Join us this lent as we spend 40 Days At KOK. This is an online group set up to help us gather daily to reflect during lent. Please join us on Facebook by clicking here.
For those without Facebook highlights will be posted below.
With everything continuing to intensify, and because we are in need of consolation, I want to invite you to another breath prayer from Psam 121.
And when you have a chance, read all of Psalm 121. It's absolutely beautiful. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+121&version=NRSV
-Pastor Kelsay
Sometimes Bible verses can be shared in a quick “don’t worry, be happy” kind of way. This verse is so simple but it could easily be written off as a trite “one liner”. Like when someone tells you “it will be okay” when you really don’t feel okay.
I share this verse with you because I am remembering that it was written to the very first Christians who were facing intense persecution, suffering, and even martyrdom and death. Paul wrote these words not to invalidate their suffering or their feelings of worry and fear, but to convey the promise of life in Christ.
May you hear these words not only as simple instructions for your day but as a promise that we can dare to be hopeful, joyful, faithful and to pray because our God reigns.
🙏💚
Sitting down to pray for you. My Bible is opened to Psalm 141. “I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you. Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.”
-Kelsay Parker
Good evening children of God. I can't wait to join you through the livestream tomorrow morning as we worship as a community. My spirit longs for us all to be together, to praise, worship and receive communion...and we will, in time. But until then we will worship in a new way, gathering and trusting that wherever and however two or three are gathered, Christ is present with us.
This verse of Psalm 30 is a beautiful way to end our day...trusting that though we may weep, mourn, or worry for a time...there will come a time when our joy is renewed and our spirits are lifted.
Peace be with you.
-Kelsay Parker
I want to reflect on the two words of this week’s theme: Joy and Consolation.
When meditating on their connection, I almost instantly thought of how the promise of joy through consolation that comes from Christ is the exact opposite of the promise of “happiness” through consumption that comes from our culture.
How many times have we seen or heard the latest advertisements promising that their product will contribute to our happiness? Pretty much 24/7, right? But right now in this anxious and unsettled time, how many of us are feeling truly at peace because of some “thing” that we’ve purchased or consumed?
What brings us true comfort or “consolation” is the live and togetherness written about in Philippians Cjapter 2. “Be of the same mind, sharing the same love.” (vs. 2) The boys and I have spent more time writing letters and FaceTiming with family in the last 7 days than we have in the last three months. We are as connected as ever (if not more) because all of a sudden we see the value of our people and aren’t taking for granted that we can see them whenever we want. And haven’t you been moved by all of the acts of kindness shared online through social media as musicians, artists, teachers, doctors, nurses, share their gifts freely for the good of others!?!? This is where joy begins. Not in the absence of fear and worry but in the presence of a unified community...sharing and giving love because we care about each other. “Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others” (vs. 4)
A lot of words for a Friday afternoon, but may you lean more deeply into the relationships that bring life and joy to your life. May your soul be comforted and consoled through the sharing of love and relationship...and may you experience joy in the midst of our struggle. 🙏💚
-Pastor Kelsay
I would like to invite you memorize this bible verse with me today. Use it as a prayer to help you breathe when you’re feeling anxious.
INHALE:
When anxiety was great within me
EXHALE:
Your consolation brought joy to my soul
Love and prayers to you all. 💚🙏
-Pastor Kelsay
Wednesday Night Bible Study
Check back tonight at 7pm for this week’s Bible study with me and Pastor Dave. (Special Bonus: if you watch the video to the end you’ll get to see “Real life at the Parker House” 😂)
-Kelsay Parker
Hello dear ones. I pray this finds you well. I’m posting this with a baby sleeping on my shoulder. I wanted to share this song with you. It’s been very meaningful in my life and it is all about how the smallest of kindnesses can bring light to the world.
“The shadows of this world will say ‘there’s no hope why try anyway?’ But every kindness large or slight shifts the balance toward the light.”
Gracious God, when all seems dark tune our hearts to hear your voice and to sing out as instruments of light. Amen
-Kelsay Parker
I prayed for every member of Kok by name last night before I went to sleep. It was emotional to speak your names and commend you into God’s care. For peace and protection, for strength and courage. For light and life in the midst of darkness. You are close to my heart I carry you with me as I pray.
-Kelsay Parker
A Sunday message from Pastor Dave and Pastor Kelsay
Praying for all of you today and giving thanks for everyone who is working in healthcare and emergency services. May God bless and be with all! We will post a scripture and sermon dialogue video tomorrow morning that Dave and I recorded today. It's not the same as being together in worship, but it's still a way to gather!
-Pastor Kelsay
Happy Thursday friends!
The Weekly Video Devotion is still a work in progress...so in case it doesn't get posted today I wanted to share this.
The DC Talk version of this song was pretty popular when I was a tween (we weren't called tweens back then 😆).
This is a beautiful cover of the song and a prayer for us today. *
*Just a warning, once you start listening to Joseph's music you might not be able to stop.
This weeks theme…
(Video volume on)
Lamb of God you take away the Sin of the world.
Have Mercy on us.
This week ends where it began...with Jesus. We pray to become instruments of Pardon and Faith. Yet we know that our world is broken, imperfect, and sometimes impossible. We confess this reality to God. We pray that we might continue to try to reconcile, forgive, let go, and pardon.
We also gratefully declare that it is Christ's forgiveness alone that can cover this world with mercy.
Your comments here have created a sacred space. Bless you all.
Thank you to my talented colleague, Paul Damico-Carper for this beautiful composition and setting of "Lamb of God." I've been listening to it on repeat, and now it is the song of my heart.
This week’s theme of forgiveness has given us a lot to wrestle with. Don’t forget where we started this week...in the forgiveness of Christ. We can’t ever expect to perfectly forgive as Christ has forgiven us. He does what we can’t do for ourselves!
Does it help to think of forgiveness in two different ways?
1. Forgiveness of others for the purpose of mending a relationship. There are things that we can truly forgive and try to reconcile with someone.
2. Forgiveness as an act of turning someone over to God because their actions have harmed and traumatized us and we simply can’t (for the sake of our health and wellness) have any kind of relationship with them.
What are your thoughts? Have you wrestled with this?
This morning we gather to support each other as a community of faith! We will greet each other, receive the gift of God’s word preached for us. We will both confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness yet again!! Through Christ’s body and blood given in communion we are literally filled with the presence of Christ so we can be nourished for the challenging work of pardon and forgiveness. See you all at Kok this morning. 🙏❤️
Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker and a Christian. She and her family helped Jews escape the holocaust. She and her sister spent time in a concentration camp where her sister later died. This is a longer read but totally worth it!!! An amazing witness to Christ’s power to live is to forgiveness.
