Introduction
The other day as we were driving to an orthodontist appointment, the kids started asking questions about when they were born. They asked who was the cuter baby (it was a tie), giggled throughout the retelling of when we brought Eli home for the first time and Charli grabbed for him while exclaiming, “my baby!,” and then they wanted to see pictures. Once we were in the waiting room we pulled up old pictures and videos on my phone and flipped through. I was immediately overcome by how much they have changed in the last few years. In the day-to-day living I’d failed to notice how fully they’ve transformed from babies to kids, how Eli no longer sings Old McDonald with the refrain, “Eli, Eli, Oh,” and how much more coordinated they are whether playing soccer or riding one of the many bikes or scooters I had forgotten we even owned. Without the benefit of photographic evidence, I’d probably tell you that not much had changed. Because truthfully, the process of becoming happens incrementally without many times marked by notable change. Day-by-day it can start to feel like Groundhog Day. But when we’re able to zoom out or take the long view, the changes are extraordinary.
This weekend we’re talking about becoming: who we’re becoming, what we’re becoming, how it looks in the middle, and why it can so often feel like we’re stuck, or even worse, moving in reverse. How do we remain hopeful when, “Behold, I’m doing a new thing!” looks an awful lot like yesterday’s thing?
Let’s dig in together this Sunday and find out!
Laura Holland and the teaching team
Scriptures
Responsive Reading for Vine and Branch
Reader: Friends, today we affirm our identity and aspiration with the following declaration.
Everyone: Jesus you are the True Vine and we, your church, are a branch
Reader: Sisters and brothers and siblings, apart from the Vine, we can bear no lasting fruit.
Everyone: Holy Spirit help us to remain in you and you in us.
Reader: It is God’s will that we have life and have it in abundance.
Everyone: Jesus is the Way, the truth and the life. We abide in Him.
Reader: As we abide in Him not just for our own sake, but for the sake of others and the healing of all creation, to the glory of the Creator.
Everyone: We abide in you Jesus, align our hearts and minds, souls and spirits to yours.
Reader: In the Name of the Creator, Jesus the Messiah and God the Holy Spirit, Amen.
