How You Show Up
Pastor Sean Palmer continues our series on navigating setbacks and disappointments, as we seek guidance from the life and winding tale of Joseph. The obstacles and circumstances we face are so often beyond our control, and we are not immune to the effects brought on by the destructive choices of others, but we always have our own choices to make in response. May God bless and direct you in the choices in front of you today.
Dealing With Disappointment
As we begin this new year of possibility, we find ourselves navigating yet another Covid surge; which continues to disrupt our present realities and our dreams for the season ahead. Pastor Chris enters the stories of Nicodemus and Joseph to ask us to consider how the setbacks we experience may be God urging us into a time of soul rebirth.
By Another Route
Ericka Graham teaches from the Epiphany story of the Magi; led in faithfulness to follow a mysterious course toward the infant Christ. So much of our story in recent seasons has been unlike anything we could have anticipated. We pray that Ericka’s message will be of deep encouragement as you seek to see and follow the star guiding you along unexpected paths into and throughout this new year of hope, liberation, and renewal.
Labor and Delivery
Pastor Mike Yager leads in our continued celebration of the season of Christmastide; asking us to consider what happens after the decorations are put away, and after those gathered at the manger have departed. What happens after Christmas when we feel as though little in us has changed? Mike invites us to be attentive to the new life God is growing within us as we look ahead in hope.
Advent: Week Four - At All Hours
Throughout Advent and in celebrating the Christmas season, we have sought to be a community who Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Teaching Pastor Sean Palmer leads the final week; urging us to embrace and embody Jesus’ directive regarding the demands of love. Then, Community Pastor Mike Yager offers a final invitation to participate as we look to gather our best gifts for Jesus as a family, joining in the work of bringing clean water to communities desperately in need around the world. You can make your Advent offering HERE.
Advent: Week Three - Not The Christmas You've Been Sold
As we continue observing this sacred season of anticipation, our hope is to be a people who Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Pastor Chris leads us in helping to dispel the myth of a Christmas best celebrated by extravagant consumption and debt, and invites us instead to consider thoughtful, prayerful gifts of our time and loving presence as a more meaningful reflection of God’s gift to us in Christ Jesus.
The Worship Table: Online Liturgy
Live Teaching Podcast
Scripture & Reflection
Proverbs 22:7
Proverbs 25:28
Exodus 20:17
1 Timothy 6:7-10
Psalm 51:11
1. Be Thoughtful, Not Impulsive
2. Abandon Signs of Status
3. Embrace Your Place in Life
4. Give People What They Really Crave
Advent: Week Two - Lavish Praise
In this second week of the Advent season, Pastor Chris Seay invites us to consider the story of a particularly extravagant gift extended to Jesus, and our call to generosity as springs from hearts of genuine worship. Our hope is that the whole Ecclesia family would join together in offering our very best gifts to Jesus in these weeks; partnering with efforts to bring clean water to vulnerable communities around the world. Continue to take part as we seek to Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Visit ecclesiahouston.org/advent to learn more, and to give toward that community offering.
Advent: Week One - What Happened to the Good News?
Pastor Sean Palmer ushers us into the Advent season with a rich call to generosity and justice. Join us throughout these sacred weeks; as we look to Christmas as a time that we as a family would worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all. Visit ecclesiahouston.org/advent for ways that you can take part as we await and celebrate Jesus’ coming.
Wander: Grateful
Episode 5: Grateful
The final episode in this contemplative series; Wander is an invitation to take a walk, whether in your neighborhood or in nature, and cultivate attentiveness to God’s presence. All you need is a pair of headphones and comfortable footwear. Voices will guide you through scripture, music, and reflection as you take part in this spiritual practice. We thank you for taking part, and hope you will continue using this resource (and sharing it with others!) in future seasons.
Lost Enchantment: Once It's Found
Pastor Sean Palmer offers an important word as our fall Enchantment series draws to a close. Engaging once again with the story of Moses, we are reminded that enchanted encounters with God, at their essence, are invitations which point us toward sacrificial love. Our sincere hope is that this series has been impactful, challenging, and has led you into a deeper attentiveness to the presence of God all around you.
Lost Enchantment: The Spirit Within
Pastor Sean Palmer continues our Fall series on rediscovering an enchanted faith; offering a vital reminder from the life and ministry of Jesus on living in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. May the truth reverberate as you receive this message, that the Spirit continues to move in the world, and in you.
Wander: Letting Go
Episode 4: Letting Go
As the fall weather comes (at last!) to greet us, we invite you to take a walk, whether in your neighborhood or in nature, and cultivate attentiveness to God’s presence. All you need is a pair of headphones and comfortable footwear. Voices will guide you through scripture, music, and reflection as you take part in this spiritual practice. New episodes will be released every other week throughout our Lost Enchantment teaching series.
Lost Enchantment: Made To Serve
Pastor Chris Seay continues our Fall series on rediscovering an enchanted faith, considering the ways that the Book of James, the life of St. Patrick, and Celtic spirituality guide us into lives of service. Chris also offers an important update on our newly opened campus in Lindale Park; operating as a community center that will meet significant needs for our neighbors and leading us into beautiful new relationships as we follow Jesus together.
Lost Enchantment: The Gifts of Contemplation
Continuing our fall series on rediscovering an enchanted faith, Ericka Graham taught during our online liturgy at The Worship Table, while Pastor Chris Seay led at the downtown campus. We consider the rhythms of contemplation, curiosity, and attentiveness which help us to not miss the burning bushes all around us.
Wander: Specks of Dust
As the fall weather comes (at last!) to greet us, we invite you to take a walk, whether in your neighborhood or in nature, and cultivate attentiveness to God’s presence. All you need is a pair of headphones and comfortable footwear. Voices will guide you through scripture, music, and reflection as you take part in this spiritual practice. New episodes will be released every other week throughout our Lost Enchantment teaching series.
Lost Enchantment: Liturgical Life
Lost Enchantment: Blueberries and Failed Brakes
Wander: The Sacred Ache
Episode 2: The Sacred Ache
As the fall weather comes (at last!) to greet us, we invite you to take a walk, whether in your neighborhood or in nature, and cultivate attentiveness to God’s presence. All you need is a pair of headphones and comfortable footwear. Voices will guide you through scripture, music, and reflection as you take part in this spiritual practice. New episodes will be released every other week throughout our Lost Enchantment teaching series.
Lost Enchantment: Experiencing Enchantment
Pastor Sean Palmer continues the series that is guiding us through the Fall season, as we consider what it means to recover an enchanted faith in an age of skepticism. Sean shares from the early days of Jesus’ ministry, and the little moments in our Savior is simply among the crowd. How might we be missing similar moments of that presence in our own midst?