Illumine
October and November 2025
Have you ever been in a dark forest late at night and needed a flashlight to see the path? Or maybe you use a nightlight in your house to guide your steps after it’s dark and all the other lights are turned off. When driving after dusk, you probably turn on your car’s headlights so you can make sense of the road ahead. These lights illuminate our way when it’s dark or difficult to see.
In the same way, the Bible acts as our “flashlight,” guiding our way and directing us to walk in the footsteps of Christ. The scripture illuminates both the divine love of God and our own human experiences as followers of God. The Holy Spirit illumines the Word and guides our understanding of the Bible through tradition, reason and experience. In turn, we can become luminaries or lights for Christ and shine bright for all the world to see.
Join us for this four-week series, “Illumine: Be the Light,” as we explore how the Bible illumines our lives and brightens our paths so that we might be lights of God’s love for others.
October 26: God’s Light, God-Breathed
2 Timothy 3:14-17, Romans 15:4, Hebrews 4:12
November 2, All Saints Day: The Word and the Word
John 1:1-14, 18; John 8:12; Psalm 119:105
November 9: The Sum of All
1 John 1:1-2, 5; 1 John 4:7-19; 1 John 3:11
November 16: Love and Light
Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 5:14-19, Philippians 2:15
In the same way, the Bible acts as our “flashlight,” guiding our way and directing us to walk in the footsteps of Christ. The scripture illuminates both the divine love of God and our own human experiences as followers of God. The Holy Spirit illumines the Word and guides our understanding of the Bible through tradition, reason and experience. In turn, we can become luminaries or lights for Christ and shine bright for all the world to see.
Join us for this four-week series, “Illumine: Be the Light,” as we explore how the Bible illumines our lives and brightens our paths so that we might be lights of God’s love for others.
October 26: God’s Light, God-Breathed
2 Timothy 3:14-17, Romans 15:4, Hebrews 4:12
November 2, All Saints Day: The Word and the Word
John 1:1-14, 18; John 8:12; Psalm 119:105
November 9: The Sum of All
1 John 1:1-2, 5; 1 John 4:7-19; 1 John 3:11
November 16: Love and Light
Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 5:14-19, Philippians 2:15
What do you fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent
November - December 2025
Luke’s Gospel begins the story of Jesus with this opening line: “In the time of Herod...” This detail may
seem minor to modern readers, however, it reveals layers of information about the fearful world Jesus
entered, one filled with rampant oppression, economic disparity, uncertainty, and instability. And yet, throughout the stories of Christ’s birth, the whispers of angels deliver a surprising message: “Do not fear.”
In our own time, we might ask: is it even possible to be fearless in a fearful world? When Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi are each called into God’s redemptive story, they do not deny their fears—they move through them. They ask questions, hold fast to courage, trust in good news, and say, “Here I am, Lord.” When we find ourselves in fearful times, can we acknowledge our fears while also insisting on hope?
Join us for an Advent, Christmas, Epiphany series that takes seriously the angels’ message and trusts that Christ’s birth truly is good news of great joy for all people.
November 30: In the Time of Herod, We Long for God to Break In | Luke 1:5-13
December 7: Even in Our Fear, We Are Called Forward | Luke 1:26-39
December 14: When You're Afraid, Give Me Your Hand | Matthew 1:18-25
December 21: When We're Running Out of Hope, God Is at Work | Cantata Sunday
December 24: Good News Is Louder than Fear | Luke 2:1-20 Candlelight Christmas Eve
December 28: Let Fear Fuel a Fire for Justice | Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
January 4: Fear Doesn't Stop Us | Matthew 2:1-12; 16-18
seem minor to modern readers, however, it reveals layers of information about the fearful world Jesus
entered, one filled with rampant oppression, economic disparity, uncertainty, and instability. And yet, throughout the stories of Christ’s birth, the whispers of angels deliver a surprising message: “Do not fear.”
In our own time, we might ask: is it even possible to be fearless in a fearful world? When Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi are each called into God’s redemptive story, they do not deny their fears—they move through them. They ask questions, hold fast to courage, trust in good news, and say, “Here I am, Lord.” When we find ourselves in fearful times, can we acknowledge our fears while also insisting on hope?
Join us for an Advent, Christmas, Epiphany series that takes seriously the angels’ message and trusts that Christ’s birth truly is good news of great joy for all people.
November 30: In the Time of Herod, We Long for God to Break In | Luke 1:5-13
December 7: Even in Our Fear, We Are Called Forward | Luke 1:26-39
December 14: When You're Afraid, Give Me Your Hand | Matthew 1:18-25
December 21: When We're Running Out of Hope, God Is at Work | Cantata Sunday
December 24: Good News Is Louder than Fear | Luke 2:1-20 Candlelight Christmas Eve
December 28: Let Fear Fuel a Fire for Justice | Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
January 4: Fear Doesn't Stop Us | Matthew 2:1-12; 16-18
