Grace and Peace

In October our worship will dwell in God's abundance. We might convince ourselves that our small faith is worthless, but God is yet more faithful. God calls us to ministry and doesn't mind if we need to wrap ourselves in a blanket or two venture forth.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "There Is Enough Faith (with Blankets to Spare)" on October 11, 2020.

Scripture readings: 1 Kings 19:9-18 and Matthew 14:22-33

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In October our worship will dwell in God's abundance. Although scarcity thinking tries to persuade us that we individually are not enough, Jesus is ready to bless our empty hands and place in them enough grace to share.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "There Is Enough for Jesus" on October 4, 2020.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 55:1-15 and Matthew 14:13-21

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With fresh ears we are listening to some of Jesus' parables about the kingdom of heaven: it is like a grain of mustard someone plants in their field or a bit of sourdough starter a woman folds into flour. Yet the kingdom isn't just like a seed or a bit of yeast; it's also unfolds when God calls small people to pursue small, faithful actions.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "God Calls the Small" on September 20, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Proverbs 24:3-6, 13-14, Proverbs 30:24-28, and Matthew 13:31-35

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Continuing a season of hearing some of Jesus' parables with fresh ears, we hear about a farmer who scattered seeds with abandon and get a glimpse of our life-giving God at work!

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Scattering Seeds for a Harvest of Grace" on September 13, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 and Matthew 13:3-9

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As we begin a season of hearing some of Jesus' parables with fresh ears, we remember why these short moments of story matter so much. Jesus meets us where we are, showing us the kingdom of heaven come near in our ordinary lives.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Ordinary Stories and the Extraordinary God" on September 6, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Isaiah 6:1-10 and Matthew 13:10-17

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Pop open the hood of your heart: guest preacher Gary Judson offers a "spiritual tune-up" for these disorienting days. We never really know when God’s grace will come into our lives, but if we are faithful to our core practices—from service to others to quiet time and fasting—we will be ready to receive.

Rev. Gary Judson is a retired United Methodist minister and an active member of our community. He preached "A Spiritual Tune-Up in the Time of COVID-19" on August 30, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Psalm 121 and Matthew 25:1-13

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God's promise to write the Torah on our hearts throws our current lives into stark contrast. Since Paul calls us "letters of Christ," how can we show Christ's love? First, we need to accept the love letter God has already sent us.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "You Are Christ's Letter" on August 23, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: 2 Corinthians 3:1-11 & Jeremiah 31:27-37

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Did you catch the first sermon in this series? We didn't get audio, but you can read a transcript of "Plant Gardens, Pursue Peace."

Here's the thing about finding grace in the wilderness: grace goes to the wilderness to find you. Even in the uncomfortable tension between God's promise and our current reality, the Holy One draws into ever-open arms.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Grace in the Wilderness" on August 16, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Luke 15:1-3, 11-31 & Jeremiah 30:1-4, 31:1-9

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The whole creation is waiting in breathless anticipation for God's daughters and sons—for you and for me. Just as a real estate deal the prophet Jeremiah made in prison became a sign of hope for a whole community, God enlists us as partners of hope for all God's children.

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Children of God, Partners of Hope" on August 9, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: Romans 8:14-25 & Jeremiah 32:1-15

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God's message of hope also surprised the exiles in Babylon. Read a transcript of the first sermon in this series: "Plant Gardens, Pursue Peace."

Children know that, given the choice, drinking muddy water is dumb. But adults sometimes try to convince each other that water is suppose to be brown. The prophet Jeremiah, however, won't let us accept anything less than the pure, running water of God's compassion, peace, and truth. 

Pastor Ben Masters preached "Choose Living Water" on August 2, 2020, at Hector Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings: John 7:37-44 & Jeremiah 2:1-13

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We didn't get audio of our first sermon in this series, but you can read a transcript of "Plant Gardens, Pursue Peace."