Welcome
We are a vibrant family of faith rooted in God's Word, gathering together to worship, and equipped to share the love of Christ with the world. We are a caring community that is passionate about serving others and growing closer to Christ. We believe Jesus Christ is our Savior, the source of our compassion and acceptance and the drive behind our desire to share God’s love.
Welcome to our
Sunday Worship Service
at 10:00 a.m.
October 6, 2024.
The Service will be available for livestream, or to be viewed on our YouTube channel later in the day.​
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YouTube Channel Link -
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGL4zscdHkbzvFzF4iuZE2g
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Would you like to donate fresh flowers for the sanctuary? Flower dedications are a great way to celebrate and remember a birthday, anniversary, loved one, special occasions and the Glory of God! Please contact Brooks Barwell by clicking the link below. Brooks will reserve a date for your dedication on the church calendar and work with you on the wording of the dedication and other details.
A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR RICHARD
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”- Mark 8:34
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This week, Briana and I summited Longs Peak for my 29th 14er. This was the hardest climb I have ever done. When I finally reached the flat summit, I could hardly believe it. Climbing this peak was an exhilarating experience I will never forget. Longs is now one of my favorite 14ers, if not my favorite.
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I thought about the scripture above on my climb, along with the C.S. Lewis quote below that goes along with it. I’ve been reflecting this week about what it means to deny ourselves and follow Jesus. Over the summer, we read Mere Christianity together, and there are many parts of that book that remain with me. Here is the quote from Lewis that’s ends Mere Christianity:
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“Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favorite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fiber of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find him, and with him everything else thrown in.”- C.S. Lewis
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Our culture and world tell us to focus on ourselves. But the Lewis quote reminds us we have a higher calling. And Jesus calls us to lose ourselves and follow him instead.
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This week, I invite you to join me in reflecting on this quote. It’s so important for each of us to examine our faith so that we can follow Christ to the best of our ability. Because we are all called to be disciples of Christ. We are all called to give up ourselves. And we are all called to find Christ in our own lives and receive everything else that comes with that. Here are some questions that may be helpful as you reflect:
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How am I giving up myself and finding Christ? What am I doing in my life to ensure this happens?
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In what ways am I doing well at giving up myself and following Christ? In what ways can I improve?
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How do I see Jesus working in my life and in the life of Church of the Hills?
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What is the “everything” I receive when I find Christ that I would not receive otherwise, as Lewis says in his final sentence?
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May the Love of Christ always be with you,
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Pastor Richard
Services, Bible Studies and Events
Love in Action
“Love in Action” is the Church of the Hills mission team. The primary goal of the Love in Action Team is to serve the needs of others locally, nationally and internationally. The people of Church of the Hills are blessed with unique gifts; although the size of our congregation is smaller, sharing these gifts remains a vital part of our outreach ministry.
The “Love in Action” Committee will guide us to be Christ’s faithful Witnesses. As such, we will share a deep life of service, and participate in God’s mission to care for the needs of the sick, the poor, and the lonely to establish Christ’s just, loving, and peaceable rule in the world.
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