This weekend we will be opening up our Bibles to Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul falls to his knees and prays to "the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven on earth." Paul's prayer is passionate, deep, overflowing and full of hope. As humans who crave to be loved Paul offers us a love that promises to keep us strong. He invites us to be lost in a love that is boundless. As we prepare for learning more about this love on Sunday, I would suggest that this preperation could begin most effectively in prayer on our knees. This love is not something that we will learn only with our minds. This is an experience which Paul prays that we will have. How do we experience this love? How does it keep us strong? Can God really do infinitely more than we might ask or think? Does Paul come from a different planet when he says that we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God? This sure sounds heavenly but does it connect with us "earthlings" who see brokness within and without?

When we hear the phrasethe big reveal,our minds often turn to moments when a company unveils a major new venture. Think for a momentwhen a big reveal happens, who do you imagine delivering it? Naturally, we might picture the CEO or CFO announcing the next groundbreaking plan. In Ephesians 3:113, Paul tells us that God Himself revealed a mysterious plan. Perhaps you might ask: What makes a good messenger? Is it the man with the money? Is it the person with the power? Is it the CEO or the CFO? If you were to imagine the courts of heavenGod seated on the throne, ready to unveil His planwho might He choose to carry that message to the world? As you read this passage, consider: Who did God reveal the plan too? Who is given the task of spreading the details about the plan? What is the plan? Whats the purpose?

In these days of division by race, class, creed, gender, and politics, etc., the message of Christ is so desperately neededin whom there is neither slave nor free, Jew nor Gentile, male nor female; all are one. We all stand on a level playing field before God. Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. I encourage you to read Ephesians 2:1122 and ponder the power of the cross to bring peace and reconciliation in a world full of division and strife.

This weekend, ourRootedReturnseries continues as we openEphesians 2:110.I encourage you to read this passage in a few different translations and take note of what stands out. Notice how the passage begins withdeath, self-serving ways, and Gods anger. See thedramatic changewhenJesus enters life and glory! Reflect on what it means to beGods masterpiece created to make a real difference in this world. Who are thedeadand who are thealive?How do we move fromdeath to life?What does it mean to beGods masterpiece?Whatgood worksare we called to do?

Pastor John brings a powerful message from the Book of Esther For Such a Time as This.Esther was chosen by God for a specific purpose in a specific moment. The very fact that you are alive today, that you have breath in your lungs, and that you are placed in your neighborhood and context, means that God has positioned youfor such a time as this. Join us as Pastor John shares a convicting, challenging, and encouraging word from the story of Esther.

If you had one sentence to describe who God is, what would you say? If you had one sentence to describe who you are in Christ, what would you say? This Sunday, we begin our new sermon series onEphesianstitledRooted Return. As we return from summer into fall, from outdoor services to indoor gatherings, were reminded that life is full of returns. We often need to return from the narratives the world tells usor even the lies we tell ourselvesback to the truth of who we are in Jesus. InEphesians 1:114, Paul gives us a powerful reminder of that truth. In the original language, verses 314 form a single, amazing sentenceoverflowing with promises about who God is and what he's done for us. This week, we will gather to explore that one sentence together. In preparation, take time to read it in several translations. Pray over it. Ask:What do these promises mean? Who is God? Who am I in Christ?

Dr. Justin Bradbury