Advent Ponderings

Advent Ponderings

Each week of Advent you will find below a scripture and reflection for your spiritual meditation during Advent.  These refelctions are from the lectionary resource material "Seasons of the Spirit" 

I hope they will spark spiritual growth, hope, and joy into your heart as you prepare for Christ to be born anew in our world and your heart.  May peace prevail, joy abound, the lowly be lifted high and justice reign!

Enjoy,

Pastor Debbie Griffin

Week leading up to the second Sunday of Advent December 9

Luke 1:68–79

“You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High…” (Luke 1:76).

Zechariah speaks these words to his newborn son, John the Baptizer. Perhaps we might hear them addressed to us as well. Whether we think of ourselves this way or not, we are all in fact prophets. God calls us – and expects us – to proclaim in word and deed the Realm of God present in our world. As John is told to guide the people “on the path of peace,” take a moment to ponder how you can help do that.

Team Spirit

Sunday October 7 is "Team Spirit" Sunday at Central Christian.  We will celebrate the moving of the Spirit among us as well as sporting our favorite team colors.  Everyone is invited to wear your team colors and send pictures of you and your children participating in team events.  You can send your old high school cheerleading picture, your child's drama team picture, your spouse's football picture or anything that expresses your team spirit to our tech expert Gary at sawdust@netins.net  Gary is preparing a slide show of our "Disciple Team" for viewing on Sunday morning so send your pics, wear your team colors and come to worship, where the Spirit will surprise us.  Following worship is our monthly pot luck where we will build up the body of Christ (Team) around table.  Bring your favorite dish to share and stay after pot luck for committee/ministry meetings.  It's more than a meeting, it's MINISTRY!
See you at the table where all fans of Christ are welcome,
Pastor Debbie Griffin

Sermon Themes

You choose!  Two weeks ago I gave you the opportunity to pick the sermon topics and some of you came up with some doozies!  Thanks so much for your input.  Sunday August 12th I preached the first in the series of "Your sermon topics".  You didn't go easy on the preacher, that's for sure.  Our first week began with this question:
"How do we love those who hate us?"  For the preacher's answer go to www.lovinggodlovingneighbor.org Then click on sermons.  You can listen right from your computer, ipad, or smart phone.

Some of the upcoming topics that you requested are:
"Ask and it shall be given.  Seek and you shall find."
The request of the Mother of James and John.
"I have come to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother."
Jesus walks on water.  (just did that one a few weeks ago)
People like Caleb and Elijah
Letters to the churches.  Revelation 2,3 &4
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

That should keep us busy for a while!  If you didn't get in your request for Pastor Deb's sermon topic, please publish your reqeust on this blog or email pastor at
pastor4peace@netins.net 
All requests are kept anonymously.

Peace and joy of Christ,
Pastor Deb

Sunday July 1

Lectionary Texts for Sunday's sermon:  July 1

Mark 5:21-43
Sermon Title: "Good Touch, Bad Touch"

Also in worship Sunday the children will teach us their memory verse Acts 1:8 with sign language and song.
There will be a special "Blessing" of the daughters.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday June 17

Ezekiel 17:22-24

Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 (the continuous reading)

Psalm 20

2 Corinthians 5:6-17

Mark 4:26-34

Sermon title this Sunday: "Patsy Cline and Jesus"  or "Wild and Free"

Lectionary Scriptures for the Sunday June 10

Genesis 3:8-15

Psalm 138

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Mark 3:20-25

What a combo.  A serpant, a tent, Beelzebul, Satan, an eternal sin which can not be forgiven, and the unclaimed family members.  Wow!  A lot there to work with.  Any guesses on which text Pastor will preach about?

Check out our new website at http://www.lovinggodlovingneighbor.com/

This week's lectionary scriptures which Pastor Deb will be studying for Sunday Sermon are:
Acts 2:1-21
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-27 and 16:4b-15
Psalm 104:24-35

This Sunday May 27 is Pentecost.  We will celebrate the living Spirit of God among us.
All are invited to come for this Spirit filled celebration.  Everyone is invited to bring a windchime to ring during the worship.  You are also invited to wear red.  We will be blessed by the Spirit through the dancing of Nicole Schilling, the music of our choir, and the living Word.
All are welcome at the Table, where we break open our lives and become the body of Christ for one another.

Loving God, Loving Neighbor

Taste and See that God is Good!

Thank you for visiting our temporary website while our new permanent site is under construction. We hope that this temporary site will introduce you to our family. Central Christian Church is a vibrant spirit filled and diverse family of friends who partner together to grow in our faith and serve our community and world. We are united in Christ, yet diverse in our beliefs. We do not claim to have all the answers, instead we embrace the questions, engaging in thoughtful conversations and spiritual practices. We honor the spiritual journeys of our people of many ages, understanding that regardless of our age, we hunger for intellectual stimulation, meaningful relationships, spiritual experiences, and the opportunity to give of ourselves for a greater good. We take seriously our commitment to follow the teaching of Jesus, who commanded only two things; love God, love neighbor.
You are invited to join us at the table of Christ, where we taste and see that God is good!
Pastor Deb