2.15.24
Day 2: Loving Father, guide us through this Lenten path. May our fasting be a source of self-discipline, our prayers deepen our connection with You, and our acts of charity reflect your love for others. Strengthen us to walk faithfully in Your ways. Amen.
Welcome to Lent 2024! Over the next 40 days, join us in a daily moment of reflection and prayer to guide you on your Lenten journey. Each prayer offers support, encouragement, and spiritual nourishment as we walk together through this sacred season. May these moments of contemplation deepen your connection with God and illuminate the path toward Easter’s joy and renewal.
In Christ!
Reverend Sela Finau
Ash Wednesday:
Day 1: Gracious God, as we begin this sacred journey of Lent, may we heed the call of your prophet Joel. Help us turn our hearts to You, embracing repentance and seeking your mercy. Let the ashes on our foreheads be a sign of our humility and a reminder of your boundless grace. Amen.
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Join us for worship this evening at 7:00 P.M. or at a church near you.
2.8.24
Despite disobedience, Jonah’s solitude, away from all voices, led to transformation. Even though the people of Nineveh lived a horrific lifestyle, when they fasted and repented of their sins, God’s mind was changed and extended mercy.
We serve a God of boundless second chances, an ocean of grace, calling us regardless of our past and reminding us of God’s mercy and mission. The narrative of Jonah extends this grace to all, emphasizing that seeking God leads to purpose and redemption.
In Lent, let’s turn off distractions, change our ways, seek forgiveness, and embrace God’s transformative power.
Grace and peace,
sela
(reflection based on Jonah, chapter 3)
This past Sunday, we continued with the story of Jonah and his three days and nights in the belly of a fish, akin to a divine timeout. Timeout, a concept familiar to parents, was for Jonah both discipline and discipleship, emphasizing the shared root of learning, following, and adhering to principles.
Jonah’s experience underscores that God’s discipline is God’s provision, a grace-filled opportunity for development and shaping. In the depths of despair, Jonah found the right spirit and posture before God – a spirit of brokenness and a posture of humility and thankfulness.
In our own deep messes, we are urged to turn to God in prayer, acknowledging our brokenness rather than seeking temporary fixes elsewhere. God specializes in working with the empty and broken, and our humble approach opens the way for divine intervention. These challenging phases are opportunities for growth, alignment with God’s will, and preparation for what lies ahead.
Jonah’s story, at least chapter two, concludes with a messy yet transformative deliverance, teaching us that true cleansing and renewal often come in unexpected, seemingly unpleasant ways. As we navigate our own timeouts and brokenness, may we, like Jonah, find strength in prayer, cultivate gratitude in all situations, and trust in God’s transformative power even when the path seems messy.
Praise be to God!
Sela
1.25.24
In this week’s sermon, we delved into the story of Jonah, a prophet confronted with an unexpected divine assignment. Initially resistant, Jonah attempted to escape, only to be pursued by a relentless God. This narrative illustrates how God can use even reluctant individuals for a greater purpose, manifesting God’s grace.
The sermon challenged us to acknowledge the limitations of our understanding in grasping the complexities of God’s ways. While God redirected Jonah with a storm, not every storm in our lives is sent by God, prompting us to reflect on the storms we may have brought upon ourselves and the need for divine intervention.
As we embark on this journey with Jonah in the coming weeks, you’re invited to contemplate your own experiences of disobedience, recognizing God’s persistent pursuit and embracing the boundless mercy that seeks to redeem us, even when we attempt to run away.
Peace and grace, Pastor Sela
1.14.24
This past Sunday, we remembered the impactful legacy of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The sermon connected the essence of walking with Jesus to our commitment to justice—a commitment that goes beyond mere words and becomes a daily practice. It’s about envisioning a world where love and God’s peace reign, where racial differences become a bridge bringing us together, and where an inclusive table is extended to everyone.
Inspired by theologian Karl Barth’s insight, we were reminded to approach life with both the Bible and the contemporary issues of our time. Following Jesus, as emphasized, isn’t a journey with closed eyes but one where we navigate with openness, inviting others to join us and extending help to those in need.
Reflecting on the call of the first disciples, we were reminded that God already sees and understands our challenges. Sometimes, the obstacles we face—symbolized by potholes and construction barriers—are perhaps redirections, urging us to slow down, read the signs, and engage more deeply with the world around us.
1.14.24
In the Beginning
On the dawn of a new year, our recent sermon explored the profound connection between our lives and God’s ongoing masterpiece of creation. Drawing parallels between baptismal and the cosmic dance of existence, the message emphasized our role as instruments of peace, bearers of hope, and reflections of God’s love.
Highlighting the shared Spirit that hovered over creation and descended upon Jesus, the sermon called us to navigate life’s wilderness as confident co-creators. It urged us to remember our identity, embracing the untamed beauty woven into our diverse existence—a testament to the freedom God has inscribed.
We were challenged to view ourselves not as passive actors but as essential brushstrokes in the ongoing creation narrative. The call is to live as children of God, carrying the name of Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be stewards of divine creation.
In every new beginning, the echo of Genesis 1 resonates: “Let there be…” The concluding message urges us to contribute our unique and beautiful expressions to the unfolding story of God’s love. The timeless reminder is clear: “In the beginning, God created. And in every new beginning, God invites us to co-create.” This call echoes through the canvas of the new year, inviting us to embrace our divine partnership in the ongoing work of creation.
1.4.24
As we approach the conclusion of the Christmas season, on Epiphany Day, January 6th, let’s delve into the traditional significance of Epiphany. This day holds particular importance as it marks the arrival of the Magi, symbolizing the revelation of Jesus’ identity to the world. This revelation signified the incarnation of God in Christ, recognized by the heavens and drawing homage from Gentiles in the East.
The conclusion of the Christmas season is further emphasized by the baptism of Jesus, an event unveiling him as the beloved Son of God.
As we embark on the journey of 2024, my hope is that God continues to unveil new perspectives, ideas, and pathways for us. May this new year serve as a reminder that we are all beloved children of God. If we stay on the path God is directing us, we can overcome whatever obstacles we encounter.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Sela
12.28.23
A Child Is Born
For the child born in that humble manger grew up to be Emmanuel, “God with us.” He is not a distant memory, a fading star in the annals of history. He is here, in the midst of our very own darkness, the embodiment of hope amidst the flames.
He is our Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father. He walks with us through the valleys of the shadow of death, his light a shield against the darkness, his love a balm for our wounded hearts.
And that light cannot be dimmed. It burns in the acts of compassion that defy the shadows, in the whispers of comfort that soothe the afflicted, in the unwavering pursuit of justice that tears down the walls of division.
This Christmas and this new year, let us be the bearers of that light. Let us join churches around the globe and carry it into the streets, into our homes, into the hearts of those lost in darkness, including the very place where Christ first came. Let us be the living testament to the promise that even in the darkest night, the wondrous light of Christ will prevail.
For our wondrous light is not a memory, but a mission. A call to walk in the footsteps of the Prince of Peace, to illuminate the shadows with kindness, compassion, and the unyielding hope that only this night can bring.
For Emmanuel is with us, and in Him, there is always hope.
Amen
Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year!
Pastor Sela
a journey in existence 