Peacemaking in Polarized Times Resources
Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers” - But peacemaking is not for the faint of heart! Peace in Hebrew is “shalom” - not the absence of war, stress or anxiety (that would be escapism). Shalom is wholeness, completeness, fulfillment, inner rest, living without...
How God is using The Mill City Commons
For 14 years Mill City Church was a predominantly “portable church” as we worshiped at Las Estrellas School. However, in 2015 we had the unexpected opportunity to purchase what became known as the Mill City Commons. This building became a midweek hub for community...
Spiritual Authority Resources
The final conversation of the Summer is called: Authority in the Spirit. At Mill City we have used this framework when talking about what it means for us to live the way of Jesus: Know God, Live Like Jesus, Led by the Spirit. This is why we had these three...
Apprenticing Jesus in our Online and Digital Spaces
It’s hard to deny that there are wonderful things that the online world has offered us as humans, and it’s impossible to miss the realities that this is a tool that has caused and continues to cause harm. All of us have had different experiences with the emergence of...
Repent | Lament | Act
It’s easy to see that we live in a world full of violence and strife. A world that God created good, but has the curse of brokenness since sin disrupted God’s design. Yet we were given the clear mission as followers to be peacemakers, to be those who love our...
People of Peace – Three Circles
In Luke 10, Jesus sends out the 72 apprentices to look for "people of peace". For us all in our relationships - who are the “people of peace” the people the Spirit is leading us to, who the Spirit is putting peace between us and them. Our call is to follow that peace...
Apprenticing Jesus In Your Vocation
We are in a conversation we are calling: Apprenticing Jesus: In Real Life Discipleship for the lives we actually have. We are using the word apprentice interchangeably with disciple since it helps us understand what a disciple does. One who spends time with their...
Psalms Resources
This Spring we are going to be in a series on the book of Psalms called – Relating to an unchanging God in a changing world. We will keep resources here as we go! Read a Psalm a day with others: Join on the Bible App here OR download schedule here Psalms Overview –...
Lent Resources
Lent is a season in the church calendar where many choose intentional spiritual practices to help them center on Jesus. This often includes letting go of something (fasting) and taking up something (a spiritual practice). Lent 2024 starts on Ash Wednesday which is...
Generosity at Mill City
Generosity at Mill City “Generosity is about what God wants for us, not from us” We believe that generosity is about who God created us to be: people who engage the world with a posture of generosity and who generously give their time, energy, and resources. This is...
The Way of the Kingdom
The Way of the Kingdom - Here are some resources from our sermon series: “Gospel of the Kingdom” - Bible Project Video (5 minutes) King Jesus Gospel - Book by Scot McKnight Surprised by Hope - N.T. Wright Notes from Sermon 1 - January 7th - Pastor Steph Isaiah 52:7...
Update: Pastor Paul
Celebrate Pastor Paul: Pizza Ranch 12443 Champlin Dr, Champlin, MN 55316 December 2nd from 11am-2pm Dear MCC Community, I have important news to share with you. Pastor Paul Olson has resigned from his position at Mill City Church. His last day was Nov 2nd. We trust...
The Best Day to Meet Your Neighbors
What if the purpose of Halloween for the Mill City Church Community was simply this: to be present in our neighborhoods to meet and deepen our relationships with neighbors. Regardless of how we feel about Halloween, the fact remains that this is the one day of the...
The Way of Jesus – Mark Resources
This Fall at Mill City we are having a conversation about what it means to follow The Way of Jesus in the world today. What does being a disciple look like? How do we truly follow Jesus in an increasingly complex world? How do we cut through the wilderness to see what...
Border Perspective Report – South Texas Trip (June 17-25, 2023)
Border Perspective Report - South Texas Trip (June 17-25, 2023) By Pastor Paul Olson They say “everything is bigger in Texas” and indeed, walking along side the border wall comprised of massive 30-foot brown steel beams jutting upward into the blue Texas sky makes...
Sabbath – Rest With God
As we are talking about resting with God as a community, some may wonder about the practice of adding a more formal time of sabbath to their week. Here is a short explanation, but you can take part in four weeks of resources by John Mark Comer and the team from...
Rest With God Resources
Rest With God Resources What does resting with God look like for you in this season of your life? This is the question we invite you to ask this month as we dig into this concept in Scripture on Sundays. Here are some curated resources for you - we hope you can engage...
Faithful – What God is Like
We are in a sermon series called “What God is Like”. It is based off of Exodus 34:6 where God gives a description of God’s character: 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in...
Loyal Love – What God is Like
We are in a sermon series called “What God is Like”. It is based off of Exodus 34:6 where God gives a description of God’s character: 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in...
Slow To Anger – What God is Like
We are in a sermon series called “What God is Like”. It is based off of Exodus 34:6 where God gives a description of God’s character: 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in...
Gracious – What God is Like
We are in a sermon series called “What God is Like”. It is based off of Exodus 34:6 where God gives a description of God’s character: 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in...
Compassionate – What God is Like
SERMON SERIES RESOURCES: To listen to this post read for you click here: We are in a sermon series called “What God is Like”. It is based off of Exodus 34:6 where God gives a description of God’s character: 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord,...
What is God like?
(click play to listen to this post read to you) Our goal as pastors and staff is to equip you as you follow Jesus! Consider these Equipping Opportunities and SIGN UP: Covenant In Real Life - Saturday, April 22nd 9am-12pm - Yearly check in for couples in any stage of...
What’s New at Mill City Church?
It's finally Spring! (click play to listen to this post read to you) What an incredible weekend celebrating the resurrection of Jesus together. It's not only a new season regarding the weather - but a new season for our community as well! Here are three new things I'm...
Lent Devotional #7
Lenten Covers Part 7 of 7. The Mill City Worship team will be releasing covers of hymns, contemporary music, and original songs each Friday during this Lenten season. Each song will be accompanied by a devotional written by one of our pastors.
Lent Devotional #6
Lenten Covers Part 6 of 7. The Mill City Worship team will be releasing covers of hymns, contemporary music, and original songs each Friday during this Lenten season. Each song will be accompanied by a devotional written by one of our pastors.
Cherish – “to hold something dear”
Last Sunday one of our leaders Anna Baskaran told me she was intentionally thinking about all the places that meaningful things had happened at Las Estrellas as this upcoming Sunday will be our last worshipping at the school. We have been there for almost 14 years! In...
Lent Devotional #5
Lenten Covers Part 5 of 7. The Mill City Worship team will be releasing covers of hymns, contemporary music, and original songs each Friday during this Lenten season. Each song will be accompanied by a devotional written by one of our pastors.
Lent Devotional #4
Lenten Covers Part 4 of 7. The Mill City Worship team will be releasing covers of hymns, contemporary music, and original songs each Friday during this Lenten season. Each song will be accompanied by a devotional written by one of our pastors.
Change, Grief and Four Services for Easter
It's hard to believe all God has done in the last 7 months since we began to pray about coming together as one. Now the Elim Alumni have been with us for almost two months and we have only 23 days until we worship together at 13th and Madison - Sunday, April 2nd! We...
Lent Devotional #3
Lenten Covers Part 3 of 7. The Mill City Worship team will be releasing covers of hymns, contemporary music, and original songs each Friday during this Lenten season. Each song will be accompanied by a devotional written by one of our pastors.
Lent Devotional #2
Lenten Covers Part 2 of 7. The Mill City Worship team will be releasing covers of hymns, contemporary music, and original songs each Friday during this Lenten season. Each song will be accompanied by a devotional written by one of our pastors.
Lent Devotional #1
Lenten Covers Part 1 of 7. The Mill City Worship team will be releasing covers of hymns, contemporary music, and original songs each Friday during this Lenten season. Each song will be accompanied by a devotional written by one of our pastors.
Ash Wednesday Liturgy
Ash Wednesday Liturgy written by Mill City Church community member Aaron Engler and Pastor Aashish Baskaran.
Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
By Pastor Aashish Baskaran In Acts 27, we find Paul in the midst of a storm and an impending shipwreck. In the face of grave danger, Paul tells those with him, “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me…” I love that verse....
Coming Together – Elim has Joined Mill City Church
One Month Together I am writing this one month since the Elim Church community joined us at Mill City. When people ask me about what this season of discernment and coming together as a church has been like I have often found it difficult to describe. I usually say...
Spirit-led Discernment and Decision making
Spirit-led discernment and decision making can feel like an elusive concept to many so here is a short post with some tips and principles for spiritual discernment. Discernment: the capacity to recognize and respond to God’s leadership and guidance both personally...
Bible In A Year & Recommended Apps
If you are interested in reading through the Bible in a year with others from Mill City - follow this link to the Bible app and join this plan. You can comment and interact with others who are reading along! Join the Mill City Group This plan is brought to you by The...
Mill City to Adopt Elim in 2023
9 Months ago I sat with Pastor Paul, Lead Pastor of Elim church as he brought up a brave question. A few months later, the Elim leadership team officially invited the Mill City leadership team into a discernment process about an "adoption merger". This was deeply...
ADVENT RESOURCES
Sunday, November 27th is the beginning of the season of Advent - celebrated all around the world according to the liturgical church calendar. Each week we celebrate a different theme that connects us to the story of Jesus birth: Nov 27 Hope, Dec 4 Peace, Dec 11 Joy,...
Adoption Merger – A Vote Has Been Called
Dear Mill City Community, Last week the Leadership Teams from both Mill City and Elim met together to discuss the feedback we have received from so many of you over these last two months. Thank you for your sincere engagement in this process! We heard directly from...
Interpretation Resources – Ephesians 5 & 6
Ephesians 5:21-6:9 is one of the most misinterpreted texts and has caused some of the deep destruction. It has been used to marginalize women To advocate for a hierarchy between men and women To inflict upon men an unhealthy pressure to “perform strength” that should...
What is spiritual discernment and how do we discern?
(if you would prefer to listen to this article you can listen by pressing play below - 4 minutes) During the discussion of the adoption merger with Elim Church we have talked a lot about discernment. This can feel like an elusive concept to many so here is a short...
Gifts to Build Up A Jesus Centered Church
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ...” –Ephesians 4:11-12 Knowing your top to 5-fold gifts...
One Church Vision
“One Church” Vision After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in...
Adoption Merger Update
We have an adoption merger update for you! As you know our leadership teams have performed an intentional feasibility study over the last month. The pastors met to discuss our mission, theology and ministry philosophy alignment. We also had three teams focused on...
Fasting On Fridays
Thank you to those who have participated so far in this time of discernment regarding the adoption merger of Elim Church! The Mill City Leadership Team would like to invite you into a time of prayer and fasting every Friday during this discernment period starting...
Important Mill City Church Update!
Hello Mill City Community, We are approaching one of the biggest decisions we have ever made in our 14 years as a community! Please read these letters that share about this important update for our community: Adoption Merger Consideration Announcement Letter -...
Lent Resources
Lent is a season in the church calendar where many choose intentional spiritual practices to help them center on Jesus. This often includes letting go of something (fasting) and taking up something (a spiritual practice). Lent 2023 starts on Ash Wednesday which is...
Ways you May Recognize a Kairos Moment
Excerpt from Make A Move by Stephanie Williams O’Brien • Some have described having a reoccurring theme come up in their life. For instance, they read something that seems to connect with what someone shared. Then, in a time of reflection, they start to put together...
Talking to your kid about baptism
Dear Parents and Guardians, Baptism is an important milestone in your child’s spiritual journey. We know that engaging your child’s spiritual interest and questions can be exciting but also intimidating. We want to be helpful to you, so we’ve created this guide to...
Choosing to Follow Lady Wisdom
Do we desire God's wisdom in our lives and what would it look like to pursue it? This is the question I posed in the sermon on Proverbs 8 in our series Wisdom In Action. This is a speech from Lady Wisdom, who is asking us this question as well. This post is a space...
Resources and Ways to Support the Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
This year many of us have witnessed the pain and anguish facing our Asian American sisters and brothers due to the violence and hatred directed at members of their community. There have been thousands of hate crimes this year - and those are only the ones that have...
The 4 Parts of the Metanarrative
The grand story of God we see in scripture can be encapsulated in 4 plot movements like 4 acts of a play. When we understand this overarching movements it can help us put the different parts of the Bible in context as well as see more clearly what our role is in the...
Christmas Eve – The Christ Candle
Genesis 2:4-17, John 1:1-18, Revelation 22 The biblical story of God’s love and desire for restoration with creation is woven throughout the biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revelation, through the promise of the Messiah. In this promise we are reminded of God’s...
Blue Christmas – Advent Lament Playlist and Guide
Welcome to this advent lament playlist. You can access the songs on Spotify or using the Youtube Videos below. For some, the Christmas season can be one filled with joy and cheer, but for others, Christmas can be a painful reminder that the world is still deeply...
Advent Week 4 – The Candle of Peace
Isaiah 35, 52:1-12, Luke 2:8-20, Revelation 21 We are acutely aware that peace is in short supply in our world. We are collectively experiencing an absence of peace; fear is pervasively felt. Everywhere we look we are reminded of division, sickness, injustice, racism,...
Advent Week 3 – The Candle of Joy
Joy (Week 3 - Dec 13) Isaiah 7:10-17, Isaiah 62, Luke 1:26-56, Revelation 7:1-12, 12:10-12, 19:1-9 As people who put our hope in God’s love and promises, we are called to adopt an attitude of joy. It is in joy we find the ability to anticipate the future within our...
Advent Week 2 – The Candle Of Love
Read the introduction to the season of Advent and Week 1 - The candle of Hope Love (Week 2 - Dec 6) Isaiah 42:1-9, Isaiah 53, Luke 2:1-7, 1 John 4:7-12, Revelation 11:15-19, 14:1-7 The promise of the coming Messiah, Savior and King, is woven throughout the biblical...
Advent Week 1 – The Candle of Hope
Advent is not only a time of celebrating the birth of Jesus, but one where we actively participate in the practice of waiting, experiencing the anticipation and longing of those waiting for the arrival of the Messiah. This...
Start With Surrender
What would it look like to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in our every day lives? We face many struggles in our daily lives as well as unique pressures in these unusual times we are living in right now. If we try to daily surrender to the Holy Spirit is the only way...
Neighborhood Bingo
As Minnesotan's we have a special opportunity in the summer months to connect with our geographical neighbors. When we are stuck inside for the better part of a year, we can easily forget we have neighbors all together! That is why every summer at Mill City we have...
Growing in Racial Justice and Intercultural Competence
What we can truly “do” is commit to the lifelong work of racial justice and healing, starting with our own hearts and minds. Mill City Church has been committed to racial justice and to growth as life-long anti-racist and reconciling people. We see this commitment at...
Ways To Help Meet The Needs Of Our City
Here is a list of partners and trusted organization to support the needs in the wake of the riots and violence in Minneapolis: Sanctuary Covenant Church - North Minneapolis https://sanctuarycov.org/ Needs: Volunteers, Tangible Goods, and Financial Donations Sanctuary...
Up Experiences
This summer try these various experiences to help you in your "Up" relationship with God. To download a document and list you can put on your wall or fridge click here: Up Experiences Checklist Prayer walk around your neighborhood - Simply walk alone or with someone...
The Spirit Moves Through The Scattered Church
In the book of Acts we read that the church was “scattered” - unable to gather in the same way as they were before. (Acts 8) They were facing persecution and other hardships that most of us have only read about. However, God does an interesting thing through these...
Liturgy of Disappointment
Welcome to this lament playlist. You can access the songs on Spotify or using the Youtube Videos below. These are six songs (7 including a quick benediction) and prayers that have led me through lament in my own life. The playlist is around 35 minutes. While the...
Loving Our Online Neighbors
Loving Our Online Neighbors In Christian circles, and certainly at Mill City, we talk regularly about loving our neighbors -- the people we interact with regularly. But what does it mean to love our neighbors in an online environment? Who are our neighbors on...
Guided Lament Experience – With Playlist
Welcome to this lament playlist. You can access the songs on Spotify or using the You Tube videos below. These are six songs that I have chosen that have led me through lament in my own life. The playlist is around 32 minutes, and leads one through 1 declaration (Holy...
2018-2019 Impact
Mill City, you are SUCH a generous group of people! God is using you as you join in God's mission of restoration in the world that God loves. Even when there is so much brokenness around us, look at how many wrong things are made right when we respond to God's...
One Word To Help Introverts Love Their Neighbors
At Mill City, we talk about loving our community in the name of Jesus. And for all of us, our community includes our neighbors. We need to know our neighbors if we're going to love them, and this means talking to strangers, which is intimidating. I've heard of these...
Books We Don’t Read – Minor Prophets
The 12 minor prophets have been come to be known as "The Book of the Twelve" because for much of history they were written on one scroll and often read and understood together. Reading through the minor prophets can be a great experience to hear God's heart for the...
Fresh Start in our Relationships with God and Others
This month we are talking about how the beginning of the year is a great time to choose to have a "fresh start" in an area of life. Our relationships with God and others is so important to consider because a lot of our other hopes and firm decisions hinge on our...
When Gratitude Takes Grit
At Mill City we often say that “generosity is something God wants FOR us not FROM us.” There are many reasons that I think this is true, but one important reason is from a generous heart flows a spirit of gratitude. When we are not people of generosity - then a...
Tips for Having Courageous Conversations
In our lives as Jesus followers we often need to "speak the truth in love" as Paul encourages the church to do in Ephesians 4:15. This means we will have to take courage and step into difficult and challenging conversations even when we are afraid. Prayer is an...
How to read the Bible well
This Summer we have had a conversation on the topic of the Bible. We titled it: The Bible? The question mark is intentional because we live in a time where the Bible is not always given an assumed place of authority in people’s lives. The truth is, the world around us...
Neighboring Doesn’t Have to Be Scary
Tis the season in Minnesota to jump into "the art of neighboring" (a phrase we have borrowed from a book by the same title written by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon). Neighbors are outside more because it's not frigid and there are more social opportunities to get to know...
Black History Month Resources and Opportunities
Black History Month Resources As you know, this month is Black History Month. Any month is a great month to celebrate the lives of our African American leaders and history makers but let’s not miss this intentional opportunity! The Action & Awareness Missional...
Reflections on Sacred Pathways
When I first heard of the Sacred Pathways a few weeks ago, I was very intrigued. I hadn’t read the book by Gary Thomas before, nor had I ever heard anyone talk about these Sacred Pathways for describing how they connect with God. The main reason why my attention was...
Anti-Trafficking Efforts for the Super Bowl
Anti-Trafficking Efforts for the Super Bowl I’m sure you are aware that the Super Bowl is coming to our city Feb 4th, but what you might not be aware of is that along with the Super Bowl often comes an influx of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Sadly, this...
Resources for Learning About Race
Resources for Learning about Race God's heart for racial justice and reconciliation is a mission priority for Mill City Church. Check out these resources that will help us learn and grow! Podcasts: Truth’s Table Code Switch Books: One - by Deidra Riggs The Next...
Resources for Connecting With God
In order to receive God’s love and grow in trusting God, we need to take daily steps of faith. In order to create space for that to happen we need to prioritize some time and engage in any resources needed. Here is a short list of resources that have been helpful for...
Make Technology Work FOR Your Wellbeing not Against.
"There's an app for that." This phrase would have made little sense even just 15 years ago! I remember we were just realizing that we could send text messages from our flip phones right about then! Today, as we all know, is very different. Many have written about the...
What getting kicked out could teach us…
(Pastor Steph also writes at PastorSteph.com) Last week on Friday afternoon, we found out that the school we have worshipped in every Sunday for over 8 years couldn’t host us for potentially most of the summer. It’s not like we were “kicked out,” technically - but...
Response to the Yanez Verdict on Friday, June 16th
Yesterday we had a wonderful worship service with Mill City Church focused on God’s commandment to love our neighbor. We heard stories from Mill City people who are doing this and seeing some amazing things come from their relationships with those around them. But...
Unity Takes Practice
If you are a part of the Mill City community, you may have noticed that we have started celebrating communion together every Sunday after the sermon as we transition into worship. We are going to begin having the Prayer Team available every Sunday as well during the...
Fighting For Unity
Confession: In my former life I was a hockey player. That’s not the confession. The confession is that broke the record in my high school for penalty minutes. That’s right, I was in the penalty box my senior year for over 100 minutes. In my defense, the NHL record is...
What We Are All About
The mission of Mill City Church is "to love our community in the name of Jesus." This is a reflection of our calling to participate in God's mission by being the church. Loving our community and serving northeast Minneapolis is the natural result of this. It all...
Navigating Conflict Over the Holidays
The Mill City Community is diverse, and so are the families that we all come from. As we think about going home for Thanksgiving, many of us feel nervous or anxious about sitting around the table with people we love but may deeply disagree with. How can we, as...
Halloween: The most missional day of the year?
Think about it: what other day of the year do families from all over your neighborhood come up to your door ready to interact? It's a pretty sweet deal (pun intended), and a really fun way to love our community in the name of Jesus. What if the purpose of Halloween...
My Thoughts on Fear…
I am serious about chocking hazards. I still cut my 6 year olds grapes in fourths (sidebar: that's cool, right? what about when she's 16?). Ask my friends about my reaction when a kid even slightly coughs while eating. Total overreaction. I'm in fight or flight ready...
Love Practices – How to have hearts ready to love in the name of Jesus
As a part of our conversation this summer called You Are What You Love we have looked at the different "soils" that represent the various states of the heart in Luke 8:4-15. Below you can determine what state your heart may be in and the love practices that can help...
Mastering the Art of the Missional Community Potluck
Do you feel like you are in a never ending potluck cycle? Does pot-luck feel like pot-stuck? Many Missional Communities center around meals... which is honestly a really important part of doing life together. It's important the the meal isn't a 4 course catered...
Missional Community is a Crockpot, not a Microwave
I have always been a microwave person. No matter how many viral posts I read about how microwaves may cause cancer or something else horrible, I just can’t resist the instant satisfaction of warming up food in 2 minutes. Sure, I have an oven a stove top and a crock...
Training Sunday // Searching for God
Below are recordings of April 3rd's Training Sunday. We concluded our series, Searching for God, by having a few related workshops. Soul Care LISTEN Presenter: Dr. Christine Osgood Dmin, LMFT, Mdiv (Founder of the Urban Retreat) Description: Christine helps us answer...
House Blessing
What is the spiritual atmosphere of your home? I don’t mean whether people in your home believe in Jesus or not, though that’s an important question. I mean when you enter your home -- is the space one of peace, grace, and comfort? Does your experience of being in...
Moving Back Into the Neighborhood
Getting to know neighbors is often easier said than done. This is a problem as a Jesus follower. Jesus clearly showed us, both with the way He lived and the things He said, that to be His follower means to love our neighbors as ourselves. But how do we do this? We...
Creating Space for God
It was the summer after my junior year of seminary, and I was burnt out . I wasn't just tired. There was an emptiness. Not just physical fatigue but spiritual emptiness. God felt distant, I felt emotionally numb. It's not that I didn't believe, its just that I was...
When Pain Goes Unseen
When the Pain Goes Unseen As I made my way to the lobby having just finished my Sunday sermon at my church I young woman I had never met came up to me. She had come with her friend to visit our church that day. “Thank you for what you said today in your sermon. I have...
A Letter to Mill City
Dear Mill City Family, I am so proud of you. You should hear me talk about you all behind your back! I tell everyone about the risks that you are taking and the ways that you are stepping out in mission. I tell people about how you love people different than you and...