April Herron - "Requesting, Returning, Rejoicing"

Luke 17:11-19 is the story of the ten lepers who ask Jesus for mercy and subsequently receive healing. Only one makes a point of coming back to say, “thank you.” Jesus commends this one for his faith. And here’s the shocking part of the story: the thankful man, the one who models exemplary faith, is a Samaritan. In other words, the very person we think could not possibly be commendable is the one who “gets it.” The Samaritan recognizes the source of help, and seeks to continue a relationship. April’s sermon title is, “Requesting, Returning, Rejoicing.”

Jonathan Chute - "Over and Above"

In our gospel text Jesus tells the disciples a parable that lays out the different roles of master and servant. At the end of the day, Jesus says, when the work in the fields is done, the role of the servant is not over. The servant does not take the place of the master, sitting at the head of the table and being served. Nor does a servant receive a special bonus at the end of the day. Jesus says that when we have done our duty, that is all we have done. It is, or ought to be, enough. For those of us who live in a culture of reward and recognition, Jesus’ words come as something of a surprise. Jonathan’s sermon comes from Luke 17:5-10, and his title is “Over and Above”.

Jonathan Chute - "One Small Step"

This Sunday, our gospel tells the story of a man with a vision problem. He cannot see the beggar who lives right outside his own front door. Lazarus, the beggar, is invisible to the rich man – that is, until the two men reach the end of their lives and enter eternity. There Lazarus rests in heaven, right at Abraham’s side, while the rich man suffers in torment. Though they are separated by a great distance, now it seems he can see Lazarus clearly. The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him a cup of water. But Abraham tells him that the once tiny distance that separated them in life has become a great chasm. The text for the sermon is Luke 16:19-31, and Jonathan’s title is “One Small Step.”

Jonathan Chute - "Cooking the Books"

The gospel for this Sunday is one of the hardest and strangest of Jesus’ parables. It tells the story of a rich man and his lazy – and dishonest – manager. When the manager is caught stealing from his boss we expect the rich man to punish him severely. Instead he praises his manager for his shrewdness. The parable seems to encourage behavior we would hardly want to follow, and even less to encourage! So how is this part of the “good news”? The text for Jonathan’s sermon is Luke 16:1-13, and his title is “Cooking the Books”.

Jonathan Chute - "Losers"

This Sunday’s gospel includes two of Jesus’ most joyful parables – the lost sheep and the lost coin. The shepherd’s determination to find one sheep is risky. He could lose the rest of the flock. The woman searching for her coin is relentless. Her effort seems totally out of proportion to the value of what she has lost. But when each has found what they are looking for, they are overwhelmed with joy. Jesus says that their rejoicing is like that of God, who celebrates when those who are lost have been found. But it turns out that not everyone loves a party. The text for Jonathan’s sermon is Luke 15:1-10, and his title is “Losers”.

April Herron - "God at Work"

In its most general sense, “labor” means productive activity. It can also refer to a group of people laboring, to a job or task to be done, and to work (both mental and physical) of a difficult or fatiguing kind. On this weekend when we honor the dignity and dedication of all who labor, we have the opportunity to reflect on an image from the prophet Jeremiah which reminds us that God is hard at work, striving to perfect God’s creation. God, suggests Jeremiah, is up to God’s elbows and spattered all over with something that looks a lot like mud, because God has a vision for us and for the world which God is still laboring to bring into being.

The specific scripture text for Sunday will be Jeremiah 18:1-11. April’s sermon is called, “God at Work.” We will be sharing in the Lord’s Supper at all three services.

Jonathan Chute - "A Place at the Table"

This Sunday’s gospel finds Jesus at the home of a local religious leader, where he has been invited for dinner. He notices some of the other guests scrambling for the better seats. Jesus uses their behavior to paint a different picture of life in the kingdom of God. In the light of what he has seen he offers somewhat unexpected advice for both guests and hosts. The text for Jonathan’s sermon is Luke 14:1, and 7-14, and his title is “A Place at the Table”.

Jonathan Chute - "Bending Rules"

This week’s gospel takes place in a time of growing opposition to Jesus – especially by religious leaders. He is still making his way to Jerusalem. But this Sabbath day finds him teaching in the synagogue when he sees a woman struggling. She has been bent over for many years. She has difficulty moving or even standing. He can’t help but want to heal her. When he lays his hands on her she stands up straight and begins praising God. But not everyone is happy with the result. The text for Jonathan’s sermon is Luke 13:10-17, and his title is “Bending Rules”

SSP Youth and Counselors - "Set Your Foundation"

This summer 47 junior and senior high youth, and 14 adult counselors, took part in the mission of Sierra Service Project. They served families in the Canyonlands and border communities of San Diego, and on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington State. As a ministry involving renovation and construction of homes and community buildings, the SSP is particularly motivated by Jesus’s teaching on the importance of a solid foundation for our life and work. Jesus offers this parable as the conclusion to a series of teachings he has shared with a crowd of people who came to him seeking healing and hope. The text for the day is Matthew 7:24-26, and the theme is “Set Your Foundation.” Speakers at the 8:30 and 10 a.m. services will be Bob Chamberlin, Natalie DeLuca and Ethan Droesch. In the evening we will get to hear from Emily Howard, Reed Woodland and John Szieff. Don’t miss the chance to see and hear about one of the most important “hands on” missions of our youth!

Jonathan Chute - "From a Distance"

The scripture for this Sunday is a classic statement on the meaning of faith as a way of life. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews describes faith as a journey, and reminds us that we are not the first to travel to places unknown. While we have not seen where God is leading us, we are in good company as we go. The text for Jonathan’s sermon is Hebrews 11:1-3, and 8-16, and his title is “From a Distance.”