I want to thank Rev. Howard Cavner for stepping in on short notice to preach this Sunday and Rev. Greg Esselman for agreeing to moderate our Annual Congregational meeting.

When was the last time you were invited to a banquet?  Maybe a wedding or an important business event?  Did you get to choose your table, or did you get seated?  How, and where, people are seated at a banquet says a lot about the event and who is welcome and wanted.  In today's scripture, Jesus challenges us to look again at who we have room for at the table.

This morning in worship we will be reflecting on how often God surprises us, even interrupts us, with grace.

Have you ever gone to someone's home for dinner and felt completely welcome? Today we read a story of Jesus creating a place of welcome for those on the margins of his society; and we will together consider how we might do the same today.

I am delighted to be back with you as we worship together today on this first Sunday of Lent. We will be reflecting together on how God provided us nourishment for our journey of faith.

We are delighted to welcome the Rev. Dennis Winzenried as he leads us in worship today. He will be reflecting on the Transfiguration of Christ, and I know you will be blessed by his words.

We are delighted to welcome the Rev. Barry Williams as he leads us in worship today. He will be reflecting on Jesus teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, and I know you will be blessed by his words.

Today in worship we continue exploring the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, today looking at what it means to let our light shine.

Today in worship we begin a three week series exploring the Sermon on the Mount as we reflect on the Beatitudes, and what it might mean to find ourselves blessed by God.

Have you ever met someone and knew right away that they were going to change your life? The gospels tell us that was how some of the early disciples experienced Jesus - someone they just knew was going to change their life. Whether your experience of faith has been like that, or a more gradual journey, we are all learning day by day what it means to be followers of Christ.

Today is an exciting day for our congregation! During worship we will be ordaining and installing our new officers for 2023, as well as celebrating communion. This is all within the context of remembering the baptism of Jesus, and our own calling into the family of faith.

This morning we have an exciting worship service planned! We are being joined by our friends from Brentwood to host a joint Christmas Morning service. We've polled both congregations on our favorite Christmas songs and our service will focus on telling the stories of these wonderful songs. Please note our special time of 10:45 AM.

Tonight we will gather for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion service, and I cannot wait to share in worship with you! Our service will be filled with songs of the season, the retelling of the Christmas story, communion, and singing Silent Night by candlelight. Please note our new time this year of 5:30 PM.

For the first time since before the pandemic we are hosting a full Christmas Cantata, featuring our choir and orchestra. A host of musicians from Trinity and the community have prepared a service of beauty and hope as we get ready for Christmas.

If you are like me, sometimes the mystery of our faith can be frustrating! What if, instead, we thought of it as life-giving? Today we explore how to find hope in mystery, especially during this holiday season.

Today is an exciting day in worship as we celebrate both sacraments of the church: baptism and communion.

We begin a new church year today as we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas and the coming of Jesus. With the changing season we also are seeing some changes in our worship service with new music and new patterns.

Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, the day in the church year when we look forward to the coming reign of Christ. In scripture, however, we find an unexpected king. What does it look like to follow the Prince of Peace instead of a king of conquest? Today we also conclude our 2023 Pledge Campaign with Pledge Sunday. Thank you for prayerfully considering your pledge of financial support.

Today we hear two scriptures that look to the future - a future of hope and fear. We will explore how our faith forms our view of, and planning for, the future.