A faithful presence of love in the absences of our city.
February 24, 2022 by Justin Edgar
"We fail to remember that God is as the Psalmist describes: an abundant fountain, a river of delights, a full house, a radiant light. The Psalmist knows God never operates out of scarcity. Where we must begin with Deeper is recognizing the ever flowing depths of the fountain of God. He is living water, because it is always abundant and always flowing. Scarcity mindset keeps us from going deeper, because we are afraid the safety net either isn’t there or doesn’t go deep enough. We won’t risk, because we can’t. We can’t possibly risk such things. There might not be anything left. There might not be any left for me. We are all like Goldilocks lamenting lost porridge, broken chairs, and occupied beds. But God always has room and always makes room. He is an overflowing fountain."...
February 17, 2022 by Emily Spare
Abiding through the fall at City Pres meant holding on for dear life to your life preserver ring hoping the other side of the rope is attached to the rescue boat, continually clinging, continually waiting. But abiding in the new year at City Pres is what I think we’re being called into: “Deeper.” ...
March 7, 2019 by Justin Edgar | Tags: reconciliation, Worship, Lent, Communion, Practices of Love, Union with Christ, Baptism
In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight maki...
Keep ReadingMarch 7, 2019 by Justin Edgar | Tags: Lent, Church Calendar, Fasting, Gospel time, 40 days
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom ~ Psalm 90:12 As my kids have gotten older, gathering around a table has becomes harder. We don't just do it around our farm table in our dining area anymore, but we grab time at Chick Fila and Chipotle or maybe even standing around our island food in hand. When we gather, we pray, and then I ask them, "Ok...
Keep ReadingMarch 6, 2019 by Justin Edgar | Tags: Lent, Ash Wednesday, Spiritual Practices, Practices of Love
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. ~ Psalm 103:14 One of the most powerful moments of my ministry life was the first time I imposed ashes on the foreheads of God's people. There was an older saint who ambled down to the front. She was in her late 80's I think. She had this intense and earnest look in her eyes, and I spoke the words: "Dear Sister, rem...
Keep ReadingFebruary 11, 2018 by Justin Edgar | Tags: grace, Intentionality, Lent, Ash Wednesday, Practice, Liturgical Calendar, Church Calendar, Fasting, Refocus, Reorient, Remembrance
Some of us grew up in churches where Lent was observed, but with little real explanation, making it seem like an empty, meaningless ritual. On the other hand, others of us grew up in church traditions where Lent was not observed at all. Some grew up in churches where we found Lent very meaningful. Some of us didn't grow up in any church at all....
Keep ReadingApril 13, 2017 by Philip Noell | Category: Gospel | Tags: gospel, albuquerque, abq, holy, grace, Mercy, Christ, Church, Lent, It is Finished, Holy Week, Cross, ABQ Church
I wonder how the priests felt every day when they went into the temple and saw the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. Did they look at it with dread? Or curiosity? Or maybe they longed to be in God's presence just for a moment even if it killed them......
Keep ReadingApril 6, 2017 by Justin Edgar | Category: Gospel | Tags: albuquerque, New Mexico, Church, the gospel, Lent, Salvation, Sermon Blog, It is Finished, Completion
The Gospel of Jesus reminds me that I am free. That I am validated. That I am vindicated. That even though I lose, I win....
Keep ReadingApril 6, 2017 by Rachel Whippo | Category: Gospel | Tags: albuquerque, rest, grace, New Mexico, Church, Parenting, the gospel, Lent, It is Finished, Completion
It is because of and through this good news that we can live under the banner “it is finished” and embark on the parenting adventure from grace instead of for grace. ...
Keep ReadingMarch 30, 2017 | Category: Gospel | Tags: Israel, albuquerque, grace, provision, Lent, Thirst, Needs
How often do I miss the fact that my physical need, and God’s constant provision, is meant to bring me to a deeper faith in Him and a reliance upon His grace alone?...
Keep ReadingMarch 3, 2017 by Pr. David Breidenbach | Category: Gospel | Tags: forgiveness, Mercy, the gospel, Lent, The Cross
We forget what it is that brought us to the foot of the cross, in the first place - our sin and helplessness to do anything about it ourselves. The veil of distraction and ignorance so easily envelops us and soon we become desensitized and disengaged from the incredible and profound message of a God who loves us like no other!...
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