This Christmas Eve sermon reflects on the mystery of the Incarnation—God-with-us—who enters not perfection, but the real and complicated conditions of human life. Exploring the “scandal of particularity,” we are invited to notice how God meets us right where we are; with love.
In this final week of Advent, we reflect on love as the foundation of generous living. Advent means “coming” or “arrival,” a season that invites us into waiting, trust, and preparation as we remember the long hope for the Messiah fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Centered in Matthew 1:18–25, we witness Joseph’s quiet obedience, courage, and compassion. His love becomes an embodied act of generosity that makes room for God’s presence with us. As we wait together this season, we are invited to practice generous living marked by curiosity, gratitude, and openness to the movement of the Spirit. May this reflection guide us to receive Emmanuel, God with us, and to let love shape how we live and give.
What if today we hear John’s call—Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near—not as a threat of impending condemnation, but as an invitation? Listen in as we consider that repentance is not primarily about fear, but about embracing a way of being that reflects what Jesus is about.
In Week 1 of Advent, we reflect on the theme of Hope and the invitation to ground our generosity in God’s own generous heart. For generations, God’s people waited for the promised Messiah, and in Jesus’ arrival we see the fullness of God’s faithfulness, abundance, and love.
Advent means “coming” or “arrival,” and during this season we take on a posture of waiting, preparing, and paying attention. This year, we’re exploring the spiritual practice of Living Generously, a way of life that cultivates curiosity, gratitude, and openness to the movement of God’s Spirit.
Join us as we begin the Advent journey by considering how hope shapes generosity, and how generous living helps us embody the good news of Jesus in tangible ways.
On today’s episode, we explore Isaiah’s vision of God’s “Peaceable Kingdom”, a world renewed, restored, and made whole by God’s peace.
Join us as we imagine the future God invites us to hope for and embody today.
Join Pastor Keeyon for a thoughtful and transformative episode as he guides us through “The Top 10”, a self-evaluative exercise designed to help Jesus followers identify and examine the primary voices shaping their worldview.
This reflective practice challenges us, just as the Apostle Paul encourages, to pursue unity through the bond of peace, learning to listen, understand, and build bridges with those outside our usual circles of influence.
You won’t need any special materials—the exercise can be done anywhere, but for your convenience, we’ve provided a printable version of The Top 10 graphic.
Participate in the full exercise this Sunday on the Wellington Heights Community Church YouTube page , or listen anytime on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
We’d love to hear what you discover through this reflection!
Share your insights: wellingtonheightchurch@gmail.com
For deeper conversation or to learn more about the vision of Embodiment Sunday: keeyon@wellingtonheightscommunitychurch.org
Join us as Pastor Keeyon shares a powerful message from Luke 19:1–10 (CEB), the story of Zacchaeus, a man who climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus, only to find himself seen, known, and called by name.
This episode invites us to reflect on what it means to be truly noticed by God and challenged to welcome His presence into every part of our lives.
On today’s episode, Pastor Keeyon’s message highlights Luke 18:1-8, CEB.
Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me.” 6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? 8 I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”
Join pastor Keeyon as he leads us in the ancient practice of Lectio Divina
On Embodiment Sunday you are invite to engage in the sacred practice of Lectio Divina- an ancient practice that can help us slowly and prayerfully attend to and respond to Scripture. Check out the podcast to be guided in four postures of Lectio Divina on Embodiment Sunday.
Read (or in our context - listen to the text!)
Reflect upon the text and any words/phrases that stand out to you and why these may catch your attention and what feelings or thoughts surfaced. Allow time for the text to sink deeply into your soul!
Respond by offering anything that rises up to God and listen for any inner nudging
Rest in God’s loving presence and consider how you may return to God’s word throughout the day ahead
Join Alice Murray, Pastor of Care & Hospitality at FaithLife Church in Cedar Rapids as she dives into Luke 17:5-10.
On Embodiment Sunday you are invite to engage in the sacred practice of Lectio Divina- an ancient practice that can help us slowly and prayerfully attend to and respond to Scripture.
Michele is the Pastor of Missions at FaithLife. Growing up in a small farming community in Kansas, my grandmother instilled in me when I was a child to, "Love God and love others." I am a wife, mother and will be a grandma at the end of November. At FaithLife, I feel incredibly lucky to have a front seat to all of the incredible ways God is working through his people in our community and in our world. My hope is that the Holy Spirit continues to move and inspire more people to serve others in Jesus name and at the same time listen, learn and encourage others.
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager is often considered one of Jesus' most perplexing teachings, especially in a world that's preoccupied with wealth. While our focus tends to be on using resources for immediate comfort and power, God calls us to be shrewd managers with an eternal perspective. This parable is a powerful call to action, urging us to use the resources we have been given to build his kingdom.
You are invite to engage in the sacred practice of Lectio Divina- an ancient practice that can help us slowly and prayerfully attend to and respond to Scripture. Check out the podcast to be guided in four postures of Lectio Divina with Ephesians 6:1-10, MSG.
Join guest Anthony Betters Jr. for a conversation on Reconciliation, Neighborhood Development, & Worship.
Anthony is a Sales Specialist at American Family Insurance, aspiring to obtain his own agency one day. A proud Baylor University alum, that holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communications, achieving this while balancing the demands of being a student-athlete football walk-on.
Originally from Waco, Texas, Anthony made the move to Cedar Rapids to start a senior in-home healthcare franchise. His dedication and impact in the community have been recognized with the Corridor Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 accolade. He is also a part of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., that is focused on developing leaders, promoting brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.
Beyond his professional role, Anthony actively engages with the community. He serves as the PTA Vice President at Washington High School, Vice President of the African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI) Board of Directors, and Treasurer and Chaplin of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has also created a community initiative called GoodFellas, that helps bring black men together to network, and collaborate in a safe space environment.
In his personal life, Anthony, alongside his fiancée Cynthia, embraces the role of being a dad to four kids: Amora, Brylee, Mariah, and Jacob. He considers it a privilege to pursue his passion for community service, while providing representation for youth who look up to him.
During his time as a minister overseeing small group leaders, Pastor Keeyon sat down for lunch with one leader who had been faithfully serving the church since its beginning. He and his wife had led over a dozen groups, often with 20 or more people gathering in their home. From the outside, it looked like a life filled with connection. But when Pastor Keeyon asked him about friendship, his answer was unforgettable: “I don’t have any friends.”
In this episode, Pastor Keeyon explores The Friendship Crisis in Christianity.
On this podcast episode you will be guided through an imagination activity, to imagine, to hope, to dream what it looks like to embody all that we have learned throughout the Immerse sermon series.
This epsiode is a reflective guide to the our collective experiences of the Derecho.
We believe that baptism is a gift from God. It is something God gives to us. St. Peter says that it is the mark of a good conscience toward God—that we are saved through the resurrection of Jesus. So when we are unsure, when we feel far from God and our conscience is a wreck, we can remember our baptism in Christ and what He promised through our faith in Him.
Baptism isn’t something we do for God, but something God has given to us as an assurance that we are marked as His through baptism.
God saves.
The water doesn’t save—but God does.
It is not the water, indeed, that does these things,
but the Word of God that is in and with the water,
and faith which trusts such Word of God in the water.
For without the Word of God, the water is simple water and no baptism.
But with the Word of God, it is a baptism—
that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost.
As Saint Paul says in Titus, chapter 3:
“By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost,
which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
that, being justified by His grace,
we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
This is a faithful saying.
This Summer during Sunday Service we are offering space to reimagine and apply the key components of life and ministry within a framework of Christian Community Development. These Sunday gatherings will offer space for worship, conversation, insight and practical skills for engaging in the renewal of all things.
This Sunday we will be leaning into the key component of embodying a prophetic presence.
As CCD practitioners we often find it necessary to raise awareness and raise our voices for reform or systemic change. We are called to dismantle lies, greed, broken structures, and unjust laws. It is time to intentionally practice prophetic presence as CCD practitioners. But what does it mean to be a prophetic presence in your community? In the broadest sense, prophetic presence is publicly standing up to harmful policies or practices that damage an individual or group’s human dignity and quality of life. Being a prophetic presence signals to others that you are not only calling out an injustice, but are committed to taking the necessary actions to see that change takes place.
For CCD, prophetic presence responds to the age-old question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God shows considerable concern for breaking the strongholds of injustice and false frameworks that operate in this world by correcting, redeeming, and restoring all that has been lost, broken, distorted, or unfairly gained.
Visit CCDA.org to become a member and take the full immerse course.