ReSounding Joy Resounding, Ministry Night, and Praying for Peace
As the hymn says, "My Lord what a Morning!" Friends, ResoundingJoy resounded out on Easter Sunday. We resounded with joy. We resounded with community. We resounded with welcome. We resounded with energy. We resounded with numbers. We resounded with praise. We resounded with the Easter greeting that Christ is risen // Christ is risen indeed! It was a remendous morning - thank you to all who helped and served in various ways, thank you to all who were here, thank you to all who invited and brought new folks, thank you. God is at work here friends. God is at work.
This is the first of three messages you'll be getting this week - today is sending out the April issue of ReSounds (print version will be available at church later this week), a reminder about Ministry Night tomorrow and hinting at the summer. There is also a prayer at the end for peace as, if you are like me, the war in Iran is on your heart and mind.
Tomorrow will be an update about Pillar of Truth, our Ethiopian friends. And Thursday will be an all-Missions/Outreach message.
This is the first of three messages you'll be getting this week - today is sending out the April issue of ReSounds (print version will be available at church later this week), a reminder about Ministry Night tomorrow and hinting at the summer. There is also a prayer at the end for peace as, if you are like me, the war in Iran is on your heart and mind.
Tomorrow will be an update about Pillar of Truth, our Ethiopian friends. And Thursday will be an all-Missions/Outreach message.
April ReSounds
The April issue of ReSounds is linked below and will be posted on the website later today. You'll hear about some things that the Spirit has been stirring for me, about mission opportunities coming up, updates on our life together, and a LOT more.
April ReSounds
April ReSounds
Ministry Night and Looking to the Summer
We moved the April Ministry Night from last Wednesday (Holy Week) to tomorrow night - 6pm. Hope to see many of you there for helping with our various core ministry areas - worship, discipleship, fellowship/fun, administration, and mission/outreach. If you haven't been there before, don't let that be an excuse to not be there. Several of the teams will be working together on what we will be focusing on for the summer - Connecting with one another and with our community around tables - meals, conversations, and more - following the table examples of Jesus. A way to think about this summer is from the wisdom from Rachel Held Evans when writing about what the church ought to be building...she simply wrote, "let's build bigger banquet tables."
Praying for Peace
Friends, my heart is heavy about so much in our world right now but notably today about the war in Iran that is taking place and that has received threats of a massive escalation yesterday and today. I have been holding to the beginning of Psalm 46 today...
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
But as I read this for myself, it is too each to read it as simply a promise for me, so I have been changing it today as I have been praying it.
God, you are the refuge and strength of all people
You are the very present help in trouble
Therefore, help us to not fear even as bombs fall and threats escalate
Though the Alborz and Zagros mountains shake
Though the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are troubled
Though the world is on edge
God, you are the refuge and strength of all people
As many of you know, I also like to pray with images and the image above is one that I am praying as well. In this image, peace right now feels like that flowered branch reaching out - it is beautiful, it is life giving, it is restorative. But right now, it feels largely disconnected from the paths and the ways that our world is acting. So I am praying for peace to emerge and connect - a restorative, and a hopeful, and a lasting peace - not only between nations and within nations, but within the hearts of leaders across the world and the peoples of all nations.
And i want to close with the words of Pope Leo from his Easter message two mornings ago.
On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil. To the Lord we entrust all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only he can give. Let us entrust ourselves to him and open our hearts to him! He is the only one who makes all things new.
Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Pastor Ed
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
But as I read this for myself, it is too each to read it as simply a promise for me, so I have been changing it today as I have been praying it.
God, you are the refuge and strength of all people
You are the very present help in trouble
Therefore, help us to not fear even as bombs fall and threats escalate
Though the Alborz and Zagros mountains shake
Though the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are troubled
Though the world is on edge
God, you are the refuge and strength of all people
As many of you know, I also like to pray with images and the image above is one that I am praying as well. In this image, peace right now feels like that flowered branch reaching out - it is beautiful, it is life giving, it is restorative. But right now, it feels largely disconnected from the paths and the ways that our world is acting. So I am praying for peace to emerge and connect - a restorative, and a hopeful, and a lasting peace - not only between nations and within nations, but within the hearts of leaders across the world and the peoples of all nations.
And i want to close with the words of Pope Leo from his Easter message two mornings ago.
On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil. To the Lord we entrust all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only he can give. Let us entrust ourselves to him and open our hearts to him! He is the only one who makes all things new.
Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Pastor Ed
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Archive
2026
January
Week 1 of Bible in a YearJanuary 12 - Genesis 1-2, Matthew 1:-2:12, Psalm 1, Proverbs 1:1-6January 13 - Gen 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2, Prov 1:7-9January 14 - Gen 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Prov 1:10-19January 15 - Gen 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4, Proverbs 1:20-23January 16 - Gen 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5, Prov 1:24-28January 17 - Genesis 13:5-15:21, Matthew 5:27-48, Psam 6, Prov 1:29-33Week 2 of Bible in a YearJanuary 18 - Gen 16:1-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7, Prov 2:1-5January 19 - Gen 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8, Proverbs 2:6-15January 20 - Gen 20:1-22:24, MAtthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9, Proverbs 2:16-22January 21 - Gen 23:1-24:51, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Prov 3:1-6January 22 - Gan 24:52-26:16, Mt 8:18-34, Psalm 10, Proverbs 3:7-8January 23 - Gen 26:17-27:46, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 10, Proverbs 3:7-10January 24 - Gen 28:1-29:35, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 11, Proverbs 3:11-12January 25 - Genesis 30:1-31:16, Matthew 10:1-23, Psalm 12, Proverbs 3:13-15January 26 - Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalm 13, Proverbs 3:16-18January 27 - Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14, Proverbs 3:19-20January 28 - Genesis 35:1-36:43, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 15, Proverbs 3:21-26January 29 - Genesis 37:1-38:30, Matthew 12:22-45, Psalm 16, Proverbs 3:27-32January 30 - Genesis 39:1-41:16, Matthew 12:46-13:23, Psalm 17, Proverbs 3:33-35January 31 - Genesis 41:17-42:17, Matthew 13:24-46, Psalm 18:1-15, PRoverbs 4:1-6
February
February 1 - Genesis 42:18-43:34, Matthew 13:47-14:12, Psalm 18:16-36, Proverbs 4:7-10February 2 - Genesis 44:1-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13February 3 - Genesis 46:1-47:31, Matthew 15:1-28, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 4:14-19February 4 - Genesis 48:1-49:33, Matthew 15:25-16:12, Psalm 20, Proverbs 4:20-27February 5 - Genesis 50 - Exodus 2:10, Matthew 16:13-17, Psalm 21, Prov 5:1-6February 6 - Exodus 2:11-3:22, Matthew 17:10-27, Psalm 22:1-18, Proverbs 5:7-14February 7 - Exodus 4:1 - 5:21, Matthew 18:1-20, Psalm 22:19-31, Proverbs 5:15-21February 8 - Exodus 5:22-7:25, Matthew 18:21-19:12, Psalm 23, Proverbs 5:22-23February 9 - Exodus 8:1-9:35, Matthew 19:13-30, Psalm 24, Proverbs 6:1-5February 10 - Exodus 10:1-12:13, Matthew 20:1-28, Psalm 25:1-15, Proverbs 6:6-11February 11 - Exodus 12:14-13:16, Matthew 20:29-21:22, Psalm 25:16-22, Proverbs 6:12-15February 12 - Exodus 13:17-15:18, Matthew 21:23-46, Psalm 26, Prov 6:16-19February 13 - Exodus 15:19-17:7, Matthew 22:1-33, Psalm 27:1-6, Proverbs 6:20-26February 14 - Exodus 17:8-19:15, Matthew 22:34-23:12, Psalm 27:7-14, Proverbs 6:27-035February 15 - Exodus 19:16-21:21, Matthew 23:13-39, Psalm 28:1-9, Proverbs 7:1-5February 16 - Exodus 21:22-23:13, Matthew 24:1-28, Psalm 29:1-11, Proverbs 7:6-23February 17 - Exodus 23:14-25:40, Matthew 24:29-51, Psalm 30:1-12, Proverbs 7:24-27February 18 - Exodus 26:1-27:21, Matthew 25:1-30, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 8:1-11February 19 - Exodus 28:1-43, Matthew 25:31-26:13, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 8:12-13February 20 - Exodus 29:1-30:10, Matthew 26:14-46, Psalm 31:19-24, Proverbs 8:14-26February 21 - Exodus 30:11-31:18, Matthew 26:47-68, Psalm 32:1-11, Proverbs 8:27-32February 22 - Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 8:33-36February 23 - Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:12-22, Prov 9:1-6February 24 - Exodus 35:10-36-38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10, Proverbs 9:7-8February 25 - Exodus 37:1-38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 9:9-10February 26 - Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12February 27 - Leviticus 1:1-3:17, Mark 1:29-2:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-15February 28 - Leviticus 4:1-5:19, Mark 2:13-3:6, Psalm 36:1-12, Prov 10:1-2
March
March 1 - Leviticus 6:1-7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:3-4March 2 - Leviticus 7:28-9:6, Mark 3:31-4:25, Psalm 37:12-29, Proverbs 10:5March 3 - Leviticus 9:7-10:20, Mark 4:26-5:20, Psalm 37:30-40, Proverbs 10:6-7March 4 - Leviticus 11:1-12:8, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 38:1-22, Proverbs 10:8-9March 5 - Leviticus 13:1-59, Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 39, Proverbs 10:10March 6 - Leviticus 14:1-57, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 40, Proverbs 10:11-12March 7 - Leviticus 15:1-16:20, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14March 8 - Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41, Proverbs 10:15-16March 9 - Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42, Proverbs 10:7March 10 - Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43, Proverbs 10:18March 11 - Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, PSalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19March 12 - Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21March 13 - Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalm 45, PRoverbs 10:22March 14 - Leviticus 27:14-Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-26, PSalm 46, Proverbs 10:23March 15 - Numbers 2:1-3:51, Mark 11:27-12:17, Psalm 47, Proverbs 10:24-25March 16 - Numbers 4:1-5:31, MArk 12:18-37, Psalm 48, Proverbs 10:26March 17 - Numbers 6:1-7:89, Mark 12:38-13:13, Psalm 49, Proverbs 10:27-283/17 Goode ThoughtsMarch 18 - Numbers 8:1-9:23, Mark 13:14-37, Psalm 50, Proverbs 10:29-30March 19 - Numbers 10:1-11:23, Mark 14:1-21, Psalm 51, Proverbs 10:31-32March 20 - Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 52, Proverbs 11:1-3March 21 - Numbers 14:1-15:16, Mark 14:53-72, Psalm 53, Proverbs 11:43/21 Quick Updates - OGHS, Holy Week, Easter Eggs, and moreMarch 22 - Numbers 15:17-16:40, Mark 15:1-47, Psalm 54, Proverbs 11:5-6March 23 - Number 16:41-18:32, Mark 16:1-20, Psalm 55, Proverbs 11:7March 24 - Numbers 19:1-20:29, Luke 1:1-25, PSalm 56, Proverbs 11:8March 25 - Numbers 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:26-56, PSalm 57, Proverbs 11:9-11March 26 - Numbers 22:21-23:30, Luke 1:57-80, Psalm 58, Proverbs 11:12-13March 27 - Numbers 24:1-25:18, Luke 2:1-36, PSalm 59, Proverbs 11:14March 28 - Numbers 26:1-51, Luke 2:36-52, Psalm 60, Prov 11:15March 29 - Numbers 26:52-28:15, Luke 3:1-22, PSalm 61, Proverbs 11:16-17March 30 - Numbers 28:16-29:40, Luke 3:23-38, Psalm 62, PRoverbs 11:18-19March 31 - Numbers 30:1-31:34, Luke 4:1-30, Psalm 63, Proverbs 11:20-21
April
April 1 - Numbers 32:1-33:39, Luke 4:31-5:11, Psalm 64, Proverbs 11:22April 2 - Numbers 33:40-35:34, Luke 5:12-28, Psalm 65, Proverbs 11:23April 3 - Numbers 36:1 - Deuteronomy 1:46, Luke 5:39-6:11, Psalm 66, Proverbs 11:23April 4 - Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29, Luke 6:12-38, Psalm 67, Proverbs 11:27April 5 - Deuteronomy 4:1-49, Luke 6:39-7:10, Psalm 68:1-18, Proverbs 11:28Christ is Risen - Easter DayApril 6 - Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25, Luke 7:11-35, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31April 7 - Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1ReSounding Joy Resounding, Ministry Night, and Praying for Peace
2025
July
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