Tag: sermon

Pastor’s Notes 4/5/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Our text for this Sunday is John 21:1-19. Our series of “Wandering Heart: finding our faith with Peter” is concluding Sunday and will come full circle. I am grateful for the creators from A Sanctified Art who had this to say about Sunday’s story:

“This week’s text could be read alongside our first text for the series (Luke 5:1-11). The parallels and connections between the two are palpable and powerful. Once again, Jesus offers Peter abundance. His journey—like ours—is not linear, but God’s grace continues to circle back to him again and again like a familiar chorus played on repeat. In this text, we primarily want to focus on Peter’s threefold redemption granted to him by Jesus’ question: “Do you love me?” We might imagine Jesus asking us the same question. As we move forward in our faith journeys, how can we let love lead the way?” 

I also want to let you know that our new automated Phone Tree messages will begin next week. Through this system we have the capability of sending audio versions of my weekly email update, meeting reminders, announcements, prayer concerns and other communications to your cell phone or landline. It may take us a bit to work the kinks out so please be sure to let us know if you have any questions or phone number changes.

I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday! 

Brett

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

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: 4/9/2023 Easter Sunday

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Jesus prepared his disciples and loved ones (and us) as best he could. We know that each of his followers responded in their own ways with doubt and separation being a popular choice but we also know that belief was ever present, especially amongst the women of Jesus’ life.

The women listened and believed and understood Jesus when he said that after the third day he would rise again. Our scripture account for Easter Sunday will come from Matthew 28:1-10.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary will go to see the resurrection promise fulfilled. A great earthquake will rumble, an Angel will appear, and belief will send the women forth to tell of what they have encountered at the tomb. They will see Jesus for themselves and proclaim to the disciples, “Christ is Risen!”

We too will arrive at the empty tomb and see the promise fulfilled and the glory of Christ all around us!