Hebrew Bible Reading                 Exodus 20: 1-17 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and … Continue reading Sermon, March 7th, 2021 “The Ten Best Ways”

Hebrew Bible Reading                   (Liturgist) Numbers 21: 4-9 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” 6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. … Continue reading Sermon for March 14th, 2021 “Reality Bites”

Scripture: Genesis 9: 8-17, God’s covenant with Noah and all creation Mark 1: 9-16, Jesus’ baptism and temptation Sermon, “Most Moved Mover”             On Wednesday morning I went out to my car, started it up, backed up, and then it stopped. I revved the engine and only the tire moved. Yep. I was stuck in the snow. In negative temperatures with Ash Wednesday morning prayer in just a few minutes, I was stuck. That’s how my Lent began. How did your Lent begin? Mine began with a stuck car, snow in my boot, bad thoughts in my mind and a … Continue reading Sermon, “Most Moved Mover” Lent 1 2021

Scripture: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10 Mark 1: 14-20 Sermon           “An Image of the Church”             Images are so powerful. When you heard the Scripture readings this morning, what was the image that came to mind? Jonah and the what? The whale, of course. There’s a lot to the story, but we all know the cartoon of Jonah and the big fish. It certainly makes for good imagery! Many of us are familiar with this story or at least the cartoon image that goes along with it. When you read the entire narrative, you find a prophet named Jonah being called … Continue reading Sermon: “An Image of the Church”

Scripture 1 Samuel 3: 1-20 John 1: 43-51 Sermon Title, “To Serve the Present Age” “A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify; a never dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky. To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill: O may it all my powers engage, to do my Master’s will!” These words of Charles Wesley pierced my heart and spoke to my soul when I was in college. I was reading out of Methodist Hymnal from 1850 that I picked up at a used bookstore, because you know that’s what all college … Continue reading Sermon for MLK Weekend: “To Serve the Present Age”

Sermon, “Surprise!” Surprised? You weren’t expecting this were you? (I was wearing a Santa hat and beard.) While today is the 2nd Sunday of Advent, it is also known in the Christian calendar as the remembrance day of, can you guess? Saint Nicholas, of course! In the 4th Century, Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, which is modern day Turkey. Nicholas was a real person whose parents died when he was young. He gave his entire inheritance to those in need. That began a spirit of generosity that defined his life. Even as he became the Bishop of Myra, he … Continue reading Sermon for 2nd Sunday of Advent, “Surprise!”

Hebrew Bible Reading                                Isaiah 64: 1-9 64 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,    that the mountains would tremble before you!2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze    and causes water to boil,come down to make your name known to your enemies    and cause the nations to quake before you!3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,    you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.4 Since ancient times no one has heard,    no ear has perceived,no eye has seen any God besides you,    who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right,    who remember your ways.But when we … Continue reading Advent 1: “Waiting”

Sermon- All Saints Day        “Be A Saint”              “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Never have I clung to words of a Gospel reading like these words from Jesus. For all of us, we enter this November with grief at our losses. During this year of 2020, we have all lost something, maybe it’s our sense of comfort or security, jobs or compensation, or maybe just our health, and I know for many of us we have lost the ability to visit family freely and still long to see grandchildren and family across the country. I … Continue reading Sermon for All Saints Day- “Be A Saint”

Galatians 6:14–18 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule– peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. … Continue reading Sermon for Oct 4th, 2020, “The Way of Francis, Wesley, and Jesus”

New Testament Reading    Ephesians 4: 15-24 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Instructions for Christian Living 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in … Continue reading Sermon, Aug 16, 2020, “Total Authenticity” (Includes Daily Examen)