White Rock UMC

White Rock UMC

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White Rock UMC episodes

  • Advent Day 17 - Isaiah 11:1-9

    Today is Tuesday December 14, 2021.

    Our text for today is Isaiah 11:1-9

    A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
    2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the spirit of counsel and might,
    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
    3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

    or decide by what his ears hear;
    4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
    he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
    5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

    6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,

    the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
    the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
    and a little child shall lead them.
    7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
    their young shall lie down together;
    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
    8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
    and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
    9 They will not hurt or destroy
    on all my holy mountain;
    for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.


    "Take a few moments and picture this peaceful world Isaiah paints. What sounds do you hear? Are there flowers blooming? What moments of harmony surround you?"

    4 min
  • The Day After Sunday - The Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

    In this week's episode, Rebecca and Phil break down the Third Sunday of Advent. Joy was the theme of the day, as was expressed through the sermon, hymns, and liturgies. They discuss joy vs happiness, poinsettias, wasp attacks, and Rebecca's process of creating liturgy.

    As always, you can let us know what questions you have about the "why behind the worship," by emailing us:

    32 min
  • Advent Day 16 - Romans 15:4-13

    Today is December 13, 2021.

    Our text for today is Romans 15:4-13:

    4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

    “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,

    and sing praises to your name”;

    10 and again he says,

    “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;

    11 and again,

    “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

    and let all the peoples praise him”;

    12 and again Isaiah says,

    “The root of Jesse shall come,

    the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
    in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

    13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.


    Here is the question for us today, how have you seen the HS moving this advent season and are you like Paul says "overflowing with hope".

    5 min
  • Advent Day 15 - Luke 3:7-18

    Today is Sunday December 12, 2021.

    Our text for today is Luke 3:7-18:

    7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

    10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

    15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

    18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.


    How is this Good News for all, not just those in need?

    4 min
  • Advent Day 14 - Isaiah 12:2-6

    Today is Saturday December 11, 2021.

    Our text for today is Isaiah 12:2-6:

    2 Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust, and will not be afraid,
    for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
    he has become my salvation.

    3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day:

    Give thanks to the Lord,

    call on his name;
    make known his deeds among the nations;
    proclaim that his name is exalted.

    5 Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;

    let this be known in all the earth.
    6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
    for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

    Pause for a few moments today and list five things you are thankful for. They can be big, small, or in between. Maybe even share those things with a friend, and ask them what makes them thankful, too.

    3 min
  • Advent Day 13 - Amos 8:4-12

    Today is Friday, December 10, 2021

    Our text for today is Amos 8:4-12:

    4 Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
    and bring to ruin the poor of the land,
    5 saying, “When will the new moon be over
    so that we may sell grain;
    and the sabbath,
    so that we may offer wheat for sale?
    We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,
    and practice deceit with false balances,
    6 buying the poor for silver
    and the needy for a pair of sandals,
    and selling the sweepings of the wheat.”

    7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:

    Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
    8 Shall not the land tremble on this account,
    and everyone mourn who lives in it,
    and all of it rise like the Nile,
    and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt?

    9 On that day, says the Lord God,

    I will make the sun go down at noon,
    and darken the earth in broad daylight.
    10 I will turn your feasts into mourning,
    and all your songs into lamentation;
    I will bring sackcloth on all loins,
    and baldness on every head;
    I will make it like the mourning for an only son,
    and the end of it like a bitter day.

    11 The time is surely coming, says the Lord God,

    when I will send a famine on the land;
    not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water,
    but of hearing the words of the Lord.
    12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
    and from north to east;
    they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
    but they shall not find it.


    How does God showing up in the world bring about real change?

    5 min
  • Advent Day 12 - 2 Corinthians 8:8-15

    Today is Thursday December 9, 2021.

    Our text for today is 2 Corinthians 8:8-15:

    8 I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10 And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— 11 now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. 13 I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between 14 your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. 15 As it is written,

    “The one who had much did not have too much,

    and the one who had little did not have too little.”

    Fair balance. This is the gift of community. Your abundance is balanced by my need all while my abundance is balanced by your need. Fair. Balance.

    Is fair balance what you experience in your community? How do you battle the excessive consumerism so often present during the holiday season?

    4 min
  • Sermon - Second Sunday of Advent: Peace

    The theme for the second week of Advent is Peace. Rev. Mitchell Boone explored peace through the lens of Luke 3:2-16, specifically John the Baptist in the wilderness baptizing people and calling people to live lives of compassion and generosity. John uses harsh language to get the attention of all present, and pushes them to not trust the ways of the empire, but the ways of love and peace. Mitchell reminds us that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a holistic experience of those who live in shalom - the peace of God. 

    Note, Mitchell is still excited to get his "brood of vipers" pillow.


    You can watch this week's sermon on our YouTube channel here:

    https://youtu.be/FK71uSKIhJI


    21 min
  • Advent Day 11 - Isaiah 35:3-7

    Today is Wednesday December 8, 2021.

    Our text for today is Isaiah 35:3-7:

    Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
    4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
    “Be strong, do not fear!
    Here is your God.
    He will come with vengeance,
    with terrible recompense.
    He will come and save you.”

    5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
    6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
    For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
    7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
    the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

    "This passage paints word pictures of lush, beautiful healing in God's reign."

    Are there passages of scripture that make songs start playing in your head?
    How does music sometimes very literally "accompany" our scripture practices?

    3 min
  • Advent Day 10: Psalm 126

    Today is Tuesday December 7, 2021.

    Our text for today is Psalm 126:

    1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dream.
    2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with shouts of joy;
    then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
    3 The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we rejoiced.

    4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

    like the watercourses in the Negeb.
    5 May those who sow in tears
    reap with shouts of joy.
    6 Those who go out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
    shall come home with shouts of joy,
    carrying their sheaves.

    What dreams are you dreaming this season? What tears are you shedding? And how can you experience Joy this advent season?

    4 min

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A podcast channel containing different episodes and unique content produced by White Rock UMC in the heart of East Dallas.