Thro

Throughout the history of God’s
people, God has made covenants
—agreements with promises
from both sides—with God’s
beloved people. Unfortunately,
much of the Bible witnesses to
the reality many of us know from
our own lives: a tragic pattern of
broken promises has emerged in
humanity.

Have you ever thought of friendship as a spiritual practice?

I love the idea of friendship as a spiritual practice for two reasons:  first, it emphasizes the role of the Spirit in forming and sustaining our relationships; second, it recognizes that friendship is not just something we have, but it is something that we do. Perhaps you’ve heard the proverb “to have a friend, you have to be a friend.” Friendship is a commitment, and it takes quality time to build. But like all practices, we can only improve what we give our attention to.

This year at Zion, we are leaning into an “extended Advent” with our worship theme “Out of Time.”

Traditionally, the season of Advent is recognized in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. This year, we will begin our Advent observance on November 19, giving us six Sundays before Christmas (including Christmas Eve!).

Have you ever wondered what exactly makes a person a Christian? You could give all kinds of answers to this question. Many Christians point to their baptism, while others could emphasize the role of faith or belief, and still others may place importance on living in the way Jesus has shown us. What’s at the heart of faith for you?