Pastor Sean Palmer shares vulnerably from his own story, inviting us to consider how we are called to prepare for and enter into the sacred season of Lent. The desert is a place which can feel barren and hopeless, but is where God comes to meet us separated from our ego and defenses. May these weeks of fasting and contemplation transform our experience of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and help us to faithfully walk the path he has laid before us.

Pastor Chris Seay brought us into the fuller context around the often quoted John 3:16 in order to consider Jesus’ unfailing heart for the outsider, the truth he continually proclaimed about who he is, and the invitation of eternal hope that he offered to Nicodemus just as he freely and lovingly offers it to us and to all.

This past Sunday, we shared an incredible story from some new Ecclesians, our friends who were forced to flee Nicaragua due to political persecution and are currently in Houston as they process an asylum claim in the US. In an effort to safeguard this precious family, we’ll be sharing their story in a more limited manner than our usual weekly podcast feed. At the moment, this is a story just for our community. If you missed their story, look for an email on Monday February 18th with a link to the content.

As we continue our series on Love, we welcome guest speaker Michael Rudzena, from Trinity Grace Tribeca. Pastor Michael leads us in examining the importance of learning to love ourselves if we are to love others well. If we are going to love ourselves, we have to learn to know, accept, and feel ourselves. How can we listen to others if we cannot listen to ourselves?

Pastor Sean Palmer leads us this weekend as we reflect on the roadmap towards reconciliation. What does it look like to forgive someone when they have sinned against us, offended us, or done something wrong? Join us as we learn to embrace the call to reconcile, redeem and seek those we shall forgive.

It was a great joy to welcome back Dr. Richard Beck, who asked us to consider Jesus’ encounter with a leper in which the “unclean” man was met with a love that reached across boundaries; an encounter in which the promise of relationship preceded healing. We’re called to name the places of disgust and contempt that lead us to create an other, and ask God to help change our hearts into a radically different way of loving.

Pastor Chris Seay continues our series of conversations on love; exploring love as the antithesis and antidote for fear. When we truly receive God’s love and embrace in faith that the saving work of Christ has liberated us from shame and condemnation, our hearts and lives open up to love vulnerably, boldly, and courageously.

Ericka Graham invites us to consider the active rhythms of God’s love. The God who made us knows us intimately. The God who came down to be with us empathizes with our limps and burdens. The God who loves all is expansive and inclusive in gathering His people together. How will we live out these same rhythms as instruments of this cycle of love in ways that will transform countless lives and relationships?

Pastor Sean Palmer begins a series that will unfold in the coming weeks as we consider our call to greater love, directed by the love we first receive from God. In a world that views many Christians as a core part of the problem, in a culture shaped by “me first”, the only solution is the tireless commitment to love first; even and especially when it’s not easy.

Pastor Mike Yager leads us in the continued celebration of Christmas, inviting us to consider what the Incarnation and Jesus’ encounter with Mary and Martha tell us about our call to presence and participation. As we enter the new year, what rhythms will help us be with the God who has taken on flesh to be with us?

On this final Sunday of Advent, Pastor Chris Seay teaches from the first epistle of John, and our call to live with a pattern of gracious love for all; evidenced by way we care for those in need. Whether in Argentina, Zambia, or here in our own city, and everywhere in between, we are to be the hands and feet of our Savior; the active presence of a love that has no boundaries. If you’re accessing this via our iTunes podcast feed, please view the full video portion at ecclesiahouston.org/liturgy

During this final week of Advent, we invite you to join us in a rhythm of pause and reflection as we continue to consider our call to be radically changed by the arrival of Jesus into the world. Join us as we reflect on what it means to love all; to widen our tables to reflect the expansive love of God and the incarnate example of our Savior. We pray that this collection of music, prayer, and meditation will be a blessing and encouragement to you this week.

Pastor Chris Seay leads us in our continued journey through Advent as we anticipate the coming of Jesus. As we consider what it means to worship fully in this season; we are called to question the empires that we have made in our own image, and to joyfully turn them over to the one and true King, for whom we wait.

In this sacred season, we invite you to pause and join us in rhythms of reflection on the coming of our Savior. As we continue to consider our call to be radically changed by the arrival of Jesus into the world, how will we give more of our intentional time and presence; with loved ones, and all whom we share the gift of God’s Incarnation? We pray that this collection of music, prayer, and meditation will be a blessing and encouragement to you this week.

Our thanks to guest preacher Judy West for leading us this weekend in our continuing journey through the sacred season of Advent. As we consider what it means for us to be a people who give more, we are reminded that the gift of God’s incarnation was, and is, intentional, sacrificial, and personal.

As this sacred season of Advent continues, we invite you to pause and join us in rhythms of reflection on the coming of our Savior. Over the coming weeks, we will consider our renewed call to be radically changed by the arrival of Jesus into the world. As we seek to spend less, may we embrace the identity of a people of abundance, and not scarcity. We pray that this collection of music, prayer, and meditation would be a blessing and encouragement to you this week.

Pastor Sean Palmer leads us into an Advent season of great expectation as we anticipate Jesus’ coming and seek to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all. Sean invites us to consider how we might spend less in this season, to ask ourselves what is “enough”, and to commit to rhythms of limitation and simplicity that allow us to share even more as a family with communities in great need from the abundance that God has provided.

As we prepare for the sacred season of Advent, we invite you to pause and join us in rhythms of reflection on the coming of our Savior. Over the coming weeks, we will consider our renewed call to be radically changed by the arrival of Jesus into the world; a divine interruption. We pray that this collection of music, prayer, and meditation would be a blessing and encouragement to you this week.

Pastor Sean Palmer points us toward the Advent season with an important message on Mary’s scandalous pregnancy and the decisions that we (like Joseph) have to make in considering how to use our power and privilege. Will we choose to “break up” and further divide, or instead, the far more difficult road of participating in the ways that God’s Kingdom is “breaking in”?

Pastor Chris Seay continues our conversation from last week; sharing stories of hope from the migrant caravan in Mexico City, and looking ahead toward what we pray will be a deeply transformative season of Advent. As we seek to be a people who worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all; what might we rediscover as we give ourselves fully to the invitation of these sacred weeks of anticipation and longing?