Mary displays incredible resolve when she accepts the calling to carry Jesus, but it took more than courage. It took a deep sense of peace, and Advent invites us to experience that same peace in our lives.

As we continue through the season of Advent, we can ask ourselves: where are we struggling to wait for God to move in our life, and how might we anticipate the joy that comes when God’s promises are fulfilled?

In both Elizabeth and John the Baptist, we see a humble, self-giving love that supported Mary and Jesus. During the season of Advent, we are invited to keep our eyes open for the people in our lives who need our love and support.

Advent does not simply invite us to look back to when Jesus came, but it invites us to look forward in hope to when Jesus will return and make all things new. As we enter Advent, may we do so with our eyes focused on the hope we have in Jesus.

We all have lenses through which we see and interpret the world around us. One of the ways we can become aware of the lenses we and others are looking through is to examine the questions we ask.

The dinner table is where we come to share about our days, be surrounded by our loved ones, and of course eat. It can also be a place where family tensions linger. As Thanksgiving approaches and we prepare our homes and hearts for time with our families, we’ll look to Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth for wisdom.

The story of Esther is, in part, a reminder that we can be stewards of the resources, influence, and opportunities we have been given no matter the circumstance.

As we wrap up our Wesley Rooted series, we embrace the opportunity to continue the centuries-old tradition of Wesleyan Methodists serving impactfully for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said that loving God, others, and yourself is the most important commandment from God. And it is through the way that he lived that we can see what this kind of love looks like.

The vast majority of Christians, United Methodists included, believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. But what does that mean, and what does it not mean? And how does that meaning affect the way we engage with Scripture and allow it to guide and shape our lives?

As we gather to give thanks to God and celebrate 25 years of ministry, we reflect on the fact that a partnership between God’s grace and a faithful community can lead to long-standing and fruitful ministry.

As Christians, we are called to love God and neighbor, but who exactly is our neighbor? As we explore the words of John Wesley and the parables of Jesus, we’ll consider how we can be unified in love despite our deeply held differences.