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Read Psalm 34 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034&version=NLT S Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”   O As I sit and watch my father slip into the darkness of dementia and see my mother valiantly caring for him and trying to pull him back into the life that they have shared for more than 61 years, I wonder how someone who does not have a relationship with God can cope with the weightiness of this situation. I think about how frightened my father must be as he knows, but doesn’t know who my mom, sisters, brother and I are. And then, sparks of recognition come through. A memory shared and a smile on his face that say “I am still here” even if for a brief moment … those small rays of light, that clarity are a blessing and a remembrance that God is still close to my broken heart and crushed spirit, especially when life is heavy and difficult.   A We all have moments, sometimes whole seasons, where we...

  Read 1 Thessalonians 5 (The Message)   1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 “May God of peace himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of Jesus there with a holy embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don’t leave anyone out. The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you!”   In this passage, Paul reveals God’s heart for His people: peace that brings wholeness. This is not a shallow peace or merely the absence of trouble, but a deep restoration of everything that has been fragmented by sin. God’s salvation reaches the whole person—spirit, soul, and body—bringing integration, healing, and completeness as our lives are centered on Him. Paul makes it clear that sanctification is not som...

SOAP • January 19, 2025 Next Gen Ministries at UC: We want to: cultivate a church community where the next generation-  from infant to young adult- is known, loved, led, discipled, and sent to follow Jesus with resilient faith.   Read Deuteronomy 6 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=Deuteronomy% 206&version=NLT   Deuteronomy 6:4-7- “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."   Even though one of the commandments given by God was to honor the Sabbath, connecting with God on a regular basis was primarily a personal and family responsibility. The people were called by God to worship as a community of fai...

  Over the next 5 weeks here on the SOAP in all of our Sunday worship services, and on Wednesday night gatherings for adults we'll be focusing on our 5 year Vision Plan with specific attention on each of our 5 Strategic Priorities: 1) Discipleship, 2) Next Generation, 3) Human Care, 4) Evangelism and Outreach, and 5) Legacy Building.   Read 1 Peter 2 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=1%20Peter%202& version=NLT   1 Peter 2:9- But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.   Earlier in this chapter Peter said: "Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness." (Verses 2-3) In verse 9 Peter told the people in the community ...