Sermons (Page 19)
Step by Step, Grace Upon Grace
Bishop David Bard, resident bishop of the Michigan Conference and the Minnesota Conference’s interim bishop in 2021, shares his commitment to working with Minnesota United Methodists toward a more vital and vibrant Methodism in Minnesota; to keeping before us our gospel imperatives of growing in love of God and neighbor, reaching new people, and healing a broken world; and to helping us live into the aspirational vision we adopted in 2019. He also reminds us that the journey will be…
Hope Made Real: MN UMC Conference
Where is your hope anchored? This worship service explores that question. Our five district superintendents each share a personal story of hope made real in their lives, and their messages are interspersed with incredible musical arrangements provided by United Methodist Churches throughout Minnesota. As we prepare to enter a new year during a global pandemic, this is an uplifting message of hope and possibility.
An Eternal Relay Race
Advent begins in the dark and anticipates a brighter day. Our waiting for dawn is far from passive – it is filled with planning, wondering, firming our roots and gathering our resources for growth, all while keeping an eye on the horizon. As we gather to worship and meditate this Communion Sunday, we will continue our Advent collection of symbols. Each of you is invited to bring to your worship window – along with simple elements for Communion – something that is an emblem of what is currently bringing light into your life, reminding you that Christmas is near. Above the manger hangs a star of light – shining through the dark. It is winter, and the Base Camp of our church community is warm. Let’s keep the gift of Sabbath; rest a bit together, and reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence.
In the Time of Herod the King
Advent begins. It is as simple as that. It begins at the beginning, long before the star or even the first birthing cry. It begins with a need, then a hope, then a vision; a messenger, an inkling, and then – then a long growing season – a journey toward light and life. As we gather to worship and meditate this Sunday, we will begin a collection that will grow in the coming weeks. Each of you is invited to bring to your worship window something that is a space waiting to be filled – be it object, sign or symbol. An empty manger. A promise of new life. A star in the dark. It is winter, and the Base Camp of our church community is warm. Let’s keep gift of Sabbath; rest a bit together, and reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence.
Marley Was Dead: A Beginning
Say the word “treasure” and think of pirates and deserted islands and “x marks the spot.” Say “heart” and think emoji or beloveds or Jesus. Say “gratitude” and think of…each of us fills in the blank. One of the by-products of our experience of the pandemic is the falling away of non-essentials, so that we may see what remains. Jesus tells us from across the centuries in language as clear as the front page news: what you treasure is what you love. What we love, we treasure. How does that lead us through this time into which we are living? In this weekly visit to the Base Camp of our church community we’ll rest a bit, and we’ll reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence.
A Reason to Hope
Rev. Cynthia Williams offers a sermon titled “A Reason to Hope.” God is with us in times of despair and in our valley places to breathe fresh breath, transform us, and give us dreams and new vision that we may experience life anew. Therefore, we stand ready always to give a reason for our hope. This sermon includes the scripture reading of Ezekial 37: 1-14 (The Message).
Boy Scouts & Bridesmaids
The well known story of the ten bridesmaids from the Gospel of Matthew urges us to wakefulness, mindfulness; readiness! “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,” we sing, “The time is drawing nigh!” Clearly, it is a story meant to remind us to be prepared. What is worth wondering is: For what? For when? And by what means? In this weekly visit to the Base Camp of our church community we’ll rest a bit, and we’ll reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence.
We’re Forever Blowing Bubbles
Maybe we live in bubbles these days. Maybe we always have! Each of us sees from an utterly unique vantage point – it’s how we’re made. Yet our bubbles are transparent! It’s when we see one other’s bubbles as essential worlds that we may effectively combine in the Body of Christ. The book of Esther is a story that speaks to just such a truth in “just such a time as this.” All are welcome and each essential in the Base Camp of this church community, where we regularly gather to rest and reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence.
What Belongs to God?
Isaiah’s vision of a world without violence may be the deepest song of our hearts to this day. How shall we carry that vision to abundant fruition? How shall we be citizens of both heaven and earth? What of us belongs to which? It is likely we will answer with differences, because we are different – by design! There is room for all of us – and need for each of us – in the world and in the Base Camp of our church community, where we regularly gather to rest and reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence.
Time for New Glasses?
One of the most challenging decisions any of us ever makes is whether to try harder or to let go, to scrutinize or to step back. In the geography of society and of isolation, we choose which perspectives to foster, which ideas to nurture; which input we most cherish. We are in charge of our own priorities, one by one and collectively. There is room for all of us – and need for each of us – in the the Body of God and in the Base Camp of our church community, where we regularly gather to rest and reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence.