Category: pastor’s notes

Pastor’s Notes 3/29/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Focal Scripture Luke 24:1-12

As the Sanctified Art team wrote in the notes for Sunday’s text, we might expect that, after denying Christ, Peter would cower in shame—or perhaps even run away in an attempt to leave his past behind him. Instead, when he hears the news from the women, he doesn’t dismiss them like the other disciples. He gets up and runs to the tomb.

When Peter peers into the empty tomb and sees the linen cloth, he is filled with awe. Even after the biggest failures, even after the worst-case scenario has happened, can we run toward hope? Like Peter, will we keep going? Will we keep looking for God in our midst?

In our reading from Luke 24:1-12 on Easter Sunday we will experience the promise fulfilled in resurrection. Resurrection is the gift that continues to provide followers of Christ with purpose, meaning, and that persistent little word that we call hope. Hope prevails on Easter morning and continues to fuel us in our pursuit to be the living presence of Jesus in this world.

If you are reading this post on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, may you find a moment to sit in prayerful reflection. Without crucifixion there is no resurrection. Light is brighter after the darkness. Hope springs from that which is certainly lost. Sit for a moment with the anguish of Jesus as the brokenness in our world is great. Allow yourself to sink into the heaviness, trusting that you will not be consumed. Hope is coming!

I look forward to shouting Hallelujah with you on Easter Sunday. 

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 3/22/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

As our Lenten series shifts into Holy Week, sometimes Peter will play a major role and at other times he isn’t mentioned at all, leaving us to fill in the gaps with our imaginations. The Palm Sunday story in John 12:12-16 leaves us imagining where Peter might be and how he is participating.

On the day when Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, we are often charged to consider where we would be in the crowd. Are we singing praise? Are we joining in, or standing back? This year, we are invited to imagine where Peter is in the parade. To do that, perhaps we must remember all the events that have led up to this point.

Our series began with an abundant catch, and a charge to drop everything and follow. Peter has walked on water and clung to Jesus for rescue. He has pronounced his faith confidently and been called Satan and told to get out of Jesus’ way. He has asked questions and learned about the expansiveness of grace.

And now, the end is near. Peter stands among the crowds as they sing songs of loudest praise. The odds are good that Peter is experiencing the full spectrum of emotions and feelings. This roller coaster ride of Spirit won’t get any easier for him in the days ahead.

Following Jesus requires strength, courage, patience, and trust. Peter’s Holy Week journey runs the gambit of human experience. And yet, Jesus builds his church upon the faith of disciples. May we, as followers of Christ, live and love to the best of our ability.

Just a reminder that we will worship at Desert Garden UCC on Maundy Thursday at 5 pm and then on Good Friday we will be in our sanctuary at 4 pm. 

Pastor’s Notes 3/15/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

In the commentary from our Lenten Devotional by A Sanctified Art this week, Dr. Terence Lester teaches us:

In Matthew 18:15-22, Jesus teaches about community and repair. Peter, eager to learn, asks him a follow up question. Jesus gives an expansive answer, emphasizing the abundance of forgiveness. This story shows the importance of asking questions and expanding our faith, especially when we’re comfortable not having all the answers and we’re open to seeing the world in more nuanced ways.

Jesus’ response to Peter’s question about forgiveness highlights the ambiguous math of grace. Peter learns about abundant grace. It’s about letting go of rigid limits and embracing the limitless possibilities of forgiveness and repair.

If I have learned anything about faith, it is that I always seem to have more questions than I do answers. In fact, my questions tend to lead to more questions. The good news is that I am comfortable with the mystery of belief.

For faith to truly work, we must always be open to learning something new. The best way to learn is through asking questions and then staying open to whatever answers we receive.

Peter continuously asks questions and seeks deeper understanding. In this text, it is the topic of forgiveness that causes him challenge. May we keep our hearts open to the possibilities God presents to us and may we learn something about ourselves and our relationship with the Holy.

See you Sunday.
Brett

Pastor’s Notes 3/8/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

As the authors from A Sanctified write in the sermon preparation material for this week, there are a few texts many preachers dread, and Matthew 16:21-23 might be one of them. To go from Jesus praising Peter as the rock of the church to declaring, “Get behind me, Satan!” certainly feels like whiplash.

One idea that surfaced in their theme-planning discussions is how this interaction between Jesus and Peter shows us the intimacy and trust that they shared. Jesus rebukes Peter because he loves him deeply, and because he has high expectations for him as the “rock” of the church. Perhaps we are even witnessing Jesus’ grief as he declares, “Get behind me.” This is an idea that many of us could empathize greatly with Peter on. Who doesn’t want to avoid pain and suffering?

Ultimately, this week’s text shows us that growing in our faith inherently comes with challenges and complexity. In the midst of grief and hardship, can we stay rooted in our convictions while also loosening our grip on control? If we are in a stage of deconstructing our faith, can we move through that season with an open heart and open hands?

I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday as we continue to wander the Lenten journey with Peter finding his place as a follower of Jesus. May we also, better understand our purpose and calling as the body of Christ.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 3/1/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Greetings Sun City Christian Church.

It is good to be back home from vacation and praising God together with you sin this season of Lent. Our theme for this season is “Wandering Heart: figuring out faith with Peter.” With the help and wisdom of A Sanctified Art worship resources, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples.

In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out- just like us.

The goal of this series is to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows. That wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes.

Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls. This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.

As we connect the theme phrase, “Praise the mount” from the hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing to our featured text of Matthew 16:23-30, we will think about the proclamations of faith that we are willing to make. It is easy to be hesitant when talking about our faith, but together in our act of worship we will find the comfort necessary for us to find strength in our convictions and proclaim Jesus who we know him to be.

See you Sunday,
Brett

Chair of the Board notes: 2/9/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

This week’s update is from our Chair of the Board, Carol Finch:
The annual board meeting of the Sun City Christian Church was held on Sunday, February 4, 2024.  The congregation voted unanimously to approve new positions to the Board including Vice Chair, Chair of Property, Chair of Trustees, and Chair of Ministry of Development. 

The Board members unanimously approved for 2024 are:

  • Chair of the Board – Carol Finch
  • Secretary – Jan Kansorkin
  • Treasurer – TBA
  • WorshipTeam Leader – Ginger Lanier
  • Chair of Property – Timmie Wilber
  • Chair of Trustees – TBA
  • Chair of Ministry of Development – Miriam Seylar
  • Member at Large – Sylvia D’Avanzo
  • Chair of Elders – Marcia Blake

The 2024 Budget was also unanimously approved.

The Rev. Jay Hartley, Disciples Regional Minister,  will serve as minister to deliver the sermon this Sunday, February 11.

We encourage all women who would like to learn to crochet and knit on a loom to join us on Monday, February 12 at 9 am in the Church Cobbs Hall. We look forward to working on projects to serve the community.

Save the date to hear a special performance by a local ukulele group on March 3 at 3 pm. Light refreshments will follow.

Pastor’s Notes 2/2/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.
– Acts 2:46–47

Love God/Love Neighbor

This Sunday we will continue our dive into to what it means to live out what Jesus refers to as the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as you wish to be loved.” Our attention this week is on loving God by loving our neighbor.

Loving our neighbor might be the hardest thing we are called to do, especially the neighbors we don’t understand, know, or like. Jesus was no fool and when folks attempt to trip him up, perhaps like the teacher in this story, Jesus could respond with his understanding of scripture. To which, the teacher knew Jesus was correct.

As Mark 12:34 teaches, “When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”

I find the humor and anxious response of the people comforting in Mark’s Gospel, noting that no one dared ask Jesus any more questions. Jesus confirming that loving our neighbor is the second most important commandment, is a tough reality to sit with. If I am not ready to live with the answer, I shouldn’t ask the question.

My Grandma would remind me that if following God’s commandments was easy, God wouldn’t need to remind us to do it. To love our neighbor as we wish to be loved, we must start close to home. Focus on the needs nearby. My Grandma would probably also remind me to “Eat the low hanging fruit before picking something I must stretch to reach.”

A supporting text for Sunday will come from Acts 2:42-47. The early church came together and shared their enthusiasm and all that they had and all that they were to serve Christ together. In the sermon we will explore the ways we too come together in our discipleship. We will bless the commitments we prayerfully chose to make as a congregation in 2024. During the congregational meeting we will approve a slate of leadership as well as a budget to guide us in the coming year.

Please note that the memorial service for Diane Wallace is scheduled at the church for February 24th at 2 pm.

Pastor’s Notes 1/26/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

“Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him.” – 1 John 3:18-19

Remember some of the ‘ol the catch phrases that were used to motivate us to act. “Just Do it.” “Actions speak louder than words.” “Put your money where your mouth is.” “Practice what you preach.” And then there is probably the most uttered challenge my brother and I would lob back and forth at each other, “prove it.”

“I can run faster than you.”
“Prove it.”

“I can stuff 30 marshmallows in my mouth.”
“Prove it.”

”I heard that if you put a raw egg, still in the shell in the microwave for a minute, it will explode.”
“Prove it!”

“Prove it” is a still one of my favorite motivational statements and it is one that is made constantly in the Bible. The scriptures influencing worship for Sunday include: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 John 3:16-24, Matthew 7:24-27, Mark 12:28-34.

Service matters. Loving God requires action, it is something followers of Jesus should feel compelled to do. Faith is a practice and to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength our body must get involved.

Scholar Steve Thomason reminds us that the body is the connective tissue between loving God and loving our neighbor. Our texts this week remind us that love without action for the good of the neighbor is not love at all. We cannot love God without loving our neighbor and we cannot truly love the neighbor, especially our enemies, without the love of God overflowing from our lives.

The life of the disciple is a life called to service for the good of the other. This Sunday we will explore how our congregation is using the gifts of our physical resources to serve all our neighbors.

Don’t forget to bring bags of potato chips this Sunday as we will disperse what we collect into baggies for the food pantry of Community Christian Church (DOC) in Tempe.

Pastor’s Notes 1/12/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.  – 1 Peter 1:13

The human mind is such a fascinating creation. We could think of the brain as God’s first computer design. Our mind is a cognitive nexus that is constantly firing and sending messages and impulses that trigger all aspects of our being. Not only do we think with our mind but we reason and connect and create the messages that we communicate with others.

It makes sense that for a sermon series entitled, “Loving Deeper,” this week’s theme is “Loving God with our Mind.” It is as important a place as any to start. We also find that the Gospel writer Mark this week, Mark 12:28-34 (Romans 12:1-2, and Luke 2:39-40 will also be present in worship Sunday) highlights what we must use to love God and our neighbor. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”

On Sunday we will explore ways to deepen our Spiritual relationship through study and prayer. Being in communication with God and other humans is key to a healthy Spiritual life. We must be in dialogue. Words and feelings must not only be expressed but received. We send out information and open ourselves to receive it and as a result, apply it to our lives.

One way I hope we can deepen our spiritual connection in 2024 is by being intentional in ministry practices with Sun City Christian Church. The use of our time and talents matters. So to help us identify our gifts, I invite you to join me for lunch. Sign-up sheets will be available Sunday and there are four slots each day at 11am in the library for either January 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, or 24.

We have such rich opportunities for ministry awaiting us and I can’t wait to hear the ways you are excited to participate. See you Sunday. 

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 1/5/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?  – Luke 2:49


“I have an idea.” 

“Here’s a thought.” 

“I wonder.”

I like those sentences. I will drop whatever I am doing and pay full attention every time someone (especially a member of Sun City Christian Church) has an epiphany. This is who we are and what we are called to do: manifest Christ into the world through our ability to love.

The season of Epiphany is about recognizing that Christ has come to the world for all. God’s love is greater than any power or might that humanity could wield, and it is available to all who wish to receive it.

I really wrestled with scripture passage to utilize for Sunday. Do we focus our epiphany energy onto the Magi finding the Christ child and paying him homage? Do we follow the lectionary and celebrate Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist? Both of those scriptures regularly appear this time of year, but I was drawn to another passage, Luke 2:41-52.

As we continue in Luke’s gospel, immediately after Jesus is dedicated in the temple, we find him back in the Temple 12 years later. After having journeyed to celebrate the Passover with his family and community, Mary and Joseph fail to recognize that he is not with them on the return journey.

“Where else would I be?” Jesus responds to his parents. Engaging about deeper questions of faith in the Temple was the obvious answer and the ah-hah moment for us readers as to what the following stories of Jesus’ life would hold in store.

Together we will explore our ideas for how to love fully as those who believe in Jesus. We will begin to give shape to our calling and purpose for loving others with all our mind, body, and Spirit.

As we forge ahead into a new year, we will do so together in worship and in prayer! See you Sunday in the Chapel as we will continue to worship there until further notice.

Brett