Sermons
Deep Waters
This Sunday we continue our journey in Luke, with the story of Jesus’ call on Simon/Peter. These “call stories” are a key part of Jesus’ work, and subsequently ours, and I love how Luke tells it. It’s distinct from the others. So we look at that story, which I think you will find meaningful and relevant. -Pastor Paul SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:1-11 (NRSVUE) 5 Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear…
For the Common Good
We have a BIG passage this Sunday. Coincidently, as President-Elect Trump is inaugurated on Monday, our reading for this Sunday is often referred to as Jesus’ inaugural address. Regardless of who would be inaugurated, this serves as a reminder that there is more for us than what happens on the steps of the Capitol. We must be socio-politically engaged and active, and we must recognize that elections really do have consequences, but we also have a call and hope beyond…
Breaking Down Baptism
Hello, Beloved of Prospect Park UMC! Did you know that’s your name? Beloved? Well if not, we’ll dig into why (among other things) this Sunday in worship. This Sunday is the “Baptism of Our Lord” Sunday, the Sunday we remember Jesus’ baptism. Baptism is one of those things most Christians believe they understand, but then if we do, why do various denominations do it differently and for different reasons? This Sunday we are “Breaking Down Baptism”, and I hope also…
It Must Be Tested
This Sunday is Epiphany Sunday, which is the day we remember the Magi following the star to come and find and worship the Chris-child. This story is only found in Matthew’s Gospel, so since we will be in the Gospel of Luke we will not be focusing on those curious little wanderers, but they still deserve to be recognized and remembered. They are actually a huge part of my own faith journey, but we will unpack that rich story another…
Salvation Personified
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:21-38 (NRSVUE) 21 When the eighth day came, it was time to circumcise the child, and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered…
Christmas Eve
SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26–35, 38 (NRSVUE) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be…
Magnify
This Sunday we move into the Gospel of Luke, where we will be through Easter. My hope is that this deep dive into Luke opens up new ways of thinking about Jesus, God’s work in this world, and how “The Gospel” works. Luke is rich with powerful stories, many of which only appear in Luke. It should be an enlightening journey. -Pastor Paul SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:39-56 (NRSVUE) 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in…
There’s More
This Sunday is Advent III, and this year that means it’s our last Sunday in the Hebrew Bible. What a journey. This week we get another prophesy from Isaiah, but a whole different kind. It’s a beautiful passage, rich with powerful imagery around equity and justice. It’s so great, even Jesus quoted it! So, I suppose if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us. The third Sunday in Advent is also the Sunday we light the pink…
What Dreams May Come
This Sunday is Advent II, when we light the candle of Peace. In addition we will be looking at one part of Joel’s Prophecy/Poem wherein Joel calls us to “return to the Lord with your whole heart.” And when we do this, we enter into God’s dream for the world, and become dreamers ourselves. Dreams have been a big theme in our journey through the Hebrew Bible this Fall, and now it’s our turn. So let’s come together this Sunday,…
This Is Not the End
I’m so excited for this Sunday, as it’s the first Sunday of Advent! The word “advent” comes from the Latin verb “to come”, and it speaks to a season of waiting for the arrival of the Christ-child. It begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas Day, which this year just happens to be December 1st. So this year, if your Advent calendar starts on December 1, as most do, it will be accurate, but in many other years it starts…