2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 and Luke 1:26-55
In this passage from 2 Samuel- it says God never wanted a temple. A tent is good enough. Movable. To move with us. These many months of not being in our church building wear on us- but it is something we’ll never take for granted again- and we will remember taking our worship service to an online forum and here in the outdoors. And yes we believe God is with us wherever we are, however we are able to worship. Continue reading →
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 and John 1:6-8, 19-28
One day this week Kathy Lamb forwarded me a poem via email, I don’t know who wrote it but it is a rhyme that describe the reality we are living in.
It starts out- T’was a month before Christmas,
And all through the town,
People wore masks,
That covered their frown.
The frown had begun,
Psalm 85; Mark 1:1-8
Last week we considered if the world as we know it is ending, if these are end times. In Mark’s gospel today we hear what many think is the title he gave the gospel: The Beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ. The part he wrote down, in other words, is just the beginning of the story.
Where and how exactly the original version of Mark ends is disputed. What’s thought to be the original ending Continue reading →
Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-6, Psalm 80: 1-7,17-19
We are in the end times.
That’s what a few of our members have said when I’ve called during this time of pandemic. These times are so different, we’ve never seen anything like this before. Such a contagious virus, life is so different, we must be in the end times.
And we are, we are, how do we know- well the apostle Paul and apostle Peter. said that we are in the final age Continue reading →
Matthew 25:31-46
This Sunday we celebrate this very unique church holiday, Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday, in which we celebrate that our true ruler is the one God sent to us. And this coming Thursday is a national holiday, Thanksgiving. Which, though it has religious overtones, is not a celebration of the church calendar.
But I was thinking about what might link these two holidays of this week Continue reading →
John 7:37-39
Water brings life- as signs around our valley say, food grows where water flows- another sign on the 198 coming back from the sequoia national park says it in 3 languages- Water is Life
And remember this word wind, air, Spirit is all one word for the ancient languages: Spirit brings life – while we are alive, we are breathing. Continue reading →
Matthew 23:1-12
Beloved, think back to when you were small. What are some of the simple rules you learned? One for me was, to avoid strangers, especially if they wanted to give you candy. Another was, never to interrupt my dad when he was talking. Always look both ways before crossing the street, wash your hands before dinner. Continue reading →
Matthew 5:1-12, Revelation 7:9-17
God sees things in an entirely different way from how we see things.
Well of course, you may be thinking, of course, God is God. We are not. We can’t see everything going on, everyone’s thoughts everyone’s secret desires, can’t see the future or beyond our own experience.
That’s true but that’s not what I mean. Continue reading →
We will be confessing our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed (UMH 882) on November 1, also:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty
Creator of Heaven and Earth
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen.
