Bluegrass United Church of Christ

In just a few days, the U.S. will celebrate 250 years as a nation. The current state of politics and policy, the lack of morality among some of our nation's leaders, along with a seeming disregard for history and the lessons it has taught us, is making it hard for many of us to feel the celebration. What are we supposed to do with this tension? How do we respond when we're faced with the tension between gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy and the threats we feel at losing them? Today, we discuss what it means to be a patriotic citizen in these tense and uncertain times.MESSAGE: "Patriots" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Matthew 22:15-21Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

We get tired and wonder if there's much to hold onto while our world seems to spiral. Elder Daniel Beasley shares a message of hope and promise that inspires us to stay the course and hold on to our faith.MESSAGE: "Hold On Just a Little While Longer" by Daniel BeasleySCRIPTURE: Romans 5:5Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

There are seasons in life when hope feels easy. There are moments when the sun is shining, relationships are healthy, bills are paid, and the future seems full of promise. During these times, hope comes naturally. But that is not when hope is most needed. Hope is most needed when the diagnosis arrives, when the relationship ends, when we watch the news and wonder what has happened to our country, our world, and our neighbors. Hope is most needed when grief settles into our hearts and refuses to leave.MESSAGE: "Here's Hoping" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Romans 5:5Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

We receive the Bible as our foundation for what is good and right. It is not the only holy text or common writing that informs who we are, but it is where we begin our "truth." But how do we discern its words? How is it that where we see Jesus as a model of compassion, others who follow him see harsh judgment and condemnation. It is said that if we're going to make a case for God's goodness and grace, we'd better be sure to have scripture to back it up. Today, we look at some of the many verses that tell us how to live as God's ambassadors in a complicated world. MESSAGE: "It's In the Bible" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Acts 2:1-15Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This month's Lexington Pride Festival is about a month earlier than usual, but this special weekend gives us an opportunity to celebrate part of God's wonderful creation as the city's LGBTQ community comes together, as the original Pride did, in both jubilee and protest. We believe celebrating our LGBTQ siblings is a spiritual act and one that God expects of us as holy followers. Join us as we explore what it means to stand in solidarity with this beautiful community.MESSAGE: "Pride" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Galatians 3:26-28Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Today is Pentecost Sunday. Grace Ellen tells a story about growing up, spending time with family, enjoying life, and learning lessons. Today, Grace Ellen tells us about going to the fairgrounds with "Fat Mama" and "Fat Daddy" to be a part of the dedication service for Harmony Acres Fairgrounds. All the churches in the community were going to be there, and the experience of so many believers from different traditions, denominations, and beliefs reminded her of what it must've been like on the day of Pentecost when all of the people were together for one purpose. MESSAGE: "A Little Like Heaven" by Pam Lee-Miller as Grace EllenSCRIPTURE: Acts 2:1-15Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

We need change. Our world needs big changes. Our leaders have betrayed our trust, corruption and greed have stopped hiding themselves, and the church's responsibility to step in as holders and proclaimers of truth has never been more important or vital. The writer of Acts wrote about the urgency in their time, and it now reflects on us and our time.MESSAGE: "Waiting For the World to Change" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Acts 1:1-11Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

The prophet Isaiah gives us one of the most intimate images of God in all of scripture. Not a king. Not a judge. Not a distant ruler. But a mother. The prophet asks, "Can a woman forget her nursing child?" We know that many have warm memories of happy moments with their mothers, while others don't. Some find comfort in the promises of maternal love, while others find it strange and distant. Maybe what our world needs isn't more mothers; maybe we simply need more mothering.MESSAGE: "Mothering" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Isaiah 49:15Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Here’s the thing: “Do not let your hearts be troubled” can sound like a platitude if we’re not careful. It can feel like something stitched onto a pillow rather than spoken into a world that is unraveling. But in the Gospel of John, these words aren’t soft or sentimental; they're spoken in the shadow of fear, confusion, and loss. This is not a calm moment for Jesus' disciples, any more than this is a calm moment in our world today. It was a breaking point for them, and for many of us, it feels like we're about to break now. Join us as we talk about what it means to hold our troubled hearts through a troubled world. MESSAGE: "Troubled" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: John 14:1-12Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

In the 40-day period following his resurrection before ascending into heaven, Jesus appeared to his disciples and followers several times. This week, as Simon Peter, Thomas, and others were fishing without much luck, a mysterious man convinced them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat to see if their luck might change, and did it ever! Encounters with Jesus may not always end with such miraculous results, but then again, why can't they?MESSAGE: "The Charge On the Beach" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: John 21:1-14Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Easter resurrection happens in all kinds of ways, even in the process of moving and walking; sometimes it even happens in our attempts to escape our worries and troubles. The movement pulls us out of the constraints that bind us, the worry that weighs us down, the pressure that builds up inside of us. The experience of resurrection also comes from the experience of eating with others, sharing both words and food around the table, communion, and fellowship that happens in all kinds of ways.MESSAGE: "It Was In the Bread" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Luke 24:13-35Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Easter was not a thing when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb the morning after Jesus was buried. They did not have our modern perspective, and, more importantly, we do not have theirs. The first Easter was dramatic, scary, and confusing. The pageantry, nice outfits, and stained glass we've given to it over the centuries have blunted the reality of its messiness. But finding it again reveals to us that Easter means we may need to return to the tomb again from time to time, but that doesn't mean we have to go in. The Marys never went into the tomb--and never should we.MESSAGE: "They Met Him on The Way" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:1-10Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This Palm Sunday, our worship series takes us on a very literal journey with Jesus. Like it often does, it likely felt like both the end and the beginning. A pilgrimage may reach its destination, but the hope, the wisdom, and the lessons learned along the way often offer us a new starting point. For just as we feel like we have reached a dead end, if we heed the nudge of the Spirit, we will find that even when the road ends, God will guide us down new paths toward new horizons, through the Palm Sundays and Good Fridays of our lives, toward Easter Morning resurrections.MESSAGE: "The beginning to the end to the beginning" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Luke 19:28-40Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Jesus's friend, Lazarus, was very sick. His sisters, Martha and Mary, sent word to Jesus to come and heal their brother, but Jesus didn't come right away. Was it because he didn't sense the urgency? Was he being insensitive to his friend's need? Did he have more important things to do? If you've read the story of Lazarus and his ultimate resurrection from the grave, you know that Jesus was teaching his followers a lesson in dramatic form. The Way we end up where we're supposed to be is often crowded with lots and lots of drama and fear, and even moments of wondering if God cares enough to come when we're in need. The Way is often long, and the Way is often winding. But we must stay on the Way.MESSAGE: "The Long & Winding Way" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: John 11:1-16Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Jesus told a story to some of his followers, and a group of uptight Pharisees happened to be close by to hear. There was a dad who had two sons, one who was hardworking and faithful, and one who felt the world was too big to be wasted on farm life. The dad let the adventurous son go, but never lost hope that he'd be back. What ensued was a story of exploration, wasted opportunity, and repentance, all ending with a reunion that tells us who God refuses not to love as we find our way home.MESSAGE: "The Way Home" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 15:11-32Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

We're in our Lent series about this journey called life, and this week we focus on how the journey changes us. This can lead to not always being understood. Jesus found this out as he pushed against the status quo of his day, leading to a fair amount of rejection. Close family, friends, and neighbors may cling to an idea of who we are and cannot imagine we have grown beyond that identity. And likewise, we may do the same to them. We are called to move ahead and do what we feel called to do, claiming who we know we are, taking the way around what others think we ought to do and be. And we offer the same steadfast love and encouragement to others. We hope you can join us as we continue our Lent journey on The Way.MESSAGE: "The Way Around" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 13:31-35Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

We're taught that everything costs. But our ways are not God's ways. We're all invited, without price, to the abundance of God's grace. This is the higher way that we are invited to embody for the sake of the world. The "rich food" we are invited to partake is the richness of life when all have enough not simply to survive, but to thrive. Hospitality is the way. Even though we do not agree on everything, we are still one family at one table. Our series is based on the popular and poignant movie, The Way, about a father’s pilgrimage in honor of his late son on the famed Camino de Santiago in France and Spain. It's a beautiful story set in a beautiful place.MESSAGE: "The High Way" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Luke 5:27-32Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Lent is a time of reflection, and there’s nothing like a pilgrimage to conjure that up. Making intentional journeys has been a ritual of humankind across time and traditions. Inspired by passages in the Judeo-Christian scriptures that talk about the journeys, roads, and pathways of life, during Lent, we will make our way together through this season. The popular and poignant movie, The Way, about a father’s pilgrimage in honor of his late son on the famed Camino de Santiago in France and Spain, accompanies us as our modern-day inspiration to live the life we’ve been given to the fullest. Thank you for joining us for a beautiful Lent season along The Way.MESSAGE: "The Wandering Way" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 3:21-22, 4:1-13Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Jesus took some of his friends to the top of a very high mountain and then was transformed, his face and his clothes shining brightly. When two ancient prophets appeared, one of the friends declared that they should build shrines. The experience changed the perception of Jesus' friends. It's a fascinating story and a powerful lesson. MESSAGE: "Changed" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Matthew 17:1-9Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God.MESSAGE: "Faith in Action: Salting & Shining" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Matthew 5: 13-16Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Every part of our body serves a purpose. Every organ, every digit, every muscle and bone, all of our parts are important to our body's ability to function properly. The same goes for us as a human family, an organization, or even a church. During the protests in Minneapolis these past few weeks, members of the community there have come together, bringing their strengths and abilities to serve those who have been victims of the federal government's abuse and overreach there. It's proof of the truth in the Apostle Paul's words, "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it."MESSAGE: "We Need Us" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Because of a major winter storm that brought snow, sleet, freezing rain, and frigid temperatures to the area, we had an online-only service today. Kenny shared some thoughts from his home on the tragic killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota at the hands of the federal government, our response, and the consequences of a silent church in the face of a tyrannical government.MESSAGE: "A Moral Reckoning: What to do about Alex" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:13-17Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

BUCC got its beginnings in October of 2010 when the United Church of Christ called Rev. Marsha J. Charles as pastor of a new church start in Lexington, Kentucky. The new congregation held its first service in the chapel at the Lexington Theological Seminary on January 9, 2011. On September 8 that same year, the church officially adopted the name Bluegrass United Church of Christ and adopted its founding document, "Who We Are." We've been holding ourselves to that document and the ministry it describes for 15 years now, and when we take the time to look back, we see many great things God has inspired us and equipped us to do.MESSAGE: "Pay Attention: A BUCC Reflection" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:13-17Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

From time to time, we get to hear from Grace Ellen, the fictional character inspired by Pam's great-grandmother. Pam draws a lot from her time and experiences with her relatives and weaves them into gospel stories and lessons. Today, she shares an experience that happened with a neighbor while she visited family in Alabama. Things were hard for Hollis, and it was when he decided to trust God with his worries that things turned around.MESSAGE: "Lifted by Love" by Pam Lee-Miller as Grace EllenSCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:13-17Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

As we end our Advent/Christmas series, Herod is still in power. Christ is born, yet it feels as if the world has not changed. The temptation to give up is strong, especially in the face of violence. But the magi don't let Herod's fear-driven demands stop them from honoring the newborn, or returning home by a different way. They model to us what it looks like to be led by hope, moving through fear without letting is paralyze us. As this series ends and a new year begins, we proclaim that our journey continues, and fear will not have the last word.MESSAGE: "A Christmas Discovery" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Advent is over, Christmas has come, the baby was born. He and his family are now migrants on the run, fleeing from a jealous and paranoid leader who will not jeopardize his power, even for an innocent child. The family eventually ends up in Nazareth, a town known for nothing. Power did love reside in Nazareth, it had no influence, it's name was common enough to be forgotten. But it was the place that shaped Jesus' earliest memories, it motivated his mission to heal and serve, and it provided the perspective he needed to understand a poor person's plight. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?MESSAGE: "He Came From Nazareth" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This Advent season, we're asking: What do you fear?This week, Pam shares how Joseph moves through his fears of rejection and shame in order to stand in solidarity with Mary, shielding her from harm. Their bond makes them each stronger. We don’t live out our callings in isolation—our communal flourishing depends on each person stepping into their calling despite their fear. How can we offer support to one another? Where can we reach out when fear makes us feel isolated? When do we need to accept an outstretched hand? And can we use our power and privilege, like Joseph, to stand in solidarity with people whose lives are at risk?MESSAGE : "Choosing Love Over Fear" Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:18-25Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Because of severe weather, the December 14th service at BUCC was canceled. The following week, Kenny shared a short homily with some of the highlights of what would have been the Advent 3 message. This Advent season, we're asking: What do you fear?This week, sometimes saying “yes” to God’s call fills us with fear. Like Mary and Jeremiah, we fear that we aren’t enough. That we’ll be alone. That no one will listen, and yet, God calls us forward, inviting us to live fully into who we are created to be and promising to be with us every step of the way as we move forward through our fear. MESSAGE: "Mary's Yes" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-29Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This Advent season, we're asking: What do you fear?This week, we will hear from their son, John the Baptist, from a prison cell. This story hones in when deep fear and suffering cause him to wonder if the work he'd been doing before prison was impactful. It's a story about cultivating a gritty and resilient hope that holds even when we are filled with doubt and fear. We hope you're able to join us as we journey through the Advent season, naming those things that cause us to hold our breath and insist on Hope.MESSAGE: "Even When.... There is God” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Matthew 11:1-11Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This week, we begin the season of Advent and our new Advent series, "What do you fear? (Insisting on Hope this Advent)" There is an earned strength when we decide to acknowledge and face our fears. The story of Jesus' arrival and the months leading up to it are filled with people pivotal to the Advent story who were forced to face their fears. Join us as we spend time with them and learn from their faith.MESSAGE: "When God Breaks In” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 1:5-13Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This week, we complete our fall series designed to encourage a heart of gratefulness. As we make the final push to Thanksgiving Day, we hear Jesus pray a prayer of thanksgiving that the deeper truths and revelations of God are revealed to those who may not be the best known, the most powerful, or the most knowledgeable.MESSAGE: "Unexpected Gratitude” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 10:21 Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This week, we continue our November series designed to encourage a heart of gratefulness. As we make our way to the season of Thanksgiving, we spend some time today looking at James' words that encourage us to trust in the God who provides "every good and perfect gift. We are reminded that gratitude itself can be a blessing.MESSAGE: "Grateful Gifts” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: James 1:17-18Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

November is a special time to express our gratitude for the blessings we've known throughout the year. It's also a time to acknowledge that gratitude itself is a blessing. We hope you can join us as we begin a series of services designed to lead us into Thanksgiving.MESSAGE: "Give a Little Thanks” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This Sunday, we celebrate All Saints Day, honoring those who have transitioned this past year. Each year, as we move through this very special service, so many of the people who've touched and mentored us come to mind. Sometimes, there is someone pressing on our hearts, and we desire to remember them in some way. This week, we pause to remember them and allow them to bless us again.MESSAGE: "The Circle of Life” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12:1, 2aLearn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This Sunday, we conclude our fall series called "This is Us: stories, mission & ministry." We will take a look at worship at BUCC. While worship can happen anytime, there is something special that happens when we gather in our space on Sundays and join our hearts, our minds, our voices, and acknowledge the presence of the Holy. Worship is an invitation to engage with other Divine people doing the same.MESSAGE: "Worship” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Psalm 150Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Today, we will take a look at the Educational Ministry of BUCC. Education at BUCC is about learning and evolving in our understanding of God, Faith, and Transformation. In small groups, whether it be “telling the stories of our faith’ or studying a book that we have chosen to read together, we wrestle with hard questions, we challenge each other, and through our experience with each other, we broaden our understanding of God, the Church, and our neighbor. These opportunities allow us to articulate our faith, to process our questions, and open our minds to understand the vastness of the Creator. MESSAGE: "BUCC, Let's Bake Bread” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:4-9Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

This Sunday, we continue our new fall series called "This is Us: stories, mission & ministry. We look at our stewardship through the lens of who we are and where we will go as we look ahead. We'll share stories that offer a glimmer of how we experience our faith, our community, and, more importantly, how we can continue to be the church in an increasingly difficult world. Today, we focus on church life and how we live and serve as a community devoted to each other and those we serve.MESSAGE: "What Can I Do?” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Acts 2:42-4Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Jesus tells the story of a certain rich man who clothed himself in fine linen and feasted luxuriously every day while, just outside his door, lay a certain poor man named Lazarus. Both men died, but their lopsided relationship did not come to an end. What happened next? Join us as we discuss the story of the rich man and the poor man and the lesson Jesus wants us to know.MESSAGE: "Have You Seen Lazarus?” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Luke 16:19-31Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Jesus tells the story of a rich man who had entrusted his business to a manager, but the manager squandered his boss's wealth and was fired. The failed manager set about trying to make things right by smartly collecting on his boss's debts, and soon was back in good favor. Jesus uses the story to remind his listeners that we've all been entrusted with precious things, and the expectation is that we will be faithful in them, no matter how small. MESSAGE: "Don't Squander It” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Luke 16:1-13Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Charlie Kirk was a polarizing figure. For some, he was seen as a model Christian man who advocated for solid Christian values. But for others, his message was far from anything Jesus would teach. His violent death this week has stirred up lots of strong emotions from both sides, some of them strong and bitter. Do we who believe that every life is sacred believe that Charlie's life was too?MESSAGE: "What to do about Charlie” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: excerpts from Matthew 14:3-13Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Where is God in the battlefield, in the hospital? Where is God in the life of those who are suffering? Is it possible to see God? What does God look like? Is God appealing to us today, or is God outdated and irrelevant to the world we live in now? MESSAGE: "I Saw God?” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:5-13Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

How long should we wait for God to show up? How long should we hurt, worry, and be afraid before God's promises become real to us? In our instant society, we've grown less and less patient with each other, and almost certainly with God. But when it is time, we can count on God to be there for us.MESSAGE: "Hello? Are you there, God?” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40:31Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

There's a story in the Bible of the time Jesus healed a woman who was bent over with sickness. One Sabbath, she happened to encounter the healer, and his compassion went into overdrive. He was moved by her pain and how it was limiting her ability to live and serve others. However, the religious authorities were not moved at all by her pain; they were angry that Jesus would break their rules and heal her on the Sabbath. Was Jesus wrong? Were the religious leaders?MESSAGE: "Time to Stand Straight” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: Luke 143:10-13Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

There is a thought among some charismatic evangelical Christians that living as a Christian means joining Jesus' army of spiritual fighters. Some go as far as incorporating warfare language in their lessons and songs. Did Jesus ever advocate for "violence"? What should we do with Jesus' confession that he came to cause division? Why would he want to "bring fire upon the earth"?MESSAGE: "Violence: In Jesus' Name” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 12:49-56MESSAGE: "Left Behind” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 12:32-40Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Many of us have been brought up to believe in the rapture, the notion that one day, at any time, Jesus will return to earth and snatch all the Christians away, leaving a world full of "bad people" trying to endure God's wrath and survive the tribulation. How truthful is this teaching? What does the bible have to say about it? MESSAGE: "Left Behind” by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: Luke 12:32-40Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

THIS WEEK WE ARE IN AWE OF SELF-GIVING: A sense of awe can include witnessing acts of “moral beauty.” Jesus’ life was an example of moral beauty–a ministry of lifting up the cause of the lowly and advocating for the power of peace and justice. Research shows that when we witness with awe others’ kindness, courage, strength, and overcoming, we are more likely to feel inspired to give ourselves in service of the good. We become more self-giving, more ready to lend a helping hand or commit energy to making the world a better place.MESSAGE: "Self-Giving” by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: an excerpt from Psalm 118Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

THIS WEEK WE ARE IN AWE OF CONNECTION: Awe is a gateway to connection. As we have experiences that give us a sense of being part of something larger than “just us,” our penchant for self-preservation and obsession with the competitive default-self gives way to a renewed commitment to the greater whole. We need moments of “collective effervescence” that increase hope and joy at being part of the human family.MESSAGE: "Connection" by Kenny BishopSCRIPTURE: an excerpt from Psalm 149Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

*We had some audio issues during today's sermon.We are so excited to have noted pastor and author Josh Scott with us today. Josh has written several books that speak to our need and ability to read and understand the bible with proper context - considering the time, the culture, the people, and the politics of the times in which they were written. Josh helps us understand that everyone, whether they consider themselves fundamentalist or progressive believers.MESSAGE: "The Art of Cherry Picking" by Josh ScottLearn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Today, we continue our spring and summer series, "Purveyors of Awe," focusing on the awe of delight.We humans love repetition... up to a point. But sometimes, we just need a good “Wow!” and some goosebumps to help us feel fully alive. Our physical response to awe-filled moments come from a very ancient part of our evolution–even before language. And those goosebumps? They helped us forge connections with others as we faced the vast mysteries of life together. Delight still plays an important role in our spiritual needs and in our sense of a deeply relational life.MESSAGE: "Delight" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: excerpt from Psalm 36Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube

Today, we resume our spring and summer series, "Purveyors of Awe." Our world is as uncertain today as it's been in a generation. But we have the tools to make a difference if we use them. When we are curious, we give God an opportunity to use our seeking to find resources and help for those in need.MESSAGE: "Curiosity" by Pam Lee-MillerSCRIPTURE: excerpt from Proverbs 2Learn more about us at:bluegrasschurch.org⁠FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube