Author: Evangelical Reformed UCC

Palm Sunday – March 24, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Palm Sunday – March 24, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 AM Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary and online.

March 24– Palm Sunday
“Songs of loudest praise”

As Holy Week begins, Peter is no longer front and center, and so we imagine he is with the rest of the disciples when Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt. As they witness crowds shouting hosannas, the disciples are confused. When they look back on this experience, perhaps they will remember the songs. The singing is surely etched in their memories. As we imagine ourselves in the crowd on this day, may we remember that they are supposed to be praising Caesar, but instead they are shouting for the one entering the city on a donkey. Their singing is subversive, courageous, and contagious. Their praise shows the ripple effect of public displays of faith.

The Senior Choir will be singing. Market Street Brass will offer special music.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the March 24 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

March 17, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

March 17, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 AM Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary and online.

March 17 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
“Teach me”

Psalm 119:9-16 | Matthew 18:15-22

Peter is often all or nothing—either resisting Jesus or drawing closer to him in earnest. In this scripture, we see a version of Peter who is hungry to learn. His posture is humble and open—he wants to absorb Jesus’ teachings like a wet sponge. He asks a question and might expect a straightforward answer: “How many times should I forgive?” Instead, Jesus’ math is not predictable—it’s infinite. Forgiveness is abundant; grace is not earned. In your own faith, do you find comfort in theological formulas? Do you wish for straightforward answers? Can you let go of black-and-white thinking and instead embrace the infinite colors of grace?

Today, we will hear special music by the Cambridge Handbell Choir and the Senior Choir will offer their Lenten Cantata – Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the March 17 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

March 10, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

March 10, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 AM Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary and online.

March 10 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
“I’m fixed upon it”

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 | Matthew 16: 21-23

When your world unravels and your beliefs are tested, you may cling to what you know. As Jesus foretells his death and resurrection, Peter protests. Peter is fixed upon the way he thinks things should go; he resists the pain of what will come. But Jesus is fixed upon his calling and calls Peter out. For everyone, there comes a time when your faith is tested and you will have to face difficult and inconvenient truths. We may want to take the easier path, the path with less pain. We may want to cling to easy or simplistic answers. Instead, what does it look like to welcome complexity? Can you stay fixed upon your convictions while also expanding your perspective?

Spirit will be sharing in music leadership this morning. Today we will be celebrating the baptism of Caiseal Penn Bernstein Lynch.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the March 10 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

March 3, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

March 3, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 AM Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary and online.

March 3 – Third Sunday in Lent
“Praise the mount”

Psalm 19 | Matthew 16: 13-20

“Praise the mount of God’s unchanging love. . . ”
This lyric represents Peter’s mountaintop faith moment. It speaks to spiritual euphoria and feeling the closeness of God. In this story, Peter proclaims who Jesus is. He speaks with conviction. Peter claims his faith. If you had to speak your faith in one sentence or phrase, what would you say? When we have the courage to say, “This, I believe…” then that conviction has a ripple effect on others. When life gets rocky, we lean on mountaintop moments and our deepest convictions to see us through.

We will receive new members and share in communion this morning. The Senior Choir will be singing.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the March 3 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

February 25, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

February 25, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 AM Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary and online.

February 25 – Second Sunday in Lent
“Rescue me from danger”

Psalm 22:23-31 | Matthew 14:22-33

As a new disciple, perhaps Peter wants to prove himself. Boldly, in the middle of a storm, Peter steps out of the boat to join Jesus who is walking on top of the waves. He, too, walks on water until the wind shakes his trust and he begins to sink. Many of us know what it feels like to be thrown off balance, to feel as if we’re sinking. Maybe this looks like doubt, unexpected change, too-busy seasons of life, devastating grief, or distance from God. In this story, we empathize with the desperation Peter feels as he cries out, and we pray for God to save us when we sink.

The Senior Choir will be singing.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the February 25 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

February 18, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

February 18, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 AM Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary and online.

February 18 – First Sunday in Lent
“Jesus sought me”

Psalm 25:1-10 | Luke 5:1-11

Jesus doesn’t seek out trained rabbis and priests to be his disciples; instead, he calls a few Galilean fishermen to follow him and join his ministry. In this story, Jesus tells Simon Peter to drop his nets one more time, even though they’ve been fishing all night long and have caught nothing. To their surprise, they haul in nets bursting with fish. In response to this abundant miracle, Peter says, “Go away from me, Lord!” And yet, Peter and his partners drop their nets and follow Jesus. What is the beginning of your faith story? When has God sought you out? Have you ever felt like your calling was pursuing—or chasing—you? Did you resist? Did you follow?

The Senior Choir will be singing.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the February 18 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

February 11, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

February 11, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 AM Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary and online.

Transfiguration Sunday

2 Kings 2:1-12  |  Mark 9:2-9

The Season after the Epiphany ends with the story of Jesus’ transfiguration in Mark 9: 2-9. This revealing of Jesus’ glory is a turning point, marking the end of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and the beginning of the journey towards Jerusalem and the fate that awaits Jesus there. Just before today’s reading, Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. But Peter does not understand Jesus’ teaching about the kind of Messiah Jesus has come to be.

It is in the seeing and understanding that God’s messenger is known. In 2 Kings 2:1–12, the prophet Elijah is carried up to heaven, and Elisha glimpses the sacred and comes to a fuller understanding of who Elijah is. Elisha receives a double portion of the spirit of Elijah and is thus known as a prophet in the true succession.

The Rev. Kirstin Shrom-Rhoads will be preaching. Spirit will be sharing in music leadership this morning.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the February 11 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.

February 4, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

February 4, 2024 – 10:30 AM Worship Service

Join Evangelical Reformed UCC’s 10:30 AM Worship Service in our Main Sanctuary and online.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Isaiah 40:21-31 | Mark 1:29-39

The readings today affirm the importance of prayer in keeping our focus for ministry. Restored by God’s transforming love, we are reshaped as messengers of good news. In our Gospel lesson, Mark 1:29-39, as Jesus is seeking rest at the home of Simon and Andrew, he is called upon to heal Simon’s mother-in-law. Crowds begin to press in around the house, demanding more words and deeds of power from Jesus. Isaiah 40: 21-31 calls God’s people to remember that God – who created the universe and rules everything within it – is their source of strength.

We will share in communion this morning. The Senior Choir will be singing.

Click here to WATCH the 10:30 AM Worship Service Live or On-Demand

Click here to to VIEW the February 4 Worship Bulletin

ERUCC also holds a healing worship service with Holy Communion at 8:30 AM.