Author: Wende Gonzales

Pastor’s Notes 2/7/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus,
Phil 2:3-5

This Sunday, I will introduce a new, ongoing sermon series: “Following Jesus from A-Z.” Through this series, we will explore the many ways we live out our faith, word by word, action by action, as disciples of Christ. We will ponder together what it means to follow Jesus in every part of our lives and how we embody the love, humility, and purpose Christ calls us to.

Our journey centers itself around Philippians 2:1-8, a passage that calls us to the very heart of Christian discipleship: the mindset of Christ. Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a powerful reminder that following Jesus is not just about belief, it is about transformation. Christ emptied himself, humbled himself, and took on the role of a servant. In doing so, he set the example for how we are to live, grounded in love, unity, and sacrifice.

Each ordinary time Sunday, we will reflect on key words that shape our faith and deepen our walk with Christ. From A for “awareness” to Z for “zeal”, we will discover how the Holy Spirit leads us to embody the gospel in the world today.

I invite you to join us this Sunday in person or on YouTube as we begin this journey together. Let’s seek the Spirit’s guidance, grow in faith, and follow Jesus—one step, one word, one act of love at a time. Don’t forget that after worship of February 9th will be our congregational meeting to approve leadership and budget for 2025.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 1/31/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God, for those who enter God’s[a] rest also rest from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs. 
-Hebrews 4:9-11

In the busyness of life, we often treat rest as a luxury, something to be earned after all the work is done. But scripture reminds us that rest is not just a necessity—it is sacred. In Hebrews 4, we are invited into God’s rest, a rest that is deeper than sleep or stillness. It is a trust-filled resting in God’s presence, a release of our burdens, and a reclaiming of the peace that only God can provide.

This Sunday, we will reflect on what it means to honor rest as a gift from God. Rest is not laziness; it is faithful obedience. There is an intentionality about our actions that is healthy and connected with the Holy. When we pause, worship, and make space for God in our lives, we are stepping into the sacred rhythm God intended for us.

As you prepare for worship, consider this: What would it look like to receive rest as a spiritual practice, rather than a last resort? How might honoring rest help us better serve God and one another?

Join us in person or on YouTube as we explore these questions together and seek the renewal that God graciously offers. 

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 1/24/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

“We are a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one Body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.”

– Disciples of Christ identity statement

This Sunday, we are honored to welcome Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as our guest preacher. Rev. Owens is not only the spiritual leader of our denomination but also a visionary voice calling Disciples to embody the love of Christ in transformative ways.

What a joy and honor it will be to have her with us, and I hope you are able to join in the celebration. I share with you now her official bio in anticipation of her arrival:

Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens is the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. She is the first person of color and second woman to lead the denomination, and the first woman of African descent to lead a mainline denomination. Elected in 2017, Rev. Hord Owens was re-elected to a second term as General Minister and President in 2023.

Elected in 2017, Rev. Hord Owens was re-elected to a second term as General Minister and President in 2023. Her ministry actively reflects the Disciples’ priority of being an anti-racist church, being a movement for wholeness, and welcoming all to the Lord’s table as God has welcomed us.

 Her exhortation to the church is “Let’s be the church we say we are. It is in being who we say we are that we actively bear witness to God’s limitless love for all.” Rev. Hord Owens earned her bachelor’s degree in Government with a minor in Afro- American Studies from Harvard University. Hord Owens’ resume includes more than 20 years in corporate America leading diverse teams in data management in health care and other industries before she entered seminary.

A graduate of University of Chicago Divinity School, Rev. Hord Owens served 12 years as the Dean of Students at her alma mater. Rev. Hord Owens also served as the pastor of First Christian Church of Downers Grove, Illinois, where under her leadership, FCCDG became an open and affirming, antiracism, pro-reconciliation congregation.

Hord Owens is widely sought after as a preacher, speaker, and workshop facilitator. Her ministry and intellectual interests include spiritual development, a theology of reconciliation, cultural intelligence, developing inclusive and multi-cultural congregations, and the mentoring of young adults. In addition to collaborative service with Disciples ministries and congregations as they seek to make justice happen, she has been active in leadership in the Poor People’s Campaign, Repairers of the Breach, and other ecumenical and interfaith collaboratives.

In keeping with the Disciples’ historic commitment to Christian unity, she serves in leadership at the National Council of Churches as the Treasurer of the Governing Board and a member of the World Council of Churches Central Committee.

Rev. Hord Owens is married to Walter Owens, Jr. They are the proud parents of an adult son, W. Mitchell Owens, III and daughter-in-law Adriana Owens. She is also the joyful grandmother of Zachary Owens.

Pastor’s Notes 1/17/2025

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“I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul” -3 John 1:2

This simple yet profound verse reminds us that our spiritual lives are deeply connected to our physical and emotional wellbeing. God cares not only for our souls but for our whole selves, and we are called to do the same, for ourselves and one another.

As we continue to grow our Wellness Ministry, we acknowledge the sacred task of tending to our physical and emotional health as an act of spiritual care. Just as the early church supported each other in love and truth, we are invited to walk alongside one another in times of strength and in times of need. Whether it is by offering a listening ear, sharing resources, or simply showing up with empathy and grace, we are living out the call to “support the work of faithful servants” (3 John 1:5-8).

Wellness is not a solitary pursuit. It is a journey we take together, rooted in God’s desire for us to thrive in every aspect of our being. Our Wellness Ministry reflects this truth as Sun City Christian Church is a space to nurture health, share knowledge, and foster hope.

On Sunday will dive deeper into John’s letter and celebrate the plans we are making to support one another with faithful ministry in 2025. May we continue to do so with the love of Christ, and may we be a living testimony to the wholeness God desires for all creation.

Just a reminder that on January 26th, our General Minister and President, Terri Hord Owens will be preaching and joining us as we forge into the next 50 years of ministry together. I look forward to worshiping with you in person or on YouTube this Sunday.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 1/10/2025

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Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. –Deut. 6:6-7

Happy New Year Sun City Christian Church family!

I wish to begin with gratitude for the staff Christmas bonus we received. I feel most grateful, and loved and can’t wait to see what God has in store for us in the year ahead. Turning 50 was a good year for our congregation as we have come together in meaningful and faithful ways. The work we have done together sets the stage for many possibilities for the year ahead.

In worship over the next two weeks, we will highlight the work of our digital storytelling team, Disciple’s Women Outreach Ministry, and our Health and Wellness Ministry. God is moving through us and there are ample opportunities for you to get involved. On Sunday we explore the importance of taking our faith to heart and sharing the stories of our lives with others. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 will be our scriptural inspiration.

The Book of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches delivered by Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It serves as a renewal of the covenant between God and Israel and a call to obedience as they face the challenges of establishing a new life in Canaan.

Chapter 6 is part of Moses’ second address, following the proclamation of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5. The emphasis here shifts to the central commandment to love and serve God with total devotion. Moses urges the people to center their lives on God and ensure future generations understand and live by these principles. This was crucial as the Israelites were moving into a land filled with foreign influences and temptations to forget their covenant with Yahweh.

Living as Christ’s extension of love in the world today in no small task but together as the body of Christ we serve God and community! I look forward to worshipping with you in person and on YouTube this Sunday. 

Brett

Pastor’s Notes: 1/3/2025

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In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, mag from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.”  Matthew 2:1-2

Happy New Year! As we turn the calendar to 2025, we look forward to walking together into a new season of life and faith. This Sunday, January 5th, we gather for Epiphany Sunday, a time to celebrate the journey of the magi and the revealing of Christ to the world. Our theme is “The Road Isn’t Straight,” and we’ll reflect on how, like the magi, we face choices and make them together as we pursue Christ and follow the light into the darkness.

Our scripture readings, Matthew 2:1-12 and Isaiah 43:16-21, remind us of God’s guidance even when the path is unclear. The magi’s journey was not direct or simple, but it was purposeful and filled with hopeful anticipation. As we step into this new year, we, too, embark on a journey, knowing that while we are far from perfect, in Christ, we can accomplish grace-filled things.

Let’s begin 2025 with open hearts, ready to follow the light wherever it leads us. I look forward to being back with you on Sunday in the sanctuary or on YouTube.

Pastor’s Notes: 12/27/2024

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The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied exultation;[b]
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.

-Isaiah 9:2-3

What an amazing Advent journey we had to cap off our 50th year of ministry. The Nativity pageant and Christmas Eve service truly captured the heart of Jesus that is active and moving through our congregation. What a gift to be with you all as we continue to celebrate the call of Christ together.

As we have experienced already, the Christmas season is hallmarked by joy. The angels sing. The shepherds run. The star shines. Mary cherishes. Christ is born! In response to all this good news, we sing “Joy to the World!” with grateful celebration.

This Sunday, December 29th, we continue the Christmas festivities with Lessons and Laughter Sunday, a lighthearted service of lessons and carols. As we retell the Christmas story through scripture, song, and joyful reflection, we will embrace the joy of Christ’s birth together.

The love born in Bethlehem claims us, redeems us, and calls us to live as bearers of joy in the world. This truth, celebrated in laughter and song, is a gift that carries us into the new year with grateful hearts.

We hope you’ll join us for this special service of worship, fellowship, and fun as we close the Christmas season with joy-filled hearts!

Merry Christmas,

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 12/20/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way… –Matthew 1:18

“In her song, Mary honors her God who mirrors the life her son will live: lifting up the lowly, filling the hungry, coming to the aid of God’s people, bringing down the powerful, sending the rich away empty, and scattering the proud… Mary is on the verge of delivering God's depth and beauty into the world; God will be embodied by a child. Mary, the earthly mother of our incarnate God, can see it. She can see hope, justice, and right relationships. In the Magnificat, she speaks the way of God into being, just before Jesus is born. Like my mother whispering in my ear when I was a child, calling forth whom I shall become, Mary speaks her dreams into existence.” —from the artist’s statement for “Magnify” | @sanctifiedart

On the fourth Sunday of Advent we will light the candle of Love and wonder with the Christmas story around the theme, “Hope is Worth the Risk.” Our Tuesday Bible Study group has prepared a very special Christmas pageant for us as the characters around the Nativity story come to life and reflect to the first Christmas and the ways they stepped out in faith to witness the Messiah enter into the world.

Mary risked her reputation, her relationships, and her future to say “yes” to God’s call. Joseph took the risk of trust, choosing to embrace Mary and the child she carried despite the uncertainty. The shepherds left their flocks behind to run toward a message of good news, risking what little they had for the chance to see the light of the world. The Magi journeyed from distant lands, risking danger and defying a king’s wrath, all to bow before a newborn King.

A beast of burden carried the load and saw the depth of human love at its finest. Even the star, steady and unyielding, risked being unseen as it shone brightly to guide seekers to the hope of the world. Each character played a part in this story of divine risk and ultimate hope, stepping into uncertainty with faith that God’s promise would be fulfilled.

Their stories remind us that hope is not passive; it requires action, courage, and trust in God’s presence. It calls us to move forward, even when the path seems unclear, knowing that Emmanuel—God with us—walks beside us. I look forward to worshipping with you in person or YouTube this Sunday and then again on Christmas Eve at 4 pm!

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 12/13/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’  
– Luke 3:10-11

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. 
– Isaiah 58:12

If John the Baptist were here today, he would have no problem utilizing a common cultural phrase used today, “Pull yourself together!” Luke would argue that John was the last of a breed of old school prophets. He had a way with words and telling people how to “bear fruit” with their lives, repent and avoid God’s wrath.

As we continue our Advent journey, this week’s theme invites us to reflect on the call to “Do the good that is yours to do.” Our scriptures, Luke 3:7-16 and Isaiah 58:9b-12, lead us into an encounter with voices who didn’t mince words. John’s message is not simply about correction—it is about preparation. He is the voice crying out in the wilderness, making ready the way for the One who will bring ultimate peace and justice. “Pull yourself together, and do the good that is yours to do,” is more likely how he would turn the phrase.

What does it mean for us to prepare the way for Christ? Both John and the prophet Isaiah give us a clear vision. It is about doing good, living generously, and repairing the broken places around us. As followers of Jesus, anticipating the Christ child, we are called to lives of action, humility, and compassion.

This Sunday, we will explore what it looks like to live as Christ’s followers in this season of preparation. On this third Sunday of Advent, how can we reflect the peace of Christ in our words, our actions, and in the world? What good is ours to do today, in this time and place?

I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube this Sunday! 

Brett

Pastor’s Notes: 12/6/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

‘Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.  -Ruth 1:16

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  -Luke 1:41-42

Isolation and loneliness are real issues for humanity. One of the most important lessons we learn in life, and often the hard way, is that we are never meant to go alone. If Ruth had honored the cultural norms, she would have gone to her home of origin after her husband died, but instead she chose to commit herself to her mother-in-law Naomi.

Elizabeth and Mary both experience the wonder of pregnancy, from two completely different perspectives: Elizabeth never thinking she would conceive, and Mary never imagining that bearing the child of God would be a thing in her life. Mary went to her and joy abounded as they experienced this wonder-filled journey together.

We can’t go alone.

In our worship on this second Sunday of Advent we will explore the importance of community in our lives and faith journey. When one person is weak those around them grant strength to endure. We will ponder together the ways we shall be present for God’s beloved around us.

I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday or saying hello at the craft fair at the church on Saturday!  

Brett