Author: Wende Gonzales

Pastor’s Notes 7/11/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Forget what happened long ago!
Don’t think about the past.
I am creating something new.
There it is! Do you see it?
I have put roads in deserts,
streams in thirsty lands.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (CEV)

Forget the past?

Surely Isaiah isn’t talking to us. Sun City Christian Church has a lot of memories collected and we are doing everythig to keep as many as we can! Before we panic too much, be assured that the command isnt to abandon life before this moment.

The voice of God, through the prophet Isaiah, is encouraging the people of Israel to not stand so firmly in the past so as to get stuck there. To believe the “glory days” were solely gone by, lacked faith.

A common flaw for many who follow Jesus today is a longing to go back to a previous way, era, or understanding. God is still alive and present. God is doing a new thing!

Our calling is to go beyond survival. Ours is not to simply get by, tread water, or be seat warmers for future generations. We are a people of vision and mission and the world needs us, as we are right now, to offer the love we know in Jesus.

On Sunday, we will continue the preparations for partnership with Lexington Theological Seminary and Disciples Home Missions. We will commission our cohort team and a learn the 10 traits of a thriving congregation.

Just a reminder that I am at General Assembly which runs July 12-15 and I encourage you to take in worship and any other offerings on the schedule via livestream.

Many blessings and if you need anything, contact any of our elders or church office.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 7/4/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. Romans 8:5 CEV

I enjoy birdwatching. A great tool for birdwatching is a good pair of binoculars. At Glen Canyon in Page, I had the pleasure to lock in on a California Condor circling overhead. It was amazing, I was able to focus, and everything else was blocked out of view.

So often, we see only where our focus is.

The Apostle Paul writes that when our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we experience life and peace. This isn’t just about personal calm or inner strength (though that’s part of it); it’s also about what it means for us to be a church that thrives—not by our own effort, but because Christ lives in us.

In a world full of noise, distraction, and systems that pull us away from love and justice, Paul invites us to shift our focus. To live by the Spirit means letting go of fear and scarcity, and trusting in the power of resurrection already at work within and among us.

This Sunday in worship, we will continue with our preparation for our denominational general assembly by looking “Beyond Recognition.”  Romans 8:5–11 is a passage that reminds us what it means to truly live as people of the Spirit.

So, whether you’re feeling energized or exhausted, hopeful or uncertain, know this:
The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is alive in you, it is alive in all of us. Together we will focus on our calling as a church to love like Jesus in Sun City and beyond.

I look forward to worshipping with you in person and YouTube as we open ourselves to the Spirit’s renewing work.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 6/20/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 
– 1 Corinthians 1:25-27

In preparation for the General Assembly of our denomination, over the next few Sundays we will explore scripture texts to go with the theme “Beyond.” On Sunday we will continue our journey with God’s grace, the movement of the Holy Spirit, and the call of Jesus as we wonder “Beyond Strength.”

 According to Lizette Acosta in her Bible Study materials on this text:

“Paul insists that salvation is not by merit. The wise do not have greater access to salvation through their wisdom. The rich cannot purchase it. The strong cannot, by their strength, attain it. God’s salvation was solely the work of Christ on the cross.”

God’s ways are not ways. The people of Corinth weren’t powerful, nor were they nobility and few would in society would label them as bearing wisdom. They were just regular people. But God has a way of using the ordinary for extraordinary acts of love. God desires us to be who are made to be and Christ’s calls us into action, just as we are. With the Holy Spirit’s guiding we are capable beyond anything we feel equipped for.

Many blessings and I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube this Sunday. I close this reflection with a poem by Rae Karim:
 

Beyond what makes us think we know
Beyond what makes us believe we can do
Are the mysteries of God, revealed in ways that…
sometimes leave us wondering
sometimes leave us wandering for answers
Questioning the hows and whys of God’s choices
But it’s not meant for our understanding
It’s meant for us to trust God’s plan is always in order
God always thinks bigger and goes farther in the Divine Strategy

Yes! Yes! God chose you and God chose me
Regardless of what the world thought of it
God chose you and God chose me
Knowing we’d be good for the part
Good for not simply playing the role
But being the role,
We…the ones who put the powerful to shame
We…the ones who disconnect the lights of notoriety & acclaim
We…the ones who remember God called and calls our names
Not for us to boast in the Presence as if we made it on our own
But to indeed boast about the Presence
That transforms and renews
That redeems and sanctifies
That is and will always be…wiser.

Rae Karim

Pastor’s Notes 6/13/2025

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Now to the one who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. –Ephesians 3:20-21

This week, we move into our summer worship series inspired by the upcoming General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, where our wider church will gather around the theme Beyond. On Sunday, our guiding scripture will be Ephesians 3:14–21, the powerful closing words of a prayer that echoes through generations:

According to DOC pastor and teacher Shannon Dycus, these words feel like the “Amen” at the end of a prayer we’ve whispered through tears and shouted in hope. They come after the kind of deep conversation with God that feels personal, even intimate. And then comes one small, striking word: Now.

Not later. Not when everything is fixed. Not when we’re stronger. Now.

This prayer trusts that God is already moving—in us, through us, and often despite us. That God hears the needs we name and the ones we don’t know how to say. That even on the bumpiest roads, we are not alone.

So what comes after “Amen”? What do we do when we realize the prayer has been heard—when we are filled with a Spirit that invites us beyond what we could imagine as possible?

This Sunday, we’ll reflect on that very question as we gather in worship, grounded in the love and power of God that is already at work within us. Come ready to explore what it means to live in the now of that promise, to imagine the great possibilities the Holy Spirit continues to breathe into us.

I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes: 6/6/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
– Acts 2:2-4

This Sunday, we celebrate the vibrant and world-shifting event of Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit rushed in like wind and flame, uniting a diverse crowd of people and birthing the Church as a Spirit-connected community.

The Spirit didn’t just come to comfort the early church; it came to send them. To give them a voice. To unite them in purpose. The Spirit came so that the faithful might bear fruit, fruit of love, peace, courage, and compassion. Pentecost happened so that in the light of Christ, we might witness the love we know to the world beyond our doors.

As we gather this Pentecost Sunday, we’ll ask:

What fruit is our congregation called to bear?
How might we bless the community beyond our walls?

Come dressed in red if you wish in the traditional color of the Spirit, and be ready to be renewed, connected, and inspired.

We’ll also gather at the Lord’s Table, where our connections are deepened and where Christ feeds us, not only for personal strength, but for the shared mission of love.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 5/30/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.   John 15:4-5

In a world that often tells us to work harder, do more, and produce at all costs, Jesus offers a surprising alternative: abide. Not hustle. Not perform. Not manage. Simply abide.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower… Abide in me as I abide in you.”

Our text for Sunday is one of the most beautiful and organic images in all of Scripture, the vine and the branches, reminding us that we thrive not by striving, but by staying deeply connected to Christ. Fruitfulness isn’t something we force. It grows when we remain rooted in God’s presence, love, and truth.

We’ll also reflect on what it means to be pruned by God, cutting away what no longer serves, not to punish, but to make room for greater growth. Just as a gardener lovingly prunes a grapevine so it can flourish, God tends to our lives with care and purpose.

As we continue our “Thriving” series, this week invites us to slow down and ask:

  • Where is God inviting me to abide more deeply?
  • What might God be pruning in our church or community?
  • How can abiding lead us toward real fruit—like compassion, justice, joy, and peace?

Our tree connection this week, the vine and branches, reminds us that growth isn’t always visible at first. But when we stay rooted in the Spirit, new life will come.

Come join us this Sunday in person or on YouTube as we learn to thrive by abiding. Please also continue to consider the role you desire to play in Sun City Christian Church and check out the ministry fair tables and sign-ups in Cobbs Hall!

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 5/23/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.   
– Ephesians 4:15-16

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? 🌳🌲🌴

In Bible study on Tuesday, we explored this question and realized that most of us are graphs of several different traits and qualities- hybrid trees. God created us with the potential to be diverse individuals with a variety of gifts, interests, and skills often changing with the seasons of our lives.

This Sunday, May 25th, we continue our series Planted to Thrive, focusing on the practice of “Growing Together.” A thriving congregation is one where gifts are shared and nurtured in community. Our guiding texts this week are Ephesians 4:11–16 and Romans 12:1–8, where we’re reminded that “we who are many are one body in Christ.”

As part of worship, we will open our “Ministry Fair” inviting you to discover where your gifts might meet the church’s needs. From hospitality to leadership, shopping to hands-on service, every act of love matters. Together, we grow strong — like a grove of trees, interconnected and rooted in love.

As part of the day’s festivities, you’ll be invited to reflect on your spiritual gifts using a simple, engaging exercise. Are you more like a Strong Oak, Shelter Pine, Flowering Dogwood, or Helpful Willow? This fun and meaningful exercise will help you discern where you might grow next in ministry.

After worship, visit the tables in Cobbs Hall to learn more about our ongoing ministries and sign up for what fits you best. We should all be excited to watch how the Spirit grows something beautiful among us! I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube this Sunday.  

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 5/9/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him.
Exodus 15:2

From the prophetic witness of Miriam and the devoted trust of Mary the mother of Jesus to the stirring hymns of Fanny Crosby and other modern poets of prayer, women have a profound impact upon our faith. Our worship this Sunday will honor the legacy of women whose gifts have helped the Church sing, pray, and live the gospel more fully.

Mother’s Day worship will feature hymns and musical offerings, each accompanied by short reflections or stories about the women who wrote them—women like Phoebe Knapp, Katharine Lee Bates, Natalie Sleeth, and Cecil Frances Alexander. You’ll hear a medley of Fanny Crosby’s beloved gospel hymns, sing “America the Beautiful,” and lift your voice in favorites like “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”

To open the service, you will recall the song that may be the most famous and bold of all: Mary’s Magnificat—her cry of praise and justice sung while carrying the Christ child. That revolutionary hymn of a young girl from Nazareth reminds us that music has always been central to our faith—not just to praise God, but to proclaim God’s justice, reversal of power, and care for the lowly.

In her spirit, we’ll also remember Miriam, who led her people in song after God delivered them from Egypt, and modern voices like Miriam Therese Winter, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, and Joyce Rupp, who continue to write hymns, prayers, and blessings that awaken our souls.

Whether you are a mother, have known a mother’s love, or grieve one who is no longer here, this Sunday is a celebration of presence, of the voices that have walked with us and shaped our journey of faith. We hope this time of music, memory, and meaning will uplift your spirit and stir your gratitude.

I am currently on vacation but if you need anything please contact the church office or any of our elders. Many blessings!

Brett

Book Club

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Second Thursdays at 10:30 am; in the church library or on Zoom

Looking for a new book group to join? Sign up for our monthly Book Club!

All are welcome to join us for this month’s book discussion. Reading the book or being a church member is NOT required! Books are available to borrow for each session.

Call the church office to sign up 623-972-6179. If you’re at church on Sunday, there is an overview and sign-up sheet in the narthex.

Books are available to borrow for each session.