by cbaker | Jul 13, 2021 | Pastor's Pondering, Updates
I am briefly pausing my series on the fruit of the spirit here this week in order to talk a bit about “Brave Space.” I was familiar with the idea of “safe space” which is an environment in which people are free to speak and listen without fear of discrimination,...
by cbaker | Jul 7, 2021 | Midweek Hymn Devotional
INVOCATION and PSALM 1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation! Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near, join me in glad adoration. (UMH #139, st.1) Psalm 150 1 Praise the Lord....
by cbaker | Jul 6, 2021 | Pastor's Pondering
KINDNESS In Galatians 5:22, the Apostle Paul provides a list of personal qualities produced in the life of those who follow Jesus Christ. He calls these the “fruit of the spirt.” When we are connected to God through faith in Jesus Christ, these qualities are...
by cbaker | Jun 30, 2021 | Newsletters
July 2021
by cbaker | Jun 30, 2021 | Midweek Hymn Devotional
INVOCATION and READING God of the ages whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, Our grateful songs before thy throne arise. (UMH #698, st.1) Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, an...
by cbaker | Jun 29, 2021 | Pastor's Pondering
“The fruit of the spirit” is a phrase the Apostle Paul used in Galatians 5:22 to describe the personal qualities produced in the life of those who follow Jesus Christ. When we are connected to God through faith in Jesus Christ, these qualities are planted in our lives...
by cbaker | Jun 23, 2021 | Midweek Hymn Devotional
INVITATION and READING Lord, whose love through humble service bore the weight of human need, who upon the cross, forsaken, offered mercy’s perfect deed: we, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but hear, consecrating to your purpose every gift that...
by cbaker | Jun 22, 2021 | Pastor's Pondering
The third fruit of the spirit Paul identifies in Galatians 5:22 is PEACE. When we think of peace, we think of the absence of conflict. But peace is more than this. It also means order and a sense of personal security. It means one is...
by cbaker | Jun 16, 2021 | Midweek Hymn Devotional, Updates
INVITATION and READING Where charity and love prevail, there Christ is ever found; brought here together by Christ’s love, by love are we thus bound. (UMH #549, st.1) 1 John 4: 16, 19-21 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love....
by cbaker | Jun 15, 2021 | Pastor's Pondering
Fruit of the Spirit: JOY The second “fruit of the Spirit” that Paul mentions in Galatians 5, is joy. Take a look around and you can see plenty of people who are grumps and gripers, negative about virtually everything that...
