A preaching series for Summer 2020…
Forgotten Books of the Bible:
Wisdom from the Five Jewish Festival Scrolls for Today’s World
“Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Ruth, and Esther. These five books have never had an easy time of it. Even centuries ago when the Jewish rabbis were deciding what books were to be considered holy, several of these books barely made the cut. Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes were most disputed—the former because it was too sexy and the latter because it was too depressing. The book of Esther was suspect because it never even mentions God.
Yet in the end, the Jewish tradition not only declared all of these books holy but ultimately elevated them to a special status in the tradition. The five books together became known as the Chamesh Megillot—the Five Scrolls—and they were each assigned to be read in association with a particular Jewish holiday.
Once nearly marginalized by the Jewish tradition, these books now have a central place in the life of that community. Not so in the Christian church. While the Christian tradition also affirms the holiness of these books as part of the Christian Old Testament, they hardly ever make an appearance in the actual life of the church—or in the lives of most Christians.”
From the introduction to The Forgotten Books of the Bible: Recovering the Five Scrolls for Today by Robert Williamson Jr.
If you are curious, take a look at the outline of the summer preaching series, available via PDF here.
Forgotten Books of the Bible:
Wisdom from the Five Jewish Festival Scrolls for Today’s World
“Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Ruth, and Esther. These five books have never had an easy time of it. Even centuries ago when the Jewish rabbis were deciding what books were to be considered holy, several of these books barely made the cut. Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes were most disputed—the former because it was too sexy and the latter because it was too depressing. The book of Esther was suspect because it never even mentions God.
Yet in the end, the Jewish tradition not only declared all of these books holy but ultimately elevated them to a special status in the tradition. The five books together became known as the Chamesh Megillot—the Five Scrolls—and they were each assigned to be read in association with a particular Jewish holiday.
Once nearly marginalized by the Jewish tradition, these books now have a central place in the life of that community. Not so in the Christian church. While the Christian tradition also affirms the holiness of these books as part of the Christian Old Testament, they hardly ever make an appearance in the actual life of the church—or in the lives of most Christians.”
From the introduction to The Forgotten Books of the Bible: Recovering the Five Scrolls for Today by Robert Williamson Jr.
If you are curious, take a look at the outline of the summer preaching series, available via PDF here.
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Join us for Online Worship with Holy Communion
Sundays @ 9:30am Please click on the link below on Sunday morning: https://zoom.us/j/669927281?pwd=S0Qvdzh5cUY2akhmM2VoeTlUUVFBZz09 Meeting ID: 669 927 281 If prompted enter password: 080114 Joining by phone: If you are not able to join worship via your personal computer, you are welcome to join using your phone. Call this number: 1-669-900-6833 Use the Meeting ID: 669 927 281 Enter password 080114 You will find yourself in our Zoom worship space. |
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DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WE ARE A FULLY ONLINE CHURCH FOR THE TIME BEING. THERE ARE STILL WAY TO INTERACT AND BE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
Please check this page for all updates.
A preaching series for Summer 2020…
Forgotten Books of the Bible:
Wisdom from the Five Jewish Festival Scrolls for Today’s World
“Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Ruth, and Esther. These five books have never had an easy time of it. Even centuries ago when the Jewish rabbis were deciding what books were to be considered holy, several of these books barely made the cut. Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes were most disputed—the former because it was too sexy and the latter because it was too depressing. The book of Esther was suspect because it never even mentions God.
Yet in the end, the Jewish tradition not only declared all of these books holy but ultimately elevated them to a special status in the tradition. The five books together became known as the Chamesh Megillot—the Five Scrolls—and they were each assigned to be read in association with a particular Jewish holiday.
Once nearly marginalized by the Jewish tradition, these books now have a central place in the life of that community. Not so in the Christian church. While the Christian tradition also affirms the holiness of these books as part of the Christian Old Testament, they hardly ever make an appearance in the actual life of the church—or in the lives of most Christians.”
From the introduction to The Forgotten Books of the Bible: Recovering the Five Scrolls for Today by Robert Williamson Jr.
If you are curious, take a look at the outline of the summer preaching series, available via PDF here.
Forgotten Books of the Bible:
Wisdom from the Five Jewish Festival Scrolls for Today’s World
“Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Ruth, and Esther. These five books have never had an easy time of it. Even centuries ago when the Jewish rabbis were deciding what books were to be considered holy, several of these books barely made the cut. Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes were most disputed—the former because it was too sexy and the latter because it was too depressing. The book of Esther was suspect because it never even mentions God.
Yet in the end, the Jewish tradition not only declared all of these books holy but ultimately elevated them to a special status in the tradition. The five books together became known as the Chamesh Megillot—the Five Scrolls—and they were each assigned to be read in association with a particular Jewish holiday.
Once nearly marginalized by the Jewish tradition, these books now have a central place in the life of that community. Not so in the Christian church. While the Christian tradition also affirms the holiness of these books as part of the Christian Old Testament, they hardly ever make an appearance in the actual life of the church—or in the lives of most Christians.”
From the introduction to The Forgotten Books of the Bible: Recovering the Five Scrolls for Today by Robert Williamson Jr.
If you are curious, take a look at the outline of the summer preaching series, available via PDF here.
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We gather for worship every
Sunday morning at 9:30am. We celebrate Holy Communion every Sunday of the month. Depending on the season we have Adult Faith Conversations after Worship at 10:45am We also gather in community outside of worship in a delightful variety of settings. There are opportunities to connect with one another through service, advocacy, education, friendship, and more. |
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 100:1 |
This is Christ's church. There is a place for you here.
We are a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace.
Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person -- questions, complexities and all.
We invite you to join us in doing God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world.
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP 9:30 AM FELLOWSHIP & LEARNING 10:45 AM
We are a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace.
Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person -- questions, complexities and all.
We invite you to join us in doing God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world.
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP 9:30 AM FELLOWSHIP & LEARNING 10:45 AM
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Worship and MusicWhile the theology of grace informs
our Lutheran identity, we express our gratitude for that grace in a slightly less structured, contemporary and casual worship style that is designed to welcome people of all faith traditions and no faith tradition. Our worship is family friendly and inter-generational. We encourage families to bring their children with them to worship. Praise songs, hymns, scripture, prayers and the sacraments are all combined into a worship experience in which we hope all people will hear God’s comforting and challenging word for them. |
Weekly Readings
Community of ChristChurch is part of a growing number of faith communities around
North America that are using a preaching text series called the Narrative Lectionary.
North America that are using a preaching text series called the Narrative Lectionary.
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The Narrative Lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings. On the Sundays from September through May each year the texts follow the sweep of the biblical story, from Creation through the early Christian church. The texts include the major episodes in Scripture. They are arranged in a narrative sequence to help all of us see Scripture as a story that has coherence and a dynamic movement:
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The Narrative Lectionary texts show the breadth and variety of voices within Scripture. They invite people to hear the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the prophets, Jesus, and Paul. Listening to the many different voices within Scripture enriches our worship life and informs our life of faith.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Psalm 98:4
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Psalm 98:4
Outreach
The Worship and Tech Teams put together a plan for growing our team and inviting others to participate in providing musical leadership in worship.
Looking for skilled musicians to be a part of a church worship team. We have a small committed core of volunteer musicians looking to grow our team to allow for rotation of both instrumentalists and vocalists. We play contemporary Christian worship music.
We rehearse for 90 minutes Tuesday evening and one worship service on Sunday morning, a two and a half hour commitment.
If you play drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, other instruments and/or sing and are looking for a welcoming community of musicians,
and an opportunity to gain experience performing live, please contact us at 503-617-9526 or pastordavid@comchristchurch.org.
However, before we look outward, we want to start here at home with the members and friends of ChristChurch.
The Worship and Tech Teams put together a plan for growing our team and inviting others to participate in providing musical leadership in worship.
Looking for skilled musicians to be a part of a church worship team. We have a small committed core of volunteer musicians looking to grow our team to allow for rotation of both instrumentalists and vocalists. We play contemporary Christian worship music.
We rehearse for 90 minutes Tuesday evening and one worship service on Sunday morning, a two and a half hour commitment.
If you play drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, other instruments and/or sing and are looking for a welcoming community of musicians,
and an opportunity to gain experience performing live, please contact us at 503-617-9526 or pastordavid@comchristchurch.org.
However, before we look outward, we want to start here at home with the members and friends of ChristChurch.
- Do you play an instrument?
- Do you sing?
- Do you have a passion for using your musical gifts to praise God?
- Would you like to be part of creating a Sunday morning experience that welcomes others into that worship
- and praise as well?