Awaken Community

Aug 27_Nehemiah: How Did We Get Here?

In chapter 9, the Israelites remember those who have come before while asking, “How did we get here?” Awaken honors Melody Olson as she performs How Great Thou Art on her last Sunday as Worship Director.

Aug 20_Nehemiah: Feasting and Celebrating

Nehemiah 7:1-6, 8-18 - After the wall is done, the Israelites prepared for worship as a community, which began by remembering the names of the people, their lineage and their story/history. There is feasting and celebration in the temple. There will be days for weeping and mourning but today is not one of them…today we turn our attention to the grace, provision and wonder of God.

Aug 13_Nehemiah: Experiencing Opposition

Nehemiah 6:1-16 - Opposition to the work you've been called to comes in very predictable fashion. Distraction - 5 times Nehemiah was invited to a meeting of great import and invited to take his eye off the ball. Opposition begins to sow seeds of falsehood and rumors about what is going on inside the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah confronts this head on with what is true.

Aug 6_Nehemiah: Lessons in Leadership

Nehemiah 5:1-19 - Lessons in leadership from Nehemiah. The nobles and the rich were lending to their own countrymen and charging them interest just like non-Israelites would do. Nehemiah speaks against it and aligns himself with the people by living, working, and suffering WITH them.

July 30_Nehemiah: No One Left Out

Nehemiah 3:1-5 & 4:6-16, Lessons in leadership from Nehemiah. Chapter 3 is all about the myriad of people who are involved in the rebuilding of the wall. The list is so long that it appears no one is left out.

July 23_Nehemiah: Bold Requests

Nehemiah 2:1-20, The king asks Nehemiah what he wants and Nehemiah names his desires, then asks for what's needed to accomplish it. He faces opposition when he decides to champion the cause of the oppressed and marginalized which is to be expected and normal when you confront systems of power.

July 16_Nehemiah: Starting With Prayer

Nehemiah 1:5-11 - A plea for God's ear to be open and listening to the prayer of Nehemiah. Nehemiah personally asks forgiveness for the sins of his countryman, his family, and himself. They are tasked with remembering the promise that God made to gather the people and bring them home because they are God’s people.

July 9_Nehemiah: Processing Grief

This week is an introduction to Nehemiah and how we've gotten to the place where we are. Who was Nehemiah? How did Israel end up oppressed and exiled under Artaxerxes? What was the root cause of their suffering? Micah highlights the importance of beginning a process of renewal with grief/lament.

June 25_Iterations: Acts

Acts 15, Early christians meet as a council in Jerusalem to start the church in the book of Acts. They find that the spirit of God is leading them beyond the confines of their religious structure and are thus tasked with living as a people of God rooted in love and a new way forward.

June 18_Tom Albinson & IAFR

Tom sheds light on the current worldwide refugee crisis and his engagement with it through the non profit organization, IAFR. He shares the significance of the Lord's Prayer in a world desperate for hope.