“Mama,Is God’s name Howard?”
“No, son, why do you ask?”
“That’s what I heard, ‘Our Father who are in heaven, Howard is your name.’”
That same misunderstanding was not repeated as our Vacation Bible School Children learned The Lord’s Prayer this summer. Verse by verse, they were taught well the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. Join Pastor Lib in reflecting on the words of the Lord’s Prayer found in Luke 11: 1 – 13. This prayer has been The Prayer of the church for over 2000 years.
How does is still shape our faith today?
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Are you good at multitasking – doing more than one thing at a time? Multitasking is all the rage in our 24/7 culture but can it actually be done? Good question. Scientists are studying the brain to see what happens when we try to multitask. The results might surprise you. In our text for the morning, Luke 10:38-42 , Jesus calls Martha out for trying to multitask. He calls her out because she is distracted. She is not fully present to his teaching. Are you distracted by your many tasks? Are you fully present to Christ? Listen as we unpack The Myth of Multitasking and the call of Christ to be fully present.
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In our text for today, The Parable of the Good Samaritan -Luke 10:25-37 , a lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Rather than answer the question directly Jesus tells an incredible story. Twenty centuries later we are called to wrestle with this same question. Be prepared that the answer – as it was for the lawyer – may challenge us and move us beyond our comfort zone. The reality is “We Don’t Get to Pick Our Neighbors” or limit our love. We don’t get to pass up or pass by those who have fallen by the side of the road of life. Go and show mercy! It is easy to say but oh, so hard to live out. May we boldly live into the law and invitation to love our neighbors.
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Life in the 1st Century Galatian church was not pretty. Factions within the faith community were divided and polarized. Many were using their new found freedom in Christ and freedom from the law to pursue their own interests and desires with little concern for the common good. They were on a path toward destruction. Two thousand plus years later the same could be said of life in The United States. Even as we prepare to celebrate The Fourth of July we know that we are headed down a dangerous road. Conflict, division, and polarization exist on a national level and in our own community. It is getting increasingly ugly. Civil discourse is breaking down. What does the future hold? Is there another way? Yes, is the answer! Paul spells it out in his letter to church in Galatia, Galatians 5:1, 13-25. The Birthday Wish this 4th of July is that we – the church – might embrace this alternative way and model it for our community and our nation!
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The reading from Luke 9:57 – 62 invites us into reflecting on the work of being a follower of Christ. Christ calls, “Follow me!” But the people who hear the call pull out nothing but outrageous excuses. Discipleship is hard work. Grace is free, but it’s not cheap. When have we responded to God with the opening words: “But Lord…”? In building a faith we are called into faithful responses, lifelong commitments, and covenant living. Still Jesus calls, because Jesus knows the journey is worth the effort. Join Pastor Lib in examiningThe Case of the Would-Be Follower: “But Lord….. I Have a Really Good Excuse.”
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Rock Solid Inc. General Contractors took over St. Mark’s for Vacation Bible School. With Hank the Hammer’s help and over 90 plus servants – 170 children learned how to be wise builders. They were taught to build their rock solid foundations upon The Rock – Jesus Christ. After securing a solid foundation they were then taught the tools of belief, love, prayer, forgiveness, and service. Everyone did an excellent job Building in God. But the work is not complete. There is more to learn and more to build. Remember It takes a lifetime to build a heart of faith. Our text for Sunday, Matthew 7:24-29, is The Parable of the Two Builders. In it Jesus teaches that this same principle, building on The Rock, applies not just to literal construction but to our spiritual lives. What kind of foundation is your life build upon? Rock (Jesus Christ) or sand? Special appearance by Hank the Hammer!
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We fear many things in life. We fear things at school, work, home, and even things at church. What do people think of me? Will I fit in? What am I going to do to make money? What will the future hold? We don’t realize that our deepest fear is none of the above. Our deepest fear is living into the gifts that God has given us. Each of us is special and given gifts and talents from God. Often we are scared to use them and to let our own light shine. Our text for Sunday, John 3: 16-21 tells us that God sent his one and only Son to Earth to save us and show us that it is ok to use our gifts and to let our light shine. Through Jesus Christ we will not fear the gifts God has given us and we will let our light shine so that others will shine around us. We will not allow our light to be Our Deepest Fear! Listen as Director of Youth Ministries – Eric Hagman, and one of our youth – Chesson Perry, share this message.
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Death, Despair, and Desperation process through our lives and our community more often than we would like. But do we stop and take notice? Furthermore are we moved to interrupt all of this death, despair, and desperation with compassion, hope and love? Or do we simply march on with the business of life? In our text for Sunday,Luke 7:11-17 , Jesus encounters a funeral procession. A son has died and a widow is left with nothing. She is in total despair. But Jesus doesn’t just pass on by. Instead he takes notice and is so moved with compassion that he interrupts the funeral march. He interrupts death with life and the word of this miracle spreads. Death, Despair, and Desperation march on all around us. Will we – like Christ – offer A Gracious Interruption to the pain and suffering all around us?
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In our psalm for Sunday, Psalm 8 , the psalmist looks up and out at all that God has created and can’t help but offer praise! But it is not long before the praise turns to questions. The longer he looks up at the heavens the more aware he becomes of just how small he is in comparison. Naturally he can’t help but ask, “What are humans that you are mindful of them?” Creation is beautiful but bewildering. There is lot we don’t know and can’t explain about God’s creation. There is a lot we never will be able to explain. Our God is beyond explanation. So rather than get lost in what we don’t know. Let’s celebrate the mystery and what we do know. What do we know? We know that even as vast as the universe is, we do matter to God. We know that God is mindful of us. Now, that’s A Mysterious Mind-full to ponder!
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Lots of things in our lives – spring, spring sports, school, Bible studies, Confirmation, even this sermon series – are coming to an end. In the moments leading up to the text, Acts 2:1-21 , the disciples are waiting and praying. It feels like the end. Yet suddenly and without warning the Holy Spirit invades the room. The disciples start to proclaim God’s mighty acts of power in the streets and squares of Jerusalem. By the end of the day the church is born and on fire! What looks like an ending turns out to be just a beginning. The same is true for us. While lots of things may be ending, the call to faithful discipleship is anything but over. The call to ACT out our faith…is to be continued!
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