Double Vision Scripture is filled with images of triumph and joy as well as images of heartache and lament. The world and humanity are portrayed sometimes as beautiful and holy, and other times they are portrayed as awful and nearly hopeless. Which of these ways of seeing is true? Perhaps our faith calls us to a kind of double vision…
Jerusalem, Jerusalem & Us To whom do we belong? What holds our allegiance? Jesus laments over Jerusalem, and yearns for the day when we let go of our fight against love and the prophets of God. We, too, lament the rage and spite that fills our world, and too often fills our own hearts. But there is hope – our…
Turning It Around As we begin this season of Lent, we hear the story of Jesus’ temptation, and in that story we might hear the story of our own temptations. Unlike Jesus, we often are swayed and give in – not to turn stones to bread, or lead the kingdoms of the world, or leap off the Temple spire, but…
For the Common Good You’ve probably heard the passage from 1 Corinthians that highlights the variety of gifts among God’s people. You’ve maybe been part of a class or taken a quiz to discover which spiritual gift(s) you have. Buried in the middle of this passage is an important phrase that we might overlook – and it gives us the…
What Must I Do to Inherit When Jesus asks the rich man to give all of his possessions to the poor and follow him, we probably wonder whether he’s even talking to us. But what happens if we look more closely at the man’s question, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ and reflect on how we might go…
Palm Sunday“Where Are We?” The story of Palm Sunday begins our celebration of Holy Week, setting in motion the events that lead to Good Friday and then to Easter. But before we get there, we should ask ourselves – where are we in the Palm Sunday story? Are we the disciples who have travelled with Jesus to Jerusalem? Are we…
We Rejoice This Sunday will be the Third Sunday in Advent. We rejoice, not only because we get to see friends and family and feast with one another, but because the oppression, injustice and violence of the world are not final. Christ comes to begin the work of setting the world right. Join us on Sunday morning, December 17, for the…
We Wait This Sunday is the First Sunday in Advent. As much as we want to celebrate the holiday season, Advent is not about rushing ahead, but about waiting with joyful anticipation what to see what God is unveiling. Join us on Sunday morning for worship and communion at 9:00 in the Fellowship Hall or 10:30 in the Sanctuary. You can view…
A Legacy Worth Leaving Join us as we celebrate the early beginnings of our church and welcome special guests who represent the families who moved our church from Greenwood to South Shore. We will enjoy the story of 40 dedicated families who took a leap of faith to move their little congregation up the hill. Read Deuteronomy 34:1-12 & Matthew 16:13-19 in…
Simple Governance at LOUMC Our church leadership has been studying and considering the Simple Governance structure since 2016 when first introduced to the concept. We have interviewed the author of the book “Simple Governance”, met with several churches who have transitioned to single board structures and consulted our District Superintendent who recommends this change. And, lest we forget, Pastor Clay…
Losers and Fools This morning we will enjoy having our whole church family together in our 5th Sunday Combined worship at 10:00. Read Matthew 5:1-12 and 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 in preparation for Sunday’s sermon, Losers and Fools.We will hear The Beatitudes. These statements of characteristics and blessing, introduce and set the tone for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His ministry. Join us in…
The Upside Down The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man Although this parable is set in the afterlife, it’s about the here and now. The Kingdom of God is an upside down kind of place where the wealthy and powerful find themselves at the bottom of the heap and the lowly are lifted up and blessed. Read Luke 16:19-31 in…
