Hummelstown UCC Podcast episodes:

• August 24, 20252025-08-24 Taking Jesus Seriously (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Psalm 103:1-8; Isaiah 58:9b-14; Isaiah 58:9b-14
  
  We read in Matthew’s gospel that in his last days before the cross, Jesus cleansedexploitative commerce out of the Temple, caused a fig tree to wither, and told hisfollowers that even small faith can move mountains. “The cleansing of the Templeand the withering of the fig tree tell the same story. God is not impressed byappearances, by show, or by religious busyness. What God seeks is fruit — livestransformed, the poor lifted, the sick healed, the outsider welcomed. These are themountains that need moving.” - Jeremy D. Scott

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• August 17, 20252025-08-17 Fire and Witnesses (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Psalm 82; Hebrews 12:1-2; Luke 12:49-56
  
  “God can as little do without us, as we without God. If at first this seems a wildstatement, we may well consider in how many ways God’s will depends on ourcooperation. God cannot do some things unless we think… And God cannot dosome things unless we work… Now if God has left some things contingent on ourthinking and working, why may God not have left some things contingent on uspraying?... Prayer is one of the three forms of our cooperation with God.” - HarryEmerson Fosdick

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• August 10, 20252025-08-10 By Faith (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Psalm 33:12-22; Genesis 15:1-6; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
  
  “A real spiritual life … makes us so alert and aware of the world around us, that allthat is and happens becomes part of our contemplation and meditation and invitesus to a free and fearless response.” Henri J.M. Nouwen

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• August 03, 20252025-08-03 Missing the Point (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23; Psalm 107 1-9, 43; Luke 12:13-21
  
  Amazing God, we honor and celebrate your presence among us. We rejoice in yourgoodness and delight in your wonderful works. We lament the suffering of the worldand take courage that you are with us. We ask that you make your presence knownto us. Speak, O God, for we attune our attention for your guidance. Receive ourpraise as we glorify your name! Amen.

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• July 27, 20252025-07-27 Hope and Pray (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Psalm 138; Genesis 18:20-32; Luke 10:38-42
  
  "God weeps over our obsession with manyness and muchness... For too long wehave been in a far country: a country of noise and hurry and crowds, a country ofclimb and push and shove, a country of frustration and fear and intimidation."And God welcomes us home: home to serenity and peace and joy, home tofriendship and openness, home to intimacy and acceptance and affirmation. Wedo not need to be shy." - Richard J. Foster

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• July 20, 20252025-07-20 Different Ways (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Psalm 52 (from the Common English Bible); Psalm 15 (from the New Revised Standard Bible); Luke 10:38-42
  
  “For too long we have thought of the Christian life as essentially either involvementin political, economic, social concerns that wear us out… or activity which keepsthe church intact and doctrinally pure. Our primary orientation cannot be aninstitution or some great cause or even other people, but first and forever to God.Unless our identity is hid in God we will never know who we are or what we are todo. Our first act must be prayer.” - from The Spiritual Life by John H. Westerhoff III andJohn D. Eusden

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• July 13, 20252025-07-13 Who is worthy of compassion? (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Psalm 25:1-10; Luke 10:25-37
  
  “The essential part of the Christian message is the idea of salvation for the wholecommunity of people, of which the individual is a member… Thus, the individualnever stands alone, but within the community, just as the individual communities arepart of the one community, the Church. The Church begins, not with an individual,but with God.” - Hans Kung

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• July 06, 20252025-07-06 What has God done for you (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Psalm 66:1-9; 2Kings 5:1-14; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
  
  God our Good Shepherd, we come to worship you, to tell the story of yourmarvelous deeds, to lament the horrors and suffering in the world, to find strength tobe your witnesses, and to remind ourselves of the truth of what is possible. May ourprayers rise to your heart, and your heart infiltrate our prayers. May we sing songsthat move you with delight and compassion. May we recognize and ponder thewisdom you impart to us. And, may peace rest upon us as we gather in your name.Amen.

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• June 29, 20252025-06-29 Discerning Priorities (Pastor Mike Schutz)

  Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20; Psalm 16; Luke 9:51-62
  
  “The Church is not here exclusively, nor primarily, to transform society. That is notwhy we are here. When the Church sets out to transform society, very little isaccomplished. The uniqueness of the Church is denied as we enter the battle onthe same terms as secular and godless forces. We assume that justice can be wonby force, by technique, by doing. It cannot.” (Howard Snyder) We are here to be‘little Christs,’ loving and serving, demonstrating sacrificial love, community, andbeing. By being the doing will happen naturally, and the love of God and neighborwill find its way.

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• June 15, 20252025-06-15 Way Finding

  Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8: Divine Majesty and Human Dignity; John 16:12-15
  
  We embody jubilee when we live toward restoration and flourishing for all, when weembrace not only the teachings of Jesus but the way of Jesus. This moment calls usto go Into the Deep. We may cast our nets fishing for nourishment, livelihood,vocation, or community. Within the kindom, justice and righteousness reign when wehear and heed the cries of the least and respond as the Body of Christ, loving ourneighbor by sharing our abundance and holding one another accountable. -Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay

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