Standing in the in-between space after Christmas and on the edge of a new year, this message invites the church to reflect on the past while courageously stepping into what God is doing next. Drawing from Isaiah’s promise that God is always doing a new thing and Paul’s resolve to press forward despite hardship, we’re reminded that clinging too tightly to yesterday, whether past failures or past successes, can keep us from recognizing God’s work in the present. Through Paul’s story of transformation and perseverance, we see that spiritual growth requires intentional effort, focused pursuit, and a willingness to let go of what once defined us. As individuals and as a church, we are called to pursue Christ above comfort, trust God with the unknown, and take the next faithful step forward, confident that the God who has been faithful before is still leading us into the future.

This Christmas Eve service is a chance to pause and remember the true meaning of Christmas. We gather to celebrate Emmanuel, God with us, and the good news that Jesus has come. If you’re looking for a Christmas Eve church service online, we’re so glad you’re here. Invite your family, light a candle at home, and worship with us as we reflect on the story of Christ’s birth and the hope it brings to the world.

In this message from our Advent series In the Waiting, we walk through Luke 1:26–38 and step into Mary’s story, a story filled with uncertainty, fear, and a future that looked nothing like what she expected. From an unexpected pregnancy to unanswered questions, Mary’s experience mirrors so many of the moments we face when plans fall apart and clarity feels far away. This teaching explores how God often does His deepest work in seasons of uncertainty. When life feels unstable, confusing, or delayed, God is not absent. He is present, forming us patiently and purposefully. While we often want instant answers or immediate change, God works slowly and lovingly, shaping our hearts over time. You will hear practical encouragement on how to respond when life feels out of control, including the call to be patient, trust God’s promises, and live with open hands and a surrendered heart. Through Mary’s response to God’s word, we are reminded that faith is not about having all the answers, but about trusting the One who holds them.

This message invites us into a deeper exploration of joy during the Advent season by challenging the filters through which we view our lives. Drawing from the shepherds’ encounter in Luke 2, we’re reminded that true joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our perspective. The shepherds were living humble, difficult lives, watching sheep in the fields and dealing with the ordinary and challenging realities of their work, when an angel suddenly appeared with news of great joy.   Their experience teaches us something transformative. We are called to shift from 'looking at' our problems, pain, pressure, and difficult people to 'looking up' to God. This is not simply positive thinking but a fundamental reorientation of what we believe. Science tells us we are wired with mirror neurons that reflect what we focus on, and Scripture tells us we are created in God’s image to reflect His glory. When we fix our attention on our circumstances or constantly look down at our devices, we tend to mirror anxiety and discontent. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, as Hebrews 12 encourages us to do, we begin to reflect His joy even in the midst of trials.   This Christmas season offers us the opportunity to replace negative filters with God’s perspective and allow Him, not our circumstances, to define our reality. The shepherds’ first response after encountering Jesus was to spread the good news, reminding us that true joy naturally overflows into witness.

This Advent message invites us to rediscover peace by looking closely at three responses to the birth of Jesus in Matthew 2:1-12. King Herod opposed Him, the religious leaders overlooked Him, and the Magi opened their hearts in worship. What makes the story so striking is that the ones who traveled farthest, both physically and spiritually, were the ones who truly found Him. These Magi were outsiders, coming from a place the Bible often associates with darkness, yet they were the ones searching for light. Their gifts carried deep meaning: gold for the King, frankincense for the High Priest, and myrrh pointing to His sacrificial death. Through their example we see that biblical peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ in the middle of whatever we face. Following Jesus may bring opposition, but it also brings the promise that no matter how far we feel from God, He is drawing us near. The question this Advent is simple but profound: how will we respond to the gift of the Prince of Peace?

As Advent begins, we’re reminded that this season isn’t about passive waiting. It’s about active, confident hope rooted in God’s faithfulness. This teaching unpacks the difference between wishful thinking and the kind of biblical hope Isaiah points us to in chapter 9. Into 700 years of darkness, God promised a child who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His arrival wasn’t optimism; it was certainty based on who God is. The lighting of the hope candle points us back to every promise God has already fulfilled and forward to the reality that we live between two Advents. Christ has come, and Christ will come again. When life feels dark, when prayers seem unanswered, and when shadows feel heavy, we’re invited to look for glimpses of light that remind us our stories fit within God’s larger story. The darkness is real, but it isn't final. True hope rests not in our feelings but in God’s character, trusting that the One who stepped into our world will finish what He began.

This powerful conclusion to the Fire & Cloud series brings us to the mountaintop for a panoramic look at God’s redemptive plan. Through the seven promises in Exodus 6:6-8, we see that God’s salvation is not only about escaping bondage but about entering into relationship, purpose, and destiny. Each “I will” statement reveals a different part of God’s heart as He offers rescue, freedom, redemption, family, presence, inheritance, and the fulfillment of His promises. This message connects the journey of ancient Israel to our own modern faith walk and reminds us that God does not just save us from something but for something greater. It challenges us to see the difference between what we are paid for and what we are made for, inviting us to discover our calling and step boldly into the purpose God has redeemed us to live out.

Fire & Cloud: The Golden Calf | Aaron Hanson

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

At the heart of Exodus lies a stunning truth: God’s greatest desire is not only to rescue us from something, but to dwell with us. This message unpacks the deep meaning behind the tabernacle, the elaborate and detailed structure God commanded Moses to build in the wilderness. While it’s easy to get caught up in the gold, acacia wood, and scarlet yarn, the purpose becomes clear in one transformative verse: “Let them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” This is not about religious architecture; it is about relationship. From the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem, the entire biblical story tells of God’s pursuit to be present with His people. The tabernacle pointed to the temple, the temple to Jesus, and through Jesus, the church was born, declaring that each of us is now a temple of the Holy Spirit. God did not just save us from darkness, addiction, or brokenness. He saved us to live in relationship with Him and for a greater purpose only He can reveal. When we understand that worship begins with sacrifice, offering our time, talents, and treasure, we join His mission and encounter His presence in ways that transform everything.

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

What if your work is actually worship? What if the meetings, spreadsheets, and projects you do every day aren’t separate from your calling but part of God’s mission for the world? Before the fall, God placed Adam in the garden “to work it and keep it,” showing that work was His idea from the start. The Hebrew word avodah means work, worship, and service all at once. It reminds us that our daily labor is sacred. When we see our jobs this way, our Mondays become an act of worship and our workplaces become mission fields. With so much of the world still unreached, our presence in the marketplace isn’t accidental. It’s part of God’s plan to bring His light into every corner of society.

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

What if the Ten Commandments weren’t meant to restrict you, but to set you free? In this message from our Fire & Cloud series, Pastors Aaron and Dick Foth unpack Exodus 20 and reveal how the “Ten Words” show God’s heart for His people. From the mountain of Sinai to the teachings of Jesus, we see that God’s law was never about earning His love; it was a response to already being rescued. Obedience flows from grace, not to it. Together, we look at how these words shape our culture, guide our relationships, and draw us closer to God. The Ten Words are not a list of limitations but an invitation into a life of freedom, rhythm, and love, fulfilled perfectly in Jesus. Watch as we explore what it means to love God fully, love others well, and live in the freedom of His design.

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

When life feels like a battle, where do you turn for strength? In Exodus 17, Moses, Joshua, and the Israelites discover that God’s provision comes not only through His power, but also through His people. In this message, Pastor Felix Arellano unpacks how God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and how true victory comes when we rely on His strength and lean on one another in faith. The story of Moses raising his staff, supported by Aaron and Hur, reveals that God designed us to live in community, not isolation. If you’ve ever tried to face life’s battles alone, this message is a reminder: you were never meant to. God’s provision flows through dependence on Him and connection with others.

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

The story of Exodus 16 isn’t just about manna in the desert; it’s a picture of God’s heart to provide for His people. When Israel grumbled in the wilderness, God didn’t respond with punishment but with provision, reminding them that His care is constant even when our trust wavers. Just as He fed them daily, God still invites us to depend on Him one day at a time, to be grateful, generous, and content in what He gives. The manna was never about the meal; it was about the Maker. And in Jesus, the Bread of Life, we find the ultimate provision that satisfies every hunger and fills every empty place with His presence.

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

The story of Exodus 14 isn’t just about Israel’s escape from Egypt. It’s a powerful picture of what God still does today. The Red Sea crossing points to baptism, where we leave behind the bondage of sin and step into a new life of freedom through Jesus Christ. The same God who buried Pharaoh’s chariots now breaks the power of sin in our lives. Through the cross we are forgiven, and through the resurrection we are set free. Even after salvation, we can struggle with old mindsets and temptations, but God invites us to stand firm, see His victory, and be still as He fights for us. What once enslaved you no longer has power over you.