|
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 10, 2026 Tomorrow in worship, I will be inviting the congregation to drink from the waters of hope. As I was doing some reading this past week, I stumbled across an interview with the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, the Sr. Minister of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia. Since Rev. Hale started the church, it has been one of the strongest congregations in our denomination, and she serves as a powerful voice for the Gospel. And I would add that like the name of the church suggests, she is a ray of hope. In the interview with the Alban Institute at Duke Divinity School, she said, “The message never changes. The methods may change, but the message never changes. And my hope is that the church, that pastors and people, will clearly understand our responsibility as well as our privilege to represent God in the world. And that no matter what is going on, we will always be focused on that call, that unique call that is ours in Christ Jesus and never negotiate or play with that. That we’ll be serious about that.” Rev. Hale spoke of a hope she has, and how the hope gives rise to a responsibility of representing God to the world. I do not believe in her mind this hope was wishful thinking, rooted in nothing more than a pipe dream. For her, it is rooted in Jesus, and for that reason, it inspires a deep sense of responsibility. It is often said, “I might be the only representative of Jesus that someone might encounter,” and if that’s true, what kind of Jesus is that person meeting? None of us will ever be perfect, but if we take the responsibility seriously, and recognize our hope rests on the unshakable foundation of Jesus, then I imagine we will do okay… maybe even better than okay. Continue to provide me hope, O God of all good gifts. It is this gift that allows me to see what may not be easily seen in the chaos and hatefulness of this world. Because my hope is built on the life and teachings of Jesus, I find the capacity to live into that hope in such a way that others will catch a glimpse of your dream, the dream embodied in Jesus. Amen.
0 Comments
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 9, 2026 I can still remember my grandmother giving me a quarter before leaving my grandparents’ home on the way to church one summer. It was for the offering, but there was something new. I had been given money in the past to put in the offering tray, but this time, my grandmother knew I had some money with me. And her expectation this time was that I would match the quarter she gave me with a quarter from my own money. Suddenly, giving during the offering time wasn’t fun anymore. In fact, it hurt a little. And though I wish I could tell you that when I finally released what was in my hand and placed the two quarters in the offering tray, I felt nothing but joy. My memory isn’t great, but I’m pretty sure joy was not what I felt in that moment. If anything, I was probably already trying to figure out for future visits a way of declining my grandma’s quarter so that I did not need to give my own quarter. Giving in support of the church and its mission, often referred to as stewardship, is something that is learned over time. In high school, I had made a pledge to the church’s budget. I gave weekly for a while, but then my giving sort of dropped off. I was working, and so I had money, but it became less of a priority. But as we got to November, and I saw how much I had promised toward my pledge, I felt a little guilty. Now guilt is never to be a motivation for giving, but I ended up giving about 50% of one of my paychecks to get caught up, and it hurt. Over the years, Donna and I have grown significantly in our stewardship. When we got married, we were very consistent, but it was both a small amount and a relatively small percentage of our take-home pay. But we were intentional in growing our giving. We also brought that approach to our spending, choosing to be more conservative than some. Even when purchasing a home on two different occasions, we were shocked when the bank told us what we could afford. Maybe… technically. But we chose to spend significantly less, which provided us with more money. And at no point did we feel sad about not having a bigger house. In fact, we saved even more on insurance and utilities. We did all of that, not to prop up an institution, but because we believed in a mission. In recent years, our giving to the church has exceeded 10% of our take-home pay. I’m not saying that to boast, but to share what is possible when one is intentional… and takes steps each year. Now I know people who give away more than 10% of their pre-taxed income. We’re not there. Not even close. But I applaud the generosity. And in every case, the generosity was not out of guilt or because grandma had sort of made it a requirement. The people I know have a real passion to see the mission of Jesus Christ come alive in the world, believing this world can, assuming people are intentional, move toward greater kindness, mercy, love, and justice. Little steps! Show me, God of encouraging love, how to take a step, followed by another, and then another. I trust you to show me how. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 8, 2026 Guest Writers: Phil and Pattie Chapman Writing about Cypress Creek An Oasis in the Desert Isaiah 35:6-7: “For waters shall gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.” These verses speak of God’s promise of restoration, renewal, and joyful healing. They also remind us that even in the driest seasons of our lives, God can provide the living water we need. As children of the ’60s, we spent free time on Saturday mornings in front of the television watching Merry Melodies and Looney Tunes. Many of those cartoons were set in a desert, where the action often revolved around an oasis—a small pool of fresh water surrounded by palm trees. During a recent vacation to Morocco and the Sahara Desert, however, we discovered that this childhood view of an oasis was not quite accurate. Our tour bus traveled through several steep valleys where streams flowed along the valley floors, surrounded by lush vegetation. Villagers built their homes and planted crops nearby because of the life-giving water. Our guide pointed out one of these areas and called it an “oasis.” Looking out the bus window, we realized that an oasis was not simply a misplaced puddle in the desert, but a stream that brought life, nourishment, and hope to everything around it. Like most Christians, we have experienced seasons when our spiritual lives felt like a desert—dry, empty, and in need of refreshing. That may seem surprising because we have both spent our lives actively involved first in the Baptist, then in the Methodist church. We’ve sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, served on church boards and as members of the congregation. Yet, even with all those experiences, in 2026 we had something missing from our spiritual life. We found ourselves searching for a place where the “living water” of faith could once again flow freely, making our “parched ground” a living pool. Our first visit to Cypress Creek Christian Church was memorable. We were impressed by the music and preaching, but we loved the fact that the choir remained seated during Ann’s postlude. That courtesy and respect for the organist and the music spoke volumes to us. That Sunday also brought an invitation from Joel to join the choir for the summer services. What followed was a wonderful series of “firsts”—participating in special music, discovering the friendliness of the choir, meeting new friends, and reconnecting with old acquaintances. God has used Cypress Creek Christian Church as our own oasis. Here, we’ve found water gushing forth in what had become our spiritual desert. We are grateful for the warm, loving welcome we have received and excited about the journey ahead. We look forward to growing with you and, in turn, becoming an oasis of welcome and encouragement for others. Prayer: Father, thank You for being our source of living water. When our lives become dry and weary, remind us that You can bring streams into the desert and make parched ground flourish again. Thank You for leading us to people and places where our faith can be renewed and our spirits refreshed. Help us to share that same life-giving water with others who may be searching for hope, belonging, and renewal. In Jesus’ name. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 7, 2026 In Sunday’s sermon, I spoke of drinking from the waters of inclusion. As we become a more fractured society, where more and more people are driven into silos that become echo chambers of a single idea, there is an opportunity for those who follow Jesus to offer a very different way of thinking. Interestingly, Jesus welcomed just about everyone, yet he did seem to offer a qualification when certain people’s beliefs dismissed the humanity of another. There were those who prioritized religious legalism over compassion. Rules eclipsed the God-reflected image in the person who was regarded as less than. It wasn’t that Jesus rejected those who had bought into legalistic dogma, yet as long as they lived in such a way as to diminish the value of another, it was impossible for Jesus to say, “All opinions are welcome.” It was in Matthew 23 that Jesus unleashed numerous woes, a deep and painful lament against those who refused to put love and mercy above legalism and cruelty. In the life of the church, there are always many opinions. And generally, I like it. Many people have shared an alternative view that was simply beyond my capacity to see in the moment, and their insight expanded my understanding of God, faith, or some other theological idea. Yet, what does it mean to be inclusive and a safe place for those who have felt excluded, scapegoated, and dismissed all their lives? Church is always a challenge. However, it is also capable of bringing amazing transformation to both individual lives and even the culture in which we live. O God who is gentle and compassionate, while also fiercely defending the weakest among us, we seek to be a church that can navigate true inclusion, while also protecting those who have known injury… especially those who have known injury from the church. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 6, 2026 Guest Writer: Rev. Graham Watson The NIrV translation of Psalm 1 begins with: “Blessed is the person who obeys the law of the Lord. They don’t follow the advice of evil people. They don’t make a habit of doing what sinners do.” Like a mountain stream, working on the staff of Cypress Creek Christian Church is a life-giving environment that naturally inspires reflection on one’s character and habits. This has been one gift of working for Cypress Creek, and hopefully, these life-giving waters create times of reflection to ask oneself: “Where am I in the habit of doing what sinners do?” As the adage says: “Watch your habits; they become your character.” We all have things to work on, but I treasure that these waters do not flow toward what sinners do. As we try to flow in the direction of God’s love, I see the church’s light shine like sunlight glinting off clear waters. This life-giving company is something I experience in my daily life, and hopefully, you experience it when you are at the church, worshiping online, reading an etching, a newsletter, an email, or getting a phone call from this team. Part of the life-giving waters is our Family Life Program. I was called into this community to direct/organize the church’s outpouring of love for the children, youth, and their families. I remember we hosted a Whole Church Family Game Night, and then hearing at the end, "We need to do this again." There have been so many moments like that where someone has stepped up, offered what they had, or just shown up as someone willing to be there for our students, so thank you, on behalf of our students, their families, this church, and personally. Lord, we offer gratitude for the life-giving waters and the calling of trees to bear fruit. You root us in love, and not wicked counsel. When we abide in You, You abide in us. It’s your loving Spirit which produces the fruit. Thank you for good company and the grace to repent, flowing instead in the outpouring of your love. May your love ever flow through us. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 5, 2026 From the handout in worship yesterday…
Prayer: Holy God who searches out the lost and forgotten, and who walks alongside those who have been regarded as outsiders, we acknowledge how our insecurities create a condition by which we claim our inclusion by creating an alternative group of excluded. Reveal to us the far-reaching implications of Jesus’ ministry of welcome, and how it made real your dream here on earth. May we learn from Jesus, and then do likewise. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 4, 2026 It will all come together at a meal later this morning as we celebrate World Communion Sunday. Soon, churches all over the globe will focus attention on a table found in the center of their worship space. It usually isn’t an extravagant table, though it will hold elements filled copiously with meaning. We will speak of God’s grace revealed in those simple elements, and we will pray for the experience at the Table to make everyone feel welcome, an embodied expression of the Gospel. I pray that everyone gathering around those tables, near and far, will be reminded of the life modeled in Jesus, and in doing so, will choose to do as the Apostle Paul suggested, to live one’s “…life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). Where bread is broken and a cup is shared, we believe you will be present to teach and encourage us in the ways of welcome, O Lord. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 3, 2026 As I mentioned in last Sunday’s sermon, the church has enjoyed a strange relationship with gatekeepers—those who understand their task as vigilantly guarding the entrance into the Body of Christ. And though many churches may wave banners of welcome, giving the impression that all will find a place at the table, the gatekeepers limit access until one has proven him/herself worthy. The ancient temple in Jerusalem featured four main concentric courtyards, arranged in order from less holy (furthest circle out, and the largest) to most holy (the center circle, and the smallest). As one might attempt to move inward, there were literal gatekeepers, those who could say YES or NO. The intent is not to simply call out ancient Judaism, but acknowledge how religion has this exclusionary attitude, and in recent years, certain segments of Christianity have really gotten good at it, especially when it comes to who is allowed at the Communion Table. This sort of gatekeeping seems to offer an alternative reading to what I believe is pretty clear in Luke 15:1-3, “Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” There is a lot of grumbling at the gate where too many are made to feel unwelcome, yet the gatekeepers were grumbling about Jesus’ hospitality, love, and wide-open welcome wherever he might sit for a meal. Well, as much as the grumbling gatekeepers are not the most enjoyable guests to invite to the party, Jesus seemed to enjoy meals with them as well. Tomorrow is World Communion Sunday, and though things will not look all that different at Cypress Creek Christian Church, our prayer will be for the church to challenge the gatekeepers in the name of Jesus, the one who wasn’t interested in the identity markers assigned to people. Instead, he was interested in the people and their yearning to find true and transformative welcome. Teach me, O Holy God of Welcome, to dismantle the gates that too many enjoy standing watch over. Let’s start with the gates, and then move to the fences that have for far too long been used to identify who is IN and who is OUT. All the wood used for the gates and fences could be repurposed to expand the table and create more chairs, a true act of grace. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 2, 2026 We are a few weeks into the college football season, and I wonder how many teams heard a speech from a coach in the weeks before the season started that begin with something like, “Guys, this season is going to be our season.” Sadly, for many who heard the speech, so far the season has not been their season. There was great hope, yet that hope has been dashed by reality. Growing up a Nebraska Cornhusker fan in the years when they finished top five all the time, and often played for the national championship, there have been seasons over the last 15 years where I said out loud, “This is going to be our season,” and four games in, with only one win, it was clear that it would not be our season. I’m guessing there are few folks reading this who can relate. As you will hear in the weeks ahead, I believe it is Cypress Creek Christian Church’s season. This is our time, for we are those who have chosen to plant ourselves near living water, and the fruit we are bearing is sustenance for which many in our community yearn. This is our season, and the unique ministry to which we are called directly meets the deeper questions more and more people are asking. This is our season. I’m not suggesting the past has been empty of such moments. Far from it! But today, there are not enough churches, at least in my opinion, who are speaking beyond some of the culture war nonsense. Yet the exodus from Christianity right now is not because people lack of interest in the things of faith, but there is unwillingness to claim a Jesus that is used as a mascot for bigotry and selfishness. Even people who have very little Christian background are saying, “I don’t believe that reflects Jesus.” Let’s not pretend that Cypress Creek Christian Church is perfect. Far from it! Yet God uses those who have chosen to plant themselves near living water, and I believe more and more people know us at Cypress Creek by the fruit we bear (Matthew 7:20) because this is a season to produce unconditional love, mercy, acceptance, inclusion, and a real desire to see justice and peace in our world. As we allow your grace-filled waters to give us life, O Lord, we pray for the fruit we bear to be the fruit that will nourish our community and beyond. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 1, 2026 Guest Writer: Karla Bryant, Church Member After I first read Psalm 1:3, I was struck by the image of a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in its season and never withering. I realized that my spiritual life had been more like a potted plant—limited in growth, easily moved, and dependent on occasional watering. I longed to be rooted deeply in God’s Word, nourished daily, and producing fruit that would bless others. At Cypress Creek Christian Church, I began by enrolling in the church’s discipleship courses, which felt like rich streams flowing into my soul. Week after week, I learned not only about Scripture but also about living it out—how to pray with purpose, how to serve with humility, and how to share my faith with confidence. These classes became my roots, anchoring me in truth and helping me withstand the storms of life. As my roots deepened, I felt compelled to bear fruit. I joined volunteer opportunities—helping with the greeters, vacation bible school, communion, and bells. Each act of service was like a branch stretching outward, offering shade and nourishment to others. I discovered that serving wasn’t just about meeting needs; it was about letting God’s love flow through me in tangible ways. Through discipleship and service, my faith matured. I began to see that the streams of water in Psalm 1:3 were not only God’s Word but also His people, His Spirit, and His mission. The culmination of this journey came when I decided to be baptized. Standing in the water, I felt the symbolism come alive—my old self washed away, my new life rooted in Christ. It was as if God Himself had planted me beside His living water, promising that my leaves would never wither and my fruit would flourish in His timing. Additionally, I appreciate the love and fellowship I receive from the women as part of the women's ministry. Now, I continue to grow, nourished by the Word, strengthened by fellowship, and energized by service. Cypress Creek Christian Church has been the soil where my faith has taken root, and baptism was the moment I knew I was planted for life—firmly, joyfully, and eternally in Him. |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
October 2026
|
RSS Feed