Hermeneutic

What is Baptism?

2012-01-12T18:24:00.002-05:00

Kitty Hawk UMC is a church that is made up of people from many backgrounds. We have people who grew up Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Pentecostal, and some who grew up without any religious background whatsoever. There is considerable agreement between these different denominations in what they believe. But, there are then the differences. I feel it is

Advent

2011-12-03T06:00:00.015-05:00

We begin the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle of the church year. The Book of Worship describes Advent this way: (p. 238) Advent is a season of four weeks including four Sundays. Advent derives from the Latin adventus, which means ‘coming.’ The season proclaims the comings of the Christ—whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in

A Prayer for Irene

2011-08-26T13:25:00.000-04:00

Almighty God, as your Spirit created order from the waters of chaos, so we ask for your Spirit to maintain order in the midst of Irene. Dear Lord Jesus, as you calmed the stormy seas in Galilee, so calm the gusts and gales that will buffet us this weekend. May the rushing wind of your Spirit protect us from the destructive forces of Irene. May we safely emerge from the darks storms

Radical Hospitality and Extravagant Generosity

2011-02-09T00:33:00.004-05:00

Paul and his companions had

The Subversive Christ

2010-12-10T22:06:00.000-05:00

S. I. Hayakawa, probably best known as a Republican senator from California in the 80s and 90s, was by profession a semanticist and Professor of English. He was also the author of Language in Thought and Action where he wrote... In the expression “We must listen to both sides of every question,” there is an assumption, frequently unexamined, that every question has two sides. We tend to think in

A Techie’s Advent Devotional

2010-12-08T22:02:00.003-05:00

And now for something completely different... A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. Isaiah 11:1 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, [John the Baptist] said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have

Small Group Ministry

2010-08-27T06:02:00.019-04:00

Your small group involvement is vital to your growth in discipleship and mission. This is especially true in a church this size. There are all kinds of small groups, but the marks of a vital small group are these: (1) members pray for one another; (2) members study together; (3) members engage in ministry and mission together; and, (4) members witness to one another. For your small group to be

The Scaffolding (Youth Sunday)

2010-08-23T10:22:00.001-04:00

Josh Leslie spoke at our Youth Sunday at Horne Memorial. His message can be streamed from here...

What is a Hero?

2010-08-16T14:56:00.003-04:00

Sunday's sermon, What is a Hero? is now available if you wish to listen to it.

Evangelism 301: Intentional Invitation

2010-07-22T21:25:00.000-04:00

This is the third in a series of articles looking at our pledge to support the work of Jesus Christ through the church in our witness. In the first article we looked at Servant Evangelism in which an act of kindness is made with a connection to God’s free given grace and love. In the second article we looked at how to start and practice witnessing with those we trust in our small groups or

Missional or Attractional?

2010-07-05T16:01:00.002-04:00

Missional vs. attractional: it is a debate going on among many church leaders. Attractional churches are those churches which emphasize worship and preaching, children and youth programs designed to draw people in. It really has little to do with a style of worship (tradtional vs. contemporary) as it does with the emphasis on pursuing excellence in worship and preaching. Alan Hirsch puts it this

Free for Righteousness

2010-07-04T14:48:00.003-04:00

What does it mean to be free in Christ? I guess we need to talk about what we mean be freedom. What is freedom? As Americans we have some very definite ideas about freedom. Some basic enough that we may all agree in principle (such as the right to not be victimized), but other ideas that may sharply divide us (such as abortion or who may marry). But let’s speak today about being free in Christ.

Vignettes of Trust

2010-06-26T07:00:00.012-04:00

Sermon based on texts from Proper 5c I like to study words. I like studying the origins of words and the evolution of their usage. Take for example, the word wit. It’s earliest meaning refers to the natural ability to perceive and understand. So when somebody is losing it, we say they are at their wits end. And we tell them to keep their wits about them. To be at your wits end means you no

From Death to Life

2010-06-25T15:08:00.003-04:00

Sermon based on readings from Proper 7c As a child, one show we watched about every week as a family was HeeHaw. A song written by Roy Clark and Buck Owens was featured each week that went like this... Gloom, despair, and agony on me Deep, dark depression, excessive misery If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all Gloom, despair, and agony on me This song seems to express well the

Eucharistic Prayer for July 4th

2010-06-24T11:26:00.003-04:00

I took the basic form of the Eucharistic Prayer and adapted it for use on national celebrations such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, etc. The Lord be with you.And also with you.Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to

Evangelism 201: Learning to Witness

2010-06-22T21:22:00.000-04:00

This month we are continuing our series on Christian witness or evangelism. When we join the church we pledge to be faithful to Christ through the United Methodist Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. Evangelism is a scary word to many Christians, mainly because we know it is something we are supposed to be doing as part of our mission and yet we have

How to Really Live Like Jesus

2010-06-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

We have often considered what it means to have a share in the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:11-21) and in Christ’s shepherding ministry (John 21:15-19). We realize that when Christ tells us to take up our crosses and follow him, he is somehow not promising us a life of ease. When he instructed Peter to follow him he showed Peter how he would have to suffer for the Gospel (John 21:19). When

On the Other Hand...

2010-05-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Recently a Google search lead me to a website while I was working on a Bible study. The website was of a ministry that was committed to a King James only use of the Bible. The site posted dozens of articles and I as I began to look through them I came to the realization that every article was critical of other Christian individuals and churches. Then there is the Westboro Baptist Church which

Traditional Look at Wesley's Order of Salvation

2010-05-28T08:30:00.009-04:00

Wesley’s Order of Salvation (This is a work in progress!) Original Sin (Natural Humanity) This is the state of humanity after the “Fall” This is the state of “total depravity” Though we are all victims of Original Sin, there is no such thing as “Natural Humanity” because of Prevenient Grace Prevenient Grace The operation of the Holy Spirit in the life of the unbeliever It may be evident

The Gift of Worship

2010-05-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

What is worship? What is worship meant to be? The first thing we must remember about worship is that it is a great gift of God's grace to us. It is a way He has given us to express our love and praise to Him. It is a way He has given us to experience His great love for us. A common image in the Bible for our relationship with God is marriage. Worship is analogous to the time and devotion

The Joy and Pain of New Life

2010-05-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

The five practices of a fruitful congregation are radical hospitality; intentional faith development; risk-taking mission and service; extravagant generosity. As we internalize these practices and embed them within our DNA we find we indeed become that fruitful congregation God is calling us to be in the name of Jesus Christ. But with that fruitfulness can come frustration. Did you know we

Evangelism 101: Servant Evangelism

2010-05-22T21:19:00.001-04:00

By now we all know that the mission of Horne Memorial UMC is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We also remember that our membership vows include the promise to support the ministry of Jesus Christ through this church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. The words of the mission statement “for the transformation of the world”

Christmas 1995

2009-12-20T22:26:00.000-05:00

Well, is your Christmas tree still standing? Is it still up or have you taken it down and placed it by the roadside yet to be picked up? If your Christmas tree is still standing, does it still have some Christmas presents underneath it? Still carefully wrapped with bows. Well our Christmas tree is still up and we still have presents under our tree. People that we haven't seen yet. Relatives that

A Look at Stewardship

2009-08-15T00:01:00.000-04:00

The man came to me in the midst of a stewardship campaign a number of years ago and he said to me, “Preacher I don’t agree with stewardship campaigns and I don’t agree with pledging. I think that it is wrong.” I asked him, “Well why do you think that it is wrong?” I mean I’d never heard that before. I grew up in a church and I was always used to the stewardship campaigns. I was always used to

Simple Things

2009-08-06T22:29:00.000-04:00

In the Old Testament we have the image of a nation wandering in the wilderness. They had been led out of slavery, they had witnessed many wonderful miracles of God, and yet, we are told that in the wilderness they acted rebelliously. Even at the foot of Mount Sinai, when Moses was speaking to God and making the covenant on behalf of the Hebrew people, they were melting down their golden jewelry

Still Not Justice

2009-08-06T21:57:00.000-04:00

I cannot imagine the pain felt by the Moores whose daughter was brutally murdered. While the Moores say they deplore that Governor Kaine has chosen to ignore the facts in this case, the sad reality seems to be that in their grief they cannot see the truth. They argue that the evidence points to the guilt of the Norfolk Four, yet the only genetic evidence points to a person who admits he has

Being the Body

2009-08-02T12:01:00.001-04:00

This is a the outline of my sermon printed in today's bulletin for note taking and reflection. Ephesians 4:1-16 (NRSV) 1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of

So, Do All Dogs Go to Heaven?

2009-07-31T00:01:00.001-04:00

Have you seen the faked church sign debate on this question around the Internet? If not, you can look at it here. While some have distributed it as a real event, it is not. The signs were obviously made at a church sign generator. Nevertheless, it is an amusing reflection on the seriousness with which people can take both doctrine and their love for their pets. I confess that this question has

Bread That Satisfies

2009-07-30T15:25:00.001-04:00

This month I am preaching from the lectionary epistle lessons (from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians). But the Gospel lessons come from the extended story of Jesus feeding the multitudes (John 6). I thought I would share some thoughts on those texts here at hermeneutic.org. In Exodus, in the account of the wandering of the wilderness, we find that the Israelites often complained to Moses. They

Sealed in the Spirit

2009-07-06T13:28:00.002-04:00

I have been looking at this week’s Epistle lesson which comes from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul addresses his letter here “to the Saints who are also faithful in Christ Jesus.” The message that follows is a timeless message. It doesn’t deal with any particular problems of the Ephesian church, but it is really a hymn of praise. It is a Christological hymn, one that praises Christ. Some

A First Look at the Epistle for Proper 8b: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

2009-07-01T10:47:00.001-04:00

In this week’s epistle lesson, Paul recounts a blessing from God – a high moment in his life – his spiritual journey. He speaks of being caught up into third heaven. Paul believes that God took steps to ensure his humility by giving him a thorn in the flesh. He also states that this came from a messenger of Satan. While we can only speculate on what the thorn was, we do know is this: for a time

Some Preliminary Thoughts on Proper 8b Gospel Text: Mark 6:1-13

2009-07-01T09:43:00.002-04:00

While Jesus demonstrated an authority over nature and demonic beings, the healing narratives all share this common factor: the healing is requested. Sometimes it is requested by the individual seeking the healing, such as the leper (Mark 1:40). Sometimes it is at someone else’s intercession, such as with Jairus, for his daughter (Mark 5:22-23). Someone can even claim the healing without asking

Methodism By the Numbers

2009-06-18T08:36:00.002-04:00

Over the last few years we have come to appreciate the significance of certain numbers in the United Methodist Church. I wish to review them here. Bill Hybels, of Willow Creek talks about vision leak. It is as though we carry our vision around in a bucket with a little hole in it and after a while all of that vision will leak out. We need to keep filling the bucket. We need to keep reminding

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

2009-06-13T23:20:00.002-04:00

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but we can say that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to transform, equip, empower, and nurture. Transforms: The Assurance of the Holy Spirit John 20:21-22 - Peace comes with the Holy Spirit Romans 8:15-15 - Adoption children of God through the Holy Spirit 2 Corinthians 1:22 - Sealed in the Spirit (guarantee) Romans 8:16 - The Witness of the Holy

From Gentle Breaths to Violent Winds

2009-06-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

Just as the Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday cycle is celebrated and understood in the context of the Passover, we need to understand our celebration of Pentecost in the context of the original celebration. Pentecost is known as Shavuot to our Jewish brothers and sisters. In the Bible it is referred to as the Festival of Weeks, or the Day of the First Fruits. These two different names remind

North Carolina Annual Conference is Underway

2009-06-10T11:19:00.000-04:00

You can get information online for the 2009 Session of the North Carolina Annual Conference a number of ways. You can follow the events of the sessions on Twitter. You can watch the video streams of the sessions and worship services. You can follow the blog. The handouts and materials are online and you can always start off on the main NC Conference web page. Pre-Conference Briefing Session

The Nicene Creed (1995)

2009-06-02T22:53:00.001-04:00

I want you to do something with me at this time, just a little exercise, open up your hymnals to number 880. I want to show you something then I'm going to ask you to close the hymnals, so you won't be distracted. This is the Nicene Creed. You'll notice however over on the next page the Apostles Creed. Both the creeds follow the same format. They're in three parts. The first part deals with God

Doctrinal Distinctives: 03 Faith and Works

2009-05-26T19:00:00.001-04:00

Sometimes our Christian brothers and sisters from other denominational traditions accuse Methodists of having a works righteousness doctrine, sometimes calling us Pelagian or semi-Pelagian in our outlook (named after Pelagius, who basically believed that Christ is our Savior by example, he shows us how to live and it is up to us to follow him). There is a bit of truth in the charge in that many

Finding an Appropriate Model for Making Disciples

2009-05-25T16:58:00.002-04:00

I was recently reading an article by William Safire (from his On Language series) that began this way... Why am I doing these sit-ups? Because I am working on my abs. And what are they? My abdominal muscles, of course, which in those physical-culture ads have the look of a washboard. (A washboard is, to coin a word, a “metaforgotten” — a word-picture of a household item like a dial phone that

Church, Communion and Germs

2009-05-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

During the initial phase of the recent flu outbreak there was a great deal of talk about spreading germs in church – especially during the sharing of The Eucharist (Holy Communion). Drawing on information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), recent studies from the scientific community, and publications from various denominations, I have put together a list of things to consider. Most

Doctrinal Distinctives: 02 Grace

2009-05-15T07:33:00.003-04:00

[Updated May 25, 2009]Wesleyan Theology begins with the realization of God’s love. Out of that tremendous loves comes God’s grace which permeates all of creation. All discussion about God, humanity, the Church, sin, salvation, indeed anything and everything, begins with this understanding that God’s grace is a given. When people are taught about Calvinism they often learn the TULIP acronym: Total

Doctrinal Distinctives: 01 Introduction

2009-05-05T15:28:00.001-04:00

Let me start off by saying that I dedicate this series of articles on Doctrinal Distinctives to my mother. One day we were having a theological discussion and I realized that most of the views she was espousing were quite outside the mainstream of Methodism even though she was a life-long Methodist and was attending a United Methodist Church. I asked here about that and she referred to a number

Behold, the Lamb of God

2009-05-03T00:01:00.003-04:00

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! In the newspaper, on the comic strip page, usually down at the bottom in the News and Observer anyway, the bottom left of the first page of comics there is a little is a little cartoon called the Family Circus. I think perhaps that every one is familiar with it. This is a family with all these children running around so fast that it

The Beatitudes

2009-05-02T19:51:00.001-04:00

These days the average age of the seminarian is on the increase. Increasingly people are receiving a call or responding to a call to ministry after they have already spent a number of years in another career. But back some time ago when most seminarians were fresh out of college, there was one young man, and this was back in a day when seminarians were for the most part men, one young man who was

Wesley and Lay Ministry

2009-05-01T19:54:00.003-04:00

[Article from 1993.]In this article we shall look at the way John Wesley used small groups (classes and bands) for Christian care and nurture. We shall also consider how he used lay people in ministry, and what implications we might see for our lay pastoral care program at New Hope Church. Wesley’s understanding of salvation and the work of grace is always to be understood as the foundation

Lavabo Bowl

2009-05-01T00:04:00.002-04:00

A ancient tradition in the church to become a new tradition at Horne.That tradition is the use of the lavabo (bowl or dish) in the church's worship just before Holy Communion. The word comes from the Latin word lavare which means “I shall wash.” The Latin word lave (to wash) is where we get the word lavatory. Here is part of the explanation from Wikipedia... (links go to Wikipedia) The name

Going to the Shack, Part 2

2009-04-27T10:15:00.002-04:00

Picking up where we left off... Question 2 — “How do you feel about God the Father being depicted as a Black Woman?” I believe it was in a philosophy text book, in a chapter dealing with our preconceived notions that I first encountered the joke about an astronaut who returned from space in a catatonic state. When he came out of it his doctor asked him what happened. I saw God! Wow, I guess

Going to the Shack, Part 1

2009-04-22T09:37:00.007-04:00

A lot of people have reading The Shack. As it deals with religious themes and our relationship with God it comes up a great deal in discussions I have with people. So I decided to take a little to time to reflect on some of the concerns and questions people have shared with me about the book. I shared these reflections in a sermon recently. This is a highly modified version of the sermon. Also, I

Finding Life in the Midst of Death

2009-04-20T12:56:00.002-04:00

What follows is the gist of my Easter sermon delivered April 12, 2009, at Horne Memorial UMC. I say the gist because these notes were typed out to serve as a guide for me while I preached. Sometimes I may have a fews lines on a piece of paper, sometimes nothing at all, sometimes something like this. Every now and then I may even have prepared a full manuscript (but not often). ------------

United Methodists and the Last Days

2009-04-20T12:23:00.001-04:00

Some people were recently surprised when I said that the interpretation of the Book of Revelation assumed in the Left Behind series was outside of mainstream Christianity and Methodism. So, what do United Methodists believe about the end-times? As in many other areas of theology, United Methodists do not have a clearly defined doctrine of what happens during the end times (eschaton). Our Articles

Jason Byassee: Not a Christian, but a Christ-follower?

2009-04-02T10:13:00.001-04:00

Jason Byassee has written a rather provocative article that should call upon us to embrace being called Christian with all of its flaws as well as it glories. There is a movement today for people to avoid using the term Christian to describe themselves. Perhaps it comes from a desire to distance yourself from the atrocities Christians have committed in the name of Jesus Christ in the past.

The Promise

2009-03-27T13:00:00.000-04:00

As we move into the end of Lent and proceed through Holy Week to the Easter celebration, the cyclical nature of our church calender can serve to remind us of the ongoing journey of our faith. Faith in not a one time thing or decision. Salvation is not just some switch we throw once for all. Just as we live through the physical changes of life so do we experience the fluidity of our spiritual

The Risk of Faith

2009-03-27T10:18:00.002-04:00

These are the notes from my sermon on March 22, 2009. The topic was Risk Taking Mission and Minstry from our congregational study on The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. What are some of the greatest risks you have ever taken in your life? Guys, what about the time you made your move for your first kiss? And I’m not talking that kiss from the great-aunt who always squeezed your cheeks.

Riding God’s Wave

2009-03-27T08:55:00.002-04:00

These are my notes for my Pastor's Report at our Church Council meeting last night (March 26, 2009). I addressed Horne’s role in the second focus of ministry: “Creating new places for new people by starting new congregations and renewing existing ones.” There is a saying that if you want to go surfing you have to go where the waves are. Also, if you want to be in on the exciting work of God you

Swift Streams or Putrid Pools

2009-03-16T14:33:00.002-04:00

One of the things I enjoyed about growing up in Ferguson Valley were the streams. These were bubbly, lively streams filled with life. They contained crayfish and mussels which tasted rubbery). The streams provided a place for trout fishing. The twists and turns often contained eddies that would be home to fish known as suckers. Suckers were nasty bony fish that only grimy, hungry boys who had

In Memory of Sam Strickland

2009-03-13T10:33:00.003-04:00

These are the notes from my homily at the Memorial Service for Sam Strickland. (All scripture quotes come from the New Revised Standard Version.) Our lesson comes from the Gospel of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, according to Saint John, the third chapter, verses 1 to 2... 1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi,

emergingumc: Open Source Liturgy Project Developers Conference 2

2009-03-03T19:45:00.000-05:00

People who know me know I am a big believer in Open Source. I use Linux on my laptop and encorurage my church staff to use Open Source applications like OpenOffice.org and Gimp. I believe that the Bible should be the ultimate "Open Source" revelation from God and it bothers me when copyright holders make it difficult to provide copies of the scriptures to others.I am glad that there seems to be

'The Shack' Draws Critics, Fans - WSJ.com

2009-03-02T09:18:00.000-05:00

I haven't read The Shack yet. I have bought a copy and it is on my "do read" list, so I should get around to it soon. It has been interesting to see the book both praised and condemned by religious leaders. Steven Waldman (founder of Beliefnet.com) wrote and article in the Wall Street Journal that looks at this and mentions...'The Shack' Draws Critics, Fans - WSJ.com: "Yet the book is wildly

Becoming the Righteousness of God

2009-02-25T19:30:00.002-05:00

[The text of my Ash Wednesday sermon.]We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”See,

The Cost of Love

2009-02-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Last month we focused on the Transfiguration of Our Lord, and his ordeal which began in the temptations that we observed on Ash Wednesday. During March this year we find ourselves in the midst of the Lenten season. Lent is a time of reflection, sacrifice, and action. Historically, Lent was a time in which people who had been expelled from the church could do penance to be readmitted. It was also

Naaman - Touched by God

2009-02-15T14:54:00.001-05:00

Today I preached on Naaman. He was a powerful general who was used to giving orders and having them obeyed. The problem was that he had a skin disease (called leprosy in the Bible) and he couldn't just order it away. It was a slave girl (someone he took captive after killing her family and burning her village) who summoned up the courage to share with him the good news that there was a prophet in

Why does the Order of Worship Seem Backwards?

2009-02-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is an article I wrote in 1995. Some of you have had questions about the worship service. They have all been good questions and I thought I would address some of them in this monthly column beginning with the question “Why does the order of worship seem backwards?” This is a wonderful question! Let me try to offer an explanation that is “short enough to be interesting, but long enough to

The Eucharist and the United Methodist Church

2009-02-10T22:58:00.005-05:00

This is an old paper I wrote in 1984. The practice of celebrating Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper has undergone some changes recently. One would like to think that this is not so much a reflection of changing theologies as it is a restoration of an earlier traditional theology of the Eucharist. As we look at our Eucharistic Theology, let us begin with a discussion of Wesley’s understanding of

Buffet or Feast?

2009-02-05T15:30:00.001-05:00

What is Authority? What is your authority for faith? What you believe? I think many people today have a Buffet style religion, picking and choosing what we want and rejecting what we don’t. Like the custom made teddy bears – we make our own faith system the same way. Just as Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way!”Consider the Facebook descriptions of Religion. Some people say they are “spiritual”

What is Baptism?

2009-02-05T15:10:00.003-05:00

Horne Memorial UMC is a church that is made up of people from many backgrounds. We have people who grew up Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Pentecostal, and some who grew up without any religious background whatsoever. There is considerable agreement between these different denominations in what they believe. But, there are then the differences. I feel it

The Ordeal

2009-02-05T15:00:00.002-05:00

In February we finish up a cycle of Ordinary Time with an observance of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. The disciples were given the opportunity to see Jesus in all of his glory. They saw him with Moses and Elijah. It was Moses, the giver of the Law who was given a glimpse of God’s glory from a cleft in a rock. It was Elijah, the chief of the Prophets who encountered God in the sound of sheer

Baptismal Renewal Service with Revisions from 2008 General Conference

2009-01-09T15:41:00.004-05:00

THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT IV (Revised, 01/01/2009) This form replaces Baptismal Covenant IV – UMH Page

Mandated to Manifest Christ

2009-01-01T23:49:00.000-05:00

During the month of January we will be observing Epiphany (which ends our Christmas celebration) and start of Ordinary Time with The Baptism of Christ. Although Epiphany is before the Baptism of Christ, let's begin by discussing our Lord's baptism and what the observance means to us. The Baptism of Christ has become a traditional time of covenant renewal for Christians in many traditions. Here

A Christmas Feast: A Christmas Sermon

2008-12-24T23:35:00.002-05:00

In the Christian tradition this is one of the principal feast days of the church – the Nativity of the Lord – commonly called Christmas. What is Christmas like in your home? Families gathering together. There is the gift giving. For me, the highlight is the meal: when the whole family gathers around the table filled with food. After all, it is a Feast Day – let’s have a feast! What does the

After the Election!

2008-11-03T09:16:00.002-05:00

Excellent article by Oliver Thomas at the USATODAY.com web site.When the last vote is tallied and the last yard sign pulled down, Democrats and Republicans must go back to being 'one nation under God.' That's especially important when we're beset by economic woes at home and a two-front war abroad.As a minister, I'm mindful that most Americans are citizens of two kingdoms. They're loyal Americans

Food, Feasts, and the Kingdom of God (Outline)

2008-07-28T14:15:00.005-04:00

I am working on the Gospel text for this Sunday (Matthew 14:13-21) and I have developed a working outline. Food scarcity and blessing Ballgames Food is part of the experience - what is a ballgame with a hot dog? State Fair milk, apple, Sausage and Peppers, ice cream Weddings (how meals mark the occasion to remember) Rehearsal Dinner Wedding Reception Biblical Wedding traditionsFeast

Scripture Readings for June 22, 2008 (Proper 7a)

2008-06-17T17:36:00.003-04:00

Here are the readings for Sunday, June 22, 2008 (Proper 7a) Genesis 21:8-21 8The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. 10So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit

Why Youth Take Part in Our Worship Services

2008-06-13T17:50:00.005-04:00

I recently received the following email that was addressed to me and to the SPRC. I am really concerned that you have relinquished a big part of your responsibility to children and others by allowing the Prayer of Illumination and Scriptures to be read by them. Most of those who are charged with this responsibility are not prepared to present this second most important part of the service in

The Sermon Process

2008-05-27T20:28:00.002-04:00

The Sermon ProcessOver the years my process of developing a sermon has evolved. What I describe below is the process that I am currently using. I am a visual learner and I believe you will see how this plays out in the process below. Step 1Read the lectionary texts. Pray over them. Decide which texts I will use.Step 2Read and Study: articles, commentaries, etc. See textweek.com for ideas.Take

Stewards of the Mysteries of God

2008-05-25T22:31:00.004-04:00

Here are the slides for the sermon.Here is the audio of the sermon.

Instructions for Lectors (Scripture Readers)

2008-05-18T20:23:00.012-04:00

These notes have been adopted from another source (sorry that I have lost the reference. I found the original source here). Please review these instructions carefully and put them to use. God bless you for taking part in this wonderful ministry! Please practice the readings out loud with a parent. Read the text out loud. Let me say it again - read the text out loud. It really makes a difference.

Pentecost Sunday (Year A)

2008-05-11T21:13:00.011-04:00

Here is the audio of today's sermon and the slides I used in the 9:45 worship service. Listen to the sermon... Or download the MP3 file.

Living Stones Presentation

2008-04-18T09:48:00.002-04:00

Here are the slides I made for our Contemporary Worship service this Sunday (Ecclesia).

Which Theologian Are You?

2008-04-12T17:22:00.001-04:00

Which theologian are you?created with QuizFarm.com You scored as AnselmAnselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period.He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read 'Cur Deus Homo?' Anselm 93%Karl Barth 87%John Calvin 87%Augustine

From Jo Anne - Easter 4 - Good Shepherd Sunday

2008-04-06T22:30:00.001-04:00

Dear Alan, Today's sermon was just awesome! Never before in my personal life have I needed more to hear about the redemption that is offered on so many levels in the breaking of the bread. I was so moved by your words. It made me all the more anxious to get an early start on next week's service! As I did my preliminary research on the lectionary texts, I was struck by many themes -- the idea

newsobserver.com | God plants ideas

2008-03-28T16:36:00.000-04:00

newsobserver.com | God plants ideas: "Helen Little's philosophy of life can be summed up in six words: 'I listen. He instructs. It happens.'The 'He' in question is God.But Little, a 77-year-old Methodist from Clayton, is not the kind who hears booming voices from heaven. Instead, she said, 'God plants ideas in your mind.'"A wonderful article about Helen Little. By the way, the "Mother Theresa

What Christ Has Done For Us

2008-03-24T10:22:00.001-04:00

As I was getting ready for and praying over this Easter Sunday, my mind kept coming to a tract I was introduced to in the 1970s written by a man named Bill Bright for the Campus Crusade for Christ titled The Four Spiritual Laws. In reflecting on the lectionary texts I kept seeing how the points Bright made in that tract appropriately fit in with the theme of this year’s Easter service of the

Has the 'notion of sin' been lost? - USATODAY.com

2008-03-20T14:44:00.000-04:00

Has the 'notion of sin' been lost? - USATODAY.com: “Is sin dead? No, not by a long shot. Yet as Easter approaches, some pastors and theologians worry: How can Christians celebrate Jesus' atonement for their sins and the promise of eternal life in his resurrection if they don't recognize themselves as sinners?” Here it is — Holy Week. The attendance at all our Holy Week services and activities

Internet Archive: Have This Mind (Sermon Posted)

2008-03-17T18:16:00.001-04:00

Internet Archive: Details: Have This Mind: "In the second chapter of Philippians, the Apostle Paul calls upon the early Christians to imitate Jesus. He asks this to have the same mind as Christ, who is the very model of humility in that he emptied himself, taking human form to share in our humanity that we may share in his divinity - that is, his glory." Download the sermon.

Internet Archive: Lord of Life and Death (sermon posted)

2008-03-11T10:47:00.001-04:00

Internet Archive: Details: Lord of Life and Death: "The Gospel lesson comes from John 11. While we usually think of this chapter as being about the raising of Lazarus, I believe the heart of the chapter is about the exchange between Jesus and Martha. Just as earlier we have seen the exchanges between Jesus and Nicodemus, Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, and Jesus and the Man Born Blind, so here is

The Folly of Biblical Ignorance Since the Bible Is a Great Book | The Scriptorium Daily: Middlebrow

2008-03-08T21:01:00.001-05:00

The Folly of Biblical Ignorance Since the Bible Is a Great Book | The Scriptorium Daily: Middlebrow John Mark Reynolds shares some excellent insights in the anger of some people towards the Bible... Whenever I quote the Bible in a large group, there is sure to be at least one dismissive and angry person. In fact, it isn’t just that they they don’t take the Bible seriously, but they hate anything

Lord of Life and Death (Complete)

2008-03-07T10:14:00.001-05:00

I have merged the two entries on John 11. You can find the completed entry of Lord of Life and Death here. From the page: “Martha and Mary knew the capabilities of Jesus, yet they never asked him to restore their brother to life. That Jesus did so was for a higher purpose: ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory’ (John 1:14, ESV). He turns water into wine, not simply

Lord of Life and Death: A Second Look at Sunday's Lesson

2008-03-06T12:35:00.002-05:00

Jesus Raises Lazarus Today I want to continue looking at the Gospel lesson (John 11:1-45) for this Sunday, March 9, 2008 (Year A in the lectionary). I wrote about the John 11:1-27 in this entry. Today I begin with John 11:28. Martha is direct and to the point. Mary is demonstrative and feeling. Both have faith, but they show it differently. When Martha told Mary that Jesus was waiting for her,