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Worship
As Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he told the pharisees that even if the people did not cry out, the stones would. Now, as Jesus makes his triumphant entry back into the world, there is another stone that is witnessing to his power. What do we learn from the stones in the story?
It is easy to get caught up in the hype and energy that follows a crowd around, leading us to do things we would never do if we stopped to think about it.
We might try everything in our power to stop them from happening, but unexpected setbacks are simply a part of life.
While Pastor Hannah is on vacation this week, Jack Moffett will share several whispers that all lead to Charlie Brown… or Jesus. We need to give ourselves space and time to grieve. But we shouldn’t dwell there, and we don’t have to bear it alone.
It is just not fair! They didn’t work as hard as I did. They don’t deserve that. What good have they ever done? It is just not fair!
Worry and fear can be the very emotions that protect us from danger. On the other hand, they can deceive us and lead us to stay in places that don’t hold any real joy.
As our knees shake, and our heart beats a little too fast, as our palms sweat, and our head pounds, we need something solid to lean upon.
In the poem Dante’s Inferno, a case is made that hell is locked from the inside. As he struggles with the sin of lust and pride, he looks to find a way out but understands he is keeping himself there.
In a conversation between two people who hadn’t seen each other for a while, one person said, “You changed.” The other person responded, “We’re supposed to.”
We are all planted somewhere. Maybe we have been somewhere for a long time, and our roots extend deep and wide. Maybe we just arrived, and our roots are shallow. Regardless of time, the fruitfulness of our branches will be determined by what our roots are feeding from.
If we aren’t clean enough to be in our own houses, are we clean enough to be in the house of God? Are we clean enough to be anywhere near the presence of God? How clean do we have to be exactly?
There are so many voices and intentions fighting for our time and a place in our hearts. Good and bad don’t always make themselves clear when it comes to deciding what to do with our days. Wickedness, evil, and injustice don’t always jump up and down, waving their arms, letting you know just who they are.
Jesus’s example encourages us to boldly speak words of power over ourselves. What words of power belong to you?
With so many weddings ending in divorce, what good can we still learn from a marriage? Is there any value to our vows or strength in our unions?
I have heard it said, “The days are long, but the years are short.” Anyone who has watched a child grow knows this to be true. Yet we all have the tendency to want to rush it all by.
In 2nd Timothy, chapter 1, verses 3-10, you can feel Paul nudging Timothy to remember all the light and all the people God has placed in his life. Paul then encourages him to move forward with purpose and confidence. I really like the way the SUMC family moved in 2021, and I like the idea that we can “fan into flame” the energy we share. Paul is telling Timothy that we are part of a story that pre-dates creation and has no end, but you have a blank page in front of you. What will you do with it?
The Shepherds heard it first, and even after returning home, back to their duties, back to their responsibilities, even when no one was there to hear but the sheep, they continued to sing about God’s goodness through Jesus Christ.
This Sunday will feature our music programs as Leap of Faith presents a Christmas concert in the contemporary service and the Chancel Choir performs a cantata in the traditional service. Join us as we praise the Lord in song!
Put on the breaks!! It’s ok to stop and turn around and head in the other direction. It is ok to change your mind.
Gabriel is known to be an angel of great importance. Gabriel shows up a couple of times throughout the biblical narrative of heaven’s interactions with humanity. When Gabriel appears to Mary, we understand this to be a sign of great hope. Because of the message Gabriel brings, we understand that, like Mary, we are capable of important things. Even if we don’t always see it in ourselves, there are others who are sent to remind us of this truth.
