A Spacious Christianity

Mission Possible: Justice and Mission, with Brenda Simpson. A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: 1 John 3:18; Matthew 25:31-40.

This Sunday, we welcome Brenda Simpson, our coordinator for justice and mission to bring our message and remind us that living the spacious and radical love of Jesus is not an extracurricular activity. But it’s central to our faith and central to what it means to be a follower of Jesus. These are extraordinary times that need extraordinary love.

About the Series, Mission Possible: Living the Spacious and Radical Love of Jesus so that all might flourish.: The commitment of First Presbyterian for the past 120 years, "to ground ourselves in the love of Christ so that we might be the presence of Christ’s love in Central Oregon and throughout the world" has not changed. However, the pandemic, the epidemic of gun violence, racial unrest, political divisions, mental health crisis and so much more over the last two years has dramatically changed the landscape around us. It has dramatically changed our lives. And, it has also dramatically impacted church life and community. This fall series will highlight the urgency of our Mission and Strategic Priorities and the opportunities to contribute in our worship and sermons.

Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend. Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.

At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.

We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don’t ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.

Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.

Keywords:

jesus, world, love, spacious, people, children, blessed, god, church, presbyterian, neighbors, mission, generosity, family, students, justice, congregation, struggling, called, hungry, presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregon

Featuring:

Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Kally Elliott, Tyler McQuilkin, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Guests

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Blessed are the Imperfect, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: The Lives We Actually Have A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: Matthew 4.23-24, 5.1-5.

About the Series, The Lives We Actually Have: We often think spirituality is waiting until some future date when our lives are less of a mess; when the problems are overcome and the conflict is resolved; when the anxiety and fear are quieted; when the doubts and questions are answered; when our bodies ache less; when the pain and grief soften. Our days are complicated by feelings and frustrations that don’t seem altogether spiritual. During this Season of Lent as we walk with Jesus, we will lean into the promise that in the actual days we live – pain-filled, lovely, ordinary, garbage days – there are hidden blessings.

Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend. Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.

At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.

We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don’t ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.

Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.

Keywords:

jesus, blessed, people, life, pot, imperfections, god, world, bride, flaws, blessings, crack, perfect, groom, light, wedding, held, grief, spiritual, pain, presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregon

Featuring:

Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Kally Elliott, Tyler McQuilkin, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Guests

Support the show

Is It Possible To Heal What Divides Us?, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: Questions A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: 2 Cor. 5; Mark 4.35-41.

This Sunday’s question is how can we heal the deep divisions and polarization in our society in our country. We’re going to read the story of Jesus with the disciples in a boat on the lake in the midst of a storm. Is it possible we missed something really important in that story? Possibly the key to breaking down the walls of hostility that divide us.

About the Series, Questions: Abraham Heschel said we are closer to God when we are asking and wrestling with questions than when we think we have all the answers. This summer we will center our worship faithfully engaging and responding to the questions you submitted as best we can.

Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend. Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.

At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.

We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don’t ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.

Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.

Keywords:

jesus, love, agape love, lives, god, people, other side, generosity, dogged determination, disciples, sharing, prayer, world, gun, jonah, hardest, deep, story, presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregon

Featuring:

Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Kally Elliott, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Guests

Support the show

Is There Such A Thing As Good Grief?, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: Questions A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon.

Is there such a thing as good grief? What shouldn’t you say to someone who is grieving? As a people, one of the things we hold most in common, are tears, and the weight of grief. Join us as we turn to the Hebrew Scriptures, and the beautiful book of Ruth, for wisdom, and how we might carry the weight of our grief, with resilience, and grace.

About the Series, Questions: Abraham Heschel said we are closer to God when we are asking and wrestling with questions than when we think we have all the answers. This summer we will center our worship faithfully engaging and responding to the questions you submitted as best we can.

Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend. Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.

At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.

We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don’t ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.

Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.

Featuring:

Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Kally Elliott, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Guests

Support the show

Love Has the Last Word, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: Finding Hope in Hard Places A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: John 20.1; John 20.16.

Join us this Easter Sunday and discover a powerful message of hope that breaks through darkness. Whether online or in-person, hear how love conquers despair and why the worst thing doesn’t have to be the last thing.

Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend. Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.

At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.

We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don’t ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.

Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.

Keywords:

love, easter, jesus, tomb, hate, word, week, story, project, impossible, suffering, woman, life, reconciliation, dark, long awaited messiah, rwanda, empty tomb, perpetrators, man, presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregon

Featuring:

Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Sharon Edwards, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Guests

Support the show