Worship for May 7, 2023: Thanks A Lot, Stephen

We’re still in the season of Easter, celebrating the joy of the resurrection and shouting our alleluias! But Intern Monica Holman reminds us that we can’t celebrate Easter without remembering Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose story made it clear that the church is not called to stay comfortable.

Our Bible passages today (click to follow along): John 14:1-14 and Acts 7:54-8:1.

Sermon Note: Monica cites a statistic from the 2022 National Survey of LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.

Photo credit: Artem Kniaz @artem_kniaz on Unsplash.com

Worship for Apr 30, 2023: God, our Shepherd

It’s good to be reminded that God is our shepherd, leading us to still waters and helping us along on our path. Today Pastor Russ Gordon guides us through what it means to be the shepherd, and what it means to be, …well… the sheep. What’s more, when the shoe is on the other foot and God calls on us to be shepherds to a particular flock, can we be ready to answer the call?

Our Bible passages today (click to follow along): Psalm 23 and John 10:1-10.

Sermon Note: The pastor’s sermon refers to the Darien Gap, an inhospitable jungle region along the border of Columbia and Panama. Many migrants travel through this area hoping to reach the United States or Canada. For more information, search for “Darien Gap” on your favorite news site. (Here is a link to many sources on Google News.) Here’s a podcast episode on the subject as well: The Daily: A Mother, a Daughter, a Deadly Journey.

Photo credit: Ridvan Akgün @ridvanakgunpost on Unsplash.com

Worship for Apr 23, 2023: Then Their Eyes Were Opened...

Pastor Russ Gordon helps us see our way through Luke 24, where two sad disciples walk for miles with a stranger, but but “were kept” from recognizing him as the risen Jesus. (Spoiler: later their “eyes were opened.”) Could this passage be an example for us when we struggle to see God’s presence when we look around today?

The Gospel passage for this week is Luke 24:13-35 if you’d like to grab a Bible and read along. (Or click here to read it online).

Photo credit: Andrik Langfield @andriklangfield on Unsplash.com

Worship for Apr 16, 2023: Scars

Intern Monica Holman finds the John 20 passage a little weird. Why does Jesus’s resurrected body still have wounds? Turns out that scars (his, mine, and even yours) can bear pretty powerful witness to the risen Lord.

The Gospel passage for this week is John 20:19-31 if you’d like to grab a Bible and read it before listening. (Or click here to read it online). Monica reads the passage in the podcast, along with Psalm 16 and Acts 2:14a, 22-32.

Photo credit: Christopher Paul High @christopherphigh on Unsplash.com

Worship for Apr 9, 2023: Easter -- Christ is Risen! We are Risen!

On Easter Sunday we commemorate Jesus rising from the dead to “make good” for the sins of the world. Pastor Russ Gordon reminds us in his Easter sermon that there is more to celebrate than a miracle that occurred 2000 years ago. It is miraculous right now in our present time and in our future. Today is a time to celebrate what God has in store for everyone.

The Easter Gospel passage is John 20:1-18 if you’d like to grab a Bible and read it before listening. (Or click here to read it online).

Photo credit: Ann Hillesland

Worship for Apr 2, 2023: Palm Sunday, The Passion of Jesus

On Palm Sunday we celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Then the day darkens as we listen to the telling of the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and death on the cross. (Open your Bible to Matthew 26 if you’d like to follow along.) We remember what Jesus endured to save us from sin; and we anticipate what’s to come when he triumphs once again.

Photo credit: Tim Mossholder (of Santa Maria) @timmossholder on Unsplash.com.