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Both & Neither

Both & Neither

As a mixed race person, my experience with understanding my own racial identity has forced me to uncomfortably exist between two sides. When interacting with either side of my heritage, it’s hard to not feel like an illegitimate misfit. Even now as I write this...

How Do We Worship on Easter?

How Do We Worship on Easter?

In less than a month, we will be celebrating Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I didn’t grow up with a strong Christian foundation. I’d overhear comments at church about special days, services, terms, and theology and wonder about their significance. What is Lent? Or Ash...

What Makes Hope, Hope?

What Makes Hope, Hope?

A great part of my job is taking people out for a cup of coffee and hearing their stories. It also gives me a chance to hear people’s impressions of Hope. What brought them here?  What keeps them coming back?  If I had to boil it down to a couple comments that people...

Rhythm

Rhythm

Rhythm. As a musician, I hear rhythm everywhere I go. Rhythm is found as I practice songs for Sunday services on my guitar, the oscillating sound of the blinker in my car when I turn left or right, the song of the birds returning to sing in spring time, and even in...

The Asian American Identity

The Asian American Identity

Identity is something I have struggled with my entire life. I am a Japanese-American born in the United States to immigrant parents. My first language is not English and growing up I considered Japan my second home. I have had the opportunity to spend portions of...

Gender Roles

Gender Roles

The conversation surrounding gender roles in the church has been an interesting one for me to consider because of the tension I’ve wrestled with regarding this topic, especially as a wife and also a woman who works in ministry full time. Until this year, I didn’t...

Shouts and Songs From Two Mountains

Shouts and Songs From Two Mountains

Understanding the message of the Old Testament and applying it today is a lot like watching the film “Fight Club.” Only at the end of the movie does the viewer discover that the two main characters are (spoiler alert!) one and the same. Moreover, a second watch is in...

Justice Requested, Justice Received

Justice Requested, Justice Received

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8 The year 2020 has brought us two crucial things: COVID-19 and increased awareness of systemic racism in our...

Virtual Choir: All Glory Be to Christ

Video Editing and Production: Scott Skaja Soloists: Andrea Johnson, Savannah Treleven, Sierra Diehl Choir: Noah & Ali Jackson, Brooke Noble, Collin Malaney, Coral & Andy Karsky, Dharma Amundsen, Haley Braaten, Jeffrey Fick, Julia Shaw, Julia Braaten, Kaelyn...

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Psalm 103:1-12 https://resources.hopecc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Psalm-103.wav   Of David.  Praise the Lord, my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals...