Category Archive

Have you ever considered that you have been chosen? We often think of being chosen by God as something for other people, for special ones like saints or clergy or mission workers or something. Perhaps we do not claim being chosen in order to be humble or we do not think we are worthy. But John 9:1-41 offers a fresh perspective on being chosen. God has chosen us to be witnesses of God’s presence in the world. Jesus healed the unexpected and undesirable man born blind on the edges of town. News spread quickly of this man’s healing. He, of course, was elated and told everyone who would listen how Jesus brought about a miracle in his life. Many believed this man’s witness of God but others wanted him to interpret what happened to him. He offered no such reflection. His response was simply, “All I know is…” A witness … Read More

My doctor advised me to drink more water. I think I am doing well if I drink 4 to 5 glasses a day. But my doctor says that I live in a constant state of dehydration. My body cannot do its job of providing optimal health without the water that keeps everything moving through my system. The need for water is universal. I am sure Dr. Hamilton has given this speech to more than one patient and to people like me, more than one time. Water is a must for life! When Jesus was passing through Samaria, he stopped at a well because he was thirsty. A woman was at the well during the hottest part of the day. This was unusual because typically, the women would fill their jars early in the morning before it was hot. Jesus knew this woman’s spirit was dry. She was alone, unseen, and … Read More

God is a God for all…Generations 10 When the builders laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests clothed in their vests and carrying their trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, arose to praise the Lord according to the directions of Israel’s King David. 11 They praised and gave thanks to the Lord, singing responsively, “He is good, his graciousness for Israel lasts forever.” All of the people shouted with praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and heads of families, who had seen the first house, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple, although many others shouted loudly with joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, because the people rejoiced very loudly. The … Read More

Jesus spoke and taught about elevating personal responsibility in relationships. Relationships can take on many forms — families of origin, families of creation, and families we have chosen. But Jesus does not speak just to relationships of intimacy. He speaks to relationships between all of humanity. He sets expectations that each of us who choose to follow him will assume responsibility for the stranger, widow, orphaned, and neighbor, and count it as righteousness. We think of Jesus’ teachings on piety as rooted in humility and humbleness. When we read the gospel of Matthew, we hear that our acts or behavior should be in secret. Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in … Read More

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 1 And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? 4 For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but … Read More

Nehemiah 8:1-2,5-6, 9-10 1 All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate and told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people, and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, … Read More

I want to begin by thanking everyone who has participated in our Informational meetings and Holy Conversation. Our time together has been filled with great questions and comments about how our congregation can be true to our mission while honoring one another’s beliefs. On Sunday, our conversations led to a consensus that we need to wait for more information after the 2024 General Conference before we make decisions regarding our church’s future with the United Methodist Church. Our priority as a congregation is to keep the main thing the “main thing.” At the close of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus called each of us to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Our church understands the power and purpose of this mission for our church and community. Our visions are drawn from both the Matthew text and Jesus’ new commandment found in Luke. “You shall love … Read More

Pastor Carol is sharing from “DAILY FEAST; Meditations from FEASTING ON THE WORD.” But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (v. 1) Isaiah 43:1-7 Who are we? Where do we belong? What makes us worthy? Isaiah 43 speaks not only to us as individuals but also to us as communities of faith. The prophet reminds us that core identity lies not in our roles as individuals or in our relative size and wealth as congregations, but in God’s identification of us as “precious in my sight and honored.” Our sense of belonging comes not from the acceptance of our peers or the status of our communities but from the One who claims us and will never let us go. What makes us … Read More

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7 It’s hard to imagine, in this day of opposition in politics, a government so amazing that we would consider good news the fact that it would never end. Can you picture an earthly kingdom characterized by justice and righteousness — always and forever? It’s a stretch, isn’t it? When we consider some of the most successful kingdoms throughout the Earth’s history, … Read More

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:13–14 Life is full of “and suddenly” moments. Moments in time that can forever change our perspective. When “and suddenly” moments appear, they can come in all shapes and sizes. They can be full of surprise, delight, joy, and healing but they can also be full of hurt, brokenness, despair, fear, and anguish. For the shepherds who experienced an “and suddenly” moment, their first reaction was one of fear but then peace settled in. Peace, the Shalom of God. In John 14:27, Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be … Read More