Sin and Repentance

March 16, 2025
Second Sunday in Lent
Luke 13:1-9
“Sin and Repentance”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Where You Came From”. We will be reading from Luke 13:1-9, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 63.

Call to Worship, Psalm 63:1-8
Leader: O God, you are my God,
People: I seek you, my soul thirsts for you;
Leader: My flesh faints for you,
People: As in a dry and weary land where there is not water.
Leader: So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
People: Beholding your power and glory.
Leader: Because your steadfast love is better than life,
People: My lips will praise you.
Leader: So I will bless you as long as I live;
People: I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
Leader: My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
People: And my mouth praises you with joyful lips
Leader: When I think of you on my bed,
People: And meditate on you in the watches of the night;
Leader: For you have been my help,
People: And in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
Leader: My soul clings to you;
People: Your right hand upholds me.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus speaks to the people with a sense of urgency.
How can his urgency challenge us to be better disciples?
How can we channel that to do good things for our neighbors?

Where You Come From

March 09, 2025
First Sunday in Lent
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
“Where You Came From”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Where You Came From”. We will be reading from Deuteronomy 26:1-11, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 91.

Call to Worship, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
Leader: You who live in the shelter of the Most High
People: Who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Leader: Will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.”
People: For he will deliver you from the deadly pestilence;
Leader: He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge;
People: His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Leader: You will not fear the terror of the night,
People: Or the arrow that flies by day,
Leader: Or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
People: Or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Leader: Those who love me, I will deliver;
People: I will protect those who know my name.
Leader: When they call to me, I will answer them;
People: I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
Leader: With long life I will satisfy them,
People: And show them my salvation.

Questions for Further Reflection:
Think about your hometown.
How did it shape your character?
How did it shape your faith?
How does God’s call continue to shape you as a person?

The Truth

March 2, 2025
Transfiguration Sunday
Luke 9:28-36
“The Truth”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Truth”. We will be reading from Luke 9:28-36, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 99.

Call to Worship, from Psalm 99
Leader: The Lord is great in Zion;
People: He is exalted over all the peoples.
Leader: Let them praise your great and awesome name.
People: Holy is he!
Leader: Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity;
People: You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Leader: Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also called on his name.
People: They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
Leader: He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
People: They kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.
Leader: O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them,
People: But an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Leader: Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain;
People: For the Lord our God is holy.

Questions for Further Reflection:
The Transfiguration is a wonderful, mysterious event in history.
What does it say about Jesus’ identity?
How does his identity affect ours?

The Challenge

February 23, 2025
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 6:27-38
“The Challenge”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Challenge”.  We will be reading from Luke 6:27-38, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 37

Call to Worship, from Psalm 37

Leader: The Lord knows the days of the blameless,

People: And their heritage will abide forever;

Leader: They are not put to shame in evil times,

People: In the days of famine they have abundance.

Leader: Our steps are made firm by the Lord,

People: When he delights in our way;

Leader: Though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,

People: For the Lord holds us by the hand.

Leader: Depart from evil, and do good;

People: So you shall abide forever.

Leader: For the Lord loves justice;

People: He will not forsake his faithful ones.

Leader: The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

People: He is their refuge in the time of trouble.

Questions for Further Reflection:

This passage calls us to love our enemies.

Why would Jesus call us to do that?

The Sermon

February 16, 2025
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 6:17-26
“The Sermon”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Sermon”. We will be reading from Luke 6:17-26, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 1.

Call to Worship, from Psalm 1
Leader: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
People: Or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
Leader: But their delight is in the law of the Lord,
People: And on his law they meditate day and night.
Leader: They are like trees planted by streams of water,
People: Which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.
Leader: In all that they do, they prosper.
People: The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Leader: Therefore the wicked will not stand in judgment,
People: Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
Leader: For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
People: But the way of the wicked will perish.

Questions for Further Reflection:
The tension in this passage issues a challenge to us modern Christians.
Where are my blind spots, that is, who are the people I may not realize I’m ignoring?
What would it mean to go looking for them?
What should I do when I find them?

The Disciples

February 9, 2025
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 5:1-11
“The Disciples”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Disciples”. We will be reading from Luke 5:1-11, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 138.

Call to Worship, from Psalm 138
Leader: I give you thanks O Lord, with my whole heart;
People: Before the gods I sing your praise;
Leader: I bow down towards your holy temple
People: And give thanks for your steadfast love and faithfulness;
Leader: For you have exalted your name and word above everything.
People: On the day I called, you answered me, you strengthened by soul.
Leader: All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
People: For they have heard the words of your mouth.
Leader: They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
People: For great is the glory of the Lord.
Leader: For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
People: But the haughty he perceives from far away.
Leader: Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
People: You preserve me against the wrath of my enemies.
Leader: The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
People: Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus’ words have a lot of power.
How does he change the lives of Simon, James, and John?
How can his words change your life and the life of your community?

The Resistance

February 2, 2025
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 4:21-30
“The Resistance”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Resistance”. We will be reading from Luke 4:21-30, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 71.

Call to Worship, from Psalm 71

Leader: In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
People: In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
Leader: Incline your ear to me and save me.
People: Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me,
Leader: For you are my rock and my fortress.
People: Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
Leader: From the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
People: For you, O Lord, are my hope,
Leader: My trust, O Lord, from my youth.
People: Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
Leader: It was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
People: My praise is continually of you.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus draws a wide circle for God’s love.
Why might people be nervous when Jesus starts drawing such a wide circle?
What does it mean to worship a God of wide circles?

The Mission

January 26, 2025
Third Sunday after Epiphany
“The Mission”
Luke 4:14-21
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Mission”.  We will be reading from Luke 4:14-21, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 19.

Call to Worship Psalm 19:7-10, 14

Leader: The law of the Lord is perfect,

People: Reviving the soul;

Leader: The decrees of the Lord are sure,

People: Making wise the simple;

Leader: The precepts of the Lord are right,

People: Rejoicing the heart;

Leader: The commandment of the Lord is clear,

People: Enlightening the eyes;

Leader: The fear of the Lord is pure,

People: Enduring forever;

Leader: The ordinances of the Lord are true

People: And righteous altogether.

Leader: More to be desired are they than gold,

People: Even much fine gold;

Leader: Sweeter also than honey,

People: And drippings of the honeycomb.

Leader: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

People: Be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Questions for Further Reflection:

In this passage, Jesus plainly states the purpose of his ministry — the lowly will be lifted up.

Why does the gospel start with the lowly?

How can we join Jesus in his mission?

The First of His Signs

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The First of His Signs”. We will be reading from John 2:1-11, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 36.

Call to Worship Psalm 36:5-10
Leader: Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
People: Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Leader: Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
People: You save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
Leader: How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
People: All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Leader: They feast on the abundance of your house,
People: And you give them drink from the river of your delights.
Leader: For with you is the fountain of life;
People: In your light we see light.
Leader: O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
People: And your salvation to the upright of heart!

Questions for Further Reflection:

This is a story about presence.

What does it mean that Jesus was present at a normal, human wedding?

How does his presence affect the world around him, then and now?

As a reminder, you can also find an archive of our services online at the HVBC YouTube Channel.

Memories

January 12, 2025
Baptism of the Lord Sunday
Isaiah 43:1-7
“Memories”
Rev. Benjamin J. Wines

We look forward to joining you in Worship this Sunday, starting at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Memories”. We will be reading from Isaiah 43:1-7, and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 29.

Call to Worship, Psalm 29:1-4, 7-8a, 10-11
Leader: Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
People: Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Leader: Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
People: Worship the Lord in holy splendor.
Leader: The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
People: The God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
Leader: The voice of the Lord is powerful;
People: The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
Leader: The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
People: The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness.
Leader: The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
People: The Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
Leader: May the Lord give strength to his people!
People: May the Lord bless his people with peace!

As a reminder, you can also find an archive of our services online at the HVBC YouTube Channel.