Looking Toward Sunday

"The Spirit of Pentecost"

Pentecost Sunday

May 19, 2013

This week we'll be using the traditional reading for Pentecost from the Book of Acts (you can read it here) as five of our youth make their Confirmation. They have been working with their mentors since September in preparation to make their profession of faith and become full members of Pleasant Street United Methodist Church. 

Join us as we celebrate these five young people's decision to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.  May the Spirit of God fall afresh on them (and us!)

See you on Sunday!

Looking Toward Sunday

"Plan A"

Ascension Sunday

May 12, 2013

This week we observe Ascension Sunday by reading the opening verses of the Acts of the Apostles (you can read the text here).  It's the story of Jesus' departure from earth and ascension into heaven.  As he leaves his somewhat confused apostles behind, Jesus commissions them to "be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth".  While it may have seemed risky to entrust the gospel to the apostles with all their foibles and faults and flaws, they succeeded spectacularly. The Christian movement grew like a raging wildfire.

These days that wildfire seems to be burning itself out - at least for mainline Western-world Protestants. Could it be that we have stopped being Jesus' witnesses?  (Hint: One church consultant claims that the average United Methodist shares his or her faith with another person once every 38 years.)  Can we take the call to be Jesus' witnesses as seriously as his first followers?  And what would it take to do that?  

Join us on Sunday as we think about what the "Great Commission" means for us.

Looking Toward Sunday

 "Houseguest"

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 5, 2013

This week's reading is an excerpt from Jesus' "farewell discourse" - his final teachings and instructions to the disciples at the Last Supper. (You can read the passage here.) The discourse covers several chapters in the Gospel of John, but this small section includes Jesus' promise that his followers will not be left alone when he leaves them.  (Remember that this meal takes place the night before Jesus' crucifixion.) The Spirit will remain with them in Jesus' absence to give them peace and to continue the work that Jesus began in them.

We'll be focusing on the opening verse - Jesus' words, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” What does it mean for Jesus to make a home with us? How do we receive such a houseguest? And what would happen if that houseguest were to take up permanent residence with us? Join us as we reflect on those questions, and on our readiness to invite Jesus in to "make his home with us".

See you on Sunday!

Looking Toward Sunday

April 28, 2013

"Moving the Fence"

As evidenced in "The Acts of the Apostles", the early Church struggled with the question of whom to include and whom to exclude from the Christian community.  In this Sunday's reading (you can read it here), the Apostle Peter has a vision that challenges his understanding of the borders between clean and unclean, acceptable and unacceptable.  The revelation convinces him that it's God's will to move the fence separating the Gentiles from the Church.  "If God gave them the same gift that we received when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" asks Peter. 

Over the millennia since, the Church has found it repeatedly necessary to move its fences in order not to hinder God. (Think Galileo and the Inquisition, banned divorcees, and the prohibition against female clergy.) This week we'll consider a fence that's being moved by many mainline Protestant denominations - the one that excludes LGBT folks. We'll talk about the official United Methodist position on the inclusion of LGBT persons and about our congregation's decision to explore becoming a "Reconciling Congregation".  Join us on Sunday to learn more.

"The Way" Worship Series for Lent

This year’s worship series for Lent is entitled “The Way”.*  Over the next few weeks we’ll be thinking about Lent as a metaphorical pilgrimage or “way” that can help lead us to spiritual awakening, insight, and renewal. The inspiration for the metaphor of Lent as a virtual pilgrimage comes from a well-known literal pilgrimage in Spain known as El Camino deSantiago – popularly called “The Camino”. Like the Camino (which has many different routes that all converge at the same destination) we’re all on our own unique spiritual journeys, but they all lead to a common goal – a closer walk with God.

The "routes" that we'll explore are:

Ash Wednesday, February 13:  "Buen Camino" (Joel 2:1-2, 12-17)

We begin our Lenten pilgrimage with a time of reflection, the imposition of ashes, and a blessing for the journey ahead.

Sunday, February 17:  "The Wandering Way" (Luke 4:1-13) 

Like Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, we begin a journey that will take us out of our spiritual comfort zone.

Sunday, February 24:  "The Way Around" (Luke 13:31-35)

Sometimes our faith calls us to claim who we know we are and take the way around what others think we ought to do and be.

Sunday, March 3:  "The High Way" (Isaiah 55:1-9) 

We are taught that everything costs. But our ways are not God’s ways. We are all invited, without price, to the table of God’s grace - and to extend God's hospitality to others.   

Sunday, March 10:  "The Way Home" (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32) 

The father's extravagant acceptance of the son in Jesus’ parable of the lost son is difficult for us to believe sometimes.  But no matter what we have done, who we are, how far we are from what we want to become, we are welcomed home by the Loving Parent.

Sunday, March 17: "The Free Way" (Isaiah 43:16-21)
New paths in life are always possible, and these ways are made plain before us if we have eyes to see.

Palm Sunday, March 24: "The Other Way" (Luke 19:28-40)

This moment on this road for Jesus feels both like the end and the beginning. Such are so many moments of our lives. A pilgrimage may reach its destination, but the hope, the wisdom, the lessons learned along the way offer a new starting point for us. What have we learned and what transformation – what “other way” – are we called to in our lives?

Don't forget - if you miss a week you can listen to the sermon online at our podcast website.


* The outline for this series comes from Marcia McFee's "Worship Design Studio".

Looking Toward Sunday

January 27, 2012 - Third Sunday After the Epiphany

"Symbiotic Christian Life"

In nature, an interdependent and mutually beneficial relationship relationship is known as "symbiosis".  One of the best-known examples is the clownfish and the anemone.  The clownfish attracts prey for the anemone, and the anemone provides food for the clownfish.  God has designed them to live in symbiotic relationship.

Although he uses a different metaphor to describe it, the apostle Paul says that Christians are also designed by God to live in symbiotic relationship.  In chapter 12 of his first letter to the church in Corinth (you can read it here) Paul reminds the conflicted and divided congregation that each individual Christian needs the faith community and the faith community needs each individual Christian. Neither can thrive without the other.

We would do well to remember that the same holds true for contemporary Christians and today's church.  Like the different parts of a human body – like the anemone and the clownfish – we need each other in order to live as well and as fully – as symbiotically – as God designed us.    

Join us as we reflect on being a more "symbiotic church".  See you on Sunday!

Looking Toward Sunday

January 20, 2012 - Second Sunday After the Epiphany

"An Invitation to Abundance"

This week we take a look at the familiar story of Jesus turning water into wine. (You can read it here.) Jesus and his mother and the disciples are at a wedding in Cana when the wine unexpectedly runs out. Jesus' mother turns to him to provide a solution to spare the party's host from public humiliation. 

Jesus' answer to the predicament is to transform six stone jars of water (each of which held around 20-30 gallons) into wine. Wine that isn't just passable, but the richest, finest wine anyone has ever tasted. This absurd extravagance is the very first "sign" recorded in John's gospel, and it tells us something very important about Jesus.

This story of transformation and abundance sets the stage for Jesus' ministry - a ministry that demonstrates  in countless ways the inexhaustible love and extravagant grace of God. From the miracle at Cana to the miracle of the empty tomb and everything in between, Jesus invites us to “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Join us as we think about the kind of transformation and abundance Jesus can bring to our lives.  

L'Chaim!  See you on Sunday.