When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.” The house of Israel called it manna…
Grace
On Sunday we will share our commitments for how we’ll live in the next year as people who are rooted in Grace | growing in faith | reaching in love. Many among us struggle with understanding Grace. Here is one person’s personal struggle with Grace: Grace by Saving Jane. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb3le1MHsH8&feature=fvwrel]
“…that’s exactly how this grace thing works…”
The post title phrase is from “Roll Away Your Stone” by Mumford and Sons. Defining Grace is not as easy as it might sound. One way to begin might be to start with your life. Where did your life come from? Did you ask to be born? Most folks would answer “No, I did not ask to be born.” But here you are. Your life is a gift, given to you, unearned. You came into being without having to prove…
Toward Sunday
Our worship this Sunday will be rooted in Matthew 22.34-46. This selection from Matthew has shaped followers of Jesus throughout the generations and is central to our community of faith today. Our community seeks to be rooted in Grace, growing in faith, and reaching in love. Read the text again from Matthew while holding these three commitments. How do these relate to the reading from Matthew 22.34-46?
Rehearsing and Remembering
We’ll sing Wade in the Water as part of our celebration of Baptism in worship this Sunday at The Table. There’s just something about this clip of Patty Griffin rehearsing the song with Regina McCrary and Mike Farris. One professional musician teaching another. Working together. Watching over one another in love. Laughing. Instructing. Perhaps an image of how followers of Jesus walk alongside one another in living out the covenant of Baptism? [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4crfo0Mgo8&ob=av2e]
Toward Sunday
Our worship this Sunday will be rooted in the Celebration of Baptism. The United Methodist Hymnal introduces the covenant of Baptism in this way: The Baptismal Covenant is God’s word to us, proclaiming our adoption by grace and our word to God, promising our response of faith and love…Baptism is an act that looks back with gratitude on what God’s grace has already accomplished, it is here and now an act of God’s grace, and it looks forward to what God’s…
All Means All
A group of folks from our community participated in the Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk run a few weeks ago. At that run we debuted our new “All Means All” shirts. Some folks were approached and asked about the slogan. If you were to wear one of these shirts on a regular basis, what answer will you give if asked “What does “All Means All” mean?
Toward Sunday
Our worship this Sunday will be rooted in Matthew 22:1-14. This is a parable that can raise concern for the listener! On a casual reading it may seem overly harsh. It was the custom of the day for a King to celebrate a wedding by hosting a great feast. Because many would not have the proper attire, upon entry, the King would offer free wedding clothes . These were often simple robes that were designed to be worn overtop of…
Gaining and Saving and Giving
In a sermon titled “Causes of the Inefficacy of Christianity” John Wesley asks: Does it not seem (and yet this cannot be!) that Christianity, true scriptural Christianity, has a tendency in process of time to undermine and destroy itself? For wherever true Christianity spreads it must cause diligence and frugality, which, in the natural course of things, must beget riches. And riches naturally beget pride, love of the world, and every temper that is destructive of Christianity….But is there no…
Toward Sunday
Our worship this Sunday will be rooted in 2 Corinthians 8.1-15. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in chapter 8 was not a scolding, but a joyful vision of God’s abundant love and an invitation into our freedom to be generous. According to the opening lines in this chapter, the churches in Macedonia were growing deeply in faith and giving generously in response to God’s love. As part of our series on growing more deeply in faith, we are inviting you to…
Goals for Rooting Our Lives in Grace
In worship tomorrow morning we will be invited to set some goals for ourselves regarding rooting our lives more deeply in Grace. What goals could you imagine setting for yourself for the coming year? Example: As a person who seeks to be rooted in Grace, I want to (goal) so that (reason).
Wideness in God’s Mercy
We will reflect this week in worship on how we might root our lives more deeply in Grace. We’ll sing together one of the historic hymns of our church, There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy. Here are the lyrics to the three verses we’ll be singing: United Methodist Hymnal #121 Words by Frederick W. Faber, 1854 Music by Lizzie S. Tourjee, 1877 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea; there’s a kindness in God’s justice, which…
The Christ Hymn
Carol Howard Merritt writes, Philippians 2 reminds us in beautiful poetry that Jesus took the form of a servant. In his humanity and humility, he walked beside us, even to the point of death. Because of this, we know that nothing can separate us from that divine love in Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus have often called this selection from Philippians “the Christ hymn,” on the supposition that Paul is quoting at least in part a very early hymn from the…