By day or night, in fire or flood, along highway or byway, God is ever present with us. His grace continually sustains us all along our pilgrim journeys. Today, let us experience the way His presence arcs through our universe, like a rainbow hanging in the sky; a momentary illumination of His ever-present wonder. Rev. Ron Bartlow's sermon "Flood? or Promise?" is taken from the story of Noah as told in Genesis.
In September through November, our worship services follow the “narrative lectionary,” working our way through the larger story of the Old and New Testaments. Today, we reflect on stories of Creation as told in Genesis 1:1–2:4a and John 1:1-5.
The greatest challenge of any adaptive change is the change it asks of us. Jonah is an example of this, unwilling to give up his strong grip of religious nationalism or his conviction that "truth" is more important than God's compassion. But, God's love is wider than our comfort, patient with our resistance, and persistent in drawing us toward a mercy big enough for others.
God's mercy is not limited by human expectations of who deserves it. God's mercy reaches people others would write off. In the third chapter of Jonah's story, the violent, evil Ninevites repent, and God relents from bringing catastrophe upon them! Likewise, Jesus' promise of paradise to the thief on the cross illustrates God's giving, and forgiving, nature.
Today is the twelth Sunday after Pentecost. Today, Rev. Ron Bartlow continues our worship series on the Book of Jonah. God meets people not when they are composed or deserving, but when they turn honestly toward God in their need. Like Jonah, we sometimes come to God when life has left us feeling lost, overwhelmed, or far from home. This second week considers how the rituals and elements of our faith can be a resource for us during any period of change. Faith practices help us to center, to find and be calm (or "less anxious," at least) in the midst of emotional difficulties.
God's call is persistent, and God's purposes are not thwarted by human reluctance — they are often worked out right through it. This first week looks at our natural response to any call to change: "resistance". We'll also consider how adaptive change is like a storm at sea, in that it can be frightening. Thankfully, as the song says, though Jesus cannot calm all storms, "sometimes he calms the child."
Today is about sharing where we have seen the work of God: be it in the beauty of the world, grace extended between people, or some other insight. Rev. Ron shares briefly about things he did over his "summer vacation" - and others are invited to do so as well.
We are called to live lives of love. John's letter to Gaius reminds that true Christian fellowship requires us to personally model truth, radical hospitality, and active goodness rather than pointing out the spiritual failures of others. Rev. Joel's sermon today is "Living in the In Between" with scripture from 3 John 1-15.
As the people of God, living in a world where good and evil coexist, we must trust in God's patience and ultimate timing rather than trying to force judgment ourselves. Our faith offers hope and guidance for navigating the tension of the "already but not yet" kingdom of God. Rev. Bob's sermon today is "Living in the In Between" with scripture from Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
God gives us grace that frees and a Spirit that gives life. "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" - we cling to that good news with grateful hearts. We set our minds on God - not on fear or self-interest, but on the life and peace He promises. We discover that others - maybe even our enemies - can grow us into what God sees in us. Rev. Jim's sermon today is "Grow More" with scripture from John 14:1-4.