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National City is excited about the fall as we continue our 10 a.m. unity service through the remainder of the year. A new worship time provides new opportunities for discussion groups and meet-ups, before and after worship. Join us! Christian Pathways Adult Education...

We welcome the Crystal Children’s Choir as they share beautiful prelude music. More information on this talented and versatile choir is found at crystalchoir.org. Morning Message: Luke 10:1-11 is foundational for the church’s missionary movement. Jesus sends out his...

Luke 9:5-62 is about following Jesus. Some say they want to follow Jesus, but they are unwilling to leave behind the things that hold them back. Jesus says that no one who looks back to the things of the world is ready for the reign of God. Let us consider what it...

Join us in the Sanctuary for one great celebration in worship -- led by pastors and lay leaders, with piano, organ, Gospel Choir, and Sanctuary Choir. This Sunday Dr. Gentle preaches a message from Luke 8:26-39 where Jesus meets a rather frightening figure. But what...

Easter Sunday, April 21 The Disciples Travel To the Tomb Luke 24:1-12 “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not...

Holy Saturday, April 20 The Burial of Jesus Luke 23:50-56 “Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for...

Good Friday, April 19 The Death of Jesus Luke 23:44-49 “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said,...

Maundy Thursday, April 18 The Crucifixion of Jesus Luke 23:26-43 “When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know...

Holy Wednesday, April 17 Jesus Is Sentenced To Death Luke 23:13-25 “Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your...

Holy Tuesday, April 16 The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus Luke 22:47-53 “While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, is it with a kiss...

Holy Monday, April 15 The Plot to Kill Jesus Luke 22:1-6 “Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan...

Holy Week Palm/Passion Sunday, April 14 Note: Writers on Sundays were asked to address the power of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in their lives. “Jesus, Remember Me” Chalice Hymnal #569 “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42 Today...

IN MEMORIAM: For the faithful life of a beloved Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) leader, presented here is a 2007 devotion on this scripture from C. William Nichols, former Interim Minister of National City Christian Church. May his reflection continue to warm...

Friday. April 12 Jesus comes to Jerusalem: Near Journey’s end Journeys vary a lot…some are important but most are not. Some are long, some short. A trip to the convenience store for snacks can’t compare to the journey for education. All journeys have a start, you do...

Friday. April 12 Jesus comes to Jerusalem: Near Journey’s end Journeys vary a lot…some are important but most are not. Some are long, some short. A trip to the convenience store for snacks can’t compare to the journey for education. All journeys have a start, you do...

Thursday, April 11 In this passage, we read of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He gives instructions to two disciples to go find a colt that has never been sat upon. Jesus states that the disciples are then to bring this colt back to Jesus for “the Lord has...

Wednesday, April 10 The Spanish poet Antonio Machado once wrote: “Traveler, there is no path; paths are made by walking.” I’ve had the opportunity to travel. With each journey, I’ve learned so much about other places and cultures. I’ve learned how beautiful this world...

Tuesday, April 9 The beginning of this passage, often known as “The Triumphal Entry,” is exciting. It brings us memories of parades. We wave palm branches at church. We can’t help but smile. And to some degree, we can even personally relate, as we ourselves have...

Monday, April 8 “If they keep quiet, the stones along the road will burst into cheers!” Luke 19:40 (Living Bible) Like any new mother, I have received lots of parenting advice over the past six months. Some unsolicited, most helpful, all well intended. But my favorite...

Sunday, April 7 Note: Writers on Sundays were asked to address the power of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in their lives. Music is a powerful tool as it is truly the language of the heart. The words of a song heard, learned, and sung get inside not only my head...

Saturday, April 6 Loved ones are understandingly anxious and nervous knowing the health of one much loved is in danger. But even when Jesus received word “Lord, the one you love is sick,” the disciples took their time – staying two more days before concluding, “Let us...

Friday, April 5 John 12:1-8 accounts Jesus’ return to the home of Lazarus for a dinner honoring Jesus, six days before the Passover celebration. After dinner, Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, and Judas Iscariot remarked it would have been better to...

Thursday, April 4 Jesus and his disciples gathered at dinner with Lazarus following his raising Lazarus from the dead. While Martha served the meal, Mary took a pound of costly ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair. The question was...

Wednesday, April 3 “A pound of pure nard.” Obviously far more than was needed to anoint Jesus’ feet, and just bought. How much did Mary, Martha, and Lazarus know of the future so close ahead? The Disciples did not understand, and were not preparing for the events that...

Tuesday, April 2 This is a story of extravagant generosity: Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead in response to the pleading of his sisters, Mary and Martha. When Jesus stopped at the home of Lazarus on his way to Jerusalem (where Jesus was to be tried and...

Monday, April 1 The winter can be extremely brutal in Washington, D.C. I moved here a year ago from North Carolina in the dreary midst of winter. Each morning I put on my long, heavy, winter coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. Once bundled in sufficient layers, I make my...

Sunday, March 31 Note: Writers on Sundays were asked to address the power of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in their lives. “How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me – things so undeserved, yet you give to prove your love for me? The voices of a...

Saturday, March 30 Whenever I read the Parable of the Two Sons, my instinct is always to side with the older brother. I understand his frustration and confusion. Why is his father so quick to welcome back his younger brother and shower him with gifts? What about him?...

Friday, March 29 The prodigal son’s mistakes were pretty big; he squandered his inheritance – his father's life savings! His father could have been angry. Furious, even. Instead, he greeted his son with joy. There was no anger. There was no judgment. When we come home...

Thursday, March 28 What does the word “Prodigal” mean? The basic meaning is: “wasteful” (i.e. wasting money) and from Latin: “forth” (pro-) and “to drive” (agere). It can be described as a person who wastes money with reckless abandon, or “One who drives forth his...

Wednesday, March 27 Many times I can jump to conclusions and perceive people and situations in such a judgmental way that makes me ashamed when I eventually find out the facts. In this regard, I am like the prodigal son's brother who was a good son and yet had little...

Tuesday, March 26 The familiar story told in Luke 15:1-3; 11-32 is often called the “Parable of The Prodigal Son.” A more appropriate name might be the “Parable of the Forgiving Father.” Indeed, this passage speaks to the depth and breadth of God’s love. First, we see...

Monday, March 25 Jesus was with the Pharisees at the Temple and he was trying to tell them about forgiveness. He told them this parable to help them see that there is a way to forgive if they have an open heart and mind. There was a father who had two sons and one son...

Sunday, March 24 Note: Writers on Sundays were asked to address the power of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in their lives. Lord Who Throughout These 40 Days Claudia Hernaman (1839-1898) Tune: St. Flavian, C.M. Our congregation often sings this simple yet earnest...

Saturday, March 23 “Jesus told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, “Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it...

Friday, March 22 I have often been frustrated by people who tell you that God doesn't give you anything you can't handle. I look with mystery at people in the "prosperity movement." This thinking denies the magnificence of what makes faith so important. If you accept...

Thursday, March 21 Bad things happen. A hurricane ravages Puerto Rico. A gunman massacres young people in a South Florida school. Wildfires destroy Paradise. We live in a world where bad things happen. Innocent people get hurt. But Jesus teaches us that this is not...

Wednesday, March 20 Time to Refresh One of the words I’ve adopted from the digital age is “refresh.” The computer will “refresh” my email, bringing in the new and (maybe) fixing the old. I use that word at the beginning of each New Year to evaluate what I’m doing and...

Tuesday, March 19 As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, it was reported that Pontius Pilate was upsetting and irritating the Jewish people by ignoring their religious beliefs and demanding that they live by Roman laws and standards. In this scripture, Pilate is using...

Monday, March 18 I sometimes question why tragedies happen to good people while bad things seem not to happen to bad people. This scripture mentions two events in which bad things happened to unsuspecting people. It makes us realize that our existence is delicately...

Sunday, March 17 Note: Writers on Sundays were asked to address the power of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in their lives. Poetic words that spark our imagination are part of the appeal of all the psalms. In the psalms, “the seas roar, the trees of the forest...

Saturday, March 16 Sometimes I get frustrated by all the parables that Jesus tells his disciples and followers. Wouldn’t it be easier if Jesus just plainly said what he meant? And yet, other times he doesn’t mince words at all – like that one time he called Herod a...

Friday, March 15 We have all been rejected and rejection doesn’t feel good. It can be devastating. In the scripture, Jesus’ message and ministry are rejected. The Pharisees are trying to dissuade Jesus from going to Jerusalem. But Jesus doesn’t fall for their ruse....

Thursday, March 14 Christians are called to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ life and death and on the role we play in continuing his mission. As in all the gospels, the Pharisees in Luke are largely antagonistic to Jesus and Jesus to them. Though the Pharisees’...

Wednesday, March 13 The Old Testament has some pretty brutal stories, and the book of Revelation is filled with harrowing images that still make their way into blockbuster horror movies, but few moments in the Bible make my hair stand on end like those episodes where...

Tuesday, March 12 Dr. Ruth Anne Reese of Asbury Theological Seminary describes in her commentary of Luke 13 three distinct uses of the Greek word, thelo, meaning “desire,” “wish,” or “want.” The Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill Jesus (vs.31). Jesus...

Monday, March 11 What is your mission? Do you know? Do you have a clear picture? Jesus came to earth knowing what his mission was. He varied his “tactics” or approach. He was always about ministering to others through feeding, healing, teaching, even as he approached...

Sunday, March 10 Note: Writers on Sundays were asked to address the power of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in their lives. “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” Luke 4:11 As with the devil’s first two...

Saturday, March 9 This passage of scripture opens by stating, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit.” This simple statement can be easy to pass by very quickly. However, it is one of the most fundamental expressions of a very important truth to understand. The Christian...

Friday, March 8 The Bible is full of wilderness stories. In fact, the wilderness seems to be one of God’s favorite places to be revealed to individuals. The Bible is also filled with references to the number 40, using it to represent a lengthy period of time. This...

Thursday, March 7 For 40 days the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus did not succumb to that persistent temptation. Of course, he didn’t. But could we do the same? And just 40 days? Doesn’t it sometimes feel like we spend our entire life in the wilderness...

March 6 The Temptation of Jesus, which we read about in today’s passage, occurs immediately after he is baptized and a heavenly voice proclaims, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” The writer of Luke is perhaps warning us that we are at risk of...

When Miriam and I made a trip to Jerusalem, the first instruction our guide gave to us was this: “You are not traveling in this land as a tourist; you are here as a pilgrim.” To travel in the places where Jesus once traveled, and to study his teachings from historic...

All activities are canceled today because of inclement weather. Please be safe!  

Get a "lift" this Sunday at worship in the Sanctuary. At 8:30 Gospel Worship, celebrate the baptisms of Sarah Rose and Angelina Ramirez. At 11 Worship, enjoy the majestic music of the Møller organ. Come and be uplifted! And -- oh, yes -- the elevator is operating! See...

Worship canceled for 8:30 a.m.   Despite our well-intentioned plans for celebrating a baptism this morning at the 8:30 service, we are canceling the 8:30 a.m. worship today. We want everyone to be safe this morning and not venture out into the snowy weather. While a...

National City Christian Church will be OPEN for worship on Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Most other church activities are canceled. Choirs will not be singing (or rehearsing) on Sunday. We encourage everyone to use their best judgment when venturing out on Sunday...

We are working hard on a new strategic plan we are calling the Epiphany Process. Please read our summary report here.

In observance of the National Day of Mourning for 41st U.S. President George H.W. Bush, church offices will be officially closed on Wednesday, December 5. The Food Pantry will be open for distribution of food for our neighbors in need from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Other...

National City Christian Church congregational board and Senior Pastor Stephen Gentle are excited to welcome Valeria A. Foster to the position of interim Minister of Music. In addition to overseeing the expansive music ministry of National City Christian Church, she...