10 am Sunday In-Person & Livestream Worship Services

As the news of the Oxford High School shooting unfolds, as well as the wave of school closures in the area due to copycat threats, you may be asking yourself, “How can this be?”  Even though we have been down this tragic road before, it’s still something that I have trouble wrapping my head - and my heart - around.

Mary asked this same question when she learned of her miraculous conception in Luke 1:26-38.  We’ve spent a lot of energy over the years pondering, “how can this be?” when it comes to the virgin birth.  In light of recent events, I find myself pondering “how can this be?” when it comes to God’s choice to be born among us as a fragile child who would be brutally murdered.

That’s love.  Real, abiding, tenacious love.

Advent begins this Sunday, November 28, and we’ll begin preparing for the birth of Jesus at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke (1:1-25).  The story actually starts by preparing us for another birth: that of John the baptizer.  Like Jesus, John’s conception is announced by an angel.  Though this experience is terrifying to John’s soon-to-be-father, Zechariah, it’s welcome news to John’s mother, Elizabeth, who was thought to be barren: “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me...”  I hope to see you Sunday as we learn about God’s invitation to move from fear to favor.  

  Please join us in welcoming the Rev. Kevin Piecuch as our guest pastor today. Pastor Kevin is an attorney, business leader and ordained Presbyterian clergy. He began his professional career with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), where he served as pastor, hospital chaplain and with the General Assembly where he worked in mission interpretation and promotion. He is the Executive Director and Principal Counsel of the Southwest Detroit Immigration and Refugee Center, the largest provider of free and low-cost legal services in southeast Michigan. 

This Sunday, we will take a look back toward the beginning of the Exodus journey.  Before the people even got to the wilderness, there was a confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh.  Exodus 8:1-15 will give us a window into this conflict and our view through the window will be guided by someone who grew up at Northbrook: The Rev. Dr. Teri Ott.  Teri is the daughter of Tom and Sue McDowell and she is the editor of the Presbyterian Outlook.  You can read more in her bio in the bulletin, and you can follow the link to find a wealth of writing she’s already contributed in her short time at the Outlook.

 God is always giving… to you, to me and to everyone.  God’s giving sustains creation.  And, it has nothing to do with deserving.  God simply gives, whether we deserve it or not.  It’s who God is.

Last Sunday, we got a first taste of the Torah, the covenant between God and the children of Israel.  This Sunday, we’ll explore some other parts of the Torah regarding how we treat others with justice and observe the Sabbath in Exodus 23:1-12.  One could read these as an obligation.  But, what if they are an opportunity?

How might our striving for justice be grounded in a giving God… who invites us to be giving people, created in God’s image?  Hope to see you on Sunday to learn more.

 How does growth happen?  Growth requires nourishment, but it also requires a nourishing environment.  This is precisely what God is offering to people when the 10 Commandments are in Exodus 20:1-17.  What if these are more than rules?  What if these are a part of creating a nourishing environment for healthy - and abundant - growth?