Scripture Texts: Acts 7:55–60 John 14:1-14 Colorful Architecture by Paul Klee. In 2018, my spouse Ames and I found ourselves at a crossroads. We were discerning our next step. Ames had finished his master’s program, and we weren’t sure whether to stay where we were for his PhD or move somewhere new. I had struggled to find my place in that small town in Idaho, so at first, I assumed I’d be ready to leave. But as we weighed our options, something unexpected happened. I didn’t

“Shepherdess” by Menashe Kadishman. Since the joy of Resurrection Sunday, we have turned our attention from the life and ministry of Jesus to how Jesus’s life and ministry inspired the acts of the apostles. It is the story of the early body of believers, as they learned to live as resurrection people… to live as the body of Christ after Jesus' departure. Modern Christians have often asked, What did life look like among these early believers? Well, first, these early believer

Read John 10:1-10 I have a question—What does it mean to be a sheep? Calling someone a "sheep" is a way of saying they just go with whatever other people are doing, instead of thinking for themselves. They go along with the crowd. They do whatever powerful people tell them to do. It’s not a kind thing to call someone, and it makes sheep seem stupid. But sheep are not stupid. Did you know that Ames and I used to be shepherds? These are some photos of our sheep. Sheep are

Matthew 28:1-10 Goodness is stronger than evil Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness. Life is stronger than death. These words, were first penned by Desmond Tutu, the former Archbishop of the Anglican Church in South Africa, and one of the giants of the South Africa’s liberation struggle. And originally he wrote these words as a prayer. Goodness is stronger than evil Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness. Life is stronger

"The Message for All Ages" is is a simple and inclusive message, designed to be understood and valued by children and adults simultaneously. Scripture Matthew 28:1-10. Friends, Happy Easter! Today on Easter Sunday, we tell the story of how two of Jesus’ best friends, both named Mary—Mary & Mary—went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried… I imagine that they were really sad on that day. They had just seen their friend die… and it was just awful. But when they got there, d

Scriptures: Mark 11:1-11 Message for All Ages Hi Friends! I have a question— What does a king look like? Well, let’s think about it… How does a king get around? Maybe a carriage… a fancy car… Or his own personal plane…? In Jesus day, a king would ride on a big horse. One that made them feel tall and powerful. And how does Jesus get around? And what does he ride when he comes into the city? A young horse,

Scriptures: Matthew 23:23 John 8:2-11 There is Good by Hannah Garrity (Inspired by Matthew 23:23) At Highlands, we’ve begun sharing a weekly Message for All Ages to engage young people in ways they can understand. This week, in light of recent allegations about Cesar Chavez, we addressed the difficult topic of sexual abuse and learned about the incredible Dolores Huerta. I have a question—Do you know who this is? No? That’s okay. Her name is Dolores

Today on the blog, we have two messages that were shared this past Sunday for Highlands first "Children's Chapel." It was a special time for our young people to help lead and to celebrate the gifts of our growing intergenerational community. The first was the Message for All Ages. Together, the young people (ages 9-18) read Matthew 19:13-15 as a skit, and then we all sat down for this conversation. I have a question? Can I ask you all a question? Have you ever been left out

Far More Abundantly by Lauren Wright Pittman (Inspired by Ephesians 3:20-21). A couple years ago, the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church in Black Mountain, North Carolina, began searching for a new mission statement. They wanted something that would truly ground the life of their community. But as the committee worked, they struggled to find language that felt authentic and relevant. Then, one day, a committee member pointed to the words carved into their Communion Table—“Ha

This week, I read the story of a woman named Sara Cook. Over three years, eight back surgeries, and more than two dozen hospital visits, Sarah, only 43-years-old, was buried in medical debt. Before the injury, she had worked as a nurse. She had struggled to keep working, but then the injury developed an infection, and things got worse from there. The infection triggered unpredictable seizures and so she was now permanently disabled. She couldn't drive or walk without a cane

On the day Ames and I got married, a miracle occurred. We had our wedding on the top of one of the gorgeous rolling hills of North Idaho, at a church camp 30 minutes outside of town. Just minutes before the ceremony began, my parents realized we’d forgotten a guitar. My best friend had flown in from California to sing during the service—and suddenly, there was nothing for her to play. There was no time to run back into town. No backup plan. Just that sinking feeling of, Oh

At the beginning of this series, I introduced the River of Life exercise—a creative way to reflect on your story by imagining your life as a river. Later today, during Coffee Fellowship, I’m going to invite you to actually try it: …to sketch the bends and turns of your journey—places you’ve lived, people and moments that shaped you, and even the waterfalls you somehow made it through. It’s a reminder that none of our lives are stagnant. The only true constant is change—we are

"It’s a Delicate Balance" by Christi Belcourt ( Métis - apihtâwikosisâniskwêw / mânitow sâkahikanihk ), 2021. This past week, I traveled to Fort Collins to attend an event called “Everything Done in a Good Way,” a collaboration between the Native Memory Project—an organization dedicated to preserving stories and traditions for future generations—and Council Tree Covenant Church. Over two days, members of a delegation from the Wind River Indian Reservation led us in ceremon

"The Beatitudes" by Kelly Latimore Icons. A few weeks ago, I introduced to you all the River of Life exercise. The idea is to draw your life journey as a river. For each key Life Events, you add landmarks like: Islands for places you have lived. Tributaries for people or events that flowed into your life. And Waterfalls for challenging or difficult times. If we were to imagine the story of ancient Israel, as a river, we might imagine that during the time of Micah, the

This past Monday, I received notice of a national call to clergy—an invitation to travel to Minneapolis to take part in a day of action protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ongoing Operation Metro Surge. As many of you have likely seen in the news, this operation represents a significant escalation in ICE’s tactics. Alongside that, escalation has been a coordinated effort by the federal administration to obscure the truth about what is actually happening on the gr

At the height of the summer of 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream.” Nearly 200,000 people—Black and white—traveled by plane, train, bus, car and on foot to take part in the March on Washington. They gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, remembering that in the century prior, President Lincoln had begun the work of ending 250 years of American slavery with his Emancipation Proclamation. On that day, the crowd gathered to l

Jerzy Nowosielski (Polish, 1923–2011), The Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan, 1964. In the Beginning… In the very beginning— before light, before land, before anything— there was water. Deep. Formless. Chaotic. And alive with possibility. Scripture tells us that the Spirit of God hovered over those waters—a breath, a wind, a loving presence waiting to bring something beautiful into being. And then God began to speak. God separated the waters above from the waters below.

Checkpoint crossings are an inescapable part of life for Palestinians living in the West Bank. Every morning before dawn, about 70,000 Palestinians from across the occupied West Bank pass through one of eleven Israeli military checkpoints on their way to work. They carry time-restricted permits that grant entry for the day, then require them to return home before the end of the day. The lines of workers are funneled into cage-like lanes—overcrowded, humiliating spaces that l

When was the last time you felt true, uninhibited joy? Not happiness. Not a fleeting good mood. But the kind of full-body joy that sends vibrations through your arms and legs. The kind that lifts your chest and straightens your spine—or leaves you doubled over in laughter. When you can’t help but smile. . Perhaps it was during a visit with a dear friend. Or at the birth of a new family member. Maybe it found you on a long hike in the sunshine, or during a quiet, solo camp

If we were to believe the President’s social media feed... this has been a BIG week for world peace. First, on Wednesday, the Department of State announced that the US Institute of Peace would now be called “the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace." Founded as an independent, non-profit think tank funded by Congress, the institute's mission is to research and teach the promotion of international peace and conflict resolution. But, since his second term began, Trump has moved