August Worship Series
“Re-Shaped: What We’re Made For”
You’re invited to consider how God is (and has been) “Re-Shaping” us—personally, and as a church—through another worship series from Dr. Marcia McFee (Worship Design Studio). Change is so common and yet one of our most challenging human processes.
To help guide your exploration of the theme of change—which we all experience—you can download a companion reflection journal to accompany your discernment.
An Overview from Dr. Marcia McFee:
“Change is good, you go first!” I love this saying — I used to have a T-shirt that said this. It is so true. We know deep down that life is impossible without change–that change is inevitable. But oh my, the evolutionary resistance to change can be debilitating. We have inherited this natural tendency to feel apprehension about change from our ancestors who had to be suspicious of difference in order to survive. But this part of our psyche can cause us, and others, no end of frustration and fear. And it can keep our communities stuck in a way that prevents us from our joy and our passion for ministry.
This series doesn’t start by assuming that we are “ready” for a change. Only in the fourth week of this series do we take the first step. We spend the first three weeks of this four-week series steeping ourselves in the idea that change is what we are made for…that we are actually made and equipped by a Creator that knew we would need to be partners and agents of change throughout history. We must be called to change. We must spend time discerning and deepening our understanding of the call that is luring us until we are ready to let go of “what was” in favor of the new creation.
We invite you to watch the series video trailer to get a sense of the journey we will share in August. And we encourage you to join us in the coming weeks as we consider ways that we are constantly renewed and might be further “Re-Shaped” by God — again and again and again!
August Worship Series — “Re-Shaped”
Aug 4 - “We Were Made for This” with Daniel Jackson
Contemporary Reading: "The Song of the Potter" by H. W. Longfellow
Ancient Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-6 (The Message)
Coffee & Conversation after worship; onsite & streamed
Aug 11 - “Inside Out” with Rev. Dr. Susan MacAlpine-Gillis
Contemporary Reading: "The Committee" by Marcia McFee (1997)
Ancient Reading: Mark 1:1-15 (The Message)
Coffee & Conversation after worship; onsite & streamed
Aug 18 - “Everything Changes” with Dena Smith
Contemporary Reading: "Rebirth" by Alex Elle
Ancient Reading: John 12:20-26 (The Message)
Coffee & Conversation after worship; onsite & streamed
Aug 25 - “En-Couraged” with Christine Standefer
Contemporary Reading: "Start Close In" by David Whyte
Ancient Reading: Matthew 14:22-31a (The Message)
Coffee & Conversation after worship; onsite & streamed
If you’d like to delve deeper with the “Re-Shaped” worship series, a companion journal for the four weeks is available to download.
Change is so common and yet one of our most challenging human processes. Know that you are not alone no matter what changes you are going through. Many blessings on your journey.