April Herron - "Now We Know"

“Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.” These wonderful words were spoken by God to Jacob one night while Jacob slept in the wilderness with a stone for a pillow. Having tricked his brother out of their father’s blessing, Jacob was fleeing from Esau’s murderous rage. Now comes the moment of discovery: there is nowhere Jacob (or any of us) can flee from God’s Spirit. Our scripture text for this Sunday, July 23, is Genesis 28:10-19a. April’s sermon title is, “Now We Know.”

Jonathan Chute - "Accept No Substitutes"

This Sunday we hear the story of the birth of Jacob and Esau, twin brothers whose lives will be marked by conflict with each other – even before their birth. They struggle in the womb of their mother Rebekah, and Esau is born with Jacob hanging onto his heel! It is a sign of things to come. Because he arrived first, Esau is in a position of privilege. But Jacob will turn the tables on his older brother. One day Esau comes in from the field, starving. His brother is cooking up a tasty stew. In the deal Jacob offers, Esau will pay a high price for his hunger. The text for Jonathan’s sermon is Genesis 25:19-34 – “Accept No Substitutes!”

Jonathan Chute - "Humility and Hope"

This week’s scripture (thank goodness!) is a love story – the search for a wife for Isaac. Abraham sends his chief servant back to the country of his birth, hoping he can find a suitable partner there. He does not want Isaac to go with him, perhaps fearing that his son may not return. After a long journey, his servant encounters Rebekah at a well outside the city of Nahor. She is literally an answer to his prayer, which asked God to bring him the right woman for Isaac. After hearing the story of this far away family, she agrees to go with him and marry Isaac. It may seem that she is taking quite a chance, but lots of relationships have gotten started on less! The text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Humility and Hope,” may be found in Genesis 24.

Jonathan Chute - "The Sacrifice"

This Sunday’s text is one of the hardest passages in all of scripture. After Abraham and Sarah’s long wait for a child, now the Lord commands Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It seems impossible. How could God first lead them into the future and then take that future away? It is a story that still provokes more questions than answers among those who hear it. Genesis 22:1-14 provides the occasion for Jonathan’s sermon, “The Sacrifice.”

Jonathan Chute - "Family Guy"

This Sunday’s scripture is a painful mixture of joy and sadness, jealousy and fear. The birth of Isaac brought joy to his aging parents. Now he is old enough to eat solid food, a sign that he will likely make it through childhood. But Sarah sees him playing with his older half-brother Ishmael, the son of her servant Hagar. In him she sees a rival to her own son. She is determined that Ishmael and his mother must leave the household. Reluctantly it seems, Abraham sends them out with only a little bread and water to keep them alive. What will become of them? The text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Family Guy,” is Genesis 21:8-21.

Jonathan Chute - "No Kidding"

In this week’s scripture Abraham welcomes three strangers to his home in the wilderness. He shares with them the best of what he has, and tries to make them comfortable. But these visitors have some important work to accomplish. They share the promise that this couple, now in their 90s, will soon have a child. It is an outlandish, extraordinary announcement. Sarah cannot help but laugh at the news. Jonathan’s sermon, “No Kidding!” is based on Genesis 18:1-15.

Jonathan Chute - "Then God Said"

This week’s scripture reading is the story of Creation, as told in the book of Genesis. It portrays God acting to bring about a magnificent, orderly universe. It was likely written around the 6th century BCE, shortly after the Jewish exile in Babylon. The writer draws upon the Babylonian creation story, which was well known to the community. After spending some sixty years in captivity there, they were familiar with its bloody and violent themes. The story in Genesis covers some of the same important subjects, but offers a very different perspective on how the universe came to be. The text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Then God Said…” is Genesis 1:1-2:3.

Jonathan Chute - "For English, Press 1"

This week’s scripture tells what happens to the disciples when the Holy Spirit comes to them on the feast of Pentecost. Along with other Jews from around the world they are in Jerusalem for this special celebration. When the Spirit arrives it looks like tongues of fire and sounds like a rushing wind. But what it does to those present is even more remarkable. The text for the day is Acts 2:1-18. Jonathan’s sermon title is “For English, Press 1.”

April Herron - "Empty Tomb. Empty Sky"

Acts 1:6-14 tells the story of the conclusion of Jesus's life on earth in human form. Forty days after God raised Jesus from the dead, after they had been visited several times by the risen Christ, the disciples witnessed a departure that left them perplexed and astonished. The text says Jesus "was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight." We also, both in our reading and our living, might find ourselves perplexed. What's going on? Has Jesus left us? Is there something more we should be expecting? How do we go on from here? These questions will be explored in April's sermon, "Empty Tomb, Empty Sky."

April Herron - "A God Who Is Always Near"

When the Apostle Paul arrived in the city of Athens for the first time, he knew he had arrived in a place where the gospel of Jesus Christ had never before been preached or presented. He walked around the city looking at the temples and the statuary. He joined discussions in the synagogue and the marketplace. He debated with the local philosophers. It didn't take long to get the people of the city stirred up. They brought Paul to the Areopagus and asked, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means." Paul's moment had come. He stood before the gathered assembly and began to speak.

Paul dared to proclaim a creator God who gives life and breath to all things and who wants to be sought and found by the peoples of the earth. He testified that God is never far from any one of us, and that God has high hopes for us. The text of his remarks is recorded in Acts 17:22-31. April's sermon title is, "A God Who Is Always Near."