Welcome to Redemption

Sometimes life goes according to plan. You graduate on time. You get the job you wanted. Promotions come when they should. Marriage and kids…right on schedule. You’re healthy. Happy, even. You silently wonder when the other shoe will drop.

And then the shoe drops. In the form of a pink slip. Or divorce papers. A 2 a.m. phone call. A routine check-up gone wrong. Or a letter beginning with “We regret to inform you…”

Why do bad things happen to good people? How do we begin to pick up the pieces when everything falls apart? How should our faith inform and inspire our recovery?

Throughout this series, we’ll look at three bible stories about people who were faced with difficult circumstances, for different reasons. If you have a "Detour" story to share (about a divorce, untimely death, lost job or other loss, etc) please email Pastor Eric (redemptioneric@gmail.com). 

What if I told you the bible uses female language for God at least eight different times?  

Traditionally, Christian metaphors for God have been predominantly male: father, king, lord.  But the bible leaves room for the feminine face of God as well, referring to God as a nurturer, mother, midwife, and protector of her young.  

Why does this matter?  

It matters because when we think of God in exclusively male terms, we (intentionally or unintentionally) run the risk of idealizing "being a guy" over "being a girl."  Also, when we raise our daughters and sons to think of God as an old man, we miss an opportunity to teach them about the fullness of God's love.  

This series is an opportunity to reflect on the feminine qualities of God.  We will celebrate Mothers Day on May 13, as we give God thanks for being a strong and loving mother to us.  We'll also celebrate Pentecost on the last day of this series, May 27.  On Pentecost we remember the Holy Spirit's role in the early Church, and this year we'll also remember that, in the bible, the Spirit is called by feminine names ("Ruach" or "Sophia" in Old Testament Hebrew, "Pneuma" in New Testament Greek).  

Join us for this important sermon series!

Kids ask the most amazing questions about God. 

Sometimes their questions are so deep, so mysterious, that adults have no idea how to respond. Talking with kids about faith is a skill that can be developed; it begins with humility – the willingness to say, “I don’t know. What do you think?”

In scripture, one thing is clear: we should welcome kids and their questions about God. Too often
the Church has silenced children, or scared them into submission, or indoctrinated them into religion.
We believe Christians should take a different approach when talking with kids about faith: listening,
imagining, asking, exploring.

Join us for this fun, important series!

Turns out, God is pro-life.

But that’s not some trite, conservative, political statement.  Easter means God is anti-death…

anti-cancer,
anti-violence,
anti-war,
anti-capital punishment. 

God is anti-grave. 

There was a day that Death lost and Life won.  Join us as we celebrate that day – Easter Sunday.  We will celebrate the resurrection of Life and the demise of Death with one special, joint service at 10:15a on April 8. 

Prayer is a mystery.  Some people swear by its power; others are skeptical and say praying is like believing in magic.  With this sermon series, we will explore prayer in its many forms and we will honestly address the questions people ask, such as:

* Who does prayer change - people or God?  Neither?  Both?

* If God knows what people need, then why do we have to say it?

* What does it mean when prayers go unanswered?

* Is there a "right" way to pray?

If you have a question about prayer to share with Pastor Eric, please email it to redemptioneric@gmail.com.  Thank you, and we hope to see you for this important series.

Is marriage dead?

Is [your] marriage dead?

For thousands of years, the institution of marriage has played a vital role in human societies.  Now, for the first time ever, many are saying that marriage's days are numbered.  But does this have more to do with marriage, or with our self-centered ideal of romance? Marriage probably can't survive in a me-first world in which some people believe to be happily married means your spouse should make you happy all the time (emotionally, sexually, socially, etc).

In truth, marriage was never meant to be bliss for self-centered people; it's a covenant.  And when you do it right, it's painful (like a cross) and beautiful (like a resurrection).

Join us for a series of conversations about love and marriage.  Regardless of where you are on the journey (single, dating, co-habitating, engaged, married, widowed, or divorced, straight or gay), this series will enrich and inspire you as we learn how to create and nurture covenant relationships that last.