Worship Script - September 13, 2020

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Colossians 3: 3-17

Today we are celebrating baptism and God’s amazing gift of grace. Grace is expressed in lots of ways including forgiveness, new beginnings, second chances, reconciliation, a transformed heart, and hope for the future.

One of the reasons we do baptism by immersion is because it was part of the 1st-century radiation Jesus participated in. Another reason is it symbolizes dying and rising again. When we go into the water it is a symbol of death--dying to ourselves. And when we come up it symbolizes new

Read more: Worship Script - September 13, 2020

Worship Script- September 6, 2020

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Psalm 23

Blessing of the Elements:
A couple of weeks ago, when we did our outdoor service, I mentioned that one pastor I knew said “When you share in Holy Communion, you hardly need a sermon. Communion should be a sermon in and of itself.” We’re going to trust that wisdom today.

I’ve been missing our liturgy, our rituals, our singing together, praying together, and reading together. I love the rhythms of congregational

Read more: Worship Script- September 6, 2020

Worship Script - August 30, 2020

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Matthew 18:21-35

Some people ask, “What makes United Methodists different from other denominations?” I could say our emphasis on education or social justice work--both are true, but our key defining feature is our emphasis on grace. Grace is a part of all the Christian denominations, and for us, it’s underscored over and over again. John Wesley wrote a lot about grace and differentiates between prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace. Grace is a part of every level of our faith journey--including the time that is “pre-faith.” There is no time in our lives when we stand outside of God’s grace. Today, I’m not going to talk about Wesley’s terms

Read more: Worship Script - August 30, 2020

Worship Script - August 23, 2020

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Romans 8:35-36, 38-39

I'm a little reluctant to confess that I had a really hard time choosing a scripture for today’s service. I mean, there are so many to choose from, you’d think it wouldn’t be a challenge--but what could be right for this time? This time together, yet also apart from so many. A time to offer the reassurance and hope of Christ, while also not denying the pain, loss, and heartache we have experienced in the last 5 months.

My brain sort of zigged and zagged through all kinds of options...and I kind of just wanted us to sit and be together---to stare at one another and see one another, and experience being seen again. Not just seen in passing, but seen by people who love and care about us--people who want to get to know us--people who want to be known by us. We have new people to the church! Did you know that? Covid happened

Read more: Worship Script - August 23, 2020

Worship Script - August, 16, 2020

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Matthew 18:15-18

This is such an important and fascinating passage. It’s important because it’s a place where Jesus talks about the church…which is rare, normally it’s the apostle Paul who talks about the church... And in talking about the church Jesus defines it as a place of community...defined by intimate and invested relationship. He calls the people of the church, brothers and sisters, siblings, and family in the faith. It’s not “oh and when someone random sins against you.” Or “when that stranger makes you angry”. Jesus says when a brother or sister sins against you—someone close to you, someone that matters to you. Within the church is

Read more: Worship Script - August, 16, 2020