Weekly Messages
Sabbath Consciousness: Our Descriptive Selves (part 3)
by Doug Hammack Continuing our discussion of sabbath-consciousness...
Sabbath Consciousness: Our Descriptive Selves (part 2)
by Doug Hammack The third critical elements we’re looking at that carves out interior space and peace for our souls, is how we think about ourselves. In this message we consider “the descriptive self” and how it drives us into less and less inner tranquility....
Sabbath Consciousness: Peculiar People (part 1)
by Doug Hammack Before the holidays we looked at two elements that help us find a place of internal rest and leisure that the ancients tell us is our heritage on the spiritual journey. There was another I wanted to discuss, and now that we’re though the holidays and...
The "Why" Issue and What "Peace" Has to Do With That
by Jim Amundsen God promises us tribulation, trials and troubles in our life, but he also promises us peace. This is not peace as the world defines it but the "peace that passes understanding". However certain things get in the way of our obtaining that peace, such...
Check out some of the teachings you missed!
For those of you who are newcomers to NRCC or this website, you did not have a chance to hear many really great messages and series that Doug has delivered in 2008 like "Dancing with the Divine", Hard Times and Finding God", "Sin's Just Not that Big a Deal" and "The...
Community Meeting: Finding Those Assigned Us
by Michelle Carter At NRCC, we have a very healthy spiritual community. Also, given our community's resources, we have room to invite some other people to walk this spiritual journey with us. So, these days we're looking for them. Emerging from a season of inward...
Community Meeting: The Future of Caring for Our Children/Teens
Alea has been a wonderful pastor over children and youth for many years, but after April 1, she will no longer be with us. At this meeting, we discuss the future of our kids. If you’re a part of NRCC, have a listen. ...
Introducing Meditation (part 3)
by Doug Hammack In 2009, NRCC focused for a year on integrating the ancient Christian contemplative practices into our lives. We did three 11-week Wednesday evening sessions of learning, practicing, and supporting one another. These three Sunday messages were an...
Introducing Meditation (part 2)
by Doug Hammack In 2009, NRCC focused for a year on integrating the ancient Christian contemplative practices into our lives. We did three 11-week Wednesday evening sessions of learning, practicing, and supporting one another. These three Sunday messages were an...
Introducing Meditation (part 1)
by Doug Hammack In 2009, NRCC focused for a year on integrating the ancient Christian contemplative practices into our lives. We did three 11-week Wednesday evening sessions of learning, practicing, and supporting one another. These three Sunday messages were an...
Reaching Out To God In Our Innermost Self; Centering Prayer – Robin Camu
by Robin Camu Spiritual discipline is any activity I can do that will help me to do (or become) what I cannot do (or become). There are kataphatic vs. apophatic approaches to spirituality. This is also reflected in how God presents himself. Centering prayer is letting...
New Year: A Time to Examine Our Lives
by Doug Hammack The turning of the calendar invites us to look at our lives, our values, and the habits that accumulate over time. Are these habits serving us well? In this lesson we talk about how one goes about shifting from one way of being alive, to a new and...
Advent 2008: A Late and Hurried Advent Message (with apologies)
by Doug Hammack This year, we’ve been more inattentive to the meaningful season of Advent than usual. Here, this last week of Advent, in a hurried attempt to make up for lost time, we talk about why the season matters. It’s a very old practice, setting aside these...
Community-Wide Business Meeting
by Doug Hammack Once a year, our community takes a Sunday to deal with the business of church-family life. After a report on where we’ve been and where we are today, we’ll make some projections about where we’re going in 2009. It’s a delightful part of our community...
Rethinking Leisure: Sabbath Consciousness (Part 2)
by Doug Hammack The ancients proscribed a weekly Sabbath rest as a rule to follow that was good for the soul. Later, sages and seers expanded the idea of Sabbath rest to mean an internal peace that characterized the every-day life of the spiritual person. Even in busy...
Thanksgiving 2008: On Gratitude (part 2)
by Doug Hammack Storytelling is a powerful medium. In this lesson, we reinforce the content of last week’s lesson by simply retelling an ancient story. It’s a story that invites us to live in a posture of gratitude and thankfulness.
Thanksgiving 2008: On Gratitude (part 1)
by Doug Hammack What a curious notion, that the Congress of the United States would create a federal holiday for the express purpose of stirring up gratitude in our hearts. In this lesson we consider the benefits that accrue to us when we embrace a posture of...
Rethinking Leisure: Sabbath-Consciousness (1)
by Doug Hammack The ancients proscribed a weekly Sabbath rest as a rule to follow that was good for the soul. Later, sages and seers expanded the idea of Sabbath rest to mean an internal peace that characterized the every-day life of the spiritual person. Even in busy...
Rethinking Leisure: Sabbath Consciousness (Introduction)
by Doug Hammack We all have leisure time available to us and we must make the best use of it. If you have not yet reflected on Luke 12, please do so this week.
Another Story About Stewards: Luke 12 – Rich Farmer
by Doug Hammack
Did We Get Jesus All Wrong? (The Unjust Steward 2)
by Doug Hammack In this lesson we look at two parables, Jesus’ parable of “The Unjust Steward” (improperly named, we’ll conclude), and Doug’s parable of Fred the Goldfish. The point of both is to ask ourselves if the Reality Narratives we tell ourselves that help us...
Did We Get Jesus All Wrong? (The Unjust Steward 1)
by Doug Hammack In this lesson we look at two parables, Jesus’ parable of “The Unjust Steward” (improperly named, we’ll conclude), and Doug’s parable of Fred the Goldfish. The point of both is to ask ourselves if the Reality Narratives we tell ourselves that...
Did We Get Jesus All Wrong? (introduction)
by Doug Hammack In this lesson we look at two parables, Jesus' parable of "The Unjust Steward" (improperly named, we'll conclude), and Doug's parable of Fred the Goldfish. The point of both is to ask ourselves if the Reality Narratives we tell ourselves that help us...
The Earth: Are We Owners or Renters? (part 3)
by Doug Hammack