Church Service Videos 2025

Our Presbyterian Church Years is broken into a series of seasons.  The first is Advent which starts on the fourth Sunday leading up to Christmas.  For the 2025 Liturgical Year the first Sunday in Advent is December 1st and ends on Sunday evening December 22nd.  Advent is followed by Christmas which lasts from December 25th to January 5th.  After Christmas comes Epiphany starting on January 6th and lasts until  February 13th.  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday March 5th and includes Holy Week beginning on Monday April 14th until Saturday April 19th.  Easter begins with the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on April 20th and lasts until Pentecost on June 8th.  Easter is followed by that long season Ordinary Time which lasts until King of Kings Sunday on November 23rd.

May 11th worship service

Last Wednesday the Cardinals assembled in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in conclave to select a new Pope.  On Thursday May the Cardinals elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago, IL taking the name Pope Leo XIV.  While not having much to do with the Protestant Faiths (Presbyterian / Methodist/ Lutheran / Episcopalian etc.) the Roman Catholic faith traces its foundation back 2,000 years and the events which take place in John 21:15-19.

 

Several of the disciples had gone fishing.  They spent the night on the boat but caught no fish.  At dawn, as they are returning to the shore, Jesus calls out to them asking if they have fish.  They do not recognize Jesus and reply no.  They are about 100 yards from shore when Jesus tells them to throw their net on the right side of the boat, and suddenly it is filled with 153 large fish.  So many fish, and so large it is an effort to get the fish ashore, and luckily their net does not break.  It is at this point they recognize the man on the shore as Jesus, with prepared fish and bread for them to eat.

 

After they have eaten Jesus asks Peter three times, “Simon Peter, son of John, do you love me?”  And each time Peter says he does, and Jesus tells him to “Take care of my sheep.” 

 

What is happening here is that Jesus as assigned Peter to be the leader of the disciples when Jesus returns to the Father in heaven.  Peter is to be the foundation of the new faith, Christianity.  This is why whenever you see a picture or statue of Peter, especially in the catholic churches, you will see Peter standing with a large key, for he has been given the key which opens the door as the first of the Catholic Popes.

 

Join us for our May 11th Mother’s Day Worship Service.

Photo: Aleeya Flores, Music Conductor

May 4th Worship Service

At its best when we dive into Christianity it can become very complicated.  We need to remember that everything hinges on two points.  The first is Jesus’ crucifixion, where he sacrificed himself for the forgiveness of everyone’s sins.  The second is his resurrection demonstrating the power to overcome death and granting us eternal life.


There is one other aspect from the resurrection that I find very interesting.  Jesus simply appears, and no one recognizes him.  In the Doubting Thomas Story in John, Jesus simply appears in the disciples midst, in a house with locked doors.  Thomas is not there at the time and when the  disciples describe the encounter Thomas says only if he can place his fingers in the nail holes of the hands will he acknowledge Jesus.  And a week later Jesus appears again in the locked house and shows his hands to Thomas, and Thomas acknowledges him as, ‘My Lord and God.”


In Luke Jesus appears to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, listens to their story of the crucifixion, and explains why it had to happen that way.  At dinner he blesses and breaks the bread, and they suddenly recognize Jesus, and Jesus disappears.


As a firm believer that Jesus is working in our lives every day.  I also believe that life is what happens when we are planning something else.  Looking back we can see the many crossroads of our path.  The forks in the road, and our decision on which way to proceed.  There are people who come into our lives and give us a little guidance, or an opportunity.  They seem random at the time, but revealed through our history, they have taken us to place we are right now.  They could have been Jesus in disguise, guiding our way.  And sometimes we can be that Jesus in disguise guiding someone else, through advice, help, maybe even just an encouraging smile.


Join us for our May 4th Worship Service.


easter

As Lent ends we enter into the Easter Season.  Easter Sunday is the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the  Spring Equinox (March 20th or 21st) and this year, because of the late full moon, Easter falls on April 20th.  Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday is recorded in each of four New Testament Gospels.


In synoptic terms Jesus has made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the preceding Sunday (Palm Sunday) and taken up residence in the temple courtyard, after clearing the money changers and the sellers of sacrificial offerings (done in Mark, Matthew and Luke).  Jesus is explaining the new kingdom God is going to bring into being.


The fact that the people are listening to Jesus, and Jesus is berating the Temple Priests and religious leaders, is upsetting the status quo.  Temple Leadership decides that something must be done to stop Jesus.  Jesus is arrested, taken to trial before the Temple Priesthood, and then before Pilot, the Roman Governor.  In a matter of minutes he is condemned to be crucified on the cross.


The speed of these events was not out of the ordinary.  As the Governor this was within Pilot’s power, and Pilot had one directive to follow, keep the peace so that taxes could be easily collected.  If Jesus was causing tensions, as the priesthood claimed, then eliminating Jesus was the simple solution to the problem.


Jesus was taken to the hill of Calgary, where he hung on the cross for a approximately three hours, and died.  Special permission was received to remove the body, which was taken to a nearby tomb. The body was wrapped in cloth, a stone was rolled to seal of the tomb entry, and guards were placed at the entrance.


The following Sunday, three days later, the women came to the tomb to prepare the body for a proper burial, and discovered the body gone.  There is a unique resurrection story described in each of the Gospels, but basically Jesus was raised from the dead.


It is through Jesus’ resurrection we have Jesus as the center of the Christian Church, our God incarnate who walked among His people.  Through his the sacrifice of His death we receive forgiveness of our sins.  Through His power to overcome death we receive the gift of eternal life.  


During the season of Easter we will celebrate the time following of the resurrection that Jesus spent with the disciples.


Join us for our Easter Sunday April 20th Worship Service.                  Join us for our April 27th Worship Service.


lent

Lent is a time of Repentance, Reconciliation and Redemption as we prepare ourselves to receive the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday.  Lent is the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.  The 40 days reaches back to the time Jesus spent in the desert following his baptism in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke.

 

The math is a little difficult. This year starts on March 5th and runs until April 29th.  Counting this comes out to six weeks equaling 42 days 4 days from March 5th to March 8th . While this adds up to 46 days, it includes six Sundays, which are not included in Lent.  These are days of celebration, because they are days worshiping our Lord.

 

And so we spend the next six weeks in contemplation about our relationship within our community, our families and friends, and most importantly our relationship with our God.  What is right, and what needs correction as try to prepare ourselves for the most important relationship of all time, that goes back to gift given over 2,000 years ago.  The gift of grace, which gives us freedom and life.

Art Work: Annunciation of the Lord, da Vinci, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy / Jesus Betrayal, Fra Angelico 1440-5 Convent of San Marco, Florence, Italy / Christ Before Pilate, Duccio 1311, Museo dell Opera Metropoliana del Duomo, Siena, Italy


Join us for our Psalm Sunday Worship Service.                                       Join us for our April 6th Worship Service.                                          Join us for our March 23rd Worship Service.                                           Join us for our March 30th Worship Service.                                     Join us for our March 16th Worship Service.                                        Join us for our March 9th Worship Service.                               

epiphany

Epiphany comes from the Greek, meaning manifestation.  Starting on January 6 the season lasts until Ash Wednesday, March 5th and the start of Lent.  The purpose of the season to recognize the times Jesus is acknowledged as the Son of God, the answer to God’s promise of redemption leaning back to the prophets.

 

Recognition is seen in several instances.  The most celebrated is the visit of the Magi following the heavenly star and bringing gifts to the Christ child.  Other examples include the presentation of Jesus at the temple and being recognized by Anna and Simeon.  Another example is Jesus’ baptism, first when he is recognized by john and again when coming out of the water the heavens open, the spirit in the form of a dove descends and the voice of God saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.  Another is the miracle of changing water into wine.


Join us for our February 23rd Worship Service.                                             Join us for our March 2nd Worship Service.

Join us for our February 9th Worship Service.                                               Join us for our February 16th Worship Service.

Join us for our January 26h Worship Service.                                                Join us for our February 2nd Worship Service.  

Join us for our January 12th Worship Service.                                                Join us for our January 19th Worship Service.

Photos:

Jesus' Baptism:  Marco Monastery Florence, Fra Angelico, 1418

Jesus casts out demons: Basilica St. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna:

Marriage at Cana: Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy, Giotto di Bondone, 1305

Three Magi Going to Jesus: Basilica St. Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna:

christmas

It is the season of Christmas, December 25th - January 5th.  We have spent the last four weeks preparing our hearts, minds, and soles to receive the gift God sent to His people, Himself to be sacrificed, that His peoples sins may be washed away, and they can be with Him, eternally.  But why 12 days for the season?

 

The Christmas Season, also known as Christmastide, goes back to the Council of Tours meeting in 567 who proclaimed the 12 days between Christmas (the birth) and Epiphany (the Magi Recognition) as the Christmas Season.  The main purpose is celebrate.  After the 4 weeks of fasting, introspection and preparation to receive Jesus into our lives, now is the time to celebrate our acceptance.  

 

Significant event during Christmastide include: December 25: Jesus’ birth / December 26: feast of St. Stephen (Good King Wenceslaus) / December 27: feast of John the Apostle / December 28: feast of the Holy Innocents (children killed on Herod’s order) / December 29: murder of Thomas Becket 1170 (Archbishop of Canterbury) / December 30: remembrance of John Wyclif 1395 (translated the Bible to English…martyred because) / January 1: circumcision of Jesus / January 2: remembrance of Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, 1945 Bishop of South India / January 6: beginning of Epiphany, the Magi (manifestation).January 4: remembrance of Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1821, founder of the United States parochial school system / January 5: Epiphany Eve, remembrance of the Desert Mothers (women ascetics living in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Syria 4th & 5th century) / January 6: Epiphany begins, Magi visit (manifestation).

Photos 2024: Bell Choir / Christmas Tree and Advent Candles / Nativity in the Sanctuary.


Join us for our December 29th Worship Service.                              Join us for our January 5th Worship Service.


Advent

No one is sure when Advent, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, came into the Christian schedule, but it was well established by the year 480, and so we have been celebrating the birth of Jesus, God’s gift to humanity, for well over 1500 years.  Advent actually takes place on three levels.  The first is the physical birth of Jesus in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.  The second is the reception of Jesus into the hearts of the believers.  Finally, there is the awaited presence of when Jesus returns to the earth and brings about the world of His desire. 

 

Advent is celebrated in many ways.  There is always the decorating of the church with a Christmas Tree, Christmas Wreathes, special programs and litanies, Christmas Cantatas, and almost in each church the lighting of the Advent Candles.

 

It is our way of celebrating the birth of Jesus, God’s gift to a world in sin, and the source of our salvation.  An event well worth celebrating, and preparing for. 


Join us for our December 15th Worship Service.                                 Join us for our December 22nd Worship Service.

Join us for our December 1st Worship Service.                                   Join us for our December 8th Worship Service.