Unexpected Hospitality

The typical picture of American hospitality looks something like this: you clean your house, your kids, yourself, you prepare some refreshments, and then you invite people into your world. Perhaps your house doesn’t look quite like Pinterest and you don’t look quite ready for a TV debut, but you make an effort to create an…

Is NSCBC Changing? An Elder’s Reflections

Have you been noticing a difference at NSCBC lately? You might answer, “Sure, there are more new people and it’s getting harder to find a parking place.” Yes, you’re right, but there is something more fundamental happening. You may remember the sermon series about three years ago on The Sermon on the Mount, when Interim Pastor…

Connect Ministry: Who we are and what we’re about

Today’s post is by Marcia Kercher, coordinator of the new Connect Team.   My heart is full of gratitude when I think about the area of ministry I have been asked to launch and participate in. Pastor Bobby and Julie have heard my family’s faith story that has taken place over the past five year….

Meditation on Philippians 2 and the End of a Family Promise Week

For those who serve with Family Promise at NSCBC, Sunday was a goodbye (of sorts). We finished our week of hosting—sharing dinner, playtime, and overnights in the church with four families currently experiencing homelessness. As the program moved on to the next church, two precious families also graduated from the program (after many months of…

Sent Into the Harvest

“What if we saw October 31 not merely as an occasion for asking self-oriented questions about our participation (whether we should or shouldn’t dress the kids up or carve pumpkins), but for pursuing others-oriented acts of love? What if we capitalized on the opportunity to take a step forward in an ongoing process of witnessing…

Refugee Crisis: How Can We Respond?

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly…

5 Ways to Think Missionally about Halloween

Over the past few months, we’ve been talking a lot about extending hospitality and getting to know our colleagues and neighbors. In a couple of weeks we’ll have a great opportunity to do just that – on Halloween. Think about it – it’s the only night of the year where neighbors expect people to just…

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