“The Playbook” Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 and Luke 6:27-38 Good morning friends! It is such a joy to be back in worship with you today as part of this year long celebration of one hundred years of ministry. As I understand it, you’ve been spending these last several weeks remembering the abundance that Jesus brings to…
The Body of Christ
we are the church
UMC 101: The Local Church & Membership
Text: 2 Corinthians 3:12-13, 3:18-4:1, 5-6; Book of Discipline 201-204, 214-221 Over the last seven weeks, we have explored together some of the foundational beliefs and practices of the United Methodist Church. Our focus on grace and faith put into practice. The call to reach out and share the love of God with all people.…
UMC 101: An Inclusive Church
Text: Luke 5:17-26, Book of Discipline – Constitution Preamble and ¶1-5, ¶140, and the new 6 Over this last month as we have worshipped with one another, there has been a recurring theme at the core of our tradition: God’s grace and love is for all. The prevenient grace of God stretches out to all people,…
UMC 101: We are ALL Ministers
Text: Ephesians 4:4-16, Book of Discipline P126-139 Last week, I offered a very brief summary of scripture: God forgives us. God loves us. God has a job for us. And we see this message at work in our scripture for this morning. We are forgiven by the ONE lord, through our ONE faith and in…
UMC 101: A Doctrinal History of Difference and Charity
Text: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of the first wave of exiles who return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the walls of the city. But just as important as rebuilding was rediscovering who they were as a people. In our passage from today, Ezra reads…
UMC 101: Doctrine and Discipline in Real Life
Text: Luke 3:7-14; Book of Discipline (p. 55-56, 77-80, 105-146) We continue today by the banks of the Jordan River with John the Baptist and a piece of scripture that we briefly touched during the Advent season. He has been calling people to repentance, asking them to change their hearts and their lives, and suddenly…
Vaccines and General Conference
At the end of last week, I received an email from the Wesleyan Covenant Association about their efforts to vaccinate delegates from Africa, Europe, Eurasia, and the Philippines. The goal is to make it possible for these folks to attend the General Conference currently scheduled for late August 2022. Included in the email is a…
UMC 101: Summon to Grace, Growth, and Love
Text: Luke 3:15-18, 21-22, Book of Discipline pages 47-54 Every time we turn the pages from one calendar year to the next, it feels like a fresh start. A new beginning. A chance to revisit where we have been and where we are going. A few years ago, we took time as a congregation during…