Living Word

This Week at Living Word: Celebrating What God is Doing

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 08:29:00 +0000

This Sunday we celebrated God's faithfulness both around the world and right here in our community.

Our Ethiopia missions team safely returned home after serving alongside our ministry partners in Sendafa. During their trip, they helped provide medical care to thousands of people, supported local outreach efforts to vulnerable women, encouraged schools, and shared the love of Jesus through practical acts of compassion. Thank you to everyone who prayed for the team throughout their journey.

Closer to home, our Fusion students spent the week impacting York County by serving local schools, supporting adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, and meeting practical needs throughout our community. We're grateful for the next generation's willingness to live out the love of Christ through service.

If you're a middle or high school student looking for community, Fusion meets every Sunday evening from 6:30–8:30 PM. It's a place to build friendships, grow in faith, and discover opportunities to serve.

As a church, we're committed to being "the smallest big church ever." One of the ways we live that out is by practicing one of our core values: seeing, naming, and knowing one another. Every Sunday is an opportunity to welcome others with the same love and hospitality Christ has shown us.

Thank you for your prayers, your generosity, and your willingness to participate in God's work—both across the world and here in our own community.

This Week at Living Word: Discipleship Journeys & Transformation

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:40:00 +0000

This Sunday we were reminded that God invites each of us into a deeper life with Him—not just through Sunday worship, but through daily practices that help us encounter Jesus.

As we welcomed guests and our online community, we reflected on our desire to be "the smallest large church," where people are seen, named, and known. Whether you're new or have been attending for years, we want everyone to find meaningful connection and take their next step in following Jesus.

One opportunity to do that begins this week through our Practicing the Way: Scripture course. The class is designed to help participants develop rhythms of spending time with Jesus through God's Word while building relationships with others.

To illustrate the impact of these courses, Brandon and Laura shared their story. After years of simply attending church, they discovered deeper community and spiritual growth through Practicing the Way. Their testimony reminded us that spiritual formation happens as we intentionally create space for God and invite others to grow alongside us.

Throughout the service, we were encouraged to cultivate wonder before God—through His Word, through silence, and through His creation. As the service concluded, we were challenged to carry that posture into the week ahead by making space to encounter God's presence in everyday life.

If you're looking for your next step this summer, consider joining the Practicing the Way: Scripture course. We'd love to grow together as we continue encountering Jesus.

When Your Soul Feels Weary Reflections on Psalm 42

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:32:02 +0000

There are seasons when life leaves us asking difficult questions:

Where are You, God?
Have You forgotten me?

Psalm 42 gives voice to those questions—not to shame them, but to show us what faith looks like in the middle of them.

In this message, Pastor Aaron invites us to practice an often-overlooked spiritual discipline: learning to speak to our souls instead of simply listening to them. Rather than allowing fear, disappointment, anxiety, or discouragement to define us, we're invited to bring our whole selves before God and let the truth of the gospel shape our hearts.

As we encounter Jesus together, may we learn to put our hope in Him again and again.

Watch the message, spend some time reflecting on the questions below, and consider discussing them with your family, Life Group, or a trusted friend.

Reflection Questions
Observe

What part of Psalm 42 stood out to you most? Why?
What does the psalmist teach us about bringing our emotions before God?

Reflect

Where do you naturally turn first when life becomes overwhelming?
Which emotion has been most present in your life lately?
Is there an "inner narrative" you've been listening to that needs to be challenged by God's truth?

Practice

What's one desire you've been hesitant to bring before God?
What would it look like this week to "go to God first" before turning to your phone, work, entertainment, or someone else?
What Scripture could you begin preaching to your own soul this week?

Pray

Ask God to help you recognize the voices shaping your heart.
Ask Him to train your soul to thirst for His presence.

Practice: Speak to Your Soul

Each morning this week:

Spend 10 minutes with God.
Name one emotion you're feeling.
Name one desire you're carrying.
Read one passage of Scripture.
Finish by speaking one truth from God's Word back to your soul.

Examples:

"Jesus, You haven't forgotten me."

"My hope is in God."

"Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ."

This Week at Living Word: First Steps & Missions

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:19:00 +0000

This Sunday, we were reminded that God's steadfast love is the foundation of everything we do as a church. As we gathered for worship, we reflected on our desire to be "the smallest big church"—a community where people are seen, named, and known as we grow together in following Jesus.

If you're new to Living Word, we invited you to take your next step by connecting with us and learning more about our church through our upcoming First Steps class. This class is a great opportunity to discover our mission, values, ministries, and practical ways to become part of the life of our church family.

We were also encouraged to continue building meaningful relationships beyond Sunday mornings. Whether reconnecting with family after the holiday weekend or intentionally reaching out to friends and neighbors, we were challenged to live out God's love through genuine community throughout the week.

As the service concluded, we prayed over two mission teams being sent out to serve both locally through Impacting York Week and internationally in Ethiopia. We celebrated their willingness to follow God's call and asked Him to use them to bring hope, encouragement, and the love of Christ to everyone they encounter.

Finally, we closed with an invitation for anyone needing prayer to meet with our prayer team. Whether you're facing illness, relationship struggles, or simply longing for hope, you're never alone. We would love to pray with you as together we continue saying yes to Jesus and becoming more like Him.

This Week at Living Word: Baptisms

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:23:00 +0000

This Sunday was a celebration of God's transforming work as 28 people publicly declared their faith through baptism across our morning services.

As we gathered, we were reminded that Living Word exists to help people say yes to Jesus, spend time with Jesus, and love like Jesus. Baptism is one of the clearest pictures of that journey, and hearing each testimony encouraged us to reflect on our own walk with Christ.

We also invited everyone to continue growing in their faith through our upcoming Practicing the Way: Scripture course. This four-week experience is designed to help followers of Jesus develop a deeper relationship with God's Word through practical, life-giving habits. Whether attending in person on Tuesday evenings or online on Wednesdays, we encourage you to take this next step.

Throughout the service, we were reminded that generosity is about much more than finances. God has entrusted each of us with gifts, passions, time, and resources that can be used to serve others and reflect His generosity.

As the service concluded, we were challenged to remember that every follower of Jesus is already sent into the places where they live, work, learn, and serve. We celebrated those who were baptized, committed ourselves to supporting them as they continue following Jesus, and were invited to join our Mission Connect gathering to hear how God is working through missionaries around the world.

What a joyful reminder that God continues to change lives—and that each of us has a part to play in sharing His hope with others.

Sunday Announcements May 24, 2026

Sun, 24 May 2026 06:52:00 +0000

Sunday Announcements

Save the Date for our Church Family Cookout on Friday, June 12, 2026, here at the church from 5:30 to 8 pm.

Other happenings:

Groups have launched. A summertime session of interest groups are now available. We have everything from Paddleboarding to Scripture Study... And a Coffee Club to a Healthy Steps in Motion Group for 50+! Check out Groups on the website or via the Living Word mobile app.

Sunday Announcements May 3, 2026

Sun, 03 May 2026 11:22:13 +0000

Save the Date for our Church Family Cookout on Friday, June 12, 2026, here at the church from 5:30 to 8 pm. https://lwccyork.com/event/9m7gw8r/church-family-cookout

Other happenings:

Mission Connect: Stories from Ukraine is tonight, May 3, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Join us to hear first-hand accounts of faith and hope from Pastor Sergii. More details available at: https://lwccyork.com/event/vcdcrt5/mission-connect-stories-from-ukraine