Rev. Judy Slater brings a different perspective about Jesus's clearing of the temple and his prediction of resurrection.

Halfway through Mark's Gospel, Jesus begins to teach his disciples that he must suffer and be rejected. He then tells them to take up their crosses and follow him. It's a watershed moment in Mark. After this point, events move quickly toward the cross. Pastor John continues to explain the road to Jerusalem.

The early Sundays of Lent are a wilderness time, an opportunity to go deep into our hearts and the souls of our communities, to recognize the depth of our estrangement from God, and to begin to put things right. Last Sunday we joined Jesus in the wilderness, where he spends forty days being tempted by Satan.

Transfiguration Sunday is traditionally celebrated as the worship before the beginning of Lent. In transfiguration Jesus revealed to his disciples role bridging the law and the prophets in the vestiges of Moses and Elijah.

Pastor John relates his remembrances of his father and pruning the apple tree to bring forth new fruit and how communion is a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice for us.

Last week we celebrated how God was present with us in 2017. In worship, we sang hymns and songs of gratitude for God's love and faithfulness and provision. We read Scriptures that speak to the centrality of God in our lives - a God who is with us, a God who saves us and leads us, and causes us to grow. And we prayed, thanking God for the many blessings we received this past year.

In these weeks after Christmas, we're moving beyond our preoccupation with a sweet baby Jesus in a crib to ask the basic question: "Who is this that was born in Bethlehem and is headed toward death in Jerusalem?" This Sunday we continue our conversation about the identity of Jesus, both then and now, for the church and for the world.

Focus on the story of Jesus' baptism, remember our own baptisms, and renew our decision to follow Christ.

Pastor John was still feeling the effects from his recent illness, and read a sermon previously delivered by Fleming Rutledge called Homily for the Feast of the Epiphany.

Pastor John was sick last Sunday, but Jason Dooley, our Clerk of Session, stepped in to deliver a message about the shepherds and angels. Jason did an admirable job with such short notice (he was asked on Saturday).