Isaiah 25: 6-9 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away Read more »
sermon
The Power of Kindness
Micah 6:8 8 God has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Proverbs 20:28 28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure. Proverbs 21:21 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and Read more »
Justice: A Shared Vision
Micah 6: 1-4, 6-8 – 6 Listen to what the Lord says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. 2 “Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. 3 “My people, what have I done Read more »
Active Patience
James 5: 10-11 – 10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord Read more »
Reflection: First Week After Easter
Good evening members and friends of Pleasant Grove UMC. We are into the 5th week of our shutdown of worship. I have to say that last Easter Sunday was a totally different way to worship. Ann and I have never missed an Easter Sunday worship. This Easter was different than the past. For twenty-five years, Read more »
Easter is Still Coming
Welcome to the fourth week of the church shutdown because of the Coronavirus. To me it seems that it is impossible that we have missed four weeks of worship and, in reality, there is no end in sight as to when we will reopen. Several days ago, Ann and I were reflecting as to “When Read more »
Reflection
Scripture for Palm and Passion Sunday Luke 19:28-37 Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead Read more »
Interruptions: Living in a Culture of Interruptions
Mark 10:46-52 46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy Read more »
Interruption as Opportunity
Mark 5:21-34 21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My Read more »