Preparing for Worship - Jeff Brummel. We followers of Jesus sing. Singing together, whether in a choir or as a congregation, is a unique activity steeped in tradition throughout history and across many cultures. We have lovely choirs that adorn our worship service....

Preparing for Worship - Heather Mustain, associate pastor.   Today is fondly known around Wilshire as Deacon Ordination Sunday. Deacons, in our Baptist tradition, are members of the church who have been nominated and identified from within as those who already...

Preparing for Worship - Darren Dement, associate pastor.  Our opening congregational hymn this morning, Brethren, We Have Met to Worship, has a bit of a murky history. The text has been variously attributed to either George Askins or George Atkins, both known to be...

Preparing for Worship - John Kelly, pastoral resident.   This weekend, we celebrate a man born in the era of the Great Depression — who became a leader of the Poor People’s Campaign. We remember a man whose childhood was backlit by the noisy chaos of World War II...

Preparing for Worship - Brianna Childs, pastoral resident.  The rhythm of the church calendar continues for us this morning. Breathe in. Breathe out. We take the next step in the ancient cycle into Epiphany. Throughout Scripture, we receive stories of epiphany in...

Preparing for Worship - Doug Haney, associate pastor.   Today is the first Sunday of Christmas or Christmastide, meaning we continue to revel in the season of Christmas just a bit longer. (The song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” hints at this tradition even...

Preparing for Worship - Gina Biddle. I have memories of reading today’s Gospel reading, John 1:1-14, as a child in Detroit. Someone gave me a small white Gideon Bible, and this verse inspired me repeatedly. My family did not attend church, but this verse was important...

Preparing for Worship - John Kelly, pastoral resident.   “And Mary remained with [Elizabeth] about three months and then returned to her home” (Luke 1:56 NRSV). At this point in Luke’s Gospel, not even two chapters into the action, so much has already unfolded...

Preparing for worship - Heather Mustain, associate pastor. Today is the third Sunday of Advent, the day we light the pink candle in our Advent wreath. Pink, or rose, is the liturgical color that symbolizes joy, and this Sunday is more formally known as “Gaudate”...

Preparing for Worship - Brianna Childs, pastoral resident. In the Ithaka Sunday School class last week we talked about liminal spaces in our lives. As we continue in this season of Advent, there is much to reflect upon as we wait. Richard Rohr describes these liminal...