison, clearly writes with a concern for mental health, when he says, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are pure, whatever is of good report, think on these things.” With our recent concerns for anxiety and depression, these verses can be viewed in a new light. 

In this weeks Message of the Week, we hear another message from Rev. Dr. Joel Allen. He shares from the 4th chapter of Philippians, reminds us of Paul's time in prison, and challenges us to think on things that are true, good, and come from God.

The Mystery of the Incarnation focuses on the implications of the notion that God enter into the human experience in the person of Jesus, laying aside the glories of heaven and dwelling in a fallen and failing world. Often, Christians fail to see the beauty of it. We’ve heard our whole lives that Jesus is God-with-Us, but we don’t see what makes that belief so beautiful and transformative. 

In this weeks Message of the Week, we hear from guest speaker Rev. Dr. Joel Allen. He shares from Philippians 2 and reminds us of the implications of God incarnate. God in the flesh. "God In a Bod."

Christ calls us to rediscover the love for God we may have once had. How can we find ways to rediscover this love and keep it strong and healthy? Do you love God as you first did? What checkpoints do you have to keep your love for God strong? 

In this weeks Message of the Week, we wrap-up our Trajectory worship series with a message from Pastor Bryce Blank. He shares from Revelation 2 and challenges us with the same challenge the Ephesian church received: to recall the love we once had for God who first loved us.