Welcoming – Ernie Gutierrez

Prelude – I Know Whom I Have Believed – Granahan

Meditation:

Happiness requires more than the senses, more than pleasure. It requires that, though loving these things, we transcend them to become bigger than ourselves for the sake of the rest of the world. ~ Joan Chittister, OSB

Anthem – Joy Of My Desire – The Lakeview Choir

Message – The Search for Meaningful Connection – Pastor Dave

Hebrews 10:19-25 – New Revised Standard Version

¹⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,

²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),

²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

²² let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

²³ Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

²⁴ And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,

²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Happiness comes from meaningful connection. We can be surrounded by people, but lack meaningful connection. Scriptures shows God’s earliest mandates centered around creating intentional community, for which we are all responsible and blessed when this happens.