Worship Links
CHURCH YEAR SEASONS
The Christian Year calendar is our guide for worship and Christian faith formation. The beginning of the Christian year is the season of Advent, approximately four weeks before Christmas Day, and continues with special days and seasons following the life of Christ and the mission of the church.
There are two major cycles in the Christian Year. One is the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that is focused upon Christmas and the mission of the church. The other is the Lent-Easter-Pentecost cycle that has Easter as its focus. The Season after Pentecost is sometimes referred to as “ordinary time.” This is not because they are “ordinary” days. Ordinary is taken from the word for “ordinal” numbers. The Sundays during this time are designated by the “first,” “second,” “third,” Sunday after Pentecost, for example. Therefore, they are designated “ordinary” time because of using ordinal numbers to mark them.
Seasons of Church Year
ADVENT
From the Latin word, adventus, Advent means “arrival” or “coming” and marks the coming of Jesus as human being into the world. Including the four Sundays prior to Christmas day, this season is used as a time of preparing for the coming of the Christ child. Advent marks the beginning of the church year and is the first season in the Christian calendar. While many people think of January 1 as the beginning of a new year, the church year begins with Advent.
CHRISTMAS
The season of Christmas is actually a period of twelve days which begins on Christmas Day and continues through January 5. We typically think of the season of Christmas as beginning after Thanksgiving and concluding on December 25. However, for the Church, December 25 is the culmination of Advent waiting, and marks the beginning of Christmas.
EPIPHANY
The Day of Epiphany follows the twelve days of Christmas. Epiphany, as a day and season of celebration, has been around as long as the celebration of Christmas. Our January 6 celebration, as Christians, emphasizes the epiphany, or manifestation of God, and represents the revelation of God to the world in Jesus Christ.
LENT
Lent is a season of prayer, penance, and self-discipline, beginning on the Wednesday of the seventh week before Easter. The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is forty days prior to Easter, not counting Sundays. The sixth Sunday in Lent is Palm Sunday, which begins Holy Week. Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and officially ends on Holy Saturday. Easter Sunday then begins the season of Easter which lasts for seven weeks.
EASTER
Easter Day commemorates the day of resurrection of Jesus following the crucifixion. Easter is more than a day of celebration in the Christian calendar; it includes a period of seven weeks, and is known as The Great Fifty Days. The full period of Easter continues from Easter Sunday to the day of Pentecost.
PENTECOST
The day of Pentecost is the Sunday following the end of the fifty days of Easter. The Day of Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus in the immediate days after the ascension of Jesus.
THE SEASON OF PENTECOST – Year A
November 22, 2020
REIGN OF CHRIST
Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Sermon: God to the Rescue
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November 15, 2020
TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30
Sermon: When the Rent Comes Due
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November 8, 2020
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Sermon: Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve
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November 1, 2020
ALL SAINTS’ DAY
Scripture: Psalm 34:1-10, 22
Sermon: (No sermon) Reading of Names, Pastoral Prayer, and Communion
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October 25, 2020
REFORMATION SUNDAY
Scripture: Psalm 1
Sermon: “The Reformation Imaginarium” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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October 18, 2020
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22
Sermon: “How Would Jesus Vote?” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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October 11, 2020
CHILDREN’S SABBATH
Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14
Sermon: “Dress the Part” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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October 4, 2020
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46
Sermon: “The Stone That Was Rejected” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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September 27, 2020
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Philippians 2:1-13
Sermon: “Are We Losing Our Minds?” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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September 20, 2020
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16
Sermon: “Outrageous Generosity” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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September 13, 2020
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Exodus 14:14-31
Sermon: “Go Forward” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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September 6, 2020
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Romans 13:8-14
Sermon: “The Time is Now” – Tommy Bratton, Minister of Christian Formation
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August 30, 2020
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15
Sermon: “Nowhere to Run” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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August 23, 2020
TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Romans 12:1-8
Sermon: “The Renewing of Our Minds” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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August 16, 2020
ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Baptism
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33
Sermon: “Baptized in a Headwind” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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August 9, 2020
TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15
Sermon: “Plotting Reconciliation” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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August 2, 2020
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21
Sermon: “The Myth of Scarcity” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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July 26, 2020
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Sermon: “The Ivy’s Domain” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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July 19, 2020
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Genesis 28:10-19a
Sermon: “Awesome Place” – David Long, guest preacher
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July 12, 2020
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Esther 4:13-17
Sermon: “For Such a Time As This” – Nancy Hastings Sehested, guest preacher
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July 5, 2020
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Sermon: “The Yoke of Ease” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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June 28, 2020
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14
Sermon: “The Sacrifice of Isaac” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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June 21, 2020
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Genesis 21:1-18
Sermon: “Hagar in the Desert” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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June 14, 2020
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Scripture: Genesis 18:1-3,9-15
Sermon: “God Blesses Sarah and Abraham” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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June 7, 2020
TRINITY SUNDAY / BACCALAUREATE
Scripture: Genesis 1:24-2:3
Sermon: “In the Beginning” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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May 31, 2020
PENTECOST SUNDAY
Scripture: Acts 2:1-8, 14-21
Sermon: “The Church of the Last Days ” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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THE SEASON OF EASTER – Year A
May 24, 2020
ASCENSION SUNDAY
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Sermon: “Finding Joy in a Fiery Ordeal” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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May 17, 2020
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER SUNDAY
Scripture: John 14:15-21
Sermon: “Feeling, but not Being, Orphaned” – Guy Sayles, guest preacher
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May 10, 2020
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER SUNDAY
Scripture: Acts 7:55-60
Sermon: “Listening to the Agitators” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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May 3, 2020
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER SUNDAY
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25
Sermon: “Faithful Endurance” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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April 26, 2020
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER SUNDAY
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3
Testimonies by our Youth High School seniors
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April 19, 2020
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER SUNDAY
Scripture: John 20:19-31
Sermon: “Blessed Are Those Who Have Seen” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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April 12, 2020
EASTER SUNDAY
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10
Sermon: “More Than Conquerors” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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THE SEASON OF LENT – Year A
April 5, 2020
PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66
Sermon: “Security!” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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March 29, 2020
THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Scripture: John 11:17-45
Sermon: “Defying Death” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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March 22, 2020
THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Scripture: John 9:1-11; 35-41
Sermon: “Now I See” – Mack Dennis, pastor
March 15, 2020
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
Scripture: John 4:5-29
Sermon: “How Jesus Gets to Us” – Mack Dennis, pastor
March 8, 2020
THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4a
Sermon: “Journeys and Blessings” – Amy Stertz, Minister with Children and Families
March 1, 2020
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
Scripture: Romans 5:12-19
Sermon: “The Free Gift” – Mack Dennis, pastor
THE SEASON OF EPIPHANY – Year A
FEBRUARY 23, 2020
TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20; Matthew 17:1-9
Sermon: “Why Christian? The Most Important Question of All” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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FEBRUARY 16, 2020
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20
Sermon: “Why Christian? The Difference the Church Makes” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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FEBRUARY 9, 2020
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Scripture: Matthew 5:3-12
Sermon: “Why Christian? The Difference Jesus Makes” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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FEBRUARY 2, 2020
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Scripture: Micah 6:1-8
Sermon: “A Prayer for Judgement” – Casey Callahan, Minister with Students
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JANUARY 26, 2020
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Sermon: “The Foolish Message of the Cross” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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JANUARY 19, 2020
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Scripture: Psalm 40:1-11
Sermon: “A Brilliant Reason to Sing” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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JANUARY 12, 2020
BAPTISM OF OUR LORD SUNDAY
Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9
Sermon: “What is Baptism for?” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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JANUARY 5, 2020
EPIPHANY SUNDAY
Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-12
Sermon: “Hidden Mystery Revealed” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS – Year A
December 29, 2019
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23
Sermon: “Prophets and Dreamers” – Rev. Stephanie McLeskey, chaplain at Mars Hill University
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THE SEASON OF ADVENT – Year A
December 24, 2019
CHRISTMAS EVE
Scripture: John 1:1-14
Sermon: “Wonderstruck” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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December 22, 2019
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – LOVE
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25
Sermon: “The Christmas Spirit” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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December 15, 2019
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – JOY
Parent-Child Dedication
Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10
Sermon: “Where Sorrow and Sighing Flee” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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December 8, 2019
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT – PEACE
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12
Sermon: “Strange Peace” – Mack Dennis, pastor
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December 1, 2019
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – HOPE
Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44
Sermon: “An Unexpected Hour” – Mack Dennis, pastor