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Sermon – May 1, 2016

May 1, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Encounters After the Resurrection“The First Meal“, by Rev. Angela Martin

In light of all the disciples had experienced, they needed time away and time to process everything that had just happened. What was familiar and comforting to the disciples was their trade, their work. And so off they go to fish.  After a very unsuccessful night of fishing, a “stranger” shows up on the beach giving them direction. John is the first to recognize the stranger as Jesus. John is the first to see but Peter is the first to act telling us that belief and action go hand in hand. In verse 7, John feels compelled to tell us that before Peter jumped out of the boat he had to put some clothes on. Why would John feel that he needed to give us this detail? Biblical commentaries will tell you that he was only stripped down to his loincloth. Scholars tell us that the author wants us to connect back to Adam and the shame that Adam felt in the garden after committing his sin. Like Adam, Peter is aware of his sin and shame due to the denial of Christ. But Peter doesn’t allow his shame to keep him from moving toward the one he loves. Unlike Adam, Peter doesn’t hide any longer in shame but leaps toward the risen one with joy. Just as Jesus met the disciples where they were, beckoned them to him and fed them with love, forgiveness and grace during that first meal together post resurrection, so Jesus does with us. Thanks be to God!

~Angela

The Word

John 21:1-19

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

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Sermon – April 24, 2016

April 24, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Encounters After the Resurrection“Moment of Recognition“, by Rev. Tom Duley

The power of the resurrection is not trapped in a 2,000 year old rock tomb in Palestine. The power of the resurrection is on display throughout the world. It is available to you, to me and to all of creation. The power of the resurrection is simply God at work in the world. God did not start working in the world on that first Easter nor did God stop working in the world once Jesus had been raised from the dead. God was at work in the world before Jesus was raised from the dead and God is at work in the world today.

Jeremiah knew about the work of God in the world when God used him to promise that a new heart was coming for Israel; a heart with the Law of God written in it. (Jer. 31:33) Ezekiel knew about the work of God in the world when God used him to promise that God would make the dry bones of Israel live again. (Ezekiel 37:7-14). The Apostle Thomas also knew about the work of God in the world when Jesus invited him to place his hands in Jesus’ hands and side. God can do amazing things with people who know the power of the resurrection. Let us pray that we will always be those people.

~Tom

The Word

John 20:24-29

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

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Sermon – April 17, 2016

April 17, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Encounters After the Resurrection“Revealed“, by Rev. Mike Holly

Today is Confirmation Sunday for our sixth graders. They are professing their faith and declaring their desire to join our church as full members today during the 11:00 am worship service. This decision is one of the most important that they will make in their lifetime. Their decision is vital, but it is also something that they did not achieve on their own. Their parents and families have brought them to church and to Sunday school. They have encouraged them to serve in missions and to attend youth group activities. They have personally taught them about our faith. These confirmands have families that have poured encouragement, information and love into them their entire lives.

At the same time, these students have also had the love and support of our church family as well. They have had nursery workers and VBS volunteers nurture them in the faith. They have received kindness and love as we pass the peace in worship or as they attend a Midweek Meetup meal. And they have had wonderful volunteers in Sunday school and other ministries where they have been guided and mentored in the faith. It takes the whole church to pass on the faith to the next generation.

So this morning we want to celebrate these wonderful young people and the decision that they are making. We welcome them into the faith and into our church family. But we also want to say thank you to everyone who made a difference in their lives to help them to be able to stand and kneel before us today.

~Mike

The Word

Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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Sermon – April 10, 2016

April 10, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Encounters After the Resurrection“Unlocked“, by Rev. Mike Holly

Today is Confirmation Sunday for our sixth graders. They are professing their faith and declaring their desire to join our church as full members today during the 11:00 am worship service. This decision is one of the most important that they will make in their lifetime. Their decision is vital, but it is also something that they did not achieve on their own. Their parents and families have brought them to church and to Sunday school. They have encouraged them to serve in missions and to attend youth group activities. They have personally taught them about our faith. These confirmands have families that have poured encouragement, information and love into them their entire lives.

At the same time, these students have also had the love and support of our church family as well. They have had nursery workers and VBS volunteers nurture them in the faith. They have received kindness and love as we pass the peace in worship or as they attend a Midweek Meetup meal. And they have had wonderful volunteers in Sunday school and other ministries where they have been guided and mentored in the faith. It takes the whole church to pass on the faith to the next generation.

So this morning we want to celebrate these wonderful young people and the decision that they are making. We welcome them into the faith and into our church family. But we also want to say thank you to everyone who made a difference in their lives to help them to be able to stand and kneel before us today.

~Mike

The Word

John 20:19-23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

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Sermon – April 3, 2016

April 3, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Encounters After the Resurrection“Ultimate Destinies“, by Rev. Angela Martin

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Easter Sunday has come and gone but thankfully, it is just the beginning.  As surely as spring gives way to summer, Easter ushers us into a new season of growing into the person God is calling us to be.  So what’s next?  What are we to do with this re-discovered passion and excitement about what God has done for us through Jesus Christ?

Today we begin a new sermon series, “Encounters After the Resurrection”.  We’ll begin this Sunday by holding vigil with Mary in the garden.  On April 10th we’ll go with Jesus as he appears to the disciples behind locked doors and breathes into them the Holy Spirit.  Next we’ll walk the Emmaus Road and be present as Cleopas discovers the risen Savior.  On April 24th we’ll wonder at doubting Thomas and on the last Sunday of the month, we’ll sit around a charcoal fire on the edge of the Sea of Galilee with Jesus and the disciples and hear Jesus give Peter a second chance.

As singer-songwriter David Phelps wrote, “Easter is the end of the beginning.”  What’s next for you?  What will your new beginning be?  Come worship with us in April and discover your answer!

~Angela

The Easter Word

John 20:11-18

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

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