We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love,

care, and intentional hospitality with persons of every race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,

marital status, faith story, physical or mental ability, economic status, or political perspective.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could anoint Jesus’ body. Just after sunrise, they came to the tomb. 

They came as soon as the Sabbath laws allowed. Magdalene, Mary, and Salome carried spices, lotions, oils, soaps, and towels to wash Jesus’ bloodied body, detangle his matted hair, and anoint his body with fragrant oils. Maybe they brought shears to cut wildflowers to adorn the Crucified One? They came to do something.    

Today, we lift our praises to Jesus, our Redeemer King, the Christ, Prince of Peace, Fully God- Fully Human, Glue of the Universe, The resurrection and Life, The Word Made Flesh, The Light of the World, Living Water, the Way-Truth & Life, Messiah, Savior, Lord, healer, Friend, teacher,  Hope of Glory, All Forgiveness, and Perfect Love.  We wave our palm branches as we lift our hearts. And yet Holy Week brings questions for us to unpack.   We might ask “why did the crowd shout “Hosanna! (God save us)  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”? 

We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love,

care, and intentional hospitality with persons of every race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,

marital status, faith story, physical or mental ability, economic status, or political perspective.

Sermon by Kate Fields, Pastor of Children’s Ministry/Discipleship

Mark tells no back stories: no theological images like John, no genealogy like Matthew, and no birth narrative like Luke. Mark begins with John the Baptist.  

Jesus was about 30 years old, the age when many men got married,  when he decided to travel to the Judean wilderness to hear John the Baptist preach. John was a powerful, prophetic, political preacher who drew large and diverse crowds out into the wilderness with fiery sermons. Regular folks, leading priests, politicians, and even Roman Soldiers came to the wilderness. I grew up thinking about Jesus’ baptism as a formality, as an “according to all righteousness” box the Holy One checked for our benefit, after all orthodoxy teaches that Jesus had nothing to repent. But I’m beginning to wonder if Jesus’ baptism and wilderness experience are  pivotal moments, where Jesus discerns what his life will be about? Lent Invites us to slow down and ponder deeper questions like: who will we be? 

Reflection from our Ash Wednesday Service..

Wonderful, merciful Savior, precious redeemer and friend,

who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men.

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace,

You offer hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost the way.

You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore,

You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for.

Almighty, infinite Maker, faithfully loving Your own,

here in our weakness You find us falling before your throne.

Three acts into the 28 scenes of the Acts of The Apostles, Peter and John land in jail just like Jesus. They were arrested, jailed overnight, and dragged before the same court that crucified Jesus.  I don’t know about you, but I grew up hearing that preachers should avoid politics, stay away from trouble and stay out of jail! We did not talk about John Lewis’s “Good Trouble”. Our United Methodist baptism vows call us to “profess faith in Christ”; “resist evil, injustice and oppression”; and “surround each other with a community of love and forgiveness”.  Acts 3 weaves these three truths together, but often we look at personal faith, Christian community, and social justice as separate strands instead of an integrated tapestry of faith. Today, perhaps fool-heartedly, I am going to try to preach about the interplay of three parts of a good church, that we usually separate: social justice, personal faith, and a forgiving community.   

Before doppler radar and phone alerts, we went to church on a cold winter’s night, as we always did. I do not remember who our youth leader was; we had six leaders during my time in youth: Mike, Steve, Greg, Kent, David, and some guy who stayed 3 weeks. I have no idea what we were talking about, but suddenly the prayer garden flood lights came on illuminating a heavy snow falling outside our window. Daniel Vitchabonda, an exchange student from Thailand, stood straight up, and whether a declaration or question, blurted out, “Snow!?” and transfixed as by a vision, Daniel repeated his mantra “snow, snow, snow” as he slipped on his coat and exited the room. I do not remember asking for permission as my friends and I followed Daniel outside. 

Daniel had never seen snow. We taught him how to catch a snowflake on his tongue. With an easy lob Greg Ramey introduced Daniel to snowballs. Some of our group made snowpeople and angels in the snow.  We fell into a massive snowball fight as snow blanketed the earth with a quieting silence. We watched cars creep down Clay’s Mill with faith that there would be no school tomorrow. In my middle school estimation, this was the best Bible Study ever.   

While preaching from Exodus, Barbara Brown Taylor described Moses’ greatest attribute as his willingness to turn aside from the everyday responsibilities and explore what turned out to be the Burning Bush. (Ex. 3) That snowy night, we turned aside from our studies and experienced wonder together. Our leaders were wise and loving enough to allow us to dwell in this holy interruption. John Wesley called this “watching over one another in love”.  The heart of the small group Methodist movement was rooted in watching over one another in love.     

Lent is ten days away. I am wondering what if we gave up doing scripture alone this lent? I am not  suggesting we forgo private devotions, but if we agreed to open our hearts and minds alongside other Christians we would be closer to the early church practice than when we study alone!  

Wednesday night, Gayle graciously allowed me to sit in on her final choir practice. She required that I actually sing and sit according to the seating chart; I did. The yellow laminated placeholder read “surprise guest”. You could feel love, community, and harmony filling the room; grace was palpable. Today, our community stands at the end of an era as we bid farewell to Gayle....