Christian “Contemplatio” | Reece's Peaces

From the earliest days of the church, many of the Church Fathers and Mothers practiced what they called contemplatio, a prayerful “gazing at God.” These practices, which     today are often described as Christian mystical or meditative disciplines, are simple but profound ways of opening ourselves to God’s presence. They move us beyond the limits of body and mind into the deeper life of the spirit. 

Following our recent series Thinking Theologically, we will now turn toward the      complementary practice of Christian Contemplatio. If theology engages the mind, these practices engage the heart and spirit, helping us experience God in ways that surpass  understanding. These disciplines have been a vital part of the Christian tradition,         especially in the Eastern church, and continue to strengthen faith in every generation. 

This October, we will focus on four ancient practices of the Christian life: 

· October 5, 2025 – Fasting  Not about weight loss, but about self-discipline. Fasting teaches us to release our grip on the material world so we may focus on the power and presence of God. 

· October 12, 2025 – Contemplative Prayer  God invites us into stillness not as absence but as presence. In a noisy, distracted world, contemplative prayer helps us hear God’s quiet voice. 

· October 19, 2025 – The Examen  The Examen invites us to prayerfully reflect on our day, noticing where God was present, where we resisted, and how we can grow in gratitude, repentance, and readiness for tomorrow. 

· October 26, 2025 – Lectio Divina  More than study, Scripture is an encounter with the living God. Lectio Divina teaches us to let the Word dwell within us, moving from reading to resting in God’s presence. 

 To complement this series, the sanctuary will open each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for a 20-minute time of Lectio Divina before worship. During this quiet period, Scripture will be read and reflected upon, preparing our hearts to enter more fully into God’s presence. 

Join The Choir! | Marc's Music Notables

We warmly invite you to be part of the Hurstbourne Christian Church Sanctuary Choir as we prepare for our 2025 Christmas Cantata. This year’s celebration is themed “Festival of Christmas,” and we’re pulling out all the stops—a joyful mix of classic carols, beloved Christmas hymns, and a moving, modern arrangement of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

The service will weave together music and narration, inviting us into the story of Christ’s birth. Together, we’ll follow the journey to Bethlehem, hear the angels’ proclamation of peace, and reflect on the wonder of God’s greatest gift to the world: His Son, Jesus Christ. The choir, accompanied by soloists and a chamber orchestra, will help bring this sacred story to life, reminding us all why Christmas is a season of hope, love, and celebration.

Whether you’ve sung in choirs for years or have never tried it before, we’d love for you to join us. No experience is necessary—just a love of music and a desire to honor Christ through song. Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. Each week, you’ll find encouragement, friendship, and the joy of preparing something truly meaningful for our church and wider community.

Our Christmas Cantata has become a cherished tradition at Hurstbourne Christian Church, a highlight of the holiday season that brings together family, friends, and our community. This is more than just a musical event—it’s a time to gather in worship, to celebrate the miracle of Christ’s birth, and to share the message of God’s love with one another.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 21, during the worship service. Even if you can’t join the choir, we hope you and your loved ones will attend and experience the beauty and truth of Christmas with us.

 Let’s come together to remember the night when hope entered our world in a humble manger and rejoice in the promise that Christ’s light still shines. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Keto Pumpkin Biscuits | Jenna's Favorite Recipes

October is the time for all things pumpkin, whether sweet or savory! These savory pumpkin biscuits are a great addition to any meal, but they’re especially great with soup. Whip up a batch in just a few minutes and enjoy the flavor of the season!

Ingredients:

· 1 1/4 cups almond flour

· 1/4 cup coconut flour

· 2 tsp grain free baking powder

· 1/2 tsp baking soda

· 1/2 tsp salt

· 1 tsp sage

· 1/8 tsp nutmeg

· 2 Tbsp frozen butter, grated

· 3/4 cup pumpkin puree

· 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

· 2 tablespoons butter, melted

 Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients together.

3. In a separate small bowl, combine together the pumpkin puree and yogurt, or sour cream if using. Set aside.

4. Mix the frozen grated butter into the dry mixture. Stir until combined.

5. Add the pumpkin mixture and stir until combined.

6. Pinch off a piece of dough and drop onto a parchment lined baking tray. Space each drop biscuit about 1-2 inches apart. Brush with melted buter.

7. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

8. Once done cooking, remove from oven and let sit for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

* Serve while the biscuits are still warm, or if you need to make them ahead of time, you can reheat them in the oven or air fryer.

 This recipe took inspiration from the website ketofocus.com

Thinking Theologically | Reece's Peaces

Over the last few weeks, we have begun a new sermon series called Thinking Theologically. This series has been a little different from some of what we have done in the past. Rather than centering on stories or themes, these sermons are built around big theological questions of our faith. In other words, instead of simply asking, What does the Bible say?, we are also asking, What does this tell us about who God is, who we are, and how we live out our faith? 

I know that for some of you this feels exciting and refreshing. For others it may feel new or even a little unfamiliar. That is exactly the point. We are stretching ourselves together as a community of faith. Every Christian, whether they realize it or not, has a theology. We all hold beliefs about God, human nature, salvation, and sin. Sometimes we have clear words for these beliefs. At other times they live more quietly in the background of our lives. This series is an opportunity to bring those beliefs into the light, reflect on them, and see how they connect with the good news of Jesus Christ. 

So far, we have spent time reflecting on human nature and on sin. These two subjects go hand in hand as we consider both the beauty and the brokenness of our lives. In the weeks to come we will turn our attention to salvation before exploring our central question:     Who is God? 

But this series is not just about what I say from the pulpit. It is also about what you are thinking, wrestling with, and learning. To make this more interactive, we want your input for the final sermon of the series. On September 21st, we will conclude with a sermon    chosen by you, the congregation. We have cards available at the church for you to write down your questions or suggestions. You can also join the conversation by commenting on our Facebook post. The question or theme that receives the most engagement will become the focus of our closing message. 

This is your chance to help shape what we study together. My hope is that as we think     theologically, we will grow not only in knowledge but also in faithfulness. Theology is not just an academic exercise. It is a way of seeking to know God more deeply and to live more fully into the love of Christ. 

I encourage you to be part of the journey. Pray, reflect, and share your thoughts. Together, let us continue discovering the richness of our faith and the God who is always at work within and among us. 

Take My Life & Let It Be | Marc's Music Notables

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was an unusually gifted and passionate saint. The daughter of a church rector, she was raised in Worcester, England and attended schools in England and Germany. In her love of learning, she grew to become an able scholar (even becoming proficient in both Hebrew and Greek) and a talented singer and pianist.

The deepest desire of her heart, however, was in “personal spiritual influence upon others” (Benson). This led her to value most of all her ability to write; for that reason she expended the majority of her life’s labors in writing prose and poetry that would be spiritually beneficial to the saints.

Havergal suffered poor health and was taken by the Lord at just 42 years of age. But the Lord prospered her ministry; her writings had a large impact in her own day, and several continue to be read and sung today.

The story of “Take My Life” gives a good picture of the kind of passion and joy she had in ministering to others. She once recounted the story behind it:

Perhaps you will be interested to know the origin of the consecration hymn, “Take my life.” I went for a little visit of five days. There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, “Lord, give me all in this house!” And He just did! Before I left the house every one had got a blessing. The last night of my visit I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration, and these little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart one after another, till they finished with, “Ever, ONLY, ALL for Thee!”

In her own words, the hymn is a “consecration hymn” in which the singer commits all of her possessions and being to the Lord for his purposes. It expresses what each of us ought to feel and long for, even if at times we see so much disparity between the words and our actual state that we have to sing most of it in hope and faith.