Sermons from 2024
Thresholds
SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:13-35 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas,…
Postponed General Conference 2020: Worship – April 29, 2024
Watch the April 29 worship service from the postponed 2020 General Conference. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:34-40 (NRSVUE) 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing,…
It’s Time to Rise Up
Psalm 130 calls us to reflect on the depths of our souls and the steadfast love of our Creator. In this time of transition, how does waiting on the Lord deepen our faith journey and inspire hope? We will explore the book of Psalms at the base camp of our church community, near and far. Join us as we honor Pastor Isiah’s two years of ministry at Prospect Park UMC. We will explore spiritual practices, observe the Sabbath, learn sacred…
Hold On
We all face storms in our lives, and in the midst of them, we seek peace. How can we get the peace we long for by hearing Jesus say, “Quiet, Be Still?” We will explore the Gospel of Mark at the base camp of our church community, near and far. We will explore spiritual practices, observe the Sabbath, learn sacred stories, sing, pray, reflect, refuel, and revive our sense of reverence! SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:35-41 (CEB) 35 Later that day, when evening…
Rev Luke Nelson Sermon: Annual Conference 2024
Rev. Luke Nelson urged us to live into our baptismal vows, reminding us that we are created in the image of God, we are set aside to share God’s love with the world, and we belong to each other.
Are You Sure?
The saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for.” The elders of Israel didn’t heed that saying because they went to the prophet Samuel demanding a king. The reason they wanted a king was to be like everyone else. Samuel went to God, and God told Samuel to give them what they wanted. Even after Samuel warned them about what the king would do, they still insisted on having one. How is this story relevant to us today? SCRIPTURE: 1…
Bishop Lanette’s 2024 Episcopal Address
On Sunday, June 2, we watched Bishop Lanette’s address from Annual Conference 2024. On a trip to Scotland in 2019, while Bishop Lanette was stepping onto a bus, the driver instructed her to “mind the gap” between the platform and the vehicle. “I believe God has uniquely positioned the United Methodist Church in Minnesota to be trailblazers as we mind the gaps of society,” she said. We can mind the gap of justice and reconciliation work. We can mind the…
Revive Us Again
We are currently in the post-Pentecost season, which is known as “Ordinary Time”. This is the longest season of the Christian Liturgical year. We find ourselves here in the book of Isaiah, and in this passage, we see Isaiah accepting the call to become a prophet. We can focus on the call, but what fascinates me is Isaiah’s response when he was in the presence of God. How will we respond when we are in God’s presence? How will we…
Can You Handle the Truth?
Pentecost is upon us! We remember the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the people. The Holy Spirit is part of the Triune God and is, at times, often neglected. If we took the space to truly learn who to learn who the Holy Spirit is, if we would be able to handle the truth it would have us face. SCRIPTURE: John 15:26-27; John 16:4-15 (NRSVUE) 26 “But I will send you the Advocate[a]—the Spirit of truth. He will come…
A Legacy of Faith
Mother’s Day is when we honor all the mother figures in our lives. When we look at the letter of 2 Timothy, we see the Apostle Paul mentioning two of Timothy’s family members: his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. I wonder what can we learn from their story? We will explore the letter of 2 Timothy at the base camp of our church community, near and far. We will explore spiritual practices, keep the gift of the Sabbath, learn…