Paul traveled on an unexpected life journey, going above and beyond. He never expected to be called to be doing all he did. At one time, he was out to get Christians and made a living and purpose in having them persecuted and then God intervened and his purpose changed. It is written that no…
Grace and peace as we return from a full week at Annual Conference. You were well represented by 4 clergy delegates- Pastor Shirley, Pastor Jim, Pastor Kevin, and myself as well as three lay delegates – Susan Paisley, Mike Chalmers, and our new Caring Ministries Deaconess Yvette Diaz. Indeed, God is moving among us as we worshipped, celebrated ordination, retirements, memorials, were…
This morning, we continue in our series on the power of telling stories in parables and continue in the gospel of Mark. This year, we have been reading the gospel of Mark together. We have paired it with our year long verse: Be doers of the word, not just hearers, who deceive themselves, from James 1:22. Lest, you and I only nod…
Today, we begin a series of sermons on the narrative power of telling stories. Jesus told stories everywhere he went. He was a great story teller, stories about planting, lost sheep, and coins. Families and children gathered around Jesus to hear stories. They brought food and laid down their blankets to hear his teachings. Often, he would teach them in parables. Parable…
I wonder if you have heard this one: Several centuries ago in the 1300s, the Pope decreed that Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal: he’d have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in…
After the followers of Jesus had made it through the shock of the death of Jesus, they had amazed it through the resurrection of Christ. They lived in excitement in the 40 days of greatest hits of “tell me another.” The disciples looked at the sky with the ascension wondering where Jesus had really gone as he went up to heaven. Now,…
“DO Believe In Resurrection” Today, we begin a short series, three sermons on belief. Three weeks to ground us on three crucial beliefs that we hold in common in the larger Christian church – resurrection, the vital role of Holy Spirit as we celebrate Pentecost next week, and then the mystery of Trinity as we together ponder Trinity Sunday, the following week.…
This Easter, I received spinach seeds ahead of the planting season, along with a geoplanter, gardening gloves, and the right tools. So, after I heard the frost warnings had passed us by (a bit harder this season), we diligently planted our small spinach seeds in our planter and have been faithfully watering them each day. We are getting ready to plant our…
God has always called God’s people to remember that they were strangers in a land they did not know. Sometimes we might feel like we know exactly where we are and, other times, what is going on around us. When the people of God were enslaved in Egypt, God reminded again and again to care for others and not mistreat those who…