Meet Berean Baptist Church
A video produced by our friend Ray Stachelek, introducing Berean Baptist Church. Contains Video of our Pride Service and our two Outdoor Worship Services.
This week we begin to gather together as a community of faith after a summer of vacations, beach visits and well-deserved sleeping in on Sunday Morning. There are probably many reasons that we decide to get up on Sunday morning and meet together as the Church of Jesus Christ. Perhaps it is the sense of belonging, the desire for comfort in the midst of troubles, an opportunity to be agents of peace and good-will in the world, or the mysterious experience of the transcendent. These reasons and more I'm sure, are what we mean when think or say or feel that we desire the presence of God in the community called church. No matter what your reason, you will be welcome and safe at Berean. We hope you will join us at 474 Chapel Street, 10am!
Worship This Sunday
10am
This Sunday we begin a new sermon series that we are calling 'Beginning Again.' Inspired by this back-to-school season, the desire for political change and renewal in our society and the stories that many friends share of the desire to grow as a person and a Christian, we are going to start in Genesis and work our way toward the Gospels, exploring these ancient stories that voice the desire of humans to move beyond defeat and disappointment and bear witness to the God who is always creating, calling and urging us to journey through life with faith.
This week we look at Genesis 3. The story is known to many as 'The Fall.' Adam and Eve eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. Very often this story is interpreted as the explanation for how sin came into the world through a disobedient humanity. But we are going to take a different path into the story and see what we find. In this chapter we learn that once Adam and Eve eat the fruit, they realize that they are naked and immediately make clothes out of fig leaves, because they are ashamed.
Cultural observers are commenting on the society of shame that is developing around and through social media. Women are shamed because their body types do not conform to some ideal. Cyber-bullying,which I interpret as a form of shaming, is a serious issue for our children and grand-children. Unemployed or Under-employed parents feel shame that they cannot provide for their children. So I see the story of Adam and Eve as a story of being freed from shame, whether it is shame due to our own fault or shame that is forced upon us. The story of Adam and Eve is not meant to cause us shame, but to give us hope that we can move beyond shame to blessing and knowing we are beloved.
This week we look at Genesis 3. The story is known to many as 'The Fall.' Adam and Eve eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. Very often this story is interpreted as the explanation for how sin came into the world through a disobedient humanity. But we are going to take a different path into the story and see what we find. In this chapter we learn that once Adam and Eve eat the fruit, they realize that they are naked and immediately make clothes out of fig leaves, because they are ashamed.
Cultural observers are commenting on the society of shame that is developing around and through social media. Women are shamed because their body types do not conform to some ideal. Cyber-bullying,which I interpret as a form of shaming, is a serious issue for our children and grand-children. Unemployed or Under-employed parents feel shame that they cannot provide for their children. So I see the story of Adam and Eve as a story of being freed from shame, whether it is shame due to our own fault or shame that is forced upon us. The story of Adam and Eve is not meant to cause us shame, but to give us hope that we can move beyond shame to blessing and knowing we are beloved.
We are so excited to welcome children and teens back for Sunday School this Sunday! We have a new curriculum for the children, Faith Steps. All children, from K through elementary will meet with Miss Ann during worship. There lesson this week will be about David the poet and musician who became the King of Israel. So your children will explore their God-given artistic creativity!
Teens will remain in worship, and after the sermon join Miss Donna to discuss the scripture and sermon they have just heard and how it applies to their lives.
Teens will remain in worship, and after the sermon join Miss Donna to discuss the scripture and sermon they have just heard and how it applies to their lives.