Psalm 23 & John 10:1-10 The image of the shepherd has been used to help humanity understand God for thousands of years.  Jesus adds a new twist to the idea by inviting us into the image of both the shepherd and the gate. What does it mean to be the Beautiful Shepherd and the Gate for others?

John 20:19-31 Jesus breathes upon his followers and instructs them, "As the Father sent me, so I send you." The Divine Breath of the Holy Spirit is once again (Genesis 2) breathed into humanity.  All are instructed to go forth and give breath to others: men, women, young, and old. So where did the church lose track of this message? If we look back throughout the extent of the entire Bible, we see plenty of times the religious folks lost sight of their mission. If we look back at our church history, we see plenty of times the religious folks lost sight of their mission. If we look at ourselves today, we have forgotten once again. Hear the Word of God and receive the Divine Breath; that you may go forward and bring others into the Light of Christ.

Luke 24:13-35 Native American Spirituality is a vital part of our history whether we know it or not.  Rev. Dr. P.T. Wilson joins us to share about Native American Ministry and Spirituality in the United Methodist Church. Hear the passage often called "The Road to Emmaus" in a new light and consider how we are all on our own walk in our seasons of circles in life.

John 20:1-18 The Gospel of John's author gives us a grand vision of the Jesus experience from the beginning of all existence through the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. We have to consider the entire Gospel when we consider any one scene.  We have to consider the entire biblical spectrum when we consider the Gospel. How do you explain a divine encounter using words on a page? Simple: you interweave an entire history of divine story and encounter throughout the text while also creating a double meaning to almost every detail.  Did we say 'simple'?  We meant, 'carefully.'  You tell this story with careful attention to intention. Easter is the greatest and most monumental moment in our history. Let's hear the 4th Gospel's account again from beginning to end and consider the incredible truth being offered.

John 13:31b-35 & 1-17 Phase 8 - Accept In the Gospel of John we find a most peculiar scene where Jesus steps away from the honored place at the table, removes his robes, ties a towel around his waist, grabs a basin of water, and washes the feet of his disciples. Then he gives them a commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. We need to remember that we are loved; that Jesus stepped away from his place of honor to come and serve us with the most sacrificial love. If we are to ever live up to the commandment to love one another, we must first realize that we are loved. Tonight we are challenged to ACCEPT the washing from Jesus.  Only then can we even begin to understand how we can go and do likewise.

John 11:1-45  &  Matthew 21:1-11 Rising Up and Bowing Down. We have arrived at Palm Sunday of Holy Week.  We will now travel through the passion of Jesus for all of it's meaning and relevance in our lives today.  We spend the first portion of our time with John's account of the resurrection of Lazarus before we jump back to Matthew for the entry into Jerusalem. Jesus is the resurrection and life. Jesus is the king. What do these mean for us? Join us as we continue our Lenten journey towards the cross of Christ and out of the tomb on Easter morning. Where are you dead and bound in this life? What is holding you back from bowing to the king?

John 9:1-41  &  Ephesians 5:8-14 Where Nicodemus struggled (John 3), the nameless Samaritan woman thrived (John 4).  Now we come to the healing of a blind man and the turmoil it creates for an entire community of faithful Jews. The author of our fourth Gospel is trying to get their readers to see something about Jesus.  We find this effort laid out clearly and cryptically in the telling of the healing of a man born blind. A simple man who received sight walks through the gauntlet of inquisition armed only with what he knows.  His knowledge and understanding grows throughout the pericope until he finally worships Jesus as the Human One. The Pharisees in this story are struggling to let go of their understanding of scripture.  Everything Jesus does challenges their interpretation and they defend the authority and integrity of the Word vigorously.  They claim to know the truth, but in the end it is them and their relentless pursuit of upholding their own interpretation that proves them to be the ones who are actually blind. So where are we in this story? In what ways are we the man born blind?  In what ways are we the Pharisees?  In what way are we the parents or neighbors? Do we fight against the new things God is doing in our world because of our own interpretation of scripture? Do we fight for the right reasons, but still find ourselves blind? Perhaps it's time to discover the freedom of being able to respond as the blind man; to feel confident when we offer simple answers or even the occasional, "I don't know."  All we need to know is Jesus is the Light of the world.  The rest will come with time if we open our eyes to see. Invite the Spirit to speak in the silent reflection to reveal how you are in need of sight. Continue journeying inward trusting the Spirit to open your eyes and lead you onward into a deeper and more meaningful faith where all we need is what we know.  The rest is up to Jesus to reveal to us.

John 4:5-42  &  Romans 5:1-11 In Phase 4 of our Lenten Journey Inward & Onward, we thirst. The religious expertise and scriptural genius of Nicodemus from John 3 could not help him understand the invitation Jesus offered for Spiritual Rebirth.  The marginalized and discounted (and nameless) Samaritan woman from chapter 4 receives a similar invitation and responds in the most incredible way. These two stories are told almost back to back.  What is happening here?  Where can we find ourselves in both Nicodemus and "the woman at the well"? Let us consider what it is to thirst. Let us consider the invitation of Jesus as Living Water. Continue your journey with us inward in silence and reflection to discern where the Holy Spirit, given to us through Jesus, is inviting you onward.

John 3:1-17  &  1 Kings 19:3-13  &  Galatians 5:16-25 We have prepared and set out on a journey inward.  We have faced the wilderness in our hearts (3.1.17).  We have encountered our temptations (3.5.17). Now we consider Spiritual Birth.  We are inviting the Spirit to speak and lead us, but are we ready for what we may hear... or where we may be called to go? We turn to a strange encounter in our 4th Gospel Jesus has with a Pharisee named Nicodemus.  This well-educated and well-meaning man comes to Jesus to learn, but he has limits on what he is open to hearing.  He walks away from Jesus' description of the mystery of the Spirit/Breath/Wind of God remaining in the dark about the meaning.  Later in the Gospel he sees the Light, but he resists early in the story. Don't we all? We come to God, we pray to Jesus, and we listen for the Spirit with a half willing heart.  We want blessing, but stall when it comes to living sacrificially.  We want to change the world for God, but we set limits on where we will go, what we will do, and to whom we will show love and mercy. We are interested in spreading the good news as long as it's on our terms. Nicodemus knew his stuff.  He was an expert and a leader.  Still he resisted. Are we ready for what the Spirit might reveal to us in the stillness? Do we have expectations of God?  Do we find ourselves doubting or running away when the expectations are not met? Consider the passages above.  You will hear all three in this week's sermon.  The latter two will be followed by a minute of silence.  Pause the recording if you want a longer moment of quiet to contemplate the words or to perhaps allow the Spirit to speak and lead you.  Let the Word of God whisper to you and listen for the Spirit's stirring in your heart and soul. Journey inward, and consider your Spiritual Birth.

Matthew 3:15-4:11  &  Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7  &  Romans 5:12-19 We are journeying through this Lenten Season of fasting and self-examination on our way to the cross of Jesus.  We must walk closely with Jesus if we are to succeed. In our culture we do all we can to avoid silence and stillness.  Devices, social media, and advertisements interrupt almost ever second of silence we might have.  When you engage silence, you wrestle with your own voice and the leading of the Spirit in your heart. Don't believe me?  Try it. We are including silence in our worship services for Lent, but you won't hear that part in the recording. After each recording we read the next passage of scripture followed by several minutes of silence. We then read the third passage followed by another several minutes of complete silence. No distractions, no visual aids, nothing but our own hearts and minds. Try this practice for the duration of Lent.  Try it on your own at home. Read each scripture passage followed by several minutes of silence.  Set a timer so you won't have to look at a watch to keep track.  Or...don't keep track and just reflect until you feel you are done.  Three passages...three moments of silence...  Try praying or singing between each reading/reflecting time.  Experiment; do what works for you. Allow silence to have its moment and you will see what can happen when we reflect silently on scripture. Need some help? Perhaps for the Genesis passage you can ask a question:  What fruit of temptation in my life am I tempted to eat?  Or what fruit am I already eating?  Am I seeking to serve myself with this fruit like Jesus would have served himself by turning a stone into bread?  What is tempting me? Perhaps for Romans you can think on the comparison between Adam and Jesus.  One brought the consequence of sin; death.  The other brought the consequence of obedience; life.  What do these terms mean to me?  What is the difference between Adam in the garden and Jesus in the wilderness.  Are garden and wilderness opposites?  Do these opposites matter?  (you get the idea). Play around, try new things.  Just do not get distracted.  Sit in silence, close your eyes, and listen for where your heart takes you. Journey inward, and you will journey onward in faith with Jesus.