I do not know a lot about sheep. I am a suburban-bon kid after all, who has never lived on, or near, a farm. A number of years ago, right after Kerry and I finished school and before we started our first permanent jobs, we had a great opportunity to travel across England and Scotland […]
So, in thinking about this gospel text, I wanted to show you this video clip from the movie, Charlotte’s Web. Anybody ever read that book as a child? I read it half a dozen times back then. Let’s watch. Now you all know that birds don’t talk and scarecrows aren’t real. Do any of you […]
Our Lenten, now Easter journey, has been a pilgrimage of sorts, following the footsteps of Peter: from the abundant catch that led him to drop everything and follow Jesus to walking on water, professing his faith, being rebuked, receiving foot washing, denying Jesus, and running to the tomb. And now, on this day, we witness […]
What is your favorite movie rescue scene? What about the scene in Star Wars when Hans Solo comes out of nowhere to save the day just when it seems that Darth Vader and his forces would prevail? What about in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King when the army of Rohan shows […]
For Maundy Thursday, Pastor Carter continued our Lenten sermon series “Wandering Heart” with a special meditation entitled “Streams of Mercy”.
As we gather here on this Palm Sunday, we are reminded of the joyous cries that filled the air on that remarkable day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt. “Hosanna, Hosanna – blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!” Our scripture text invites us to imagine ourselves […]
There are two things to quickly note about this passage in Matthew 18. First, Peter is still there. Last week, if you were here, we heard Peter rebuke Jesus in Matthew 16. Far from getting kicked out for insubordination, Peter remains in Jesus’ inner circle. Jesus is a patient and persistent teacher, prepared for his […]
A minister colleague in another church was leading a faith formation gathering with young children when one boy in the group produced a bag of crackers and proceeded munching. When the minister realized that the boy had no intention of sharing his crackers with any of the other children, she said something to him. At […]
Today I invite you to join me on a journey. A journey that requires not your feet, but your heart, your mind, and your spirit. I invite you to close your eyes and step back in time, back into the pages of the Gospel of Matthew. Picture this. You are walking along the dusty roads […]
Do you ever wonder about miracles – whether they still happen today? Maybe Jesus was walking on a hidden sandbar, and not on water, some have suggested. Do you wonder why there are not more miracles, or how God decides when to let a miracle happen and when not? When it comes to miracles, I have found […]
This Lent we will be doing a series called “Wandering Hearts,” taken from the lyrics of the traditional gospel song, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” In this series, we will explore discipleship with Simon, whom Jesus later renamed Peter. Sales people know the feeling. The feeling that comes from making call after call on […]
Let us pray. Loving God, we stand in awe of your glory and your grace. As we dive into your Word today, may our hearts be open and our minds receptive to your message. Amen. As we gather here today, on the Sunday before we move into the Season of Lent, we are reminded of […]