Grace Chicago Church

This Sunday we will reflect on all three scripture readings from our liturgy. Our Call to Worship is from Psalm 133, a song of unity. Our First Lesson takes up the theme of unity again, as Paul urges two of his co-workers to have the same mind in the Lord. Finally, our Gospel Lesson is from Matthew. It is another parable of Jesus that illustrates God’s broad and scandalous welcome.

This Sunday we look forward to hearing another parable that Jesus taught. Like many of Jesus’ parables, the language and images are meant to jolt us. In the instance of the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32) we will think together about what a life marked by wholehearted devotion to God looks like. Does it mean being perfect? No, that is not possible. But then what DOES it look like? Looking forward to prayerfully pondering with you Sunday morning!

Last week we heard a parable about mercy. This week we hear a parable about grace. Like last week’s parable, this story is meant to shock us. God’s grace, like his mercy, is unfathomably generous. So generous, that we will always struggle to understand it. As we consider the Parable of the Vineyard Workers (Matthew 20:1-16), we will ponder the depths of God’s grace and the relationship between grace, mercy and justice in God’s economy.

This week we will pick up where we left off last week in the Gospel of Matthew. Peter asks Jesus a question about how many times we should forgive. Jesus' answer is drawn from the very heart of God and its meaning is at the center of how God will redeem the whole world." Please let me know if you need anything else!

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Romans 13:8-14

A community where love is the reason for everything. This is one way of talking about the new community that the Spirit of Christ has called into existence through the life, death,  resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. What does it mean for love to be the reason for everything? We don't love perfectly in this world where we still struggle with selfishness, pride, and the like - so what happens when we hurt those around us because of our sins of omission or commission? We are going to ponder these things this Sunday morning when we take up two passages from the New Testament: Matthew 18:5-20 and Romans 13:8-14.

Matthew 16:13-20

Our Seminarian in Residence, Leigh Pylman is preaching.

This week, Jesus asks us the piercing question, "Who do you say that I am?" So simple, and yet, our response to this question will inform our whole worldview. Who do you say that Jesus is? We'll ponder Peter's response to Jesus, and consider how Jesus, as the Messiah and builder of the Church, incorporates you and me into the rich legacy of the Church. At its core, the Church's message doesn't boil down to a catechism or a prescribed list of rules, it centers around a person - Jesus our Messiah. 

“A desperate Mother reveals the depth and scope of God's love for all people"

Talking about a passage like this in a short homily is challenging. But in all the commentary and speculation, the takeaways are clear. We can trust in God’s promises, even when God seems silent. Even when what we hope for can’t be seen. We can argue with God. God invites our hurt or questions, our calling to account. This argument might even increase our faith. This story shows the power and possibility inherent in boldly insisting that God be faithful to God’s promises. Abraham does it. David does it. This desperate mother does it. So can you.

This Sunday we welcome Tony Pizarro to the Grace pulpit. Tony is a friend of Grace who attends when his schedule permits and often supports out volunteer efforts with Breakthrough Urban Ministries. 

Tony works at North Park University as Assistant Director of the Writing Center and Lecturer.  He also serves as a steering committee member for the Illinois Coalition for Higher Education in Prison. Tony is a person with great humility who loves to serve others.

This Sunday’s homily will be a reflection on Jesus’ parable which is often referred to as the Wheat and the Tares. It is a story that encourages us to live faithfully, patiently, hopefully and lovingly in a world where evil things continue to happen. In her homily, Laura Winn, will ponder several important questions, among them this one as framed by New Testament scholar, Klyne Snodgrass: “how can we stop evil without being evil in the process”?

This week our text for our homily is Jesus’ Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13. It is a parable about hearing Jesus’ words in such a way that, as one New Testament scholar puts it: “the whole person is captured”. This parable is a very timely one for 21st Century Christians who, when we are honest, must admit that it is hard to hear Jesus for all the other noise in our culture. How can we help each other hear Jesus loud and clear?