Sermons (Page 17)
A Both/And Church
… Rev. Bill Eaves, gave a powerful sermon Wednesday, June 19, [2019] in which he talked about how we’re called to be a ‘both/and church.’ We can listen deeply to our scriptures and study them with best tools available to us, and we can also work for the liberation of our LGBTQ neighbors. We can put our full trust in Jesus and follow His word, and at the same time stand up against injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
Open Mouth, Insert Heart
This Sunday as we return to the Base Camp of our church community to rest and reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence –we will talk together about talking. The rhythm of our lives has been grandly interrupted by changes, intrusions; separations. We are weary of communicating through screens of various sizes. And at the same time, we are yet growing and responding; collecting thoughts – finding meaning – becoming something new! What shall we make of the story of this time? What is it making of us?
Balaam’s Ass Tells the Truth
This Sunday as we return to the Base Camp of our church community to rest and reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence –we celebrate the animal companions that join us! Week after week, Sunday by Sunday, our congregation is rich with four leggeds, winged wonders and who knows who else! We are all learning and worshiping together! This Sunday we will consider a wild little story from one of our oldest collections. It’s about a seer and an ass. (Spoiler alert: one of them is a donkey.)
Who’s Counting?
This Sunday we again return to the Base Camp of our church community to rest and reflect, refuel, and refresh our sense of reverence. We remind each other of the visions that send us outward – and of the Center that shapes and guides us. Last week we heard Jesus’ lesson in conflict management, which has led us directly to this week’s question: So…what about forgiveness? How is that supposed to work, and do we really have to?!? Well, nobody HAS to do anything, but yeah, to be free, we kind of do. We’ll consider all of this from a garden perspective, where we weed and prune and plant – and then feast!
Right Relationship
September begins a new season of Base Camp in our church community. We gather to reflect and to rest, refuel, and restore a sense of reverence – and wherever we are gathered in Jesus’ name, Spirit attends. This week Jesus continues his nomadic course in Justice with a lesson on conflict management. One on one, or as groups – congregations, communities, culture – how do we live out diversity and navigate our deep differences? Let’s talk.
In the Reeds
We’ve been walking with Jesus through the gospel of Matthew. Time and again he has sought time apart and been interrupted. Today we ourselves take refuge…in a moment from the book of Exodus. How are we doing, packed in our many individual baskets? What visions might develop as we float in the reeds, held by the ‘in between’ of the living river. On this precious Sunday of our dwindling summer, we return to the Base Camp of our church community to reflect – and to rest, refuel, and restore our sense of reverence.
Jesus Once Again Raises the Bar
Jesus and the disciples are on the move when a woman appears on the edges. She calls out. She asks Jesus for help. He ignores her. And when she presses him, he calls her a (gulp) “dog.” What? We want to shout, “Where is our Jesus and what have you done with him?!” We, like the disciples, like the woman herself, ask Jesus to explain himself! Where is the lesson here? And who is meant to learn it? Humans – and canines – want to know. We return to the Base Camp of our church community to reflect – and to rest, refuel, and restore our sense of reverence.
Sailing the Storm
Today we consider a midnight storm on the Sea of Galilee, a small boat filled with workers, and the arrival of Jesus across the water – a true example of Deus ex machina! What do we know of darkness? Of storms? Of boats that seem oh-so-very-much-too-small? Of turbulent seas? Of confidence and doubt? Why, this is our natural habitat! What do we know of each other and of Jesus? We return to the Base Camp of our church community to reflect – and to rest, refuel, and restore our sense of reverence.
Leftovers
Today we consider the story of Jesus and the Miracle of the Impromptu Picnic. It is a story told SIX times in the gospel! This one must be important. Let’s talk about why…and sing and pray and share our own Table Fellowship – a present day remembering of those ancient “bring your own” meals. You are invited to bring something to your table as you join worship this morning. Something resembling Communion elements (bread and juice) or Loaves and Fishes – or a cup of tea. We will commune as we return to the Base Camp of our church community to rest, reflect, refuel, and restore our sense of reverence.
Heaven Between the Lines
This final Sunday in July we return to the Base Camp of our church community to rest, reflect, refuel, and restore our sense of reverence. We’re taking a long walk through the fields with Jesus! He’s trying to explain heaven on earth – in the midst of dust and weeds, tattered nets and hidden coins. “You see, heaven is insidious, it sneaks up on you! Except it’s also right in front of you – like a horizon or a carrot on a stick. Or heaven is in your pocket, close to hand, yet out of sight.” It’s like… It’s like… It’s like…” Let’s wonder together – and sing and pray. Let’s make like the fields – and grow.