It can feel so reassuring to know that God is never far away from us, especially during times of trouble. God is ever-present, always near, offering refuge and strength to all who need it.

We can show love to others by serving them–doing good for them without any expectation of getting something in return. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we can participate in the National Day of Service.

It seems important for us to know that Jesus loves and cares for people like a shepherd loves and cares for their sheep.

I wonder what that kind of love might feel like?

Epiphany can be a day full of celebration and feasting! We are thankful that Jesus was born, that he is a special kind of King, and that the Magi followed the star to find him and bring him gifts.

During Advent and on Christmas, we learned that Jesus was born on Earth as a baby, to live here with us. It can feel so comforting to think of God right here with us, during our happy times and sad times, during the hard times and the easy times.

When you think back on your year, can you think of times that God might have been with you?

During Advent, we remember that God is love, and that God wants us to know about God’s love for each of us all the time, in every place. God sent Jesus to tell us about this big love, and this is what we celebrate on Christmas.

Today we light the candle of Joy, as we think about Jesus’ family and who was there the night he was born.

Join us as we light the second candle of Advent: the candle of Peace. We will also hear Mary's story and wonder about it together.

Today, and for the rest of December, we will be preparing and anticipating the birth of Jesus. This is a season of time that we call Advent. Each Sunday we will light a candle as we tell the story of Jesus coming to the world. Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Join us as we light the candle of Hope.

This week we are considering what we can learn about who God is by thinking about God as breath. I wonder what breath does for us? I wonder what breath feels like?

If we think of God like our mother or father, what can we learn about who God is and what God is like?

I wonder what a mother or father does for their children?

I wonder what God wants to do for us?

In Psalm chapter 23 in the Bible, we hear the metaphor that God is a shepherd.

Can you imagine God as your shepherd and you as a sheep? What would that feel like to you?

Have you ever wondered what God is like? And even more…have you ever wondered how we know what God is like?

Over the next few weeks, we are going to explore these questions.

After all of our thinking, wondering, and learning, it feels like it’s time to take some action! Today we will be sharing ideas for real things you can do to care for God’s earth, its creatures, and all living things.

If we can see all parts of the earth as important and connected to each other, we can begin to love, care for, and protect every aspect of creation, from the tiny spiders to the massive mountains, from the tiny raindrops to the enormous clouds they came from!

In the creation story from Genesis 1, we learned that God’s Spirit hovered over the water, and God separated water and made it vital for all living things. Water is so important to our earth and its living things!

Today, we are beginning a new series, continuing to explore creation and our place in it as humans. Saint Francis is a wonderful example of a person who cared very much about all the people, animals, and plants that God created.

This week, we are ready to take action. Have you heard about Kindness Rocks? You can spread kindness and love to others, just by painting a rock with inspirational words and leaving it where others can find it.

Singing is one way that we can focus on meaningful words and connect with God and others as we sing. As you listen and sing, you might think about people in your own life that you can be kind and show love to.

Today, we are thinking about real things we can do to be a neighbor to others–not just people who live near us but all people around the world.