Tag: LOUMC

The Generous Story of God

The Generous Story of God

The Generous Story of God Jesus’ famous saying “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what belongs to God,” invites us to ask a question “what could Jesus possibly mean, if everything ultimately belongs to God?” As we consider what it means to be faithful stewards of our resources, we’ll wrestle with what it means to be…

In This Together

In This Together

In This Together Disability Awareness Sunday reminds us that the Body of Christ includes people with all disabilities and challenges. It is an invitation to consider the ways that God might be calling us to make a way to include every beloved child of God. And finally – do we ever think of Jesus as a homeowner? And what does…

Is it All Rubbish?

Is it All Rubbish?

Is it All Rubbish? World Communion Sunday invites us to claim our connection to all Christians and, by extension, to the whole human family. Paul’s letter to the Philippians gives us an interesting perspective on this invitation – he dismisses every authoritative status he might claim as rubbish in the light of the Gospel. It’s a challenging way to think…

The Only Church Jesus Has

The Only Church Jesus Has

The Only Church Jesus Has With Peter’s confession of Jesus as Lord, Jesus makes plain his explicit plan to establish the Church – the Body who will become the presence of Christ in the world after Jesus’ death. And for better and worse, we are the only Church that Jesus has. Join us Sunday, August 23 at 10:00 live or…

Crumbs

Crumbs

Crumbs Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman is rich and confusing text! Why is Jesus being insulting to her? What’s the big deal about healing someone’s child just because she’s not Jewish? And what in the world could this story – set so firmly in the social, political, and religious understanding of the ancient world – have to say to…

Dangerous Waters, Dangerous People

Dangerous Waters, Dangerous People

Dangerous Waters, Dangerous People This will be pretty explicitly a Reconciling Ministries sermon. Joseph is rejected by his brothers because he is different. And different is scary. So his brothers sell him into slavery. The Disciples on the boat are fearful of the waters surrounding them, but Jesus walks fearlessly amid the storm and waves. We are not called to…

Trees and Yeast, Pearls and Fish

Trees and Yeast, Pearls and Fish

Trees and Yeast, Pearls and Fish Jesus teaches his followers about the Kingdom of God, but he always does so in story and parable. Why? Why doesn’t Jesus give us a nice step-by-step method of participating in God’s Kingdom? What is about the Kingdom that eludes easy explanation? Join us Sunday, July 26 at 10:00 live or watch the video…

Adopted by Love

Adopted by Love

Adopted by Love What do Jacob’s peculiar dream (the one about the ladder extending to heaven) and adoption have in common? And what does it even mean to have what Paul calls “a spirit of adoption?” Can’t we just be fans of Jesus rather than adopted siblings? Join us Sunday, July 19 at 10:00 live or watch the video any…

Servants of Righteousness

Servants of Righteousness

Servants of Righteousness: Reflections on the SLAM Trip Join us as we hear from our youth members about their experience with SLAM (Students Learning About Mission) at the Yakama Nation. The youth and adults who went will share a bit about how they experienced God moving in their midst and what we can all do to continue building a connection…

Set Free

Set Free

Set Free What does it mean to be free for followers of Jesus? Is it about individual privileges and freedoms? Is it about a release from any kinds of restraint? Or is it something altogether different? Paul and the earliest followers of Jesus understood that their freedom in Christ was a qualitatively distinct kind of freedom – one that led…

Practicing Hospitality, Meeting Christ

Practicing Hospitality, Meeting Christ

Practicing Hospitality, Meeting Christ Jesus says this strange sort of thing about welcoming and receiving rewards. It all boils down to this: to live open to the goodness and holiness of others is the way in which we embody Christian hospitality and, by opening ourselves to others, we open ourselves to Christ. Join us Sunday, June 28 at 10:00 live…