Branches Humboldt

MISSING JOSEPH in the Christmas story is a common occurrence! Maybe it's because after Zachariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Angels, Shepherds, and Wise Men, there's just too much action and drama to stop and consider the quiet, faithful father-figure in the background. When you ponder the fourth Advent theme of "Love" though, a sacrificial, serving-others-kind-of-love, Joseph's actions and character speak louder than words. He models for us a trust in God and a willingness to surrender to love that inspires and convicts. This Sunday, let's be encouraged, as Monica Hicks shares, to believe and receive the incredible love of God - and let's discover the freedom of surrendering to that love in our lives!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

MANY OF US feel like JOY is out of reach. We’re tired. Stressed. Disappointed. Overwhelmed. We've chased after the "Good Life" and found it comes up hollow. We assume joy comes after life gets better. And this feeling is nothing knew - listen how the Psalmist writes it chapter 4;“Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater JOY than those who have abundant harvests…"It seems God wants to teach us something important through this season of Advent: Joy comes not because “life is good”, but because God is here. Joy grows in the messy, ordinary, unfinished places - and that's exactly the kind of place God likes to show up!This Sunday, we'll see how Zechariah, Elizebeth, Mary, Joseph - all received an impossible promise. Not a finished miracle; a seed. God begins His saving plan in hiddenness, in a womb, quietly growing.Come be reminded with us (as the Taylors light our third Advent Candle) that real joy is nurtured and takes root in us not through pleasant circumstances but through the presence and promise of God!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

"DON'T BE AFRAID"Every time an angel steps into the Christmas story, they always open with that line; "Don't be afraid..." And that's exactly how Zechariah hears it as he encounters his divine moment. It's an assurance of love and care - and it's coupled with the peace of God in the midst of uncertainty.Most of us want peace, but in our noisy, chaotic world, we rarely stay quiet long enough to receive it. We’re living in the loudest generation in history. Constant noise, constant distraction, constant movement. And when life gets that loud, peace feels impossible. We numb ourselves, but we don’t calm ourselves.Where do you need God to speak peace to you? Where is fear shouting the loudest? Where do you need to hear God’s voice inviting you, reminding you;“Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10)This Sunday, the Beam family lit our second Advent Candle and shared a powerful faith-story, and we practiced new ways to make room in our hearts for the Prince of Peace!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

THIS SEASON has so much promise and joy to it, but there’s also a variety of emotions we experience. One of those is this nagging feeling of emptiness - the question; “Is this really it? Is this truly what it’s all about?”These four weeks leading up to Christmas, the Church's "Advent" season, begins right there; not in strength, but in ache. We all have a place that feels like an empty room — a longing, a disappointment, a grief, a prayer still unanswered. And our instinct is to rush past it, numb it, or pretend it’s fine. But Advent invites us to pause. To acknowledge the darkness before the dawn. Because that’s the place where HOPE begins. Before a Savior is announced, a disappointment is named.Hope doesn’t begin when things get better; hope begins when we admit that we can’t make things better. This emptiness becomes the place where God moves. We discover God doesn’t avoid our empty places - He steps into them.Allow His HOPE to step into your life this Sunday as we kick off the Christmas season with the Beards sharing and lighting our first Advent Candle!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

GRATITUDE changes our perspective.As we look ahead to Christmas and the holidays, it's a great time to reflect on all that God has given us and to consider how He would want us to give in generous ways. God invites us to ultimately see our money and possessions through this lens of gratitude.Since we know everything we have comes from God, we give back a portion to Him with thankfulness and joy. We give as an act of thanksgiving and worship to God. When we “take an offering” at Branches, it is part of how we worship, how we THANK God - and this helps our praise take on an even deeper meaning and passion.Psalm 50:14 says, “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God…”What are you thankful for? Would you be willing to tell someone about it? Well, this Sunday, we got to hear testimonies shared of God's faithfulness, and it was a joy to celebrate with you!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

"IT'S BETTER TO GIVE than to receive." That's what they say, anyway! Some of us are born-givers who love to see the joy in others as they receive our gifts - and some of us just really like getting gifts, right?!It seems soon to say, but Christmas is right around the corner (some of us have already decorated!), and it's the season of giving and receiving - and it's a time when underneath it all lies the subject of money and possessions. Did you realize God knew all about the temptations we'll face with money? There's more verses about "money" in the Bible than "faith" and "prayer" combined (2,350 actually)!In anticipation of the holidays, we'll be taking a couple weeks to explore this topic together. We'll discover what the Bible has to say about this important subject and how God has created a pathway for us to experience FREEDOM in this area! Get ready for a life-changing challenge!Sunday 10:30 AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

FOLLOW THE LEADER can sometimes be a fun game when you're a child, but it gets more complicated when we're adults, doesn't it? How do we know a leader is worth following? Are they going in the right direction? Do they have my best in mind?The last part of Hebrews encourages us to take seriously our spiritual leaders and honor them as we all follow God together. In this day and age, as we experience one leadership failure after another, this can be a challenging ideal - it can be tempting to give up on it altogether.But, Jesus Is Better than going our own way!Have you been hurt by poor leaders in the past? What does it mean to support and encourage God's leaders in your community now? How might God grow you and us in new ways as we trust Him, together?Join us this Sunday as we wrap up our series in Hebrews!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

It’s easy for any community — even a church — to turn inward and get comfortable. How many of us have felt the sting of being excluded or ignored? But Jesus calls us outside the walls, where the real action is! Listen to how Hebrews 13:10-14 says it; "So let’s go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This 'insider world' is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come.”Join us this All Saints Sunday as we explore what it means to follow Jesus beyond our comfort zones — to love, serve, and reach those who feel left out. Come ready to be challenged, inspired, and reminded that Jesus is better than keeping to ourselves!We’ll be encouraged to take small, bold steps of love, where Jesus is at work in the world around us. It’s a Sunday to realign our hearts with His mission and celebrate that we were once outsiders, too… until Jesus came for us!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

CAN YOU RELATE to that feeling of thinking and preparing for something for so long, waiting for the moment to finally arrive.. and then, it's HERE! It's time!Let's gooooooooo!!!Coming off the celebration of last Sunday, looking back on THREE YEARS of God's faithfulness and goodness, it's time to focus our gaze once more on the road ahead. This Sunday, we begin our journey through the last chapter of Hebrews. A culmination of all that God's be showing us throughout this book. All the history, all the theology, all the encouragement - it comes down to this last chapter and these final instructions on what it looks like to actually "run this race marked out for us".In light of all this, how should we then live? What does it look like, practically?This first section of chapter 13 will challenge us in so many ways. It will remind us that JESUS IS BETTER than being selfish, in every area of our lives - that giving, not getting, is what brings real freedom. It's how we start running this race, and it's the fuel that will carry us to the finish!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

We have so much to celebrate as Branches crosses the three-year mark of meeting together every Sunday! Wow - what awesome things God has done! Could you even count the stories? It's like a tidal wave of Jesus' love and grace changing lives everywhere we look.This Sunday, we take some time to reflect and celebrate on these amazing three years together (with three faith-stories!), and we'll be challenged and encouraged to look ahead for more of what God has in store. Chapter 12 of Hebrews will remind us that God is building an "unshakable Kingdom" in and through us. It's not promised to be easy, though. There's no Lazy-Boy seats in the house; this is a long-distance race - a marathon. But it's WORTH IT!Jesus is better than sitting around in lazy comfort. He's got a mission and purpose for us all. And only with God can we confidently say "the best is yet to come!"Sunday 10:30am // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

FAITH in our culture’s view is something you acquire and develop within yourself. You know; “...gotta have faith, faith, faith!” Or, how about this cliche in positive thinking: “Trust in yourself, have faith!”But God invites us to a totally different reality; faith not in ourselves, but in something -or someone- outside of ourselves; faith that comes from Him as a gift.When we doubt, we’re welcomed through the grace of God to bring Him our doubts and ask for His gift of faith to strengthen us. It’s not important how much faith you have (‘a mustard seed’ is all it takes!), the important thing is what you’re placing your faith in.Remember, JESUS IS BETTER than giving up!"Faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living." (Hebrews 11:1)This Sunday, we arrive at Chapter 11 of Hebrews, the great “Hall of Faith”; a list of inspiring heroes, examples to look up to when we feel like quitting (which members of our church read aloud from their seats - and microphones couldn't pick up unfortunately). But, it's not a list to compare ourselves with and try to “go and do great things” - it’s a list that reminds us to trust in God - a reminder of WHERE our faith comes from and WHO it’s directed toward!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

WE CAN BE TEMPTED to give up on faith when doubts and questions swirl around us. We can be tempted to give up on love when disappointment and rejection knock us down. We can be tempted to give up on hope when our situations are confusing and difficult. When following God's path seems murky and the way of Jesus unpopular, there's a real pull to abandon it all and just do what feels 'right' and easy.This Sunday, we get to chapter 10 of Hebrews and come across this famous passage; "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”Are you ready to be encouraged and stengthened for whatever you're facing?JESUS IS BETTER than giving up!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

Some might look back with fond nostalgia on the past and say this was the "good 'ol days", "things were better back then" - but, really?Sometimes new developments are truly helpful. And that couldn't more true in the case of Jesus' arrival! Jesus came to bring a "new covenant"; a new relationship between us and God. There's no going back, why would we want to? JESUS IS BETTER than the past!Yet, old thinking, old habits, old hurts, and old ways sometimes hold us back. This Sunday, we'll look through chapters 7-10 of Hebrews and see why we can look forward in hope, because Jesus is so much better than anything in the past!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

WHAT VOICE has the most influence in your life? Who do we listen to - and how does that affect and impact us? Is it Podcasters? Preachers? Youtubers? Parents? Grandparents? Big brothers or sisters? Even the best Pastors? Last week, as we kicked off our new series, we looked at Hebrews 1-3 and saw how Jesus Is Better than angels or any spiritual beings, and this Sunday, we'll move on to chapter 4 and see how Jesus Is Better than any human being, ever. The most important, influential person you can think of can't measure up to Jesus - not even close!And often times they let us down anyway! People disappoint, they don’t come through, they break promises and hurt us, but JESUS never does and never will. Lots of “leader types” are trying to tell us stuff, sell us stuff, but there’s one leader above them all...Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

Whether you're a Christian, or just checking out church for the first time, you know that angels have actually gotten a lot of press throughout the centuries; statues, paintings, tattoos. In fact, the Devil himself was an angel at one time - one who rebelled (interesting story!). Humboldt County is a very “spiritual place". There’s all sorts of spiritual entities or transcendental experiences offered around here - just take a look at your favorite coffee shop bulletin board! Have you ever been tempted to try out something spiritually new or different? Or maybe thought, “You know, I’m not so sure about Jesus and His unpopular teachings, God seems too mysterious, church too rigid, people too flawed - maybe an angel or some other spirit-being can help me!”You're not alone in this.As we kick off our brand new sermon series on Hebrews, entitled "Jesus Is Better", we looked at chapters 1-3 to see how incredibly amazing Jesus really is, how He's better than any other spiritual experience out there, and how His invitation to help and wholeness is like no other!This Sunday (even though we only recorded the last 10-minutes!), we went cosmic, pulling back the curtain, going back to the beginning, to creation itself, to see that Jesus was, is, and always will be the center of it all!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

THERE'S ANOTHER JUSTIN in the house...but this one's from Texas!Justin Gambino headlined Unity in the Community last Saturday AND, he agreed to be with us the next day; this Sunday morning!Raised in a Christian home, Justin Gambino rebelled in high school and was arrested for theft at the age of 18. His judge gave him the option of military service, and at 19, he began an 8 year enlistment in the Navy. While serving in Iraq, Justin was asked to lead worship on base, renewing his love of music. Upon returning stateside, he battled PTSD and anger issues, leading him to depression and despair. At the bottom, Justin cried out to God from his apartment floor, and a new journey of redemption, hope and purpose began. Bringing his life full-circle, Justin performs a revival annually on the steps of the courthouse where he was sentenced as a teen.Listen in to this inspiring morning of music and the life-changing power of God's grace!Sunday - 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS, but one of my longest friendships in leadership is with a "Strongman" who shares God's love and grace all around the world by performing feats of strength! Yah, crazy, right??! Well, when you meet Jon this Sunday, you'll love him as much as I do!I was with Jon in England for an outreach when he broke the Guinness World Record. I sidestepped street-riots and water cannons in Sri Lanka with him, navigated washed out roads in Ecuador, and led worship as we walked into a primitive prison in Costa Rica to share the freedom found in Jesus! It's been an incredible partnership for 35 years, and he's finally back in Humboldt!Hear Jon share a message from the Bible along with some of his personal story. It was an honor to have him at Branches! Sunday 10:30am // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

WE ALL UNDERSTAND the concept of gardening; we get out what we put in.In this last Sunday of the "Good & Beautiful Community" series, we consider once again this truth. And God uses it (and the analogy of sowing and reaping) in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to talk about generosity: 2 Corinthians 9:5-6 reads, “So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.”Giving, practicing generosity, identifying needs and meeting those needs with our resources, can be like gardening the perfect plot of land in all the best ways! Whatever you’re looking for; awesome, healthy food to eat, or beautiful flowers and plants in a tranquil oasis, when you put in a little bit of time and energy and effort you get a little result, but when you put in more - plant more seeds - you get a harvest of MORE.Let's see what God's showing us all as we close out this series with the invitation to become a generous people!Sunday 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

A mark of a "Good and Beautiful Community" is that we're a prayerful people. We know that God is the source of strength and hope in all situations, and so we turn to Him around every corner of our lives. Join us this Sunday as Mike Haley shares and we pray in the new school year, enjoying these last weeks of summer - together!Sunday // 10:30AM // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524

IT TAKES PRACTICE...learning the ways of a good and beautiful community. It's who we are in Jesus (already!), but growing into this reality, stepping into this truth; these are action-steps, practices that we get better at over time.How are the practices going for you so far? What's it been like practicing being "A Peculiar People", "A Hopeful People", "A Serving People", "A Jesus People", "A Forgiving People", and "An Encouraging People"?Before we dive into the last few weeks of this series, let's reflect on what we've experienced so far. What's God been stirring up in your heart? What have you been challenged by? What's been encouraging?As we return to prayer, to a dependence on the Holy Spirit, and a deeper trust in God, we get to experience His unconditional love for us once again. Sundays - 10:30am // 70 Stephens Ln. Bayside, CA 95524