Vision & Accountability Team Archives
Members: Cheryl Martin (Chair), Frank Kandel (Vice-Chair) CoraLyn Turentine (CR1), Mark Stocksdale (CR2), Carol Bixler (CR3)
Pastoral Representatives: Brian Bither, Craig Oury
(For more records, consult the file cabinet upstairs across from the copy machine.)
Recent Services
On this page you will find our last four sermon descriptions. Audio recordings of past sermons can be found on our Podbean page.
The Fall
Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; 5:1-3; 6:11-12
Brian Bither
May 17, 2020
How could the world be so full of evil and suffering if it was created good by a Good God? In this sermon, Pastor Brian reviews the story of the Fall, which demonstrates how quickly a small deviation from God's will can impact the entire world.
Seeing the World as Good
Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4b
Brian Bither
May 10, 2020
The opening chapter of the Bible is so familiar to us in the modern era that we can easily overlook the profound claims that it makes. In this sermon, Pastor Brian explains how counter-intuitive it was and is for Genesis to proclaim that the world is orderly, purposeful, and good.
The Love Story of the Bible
Scripture Reading: Song of Songs 1:2-4
Brian Bither
May 3, 2020
Today, Shalom began a 14-month long study of the entire Biblical narrative. In this inaugural sermon, Pastor Brian acknowledges that the Christians Scriptures look more like a random collection of religious texts than a "book," but maintains that there is nevertheless a story that runs through the Scripture narrative which can only be discerned with the help of its ultimate author: the Holy Spirit.
Getting Your Second Wind
Scripture Reading: John 20:19-22
Brian Bither
April 12, 2020
Although we usually celebrate Easter as a time of total victory over evil, it is difficult for us to muster that kind of joy this year, when we are in the midst of a global pandemic. However, a closer look at the Easter story reminds that the risen Jesus did not rescue the disciples from their suffering entirely, but rather met them and encouraged them in the midst of it by giving them a "second wind."