As we look at the Hebrew Bible, it is important to understand why these ancient words are so important.

Ellen explores Christian love through the lens of Bishop Michael Curry's new book, Love Is the Way

Ellen begins a new series looking through the lens of Bishop Michael Curry's book, Love Is the Way

This is the first sermon of our series called Learning to Love the Book. What kind of relationship do you have with Scripture. This explores how we see scripture through the lens of Jesus as a boy in the Temple and our experience of conversion.

This is the last sermon in our mini-series on Repentance. Today we look at Paul's letter and the surprising word choice he uses from athletic competitions. It is not about the work we do as an individual for we are a team working for God. The peace we share is the peace that comes from faith that God is with us in our mission and shared values.

Paul knows something about repentance - especially of his thinking. He went from being a radicalized terrorist against followers of Christ to a preacher of the Good News. We, too, need to repent from a damaging narrative wrecking American Christianity and our witness.

As we enter 2021, we can see the work of reconciliation that must be done. It starts in the heart and it begins with Jesus. It is not what we eat that defiles us, it is what comes out that shows what is within.

This has been an unusual Advent which made me think harder about the text and how they were presented each week. And I learned something.

We wait for answers, we wait for hope, and we wait for fulfillment. We often wait for things that are not worth our time and sometimes we are called to wait for something greater. David and Mary were called to wait but they responded in different ways. We can learn something here.

Paul is giving his farewell instructions to the church at Thessalonica. It is a string of one-liners - Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing, Be grate in all circumstances. How in the world do we do that. The remainder of his one liners tells us. He is saying something familiar to those in the Methodist tradition. 1. Do not harm. 2. Do good.        3. Attend to the Ordinances of God.  Here is the deal, though. How you do number 3 determines what you think number 1 & 2 mean.