For some of us, change is fun! It’s a well needed adventure in the rhythm of life. For others, change can be hard.   As I now move into this new season, questions arise. Where will the money come from? What is the new job? Should I start my own business again? Who, what am I? And more.   These questions can seem frightening, scary, worrying and more. BUT They can also be exciting, adventurous and brave!   All depends on how you view it. Do you look at your life through the lenses of your own fears or what the world might say or do you look at it through the beautiful eye glasses ..read more

A commonly asked question we hear is how do we as Christians love someone in our life that we don’t agree with?   Peter gives such a great answer to this in 1 Peter 4:8 where he says “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”    Peter calls us to choose love over our judgments, opinions, or differences. The world around us does not need more judgment, cold shoulders, or hate. We need Jesus and that looks like us as the body choosing love constantly.   For the person living differently than you, the one who’s still figuring it out ..read more

"Most people are not really sure that God ever even thinks about them, and figure that if He does, He's probably disappointed." - John Eldridge   Can you relate? If so, this is for you. Even if not, I guarantee you know someone who does feel this way. Here’s an idea: what if God in fact saw that every issue of humanity came from each individual heart's experience of unlovedness. God's solution is to actually love that unloved part of us. God isn't disappointed in you. God had the option to punish humanity and mercy triumphed over judgement. God has already made up His about humanity — and ..read more

And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28  In a time when there is much uncertainty, how are you holding up? How are you doing? First, just know that we, as a staff, are thinking about you and praying for our church family often. If you need an ear to listen or some wise counsel, we would love to help you. If not one of our staff, I encourage you to have one or two people that you feel safe to share things with. Don't hold on to big emotions - give them to God, and share them with those you trus ..read more

The unfortunate truth is that it can be easy in today’s day and age to walk in and out of a church building without making a connection to people running in the same direction as you! But church meeting is not about just ‘going’ on a Saturday or Sunday. It’s about family - connection, sharing, being vulnerable and real.   I know as a team, the presence staff wants to make sure each person that walks through our church doors gets seen and pulled into the community.    As much as we think up new ideas to make sure everyone gets into the community those ideas are lost if no one kno ..read more

Do you have a season, circumstance, or even just week in your life that you look back on and think “that was just hard”?    I know I personally look back at things that I’ve got through and see a lot of hardship or challenges.    I recently was challenged to look back into those things and ask myself what was the good? Not to skip over the bad but to get comfortable with it being both.    Both good and bad, hard and sweet,  or even challenging and full of growth.    I offer that same challenge to you. When looking at hard things you’ve gone thr ..read more

I was watching my granddaughter the other day. She is 18 months old and getting more and more curious. She must have spent an hour just playing with nesting cups (beakers as we say in the UK). Putting them in and out of each other. Blowing into them. Bashing them together. Who thought you could do so much with cups!  I recalled a certain verse in Matthew. He (Jesus) called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the l ..read more

Another day, another prayer request! We know how busy life can be and how often life can throw us some big curve balls.    As a family we want to partner with you through those things. That’s what family is for.    From the big things to the monotonous it all matters to God so it should all matter to our family.    Let’s connect more and pray through whatever your prayer requests might be. You can email us at contact@presenceoc.org or send us a dm on Instagram.    -       KARLI MOCERI Photo by Rosie Sun on Unspla ..read more

Recently I was aware of a husband and wife at complete odds and divorce papers being written up. Things were going pear shaped at a rate of knots and the wall was about to be hit.   But God.   I have had the honor of being part of seeing their amazing reconciliation. Through prayer, support and counseling, I have seen this couple work through their challenges and piece together their marriage. They still have work (don’t we all no matter where your marriage is at), but it is all going in an upward trajectory. Amazing!   I believe that reconciliation is so much part of God’s natu ..read more

Are you too focused on trying to get God to do what you want, when you want, how you want to see that he is inviting you to walk with him.    No judgment here if this is the case! We’ve all been there and thank God we have a God who’s kindness leads us to repentance! We get to notice that we’ve  been looking at the circumstances in front of us through a wrong lens and change the way we move forward. It really is that simple!    Life has a way of getting us wrapped up in expectation, disappointment, and even just the to do lists of it all but God daily invites us i ..read more