Blog (Page 59)

Worship this Sunday will be rooted in this passage from Jeremiah 31.31-34 and in the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero.  Walter Brueggeman (in ON Scripture) writes, “But now in the book of Jeremiah, in the wake of brokenness and its resultant shame, defeat, and anxiety, Jeremiah asserts God’s resolve to renew the covenant that has been broken by ancient Israel.  It will be a renewed covenant, but one that stands in continuity with that of Sinai…This will be for Israel…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkt8Dwzl6Sg] I’m old enough to remember this commercial.  It was amazing to think that the sound quality from a recording might be good enough to break a glass.  We never got it to work on my father’s cassette player!  Some things are easier to fake than others. Speaking strictly as a female, some of us have been known to “fake things”.  Why do we do that?  Are we being polite?  Are we in a hurry?  Maybe we are afraid.  Afraid…

You who shadow me you are the part of me that is afraid to be me the part who does not believe in who I am or trust that it is enough Anxious One, always needing needing to prove needing to possess I will hear you for I cannot silence you But I will not obey I will sit with you, still I will learn to walk through you like a shadow For I too have my secrets hidden in…

Worship will be rooted in John 2.13-22.  In a podcast discussion about this text, Karoline Lewis of Luther Seminary reminds us that this story is recorded in all of the Gospel accounts but unique to John’s account is the understanding that the Temple has become the place of trade and commerce so that the worshipping community can have access to all of the “things” they need to worship. (things like birds and animals for sacrificial rituals)  When Jesus, in effect, destroys…

We will be joined in worship this Sunday by Agape (Dave Scherer).  Worship will be rooted in Mark 8.31-38 and Dave’s life story.   Here is a link to the Gospel reading. The author of Mark’s Gospel writes: 34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and…

Our worship series, Broken Open, continues this Sunday with Agape (Dave Scherer) joining us to lead worship.  Dave will share his prophetic music and help us to reflect on how God breaks us open into costly discipleship.  Join us Sunday at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary of Central UMC (5265 H Street | Sacramento, CA  95819).

We will hear some of Mother Theresa’s story in worship on Sunday, February 26.  Mother Theresa experienced a “dark night of the soul” as she rooted her life in Grace.  She was both broken open by experiences of God’s absence in her life.  The experiences of God’s absence were formational to her growing in faith. Mother Theresa followed Jesus to the cross and found a life of absolute generosity to those in need. Mother Theresa found both challenge and comfort in the…

  Lent is a season of preparation and accompaniment as we journey with Jesus toward the cross.  Our Lenten series is called Broken Open.  Jesus felt God’s absence on the cross. He cried out in agony, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  It may be tempting to turn away, but we will courageously embrace the reality of forsakenness on the cross through our worship series.  We will stand in the tragic gap with Jesus where he is…

Jesus felt God’s absence on the cross. He cried out in agony, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We will journey with Jesus toward the cross this Lent.  It may be tempting to turn away, but we will courageously embrace the reality of forsakenness on the cross through our worship series. We will stand in the tragic gap with Jesus. A new series at The Table begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22 7-8 p.m. Broken Open.  Sundays, February…

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?   Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown?  Will you let my name be known? Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me? (From the song “The Summons” by John Bell)

We conclude our four-week worship series, Leadership | Follow Me, this Sunday. The series has invited reflection on the current cultural focus on Leadership and the call of Christians to Followership. We will focus this week on the Jesus paradox, “Christians lead by following” as we return to the Gospel of Mark and read a passage in which Jesus heals a man with leprosy.  You may read the passage here: Mark 1. 40-45 “The man’s ailment likely required him to…

Paul went out of his way to ensure the Good News of Jesus could be heard by all people.  He did not want his own “politics” and “personality” to prevent others from dancing with Jesus.   Take a few moments to think about this:  When you go dancing where do you go and who do you, if anyone, take with you?  Are you part of a Square Dancing Club?  Do your prefer Faces in Midtown? Do you stick with school dances?  Maybe…