Tag: Disciples of Christ

Pastor’s Notes 8/18/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.    –Ephesians 2:13-14

Sunday in worship we will continue our series on Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Last week we explored the fullness of God’s plan that is mentioned in the first chapter of the letter to the Ephesians. As the Bible unfolds, we can interpret God’s plan to involve, creation, covenant, Christ, church and consummation.

We know that God’s plan is based upon a deep love that not only knows no boundaries but is never limited to a certain group or demographic of people. This week we will explore the fact that God’s plan is necessary.

The hope we find in Jesus’ ministry and mission was to bring a unifying understanding of God’s love intended for Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free. This was a part of God’s plan and the necessity for unity binding all people together in love is just as pertinent today as it was when the church first heard from Paul about it.

God’s intention is for peace and unity, not conflict and division. Together we will explore the role we can play as the body of Christ called to love and witness.

Our worship team seeks your assistance. We would like to hear which of your favorite hymns whose backstory you would like to learn more about. Please list them on the back of orange prayer sheets in the worship space and place them in the basket at the back of the chapel.

Also, we are desiring to have folks share a story in worship responding to the thought, “I am a disciple because __________.” Please let me know if you would be willing to participate in an upcoming worship service, we would love to hear from you!

Lastly, I am curious to know who has been reading these weekly updates. Anyone who can say to me, “Yes I read the email, may I please have a prize?” will receive one!

I look forward to worshipping and fellowshipping with you on Sunday!

Brett

Pastor’s Notes: 7/30/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20-21.

This weekend begins the General Assembly for our denomination. It is the first time the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has gathered together in person in 4 years. 

Over the last several weeks we have studied together the theme, “Kindom of God: within us, among us.” We are not alone in our faithful pursuits. God is present in so many relevant and revealed ways. It is always good to remind ourselves that we are a part of something more than our personal pursuits. (Please welcome Rev. Dr. Bob Howard as he will remind us of this simple truth from the pulpit this Sunday.)

The reign of God is revealed within our communities. For nearly 50 years we have thrived as the body of Christ in Sun City. Because of our denominational identity as ‘people of the chalice’

And the vision of the region to expand our  witness, we were born. 

As Luke wrote, “the kingdom of God is in our midst.” God is here and is using us to be an extension of love, grace, justice, and peace. We are the embodiment of all Jesus came to be and his hope lives on through us.

I invite you to join our greater collective for online worship together as a church. We are a part of something significant and life giving. May the Holy Spirit bind and remind us of this truth as we prayerfully welcome our inclusion together as a Church.

The link to worship is found at this link.

Nightly Schedule:

SATURDAY, JULY 29
Preacher: Cha. Maj. Owen Chandler
Offering: Pension Fund’s 13th Check 

SUNDAY, JULY 30
Preacher: Rev. Yolanda Norton
Offering: Reconciliation Ministry

MONDAY, JULY 31
Preacher: Rev. Dr. David Anderson Hooker
Offering: Week of Compassion 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1
Preacher: Rev. Terri Hord Owens
Offering: Disciples Mission Fund

Sermon 6/18/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Kin-dom of God: Within Us, Among Us

He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’  Mark 4:30-32 

Seeds grow. It’s what they are supposed to do. Seeds have the capacity for great things and with basic interaction with the elements of soil, water, nutrients and sunlight the seeds live into their destiny.

According to the Disciples of Christ General Assembly preaching resource materials, “perhaps Dr. Amy Jill-Levine is correct in her book ‘Short Stories of Jesus’ when she writes ‘sometimes a seed is just a seed, a bird is just a bird, and a tree is just a tree.’ A mustard seed, after all, is supposed to grow into a larger plant. A mustard plant, after all, is intended to be beneficial to the gardener who plants it. It is no stretch to imagine that a tall tree or a tall bush (however big a mustard plant should be), would have birds amongst its branches. What does it mean, then, for Jesus to compare the Kin-dom of God to a mustard seed? Simply put, the Kin-dom of God is meant to grow, and it is meant to be a blessing where it grows.”

Sunday in worship we explored in greater detail what it means for us, the kin-dom of God, to grow. We are supposed to grow. It is what we are intended to do if we truly are doing our part as Christ’s church. We broke down the necessary elements it takes for us as the body of Christ to fulfill our responsibility to grow into a bush with ample branches, limbs, and leaves to nest whoever is flying by and needs respite from our presence.

Sermon 5/21/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

On May 21st we celebrated Ascension Sunday, the occasion when Jesus physically leaves the earth for good and ascended into the heavens. Earlier in the season we focused upon Matthew’s telling of the final words and encounter with Jesus and this week will hear from Luke in Acts 1:6-11. After resurrecting from the now empty tomb, Jesus had been preparing his disciples one final time for the ministry that awaits them, and us still. 

Jesus speaks cryptically of not leaving us alone in serving as church. We will pay particular attention to Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 

Jesus’ faithful ones need not wait long, as next Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost, the day when the gift of the Holy Spirit descends upon all who believe.

This gift is a pillar of who we are as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and this core verse underscores our denominational mission statement, “to be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.”

In our act of worship, we will also tend to deep understanding of our vision as a denomination, “to be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice.”

Sermon 5/14/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

It is amazing to see things that are good individually, unite, forming something great: peanut butter and chocolate; macaroni and cheese, needle and thread, milk and cookies, Batman and Robin.

Unity is a good thing.

The next pillar that defines us as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is unity. There are two passages of scripture that we will focus on this Sunday. The importance of unity is highlighted in Psalm 133:1. “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!”

In John 17:20-24, the author highlights a prayer of Jesus in which he requests: “‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.’” Jesus is offering a prayer of unity that all might be one in God, Christ himself, and each other.

This Sunday we talked about the founding fathers of our movement for wholeness, Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone and the claim being, “unity is our polar star.”