Sunday: Out of Our Caves and Into Our Missions / 1 Kings 19

Sunday! We gather in worship, waiting and listening for God.

• Worship: Mike Neelley

• Prayers of the People: Danielle Riley

• Sermon: Bob Ekblad

• Call to Action: Mike Neelley

• Blessing: Gracie Ekblad

1 Kings 19:9-18 (ESV): The Lord Speaks to Elijah

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Where There is Discord, Let Me Bring Union: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley

Danielle reads a prayer from St. Francis on our part in a broken world. The charge: contact and understand someone you disagree with.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

Sunday: Keep Seeking the Things Above / Colossians 3

We gather in worship that our eyes and actions might be adjusted.

• Worship: Mike Neelley - 0:00

• Prayers of the People: Lise Bennett - 19:45

• Message: Gracie Ekblad - 25:35

• Closing Song: I Just Want to Praise You - 42:44

• Call to Action: Danielle Riley - 45:52

• Blessing of Lucy Capron - 47:26

• Closing Blessing: Andrew Lewis - 55:16

Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): Put On the New Self

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Love Your Enemies: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / Luke 6

Danielle, Asher, and Quinn talk about God’s daily gifts of grace and how we love the people we’re given to love.

Luke 6:27-36 (ESV): Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Sunday: Removing Blinders to See Through Delusions / 2 Thessalonians

We gather in worship together, seeking a God of truth and light.

• Worship: Mike Neelley - 0:00

• Prayers of the People: Gracie Ekblad - 18:50

• Message: Bob Ekblad - 34:47

• Closing Song: 56:15

• Call to Action: Andrew Lewis - 59:45

• Closing Blessing: Danielle Riley - 1:01:10

2 Corinthians 3:23 (NASB)

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech…

2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 (NASB)

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (NASB)

5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Sunday: Practical Love of Enemies / Matthew 8

Sunday! We gather in worship that we might learn to love better, in exploring Jesus and the Centurion.

• Worship: Andrew Lewis - 0:00

• Prayers of the People: Danielle Riley - 13:32

• Message: Mike Neelley - 16:48

• Closing Song: All of God's Children - 42:57

• Blessing of: Kevin Riley - 47:28

Matthew 8:5-13 (ESV): The Faith of a Centurion

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

The Abundance of His Steadfast Love / Your Grace is More: Morning Song with Danielle, Alvin, Kelsey / Psalm 106

Danielle examines just condemnation and unrelenting, unstoppable forgiveness—reading from Psalm 106, Eugene Peterson, and Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Psalm 106:40-46 (ESV)

40 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people,
    and he abhorred his heritage;
41 he gave them into the hand of the nations,
    so that those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed them,
    and they were brought into subjection under their power.
43 Many times he delivered them,
    but they were rebellious in their purposes
    and were brought low through their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
    when he heard their cry.
45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,
    and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
46 He caused them to be pitied
    by all those who held them captive.

A God Who Steps In: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / Ezekiel 34

Danielle navigates imbalances of power in our world, according to God’s justice. God himself addresses our greed, neglect, and self-interest.

Ezekiel 34:7-11 (ESV)

7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.

Sunday: God Saved Us For a Purpose / Ephesians 2:10

Sunday! We gather in worship, saved and created for good works.

• Worship: Lucy Capron - 0:00

• Prayers: Danielle Riley - 24:27

• Announcements, Message: Mike Neelley - 26:33

• Closing Song: Beautiful Things - 49:54

• Call to Action: Kevin Riley - 54:55

• Blessing: Andrew Lewis - 56:27

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

How is God Calling Us to Be More Childlike?: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / Matthew 18

Danielle invites correction and transformation in our adult constructs that keep us from authenticity with God.

Matthew 18 (ESV): Who Is the Greatest?

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.

Sunday: Rejoice in the Lord Always / Philippians 4

Sunday! We gather to worship in a difficult world.

• Welcome and Worship: Mike Neelley - 00:03

• Prayers of the People: Andrew Lewis - 18:00

• Message: Bob Ekblad - 24:08

• Call to Action: Gracie Ekblad - 49:16

• Closing Song: The Blessing - 54:01

• Blessing: Danielle Riley - 58:40

Philippians 4:4-9 (NASB)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Who Will Separate Us From the Love of Christ? : Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / Romans 8

Danielle continues to explore God’s love, forgiveness, and power—compared to everything offered to us in this world or the next.

Romans 8:35, 37-39 (ESV)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Take Heart: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / Matthew 14:22-33

Danielle reads and reflects on Jesus walking on the water—and when he calls us to join him. Point to the storms in your life and ask Jesus for help.

Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV): Jesus Walks on the Water

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Sunday: Confessing Our Blindness and Deafness / John 9

Sunday! We gather in worship, that we might enter into the light of a broken, divided world.

• Welcome: Kevin Riley - 0:00

• Worship: Andrew Lewis - 0:40

• Prayers of the People: Gracie Ekblad - 12:34

• Message: Bob Ekblad with Tony Cienfuegos - 22:20

• Call to Action: Kevin Riley - 54:06

• Closing Song - 55:46

• Blessing: Danielle Riley - 57:58

John 9:39-41 (NASB)

39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

The Mustard Seed and the Hidden Leaven: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / Matthew 13:31-35

Danielle leads a morning of contemplation in the hidden, underwhelming things of this world.

Matthew 13:31-35 (ESV)

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Prophecy and Parables

34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables;
    I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

Sunday: Identity & Purpose / Ephesians 2:8-10

We gather in worship of a powerful God who provides transformative love.

• Worship: Andrea and Jean Chaumont

• Prayers of the People: Danielle Riley

• Message: Mike Neelley

• Call to Action: Andrew Lewis

• Blessing: Kevin Riley

This passage brings together two important parts of our relationship with Jesus—our identity and our purpose—who we are and what are we to do. You are God’s craftsmanship (identity), created in Christ Jesus for good works (purpose). It is important that they come in that order. 

It’s really easy to try to get our sense of identity, who we are and what gives us value, out of what we do. We use our work to seek affirmation and validation to feel good about ourselves. Unfortunately, when the work is gone and we have lost the affirmation, our sense of identity is in the toilet.

If we don’t start with the affirmation of Jesus, that we are deeply loved before we have done anything, we will chase it all our lives in other things and never have peace. 

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Luke 3:21-22 (ESV)

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

What is God Calling You to Prune in Your Life?: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / John 15:1-5

Danielle leads an examination in submission for growth and transformation.

John 15:1-5 (ESV): I Am the True Vine

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 

Blessed Are the Merciful: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / Matthew 5:7

Danielle reflects on justice and mercy, celebrating in God’s love.

Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.

Quiet Our Troubled Souls: Morning Devotions with Danielle Riley / Psalm 37:7-10

Danielle opens the day asking for more renewal and strength.

Psalm 37:7-10

Be still before the Lord : and wait patiently for him.

Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers : the one who succeeds in evil schemes.

Refrain from anger, leave rage alone : do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off : but those who wait upon the Lord shall possess the land.

Sunday: Let Justice Flow / Amos 5:23-24

Sunday! We gather online to worship and unite in humility and transformation.

• Worship and Prayers: Mike Neelley

• Message: Andrew Lewis

• Blessing: Danielle and Kevin Riley

Amos 5:23-24 (ESV): Let Justice Roll Down

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
    to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
24 But let justice roll down like waters,
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.