Advent Worship Preview: Reflecting the Sacred
Join us for worship during Advent beginning Sunday Nov 27 @10:30 am View the video preview here.
How in the Heck Did We Get Here?
In the lead-up to Christmas, Hillcrest Church Adult Education will be hosting a class titled “How the Heck Did We Get Here?” We will explore and discuss the stories and history of the Bible in the context of its time. We all know the story of Mary and Joseph and the manger, but what was…
THANKSGIVING PIE BUFFET
Sign up in Fellowship Hall or call the Hillcrest Office to bring a pie (any flavor!)on Thanksgiving Sunday, November 20. We will celebrate and enjoy eating pie together after church in Fellowship Hall! The Ebenezer United Methodist Church has been invited to join us.
Blessing of the Animals 2022
Join us at Hillcrest This Sunday October 9th at 10:30 am and bring your pets for Blessing of the Animals!
Celebrate the Fall Season 2022
October 9 Blessing of the Animals October 30 Fall Family Fiesta November 20 Thanksgiving Sunday November 27 First Sunday of Advent
New Minister Pastor Kim Kendrick!
Rev. Kim Kendrick was installed as Hillcrest Church’s new minister on Sunday September 11. Join us for another fine sermon on Sept 18 @ 10:30 AM! Pastor Kim preaching on 9/11/2022. Pastor Kim up-close to the Hillcrest Church family.
New Minister Installed 9/11/2022
Join us for Sunday worship tomorrow 9/11/2022 at 10:30 for installation and welcome of our new Intentional Interim Minister, Rev Kim Kendrick!!! She is preaching on the topic of “Lost and Found”! She will be talking with members, friends and other visitors after worship in Fellowship Hall as we gather to welcome her! Cake and…
Easter Sunday Worship
Join us at Hillcrest for Easter Sunday Worship April 17, 2022@ 10:30 am. Bring a Friend! Make some new friends at Hillcrest– All are welcome here!
Ash Wednesday Worship
March 2, 2022 12 Noon & 7 PMIn-Person in the Sanctuary Scriptures Prayers Imposition of Ashes Anointing with Oil Holy Communion Music Ash Wednesday Worship video available on-line Click
“Winter Nights” Volunteers Needed
Hillcrest Church is once again providing breakfast and dinners for the families housed at the Winter Nights Family Shelter. We will provide meals for one week beginning Monday, February 28, 2022. Volunteers are needed to help prepare meals, serve meals, and bring desserts. Call Angie B. at 925-457-0758 for more information on how you can…
Hillcrest Hosts Healing Touch Training February 19 and 26
Healing Touch is a safe and effective energy healing therapy that anyone can do. In this live experiential class, you will learn to use heart-centered intention and your hands to facilitate clearing and balancing the human energy system. You will leave the class with the 12 energy healing techniques you can use immediately for your…
Christmas Eve – Dec 24th -Worship
Join us for in-person worship on Christmas Eve or online if that better suits your schedule.
Pre-Post Racial America: Spiritual Stories from the Front Lines
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Pre-Post Racial America
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Message from Rev. Fred
Senior Minister
Stones in the Temple of God
As I write, MLK Day has just passed and it is the afternoon of Inauguration Day. Many things are in my heart and mind. I want to share one image, or set of images, having to do with building.
Just a little over 1,900 centuries before Martin Luther King, Jr., a preacher named Ignatius wrote a letter from jail. He was the bishop of Syria within the still-new Christian church and had been imprisoned by the empire for his faith. In his letter, Ignatius pictured the people of God as ones defined and “kindled” by “love.” And he continues, “You are as stones of the temple of [God].” What’s more, “You are then all fellow travelers, and carry with you God, and the temple.”
Along with the love that is so core to our Christian faith and that Ignatius knew so well, the imagery of building and buildings was clearly important and dear to him. He had been arrested, taken away from his people and ministry, and carted off to the imperial city for trial. He was concerned for the future of his church and for all churches. And yet he knew and felt and prayed that the love and caring to which he had been called would not stop. And not only that it would not stop, but that it would continue to build. And it would…through people. People are the stones that build God’s temple, house God’s presence, and share God’s love in the world!
Just about 160 years ago, Abraham Lincoln stood in front of the not-yet-completed capitol dome in our nation’s capitol building and used similar language to that of Ignatius. The building must continue and it must ever go on. When we stop building with and for love and peace, then who and what are we?
Sisters and brothers of Hillcrest—here’s to the Spirit of love alive among us and alive among anyone and everyone of any faith and no faith. Let us at Hillcrest ever be about leading the way in showing people what love alive in the world looks like. Like Ignatius says, we are living stones in the temple of God.
Let it be so, O God, let it be so.
Blessings,
Rev. Fred