Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday Worship Service 2023 at Arapaho UMC in Richardson, Texas.

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Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

Laying Down My Guns

We’ve all been guilty of overzealousness from time to time, but have you ever sliced a man’s ear off in the heat of the moment? Peter does in Luke 22, and how Jesus responds will give us pause when we take it seriously. Where might the Prince of Peace lead us, if we are open to living differently?

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Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

Laying Down My Pride and Place

Luke Chapter 8 begins with explicitly naming women among Jesus’ core disciples, and ends with the stories of Jesus encountering a woman and a young girl who require healing. When we look through the context of the day, what might sound simple is revealed to be a provocative and profound declaration of God’s courage and care.

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Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

Laying Down My Demons

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Alone. Bound by chains. Untouched and unseen. Possessed by demons known only as “Legion. It’s a dramatic story, to be sure, but what might first look like a prequel to “The Exorcist” is a deeply moving story about restoration and making right. Before you write off “casting out demons” as the stuff of scary movies, let’s talk about how Jesus might be leading us to encounter the “Legion” in our own lives.

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Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

Lay down your shame.

Shame is a terribly effective tool, one that you’ve likely wielded and been wounded by. In Luke chapter 5, Jesus encounters a man who is paralyzed, and the man has been led to believe that this is a result of his sin. How Jesus responds will shape not just his future ministry, but also makes him a target. What can happen when we lay down our shame?

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Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

Laying Down My Power

What if 40 days of intentional release could lead us to wholeness? The season of Lent is a time of preparation in the Christian calendar as we reflect on the life and ministry of Jesus, drawing nearer to Easter. This year, we turn our attention to the Gospel of Luke, as Jesus promotes an integrated life where the personal and social aspects of faith are indistinguishable. For six weeks, we’ll look closer at stories from Luke’s Gospel, and notice who Jesus encounters, what he asks them to lay down, and how he lifts them to wholeness.

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Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

The End Times are Less Scary and More Important Than We Think

The “end times” might sound like a scary topic, but in truth it is a hope-filled and mission-critical subject that we have to talk about. In our final week focusing on the stained glass of the Sanctuary, we take a look at the image of Christ’s great commission and the ultimate ending of hope that we are working towards. And we promise, Pastor Scott is not starting a doomsday cult… this week, anyways.

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Wounded Healers

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In recent years, AUMC has become known as a place where people looking to heal could find hope. Many folks who call this community home have experienced serious wounds in their life, including wounds at the hands of churches. This week, we focus on the resurrection of Christ, and how his resurrection leads us to live as wounded healers today.

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Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

Sacrificial in Love

The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity, and yet beliefs surrounding this tool of punishment and redemption are incredibly varied. As we take a closer look at the crucifixion, let’s talk about the cross, not only what it meant for Jesus, but also how it invites us into the uniquely sacrificial love of God.

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Journeying in Grace

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One son hits the rock bottom of eating pig slop. The other son sits high-and-mighty by living “the right way.” Both are embraced by a loving father who sees them as they are. This week, we center on the third window of our Sanctuary, and consider the role of the stories we tell ourselves and others, as we journey in grace.

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Stories of Faith Made Real

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Wise men kneeling before the Christ-child… not only does this scene feature in our nativity sets at home, but also in one of the stained glass windows of our Sanctuary. And yet, the image speaks to the theology of incarnation–God with us in Jesus–that informs so much of our faith. Specifically, the idea that faith is meant to be “made real,” in personal and relational ways. This week, Pastor Scott will teach and also feature some stories from the congregation of how God’s Love is “made real.”

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Aaron Manes Aaron Manes

Let your toddler play with snakes.

How do the stories we tell shape who we are, and who we are becoming? At Arapaho United Methodist Church our worship space is adorned with six large stained glass windows, each depicting a story from Scripture; but as we look closer at the light pouring through the reds and greens and blues, we’ll notice values shining through that speak to our identity as the people called “AUMC.” Beginning January 8th, we’ll center on one window a week, and the stories contained within, as we grow in appreciation for the unique mosaic that God has created in this community.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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