Vermont Prays

Pastor Dan continuing on his series on Making Room: going from the Big C church down to the little C Church, and today he's talking about the role of a pastor to a congregation. Please consider sharing the episode with your friends, and join us at 127 Webster Road in Shelburne Sundays for a family friendly service everyone enjoys!

Have you ever seen a 12 year old fill his or her plate at Golden Corrall or the Sizzler? They don't come back with broccoli, rice and beans, Nope...they come back with pizza, mac & cheese, 4 types of cheesecake desserts, and a giant cup of coke. Cause that's what makes them feel good!! At least in that moment. But parents, we know better. Thats why we tell our kids to eat their vegetables. It may not feel great in the moment, but its got what we need to be healthier and stronger. Now consider yourself a child of God, and the various places of worship around you are items at th Golden Corrall buffett. It's going to feel really easy and really compelling to go get the metaphorical pizza. To go find a place that affirms what you already believe. That affirms your current ways of thinking, and doesn't challenge you. And as the saying goes...if it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you. If you are in the market for a new place of worship, 127 Webster Road in Shelburne--Connect Church has a great service for the whole family at 1030a on Sundays! Please join us!

I have lots of friends, as do you, who will say that "I don't really  think there's a God because I can't see them, I can't touch them, I can't taste them...I don't think there's a God beacuse all i see in the world is pain and suffering. I don't think a God would allow that to happen." The problem is that the people who are saying these things are using a highly limited sensory experience to come to that conclusion. They're using earthly conventions like notion of social justice, and subjective points of view like people in pain or people feeling judgement. They might be using simple reasoning to limit what they believe exists to what they can see, taste, touch, see, and smell.The problem as that, the senses we use to make decisions and grow in the earthly realm, are necessary but not sufficient to explore God in the spiritual realm. In short, You might be trying to play Marco Polo...but God is playing Hide and Seek. In Marco Polo, you're limiting your sense of sight and movement. You're stuck in the pool and your eyes are closed, and you're responding only to the sounds of someone saying "polo". But if God is playing hide and seek. That means you need to open your metaphorical eyes, get out of the metaphorical pool...and start searching with a different lens than you would search for the answer to a game show question on Google. You can't use the same senses and tools to find God that you would to find your next used car. For those who are opening their hearts up to God for the first time...consider prayer.

If you missed it, you can hear Pastor Dan's "Little C" Church sermon here.Dan and Rajiv recap last week's sermon and give a heads up for the one ahead. Consider reading 1 Timothy as you head to service.

Lots of people hear the phrase "God has a plan for you!" and it can start to sound cliche. But is it possible? Join us Sundays at 1030a on 127 Webster Road in Shelburne for Service at Connect Church--live music, hot coffee, and a family friendly service everyone enjoys. See you soon!

Continuing in his series, Pastor Dan discusses the importance and the role of "Little c" church in our community. What does it mean to be a church? Why is the community church a source of pain and poor examples of Christ? Enjoy this episode and let us know what you think! See link to the 1st part of this series here

Let's say you're a believer talking to a non-believer. And you were able to convince the non-believer that, yes, there 100% is a God. We know it, we see it, they've confirmed.Would you be willing to yield your moral frameworks to them? Even if it meant changing your behaviors? Changing your beliefs? This is an interesting test to determine someone's spiritual status. Do they actually have the humility needed to submit to a higher power, but just need deeper proof? Or are they suffering from pain and confusion that is manifesting as hubris in front of God? Let's discuss!

Read David & Goliath at this link. I'm taking Spring Break with my kids and taking the time to share some inspiring stories just like this one. D&G is filled with lots of virtues of self-confidence, versatility, and playing the game with your own strengths. Spring Break is an excellent time to pour into our kids with what makes ourselves unique. Enjoy this episode on an idea to enrich your kids' lives with a great story from the Bible. Remember to join us 1030a each Sunday morning at Connect Church on 127 Webster Road in Shelburne

The most important journey in someone's spiritual life is the moment they go from being hostile towards a faith, to simply just being skeptical. This is the difference between hating something blindly versus judging something critically. The moment someone makes that shift, they put down their armor and their weaponry towards the concept of faith...and they just might be able to hear the message through the noise of their own heads. It's a delicate and fragile moment; a moment where someone may not yet be willing to give up their identity, their beliefs, or their values...but at a minimum, they can understand the arguments for what they are. It's the first step in a long spiritual journey...that hopefully lasts for eternity :)

Sometimes it's hard to differentiate between the "church" in your community and "The Church", the institution. Pastor Dan takes time to break down how we fit into the larger ecosystem of the Christian faith. If you enjoy the episode, please let us know! Consider sharing with friends and family and subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. Join us live at 127 Webster Road in Shelburne at 1030a on Sundays for coffee, friendship, and a great service for the whole family!

This podcast isn’t just for our congregation. It’s for skeptics, seekers, the curious, the hopeful—and anyone who’s ever wondered if there’s something more. Each week, we’re diving into honest conversations about life, faith, purpose, and what it actually looks like to follow Jesus right here in Vermont.So wherever you’re coming from, you’re welcome here. No pressure, no pretense—just real talk and a real invitation. Check us out at connectvt.com. And join us Sundays at 1030 on Webster road for some great live music, coffee, and a great service for the whole family.And just remember what Jesus tells us in — Matthew 11:28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”