Christ Church Evangelical Covenant

Compassion: A Generous Outlook (Pastor Vann Trapp)

Compassionate Christian Community – what a deep, rich, gracious, hopeful phrase. We believe that is what God has called us to be. But what does it take? First, what does compassion demand of us? We don’t simply want to be those who approve of compassion, or recognize compassion nine out of ten times. We want to live it and see the world changed through it. So, what is this most precious and beautiful of the gifts of God to us as His children? What is compassion? And how do we live it? Let’s find out together…

God‘s Game Plan - December 26 2021 - Ken Bell

Merry Christmas!
We pray the true joy of the season fills your home as we celebrate the birth of our savior!
We invite you to join us for Sunday worship as we celebrate the role our savior has for Christ Church entering the New Year!

Monologue - December 19, 2021 - Pastor Cheryl Lavornia

God is faithful. Although it's sometimes hard to see and feel this faithfulness, who God is...is always faithful. He is faithful to His Love, His mercy, and His forgiveness. But many times we find this challenging because we know who we are and what we are about. In this season of Advent, this week's candle is called Love. It's one more word God has given to us to express who He is and what He's about.

 

So come and be filled with His presence and His Love as we gather this Sunday to continue to press into when God's story became flesh.

Catalogue: To-Do List - December 12, 2021 - Pastor Vann Trapp

What if I were to write down all the amazing things that God has done for others over the centuries? The list would be impressive. But would it bring us joy? Not really.

 

Because while we can experience a certain amount of happiness for someone else’s success or when they receive an unexpected gift, joy is personal. Joy is when I receive some gift that I never expected, and more than would I ever think to ask for. That’s joy.

 

So, what makes the angel’s announcement “good news of great joy?” Was it because Mary would have the joy of having her child. Or because the shepherds would experience the joy of God’s angel talking to them? No. It was a message of joy because

Advent is God’s Story about how He saved you and me, not just them! It’s personal.

 

This third week of Advent we will consider the Joy of this Christmas story as we consider the catalogue of things that God has done, is doing, and has promised to do for us, because of Jesus. Come and see…

Dialogue: God‘s Answers in the Chaos - December 5, 2021 - Pastor Vann Trapp

Dialogue serves a good story in several important ways:

• Brings the story line into real time encounters
• Reveals information needed to understand the story that can be revealed in no other way
• Reveals the character of those speaking

 

Advent is about story… the Story… the Story Who became flesh and lived among us to invite us into His Story and into a dialogue with Him. This second week of Advent we will consider the increase of Peace that we find as we enter a conversation, a dialogue, with Jesus; a dialogue He started when His Story entered our world at Christmas. Come be a part…

Prologue: God‘s Opening Word - November 28, 2021 - Pastor Cheryl Lavornia

A good prologue performs one of many functions in a story: 

•  Foreshadowing events to come. 
•  Providing background information or backstory on the central conflict or
•  Establishing a point of view (either the main character's, or that of another character who is privy to the tale).

 

The Advent season is all about the coming of the story... the story that invited each of us to be part of the story God has been writing since the beginning. Come begin your Christmas season with this first week of Advent ... a reminder of the Hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Do What Matters - November 21 2021 - Pastor Vann Trapp

What to do, what to do? So many things we could be doing with our lives. What are the things that matter? Faith with no works is dead, but faith with worthless works isn’t any better. In the verse above, God clearly gives us two things that matter to Him. One has to do with others. The other has to do with us. Let’s talk about it…

Think then Speak - November 14 2021 - Pastor Vann Trapp

Let’s face it – our words can get us in trouble. We speak without thinking. We speak without understanding. We speak without even knowing sometimes what makes us want to speak. And it can get us crossways with each other. James said earlier to be slow to speak and over the course of his letter, he spends quite a bit of time unpacking what he meant by this. So, how can we learn to bridle our tongues so that we put our words to use for good instead of letting them run free to do so much damage? Let’s talk about it…

Hear then Do - November 7 2021 - Pastor Vann Trapp

We all know this, but we still need to be reminded; agreeing with what someone says makes no difference if we don’t act according to what we have heard. That is especially true when we hear from God. I know a lot of what God has said. I agree with most of it. (So, yes, there are things I still wrestle with…) But if I’m honest, I act on far less than I know or agree with. James says that doesn’t make sense. Doing is what makes the difference in this world, not just knowing… or even agreeing. Let’s talk about it…

Listen First - October 31 - Pastor Vann Trapp

How often do we speak before we think? Or definitely speak before we listen. Because listening is not just about hearing the sounds that come out of another person’s mouth, but rather, actually understanding what they are trying to communicate. God knows that if we would take the time to listen, we could avoid a lot of anger, misunderstandings and strains in our relationships. But James is not just talking about listening to each other. And he is not just talking about putting a slow fuse on our own anger. There is something even more important that he is communicating here. Will we take the time to truly hear what he is saying?  Let’s talk about it…