James 2:1-17 We are spending the month of September thinking about generosity with the book of James as our guide. Last week’s sermon was “Generous Hands,” and we talked about generosity as “openhandedness” and God’s call to us to be openhanded with others, the poor especially. This week I invite us to think about openheartedness, … [Read more…]
James 1:17-27 All this month in worship, and especially in sermons, we are focusing on generosity. That’s the new-fangled word for stewardship, which has gone out of fashion for some reason that I don’t fully understand. I think the idea here is that “stewardship”—especially the phrase “stewardship season”—connotes a function, an activity, something that we … [Read more…]
John 6:56-69 Take a moment to think about your faith journey. If you want to, take a pen or one of the pencils in the pew racks and sketch it out roughly on your bulletin or one of the inserts. It’s a common metaphor to think about our faith lives as a journey. Where have … [Read more…]
Old Testament Lesson: 1 Kings 19:4-8 Gospel Lesson: John 6:35-51 This past week, I attended Gun Sense University, the annual leadership training event of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. The event began with an opportunity for members to enjoy dinner and fellowship with their state chapters. While speaking with Jena, a Mom … [Read more…]
John 6: 16-35 Every one of you has it in you to be a mystic. Every one of you has the capacity for a direct experience of God. Not only that, but you have the capacity for the experience of God to be a common, everyday experience. What do you think the world would be … [Read more…]
Blessings from Butner PC September 5, 2017 “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20b) Pastor’s Corner The people of Houston, Texas, and the surrounding area are just beginning the long road to recovery and the threat of a new, even more powerful hurricane … [Read more…]
Blessings from Butner PC August 29, 2017 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) Pastor’s Corner The pictures from Houston, Texas, and the surrounding area of the devastation following Hurricane Harvey are heart wrenching. The total … [Read more…]
Blessings from Butner PC August 22, 2017 “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. … [Read more…]
Blessings from Butner PC August 15, 2017 “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” (Psalm 28:6-7a) Pastor’s Corner By now, you may have heard that I am leaving the Butner church. There … [Read more…]
Blessings from Butner PC August 9, 2017 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7) Pastor’s Corner First, let me say how much I … [Read more…]