First Presbyterian Church Hickory, NC

"Think on These Things"By Rev. Heather Davis

"Letting Go"By Rev. Richard Floyd

"Worth The Drive"By Virginia Kackley

"Dutifully, Beautifully Linked"By Heather Davis

"The Precision of Grace (and Macarons)"By Virginia Kackley 

“Crossing the Street to Easter”By Rev. Dr. Richard Floyd

"God's Work, Our Work"By Rev. Heather Davis

"Little Easters"By Rev. Dr. Richard Floyd

"Dark and Dawn"By Rev. Heather Davis

Just Human By Rev. Dr. Richard Floyd

"Pearls & Swine" by Rev. Heather Davis

"Divine Subtraction"By The Rev. Dr. Richard Floyd

"Our Favorite Stories"By Rev. Heather DavisDori Sanders Video

"Freezing and Thawing"by Rev. Richard Floyd

"We Are Best In Community" by Rev. Heather Davis

"Let It In"

"Our Father" by Sean of the South

“Let Your Light Shine”

Mark 1:14-20

This week we'll look at two scripture readings, one from Deuteronomy 30 and the other Matthew 5. We'll hear from both Moses and Jesus as they sum up their teachings, and we'll learn about a holy shift they both call us to make: the shift from separation to compassion. This is also World Communion Sunday. As we gather around the table, we'll be gathering in spirit with Christians across the globe. If there’s one thing the world needs from Christians, perhaps more than anything else, it is this holy shift from separation to compassion!

This Sunday we continue our look at Holy Shifts, this week focusing on the theme of Black & White to Color.  Our very colorful scripture passage is John 8:2-11.

What are some ways your life needs to shift in a new direction?This week we're exploring Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant, as found in Matthew chapter 18. As we discovered last week with the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus' teachings often have a sting to them. The whole point of that "sting" is to make us uncomfortable, to provoke a holy shift. This week we'll wonder about the shift to mercy. How do we live with mercy? How do we experience forgiveness? And how do we pass that forgiveness on to others?

What are some ways your life needs to shift in a new direction? We’ll spend the first six weeks of this new season exploring holy shifts. Each week we’ll look at some of the ways we usually live, and then consider a shift, a new way of thinking and being and doing. We’ll begin this week with "Holy Shifts: From Fairness to Generosity," based on Matthew 20:1-16.

We will look at Matthew 16:21-28, where Jesus rebukes Peter and describes a hard road.  Are we called to the same path? 

This Sunday we finish our tour of water-themed Bible stories with one of the greatest fish stories of all time, the story of Jonah. Most of us have known this story since we were small, but we probably didn't know the context behind the story, or the deep secret of life hidden within it. We'll explore both of those on Sunday!

Acts 8:26-39

I hope as we journey through the month of August together, you'll pay more attention to water. Reflect on the ways water cleans and refreshes us, as in baptism. Meditate on the ways water is both gentle, flowing around obstacles, and yet mighty, bringing down whole mountains. How is faith like that? Think about the ways rain falls on all creation, indifferent to boundaries and borders and who we think deserves what. How is grace like that?Last week we talked about the waters of creation, and how they remind us that everything is held up by grace, and everything is connected. This week we'll look at another watery story from Matthew chapter 14, where Jesus walks along the stormy waters and invites Peter to do the same. Are we called to follow in Peter’s footsteps?

Come to the Water is our theme for August. The story of faith is in some ways the story of water: God's spirit hovering over the watery chaos at creation; the water of the Red Sea parted to lead the people to freedom; the good shepherd leading us beside the still waters; Jesus baptized in water and turning water into wine and walking on water; Jesus as the living water; Jesus calling us to go forth and baptize in water. And so on. This week, we'll focus on the very first chapters of the Bible, the creation story from Genesis chapters 1 and 2. What can we learn about creation, and our role within it, from this ancient story? What might water teach us about how to live as part of this beautiful world, and how to be faithful to God along the way?