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Pentecost—June 8, 2014
Preacher: Pastor Angela Freeman
Lessons: Acts 2:1–21 | Psalm 104:24–34, 35b | 1 Corinthians 12:3b–13 | John 20:19–23
Summary: In recent weeks we have heard Jesus tell the disciples about the Holy Spirit coming to testify to God’s truth and that they would also testify because they had walked with Jesus. We don’t have the luxury of having walked with Jesus, but we have the whole story, and we have received the Holy Spirit. God always comes to us, and there is no way we can go to God. So we are called to go into the crossroads of life and spread the Good News.
Easter VII—June 1, 2014
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 1:6–14 | Psalm 68:1–10, 32–35 | 1 Peter 4:12–14; 5:6–11 | John 17:1–11
Summary: In today’s Gospel John gives us the Lord’s Prayer, but it is a different one than we are used to. Jesus is ready to leave and prays for God to be with the disciples and for them to be one as Jesus is one with the Father. Our task as followers of Jesus is to live our lives as if that prayer is accomplished. We do this by energizing ourselves, praying together for our community and world through acts of justice and joy, and acting as if we really believe that Jesus has passed the ministry to us and we will pass it to the next generation.
Easter VI—May 25, 2014
Preacher: Pastor Angela Freeman
Lessons: Acts 17:22–31 | Psalm 66:8–20 | 1 Peter 3:13–22 | John 14:15–21
Summary: Today’s Gospel continues with the farewell discourses, and Jesus tells the disciples that if they love him, they will keep his commandments, and he will send the comforter. The disciples are anxious because they would have to carry out the ministry alone, and Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. While the Holy Spirit cannot be seen or touched, we feel the Spirit’s presence in our gut. We want answers now, and the Spirit works on god’s time. This is truly good news; God is with us and among us in the Holy Spirit.
This sermon is not available for technical reasons.
Easter V—May 18, 2014
Preacher: Pastor Angela Freeman
Lessons: Acts 7:55–60 | Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16 | 1 Peter 2:2–10 | John 14:1–14
Summary: Today’s Gospel takes us back to Jesus’ farewell discourses on Maundy Thursday. Jesus promises to go and prepare a dwelling for us and tells us that he is the way, the truth, and the life. Too often we take this unconditional promise as one with conditions. The disciples want a map, but the dwelling place is the presence of God, which is already with us.
Easter VI—May 11, 2014
Preacher: Pastor Angela Freeman
Lessons: Acts 2:42–47 | Psalm 23 | 1 Peter 2:19–25 | John 10:1–10
Summary: Today’s psalm is familiar even to non-Christians as a psalm of comfort. The first lesson from Acts tells of the early church and gives us a challenge. The early Christians sold everything they had and gave to those in need. If we followed their example and sold everything—this building, our great organ, the stained-glass window—we would all feel disengaged, dis-identified, disenchanted, and disoriented, but it also open a time of discovery of what God has planned for us. We are not about to sell all the church property, but we must be open to the Holy Spirit who is leading us outside these walls and discover how we can truly live in the resurrection.
Easter III—May 4, 2014
Preacher: Pastor Greg Ronning
Lessons: Acts 2:14a, 36–41 | Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19 | 1 Peter 1:17–23 | Luke 24:13–35
Summary: In today’s Gospel, two disciples return to Emmaus after the crucifixion, begin talking with a stranger, and say words we have all said: “But we had hoped….” But the story does not end in despair because Jesus reveals himself in the breaking of the bread. Jesus is eager to walk with us as we journey to our own Emmaus, to speak with us, and to reveal himself to us. May we all have these encounters that lead to life abundant.
Easter II—April 27, 2014
Preacher: Pastor Angela Freeman
Lessons: Acts 2:14a, 22–32 | Psalm 16 | 1 Peter 1:3–9 | John 20:19–31
Summary: Today’s Gospel is about “Doubting Thomas,” but we might better call him the thinking or questioning disciple. Many of us come through Easter unsure about what really happened. It was the same with the disciples, but Jesus is never frustrated or angry with those who have trouble believing. Just comes with compassion saying, “Peace be with you.” Just as students learn in different ways, we each come to our faith by different pathways. Jesus meets each of us where we are on our pathway of fath.
Easter Sunday—April 20, 2014
Preacher: Pastor Angela Freeman
Lessons: Acts 10:34–43 | Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 | Colossians 3:1–4 | Matthew 28:1–10
Summary: In our lives there are times when our whole being—both mind and body—experience great joy or great pain and despair. We sometimes feel the joy is unreal and transient while the pain and despair are real. But Easter tells us that those moments of joy are the fundamental reality of creation. Jesus insists that death does not have the final say. We may not be able to prove the truth of this proposition, but for more than 2000 years, people have trusted that God’s love is greater than anything.