As Melissa recounts the story of Jesus feeding of the 5,000, she ponders what we have to offer. Just five loaves and two fishes. God can take the little and make it much. Matthew 14:13-33
Archives
God, the Good Campesino – Feb. 17, 2019
Guest speaker Nathan Hershberger provided the sermon based on Matthew 13:24-43. God demands justice but will bring it about without our violence. In the meantime, we water and keep the mixed fields of our souls, and join together to water and keep the mixed fields of our churches and our world
Pondering Parables – Feb. 10, 2019
Rachel helped us take a broader view of a number of Jesus’ parables found in the Gospel of Matthew, providing some background and giving the congregation an opportunity to reflect on them in a new way.
The Lord’s Prayer – Feb. 3, 2019
Melissa preaches from Matthew 6:7-21.
Temptations of Jesus – January 20, 2019
Melissa recounts the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. It might be viewed as a test to see if Jesus is really who he claims to be. Jesus believes he is God’s beloved. We might not be able to pass the tests Jesus was faced with, but we also are God’s beloved. Matthew 4:1-17
Baptism of Jesus – January 13, 2019
In the second message in the series on Jesus’ life as told in Matthew, we come to Jesus’ baptism. Melissa provides a fresh perspective on this age-old story and invites those of us who have been baptized to reflect back on what it means. Matthew 3:1-17
Pondering – Dec. 30, 2018
Melissa preached from Matthew 1:17-25, the story of an incredibly creative act of God. The doctrine of the virgin birth becomes, as Karl Barth says, “The guard at the door of the mystery of Christmas.”
Love has found a way – Dec. 24, 2018
Melissa provided a Christmas Eve sermon. Our lives, as Jesus’
An Advent Story – Dec. 23, 2018
Rachel tells the story of William Kamkwamba, a boy in Malawi whose family faced starvation due to extreme drought. Ultimately a story of resilience and hope, along with creativity and ingenuity, what makes this an Advent story is because of the faithfulness and trust in the midst of incredible adversity. We may be longing for food, for shelter, or for clarity or friendship, or for justice or a sense of God’s nearness. The Magnificat is a prophetic word for God’s hungry people. Luke 1:46b-55, Micah 5:2-5a.
Enemies – Dec. 16, 2018
We are being called out of enmity over and over again and into friendship with God. We are now called friends because of God’s love for us. It’s this same love we are to show our enemies. Luke 3:1-14
Stand Up! – Dec. 2, 2018
Melissa spoke from Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21-25-36. Look around; the time is now. Stand up! Raise your heads. Don’t hide, don’t run away, don’t weep and gnash your teeth. Don’t numb yourself against this world, shutting it out with whatever distractions you can find. During this time of Advent, take hope. Hope is a posture of your body; the way your body acts in the world. Hope is unraveling itself among us as Jesus continues to come into the world.
The Kin-dom of Christ – Nov. 25, 2018
In the 37 times that Jesus describes the reign of God in the Gospels, not once is the kingdom of God like a kingdom of earth. Each time, Jesus tells them stories. Over and over again he roots the liberation of God in ordinary life, in what happens around us, not in throne rooms with princes and crowns but in baking bread and sowing seeds.
Melissa’s sermon was based on John 18:33-37. She also has a version of it online at https://sojo.net/articles/kin-dom-christ
Poeting the Word – Nov. 18, 2018
Doug Luginbill, Central District Conference minister, joined us this Sunday to ordain Melissa and install Rachel. This recording includes the ordination and installation, as well as Doug’s sermon from the lectionary reading of Isaiah 36:14; 13-20; 37:1-7; 2:1-4. Together pastors and congregations clarify the vision to which God is calling them. They discern the gifts of the congregation, identify where God is at work, and join the journey.
This service was also webcast and is available on YouTube.
What Does the Lord Require of Us? – Nov. 11, 2018
An oft-quoted verse, Micah 6:8, framed the message introduced by Melissa and shared by Shannon and Deb. Shannon focuses on the meaning of kindness and Deb talks about what it means to walk humbly.