When Love Comes Down For All and Eternity
The war on Christmas is a tired cliche these days, but the Gospel of John gets very dramatic in his own telling of what happens when love comes down. It’s not just a baby being born, but the very cosmos changing in a spiritual and also tangible way. This Sunday, let’s consider just how big a tiny baby can be.
When Love Comes Down with a Target on its Back
When we think of the Christmas season, maybe you think of holiday music, family gatherings, or gift giving, but what about rebellion, hostility, and social revolution? Well, then it’s time to reintroduce ourselves to the Gospel of Luke, who’s Christmas night is anything but silent. This Sunday, we’ll reclaim the reality of what it means to receive the Christ-child and why good news for some may be bad news for others.
When Love Comes Down with a Wave
If baby Jesus is your favorite Jesus, then the Gospel of Mark won’t be your favorite gospel. The author jumps straight into Jesus’ adulthood and public ministry, but before we think that he has nothing to contribute to Christmas, let’s take a closer look. This Sunday, we’ll reflect on Mark’s Gospel, and how his introduction to Jesus deserves our attention as God’s Love makes a wave in more ways than one.
When God Made You
Who am I and how do I fit into this larger picture we call life? Have you ever asked yourself this question? Have you ever looked through the lense of a children’s book to help you find the answers? Matthew Paul Turner’s book “When God Made You” can help us answer this question.
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Shares Our Story?
Today is All Saints Day in the Christian tradition. It’s a time when we remember those who have died this year, and remember those who are no longer physically present with us. We remember and share stories, and reflect on how our lives have been impacted by their lives. This year, as we recognize those who have gone, we incorporate lessons from the musical “Hamilton: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?” What legacy are we creating in our daily lives, and does that legacy mirror how Jesus lived?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
It’s a “Topsy Turvy” Sunday this week, as we welcome The Hunchback of Notre Dame to our Sanctuary! Join us as we dive into the story of Quasi Modo and Esmerelda, with the backdrop of a church that is… complicated. Let’s talk about how natural it can feel to be self-superior or self-loathing, but God calls us to something else.
The West Side Of The River Jordan
Singing, dancing, and aggressive snapping. That’s right! It’s Bible on Broadway season at AUMC, and we’re kicking off with the iconic West Side Story! This tale of star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria–and the tragic conflict between the rival Jets and Sharks–is not only timeless, it also brings up themes found also in… Deuteronomy? Welcome to the “West Side” of Mount Sinai.
Singing, dancing, and aggressive snapping. That’s right! It’s Bible on Broadway season at AUMC, and we’re kicking off with the iconic West Side Story! This tale of star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria–and the tragic conflict between the rival Jets and Sharks–is not only timeless, it also brings up themes found also in… Deuteronomy? Welcome to the “West Side” of Mount Sinai.
Do Methodists "rebaptize?"
A new journal. A clean house. An agenda-free day. Starting fresh can feel so good. In the life of faith, we might get to a point where a fresh start is liberating as well, but a question might bubble up: Should I get baptized again? This week, as the series comes to a close, we consider how God is continuously at work and ask the question, “Do Methodists ‘rebaptize?’”
Why do we baptize babies?
Sure, they’re cute, but babies don’t know anything about God, right? And yet we baptize them in the Methodist church; what is that about? There’s a lot that goes into our understanding of infant baptism, so this week, let’s ask the question together: “Why do we baptize babies?”
How does baptism free us?
Holiness can sound like an out-of-reach word, and perhaps brings to mind images of monks and nuns in isolated abbeys. But the reality of holy living is much more grounded and gritty. This week, we consider the fullness of faith we’re invited into through baptism as we ask, “How does baptism free us?”
What do we mean when we say “Jesus saves?”
“Atonement” is the word we use to mean God’s work through Jesus that frees us from sin. But far from a settled science, it’s actually a realm full of theological theories. This week, we tackle the question, “What do we mean when we say ‘Jesus saves?’”
Do I need Baptism to be "saved?"
In John 3, we’re introduced to a phrase that is awfully loaded with baggage in modern times: “born again.” Let’s talk about it this week and unpack the question, “Do I need Baptism to be saved?”
Is Baptism Just a Personal Choice?
Baptism may appear simple, but beneath the surface we find a complex sacrament that leads us to many deep theological questions that get to the heart of faith. In this six-part worship series, we will address six questions in a journey towards understanding baptism in a Wesleyan way. This week, let’s talk about why private, backyard baptisms aren’t a thing at AUMC, as we ask “Is Baptism Just a Personal Choice?”
Losing Our Religion
In the Gospel of Luke, some good churchy people take issue with the kind of company Jesus keeps. And so Jesus offers three images--a sheep, a coin, and a son--who are lost and found; but not everyone celebrates this "good news." How do these parables shape our own understanding of our story, and the kind of love that God's movement is built upon?
Working and Weaving in the Trivial and Tragic
Blockbuster stories feature larger-than-life characters, breakneck action sequences, and out-of-this-world plot lines. Our lives can feel rather mundane by comparison. This week, we take a step back and consider how the story of Ruth reveals something wonderful about who God is and what kind of story God is telling.
Leave the Harvest, Change the Story
Desperate. Alone. Seeking to survive in a harsh environment. This is the life that Ruth and Naomi are living in Chapter 2 of The Book of Ruth, when the story takes a turn… they come across a field and a farmer that changes everything. This week, we take a closer look at Boaz, the humble farmer who displays the faithful virtue of generosity, and how his unharvested field can teach us to change the story for ourselves and others.
The Lost Art of Loyalty
Have you ever been surprised by loyalty? When you think of loyalty, what and who comes to mind? What makes us a loyal people? We’ll share an overview of the story of Ruth, whose loyalty to her mother-in-law and to God is exemplary, not because of stubbornness, but because of love. This week, we share an overview of the Book of Ruth, and examine the oft repeated show of loyalty from Ruth: “Where you go, I will go; your God will be my God.”
Putting Faith to Work
Sometimes a message has even greater meaning because of the messenger. Paul’s letter to the Colossians was delivered with a man named Onesimus, a former slave who carried a second letter from Paul to his former master. It’s all well and good to hear a good sermon preached about reconciliation, but what happens when we’re actually called to act? Let’s talk about putting our “Reconciling Faith” to work this week as we conclude this four-week study of Colossians.