Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 and Luke 9:28-43

Let’s just say that mountains amaze most of us! It’s both the exciting travel up and down and the spectacular views.

Our scripture for Transfiguration Sunday includes Moses on Mt. Sinai and Jesus and disciples and Moses and Elijah centuries later on mountain high. Powerful revelations and changes took place on such mountains but coming off the mountains was just as eventful! A bit more troubling but important nonetheless.

We observe that covenants with God are both made, affirmed, and acted upon! The acting upon is the most difficult since the human response to God’s gracious offer to us is always complicated and less than “wholly divine.”

The life of faith toward God is like coming on and off mountains: curves, blind spots, altitude sickness, as well as spectacular views, exhilarating driving moments, and usually interesting company along for the journey.

This Sunday in worship, the number of people involved on and off the mountains is remarkable and their experiences are challenging to us today.

Prayerfully prepare for that day’s journey by reading these scriptures and see which Biblical character you feel most kin to in your own faith walk now.

God bless all in your preparation and participation!

Pastor Barry †

Psalm 32:6-7, Colossians 3:15-17 and Matthew 26:26-30

“I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free…..”. So go the familiar first lines of the hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”

Besides these two reasons to sing, there must be a hundred more. People of faith are a singing, musical people. We have a “sung faith.” Charles Wesley composed over 6000 hymns and we still sing many of them in the 21st century far removed from the 1700s.

And throughout the Bible, the cast of Biblical personalities burst forth in song for worship, fellowship, and in times of trial and affliction. As much as we need devotional silence and prayerful contemplation, we just as much need to give musical voice to the heights and depths of our lived faith experience.

Our scriptures for this Sunday remind us of our singing heritage and how in different settings we hold forth in song and musicality.

We live in stressful times and uncertain outcomes. Let us be reminded in lyrics and tunes that “His eye is on the sparrow.”

Prayers and blessings!

Pastor Barry †

Jeremiah 17:5-10, I Corinthians 15:12-20 and Luke 6:17-26

Lots of contrasts in these three scriptures! Today we might speak of “winners and losers.” There are those who “get it” and those “who don’t.”

For instance, Jeremiah says there are those who trust in God and those who “trust in mortals.” One is like a tree planted close to water and the other like a shrub in the dry desert! Paul says you either believe in the resurrection of the dead and Christ or you don’t. If you don’t…..you are still in your sins!

In Luke 6 Jesus speaks of the poor and the hungry versus the rich and the full. You might guess that Jesus doesn’t have much good to say about the rich and those who are already full!

Contrast. Winners and losers. I would hold forth for a third possibility: that people genuinely can be in these “negative” categories but can also be seeking for change! The rich might well be open to change toward NOT trusting in riches. Those who put their trust in “mortals” might be open to CHANGING their trust toward God.

We can hope. We can try to give people the “benefit of the doubt.” We look on the outside but God looks on the heart. And we know that “love is patient…..long suffering.”

People can and do change. They may well be “moved by the Spirit” to seek the things of God. And I include myself and perhaps you in this seeking to change an identity. The old Christian term for this is “sanctification” or more the modern wording “transformation.”

Yes, we can grow from being a “shrub in the desert” to a “tree planted close to needed waters.”

Let’s join the seekers group today!

Prayers and blessings!

Pastor Barry †

Isaiah 6:1-8, I Corinthians 15:1-11 and Luke 5:1-11

Isaiah’s vision comes close to either a bizarre dream or the opening scene of a technicolor adventure movie! Six winged angels, smoke all around, shaking, hot coals to the lips, and a sending forth! God says to Isaiah, “I have something for you to do.”

Luke’s passage of a unexpected catch of fish and a dramatic initial putting together a team is less fantastic but nonetheless makes for a powerful beginning of the Greatest Story Ever Told. Jesus says, “I’m putting a team together!”

Then Paul reminds the folks at the Corinth church of their faith history as well as his history which he says was not admirable at first. He encourages them (and him) by telling all that they have received (grace), they stand in that unmerited divine favor now and as a result are being saved in it going forward for the rest of their lives!

Paul recounts the basics of the Christ story and where we fit in to that story.

Visions and launching vocations, frequent reminders of what we are about, and being a part of a grand group experience are various ways of talking about being the church!

Don’t miss this! We will gather in person and on line this first Sunday in February and “receive, stand, and keep being saved!”

Prayers and blessings!

Pastor Barry †

Jeremiah 1:4-10, I Corinthians 13:1-13 and Luke 4:21-30

Whether we hear well or not, we attend to people every day bringing each of us a message. Someone in school, work, government, church, media, community or in mission has something to say to us.

It sure seems like the person of faith, a follower of Jesus, would be “listening up” each day for a message, a guidance, from God. It might be when you read a devotional, study the Bible, attend worship or join a time of fellowship. A Word for you is available.

Our three lectionary scriptures bring us a diversity of messages. Jeremiah says first you need a messenger. God calls preachers, prophets, and laity to bring a word from God by words and deeds. And we might get the “gold standard” of all scriptural messages, the love chapter in Corinthians.

When we do this kind of love then surely the “Kingdom of God is in our midst.” But some words from God through Jesus may well “set some people off!” The passage in Luke says after Jesus spoke in the synagogue some wanted to throw him off a cliff!!

Message, proclaimer, and response. Love of God, neighbor, and self is the ultimate but HOW that is spelled out may take many paths and may get all sorts of reactions. This can all be quite challenging but does make for an interesting, exciting, meaningful life!

So, let’s “listen in” this Sunday worship and other message moments and see what responses appear during the days ahead!

Blessings!!

Pastor Barry †

Isaiah 62:1-5, I Corinthians 12:1-11 and John 2:1-11

We are staying with the John 2 text and the same sermon for Jan 23rd that would have been for last Sunday, our snowed out Sunday!
(See last week’s blog message) https://kedronumc.org/blog/?p=1595 

The John text was just interesting to work with!!

Blessings,

Pastor Barry

Isaiah 62:1-5, I Corinthians 12:1-11 and John 2:1-11

The Gospel of John presents Jesus beginning his ministry during a wedding, a joyous occasion in most any culture. Jesus is present with both his mother Mary and his new group of followers, his disciples.

This helps us draw close to his humanity and see how he affirms the people, places and moments in daily life. He doesn’t remove himself from the world we know but finds ways to bless and encourage.

As the week long tradition draws to a close, the wedding beverages are noticed to be in short supply. Jesus meets a relatively minor need using the divine power within himself. Why not help the hosts of the wedding? No reason for them to be embarrassed by a lack of wine.

What should also strike us as remarkable is His use of water reserved for ritual purification! The ritual washing of hands and even clothing was ever present so as not to violate proper cleanliness to honor God the holy. The water was required and necessary as well. Will there be enough ritual water now?!

From routine water for washing comes good wine not second rate wine! The time is still ongoing for celebrating the wedding couple and the extended family and community. “Enjoy,” says Jesus. Purification is fine in its place but celebration goes one better than being ritually clean! Abundant life indeed! (anticipating the abundant life of John 10:10).

Here is a profound message for all of us including Mary the proud mother, his new followers, the larger wedding party, and us today. God is able and willing to emphasize the good things in this world which is the Creation of God to begin with!

Blessings in the reading and hearing of this Word from God!

Pastor Barry †

Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17 and Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

On January 9th the first Sunday after the Epiphany, we celebrate Baptism of our Lord. Our sermon title is Baptism – Road Sign? The scriptures are Isaiah 43:1-7, Acts 8:14-17 and Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Worship this Sunday will include the Luke passage about the baptism of Jesus. We in turn will renew our congregational Baptismal Covenant.

We as United Methodists recognize two Sacraments, Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. Both are “outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace.” One marks a beginning of a journey and the other is like “food” throughout the journey. We are people who have “signpost.” Those moments and events which point us in a direction.

The road of life needs markers and means of guidance. God has supplied us with at least two through life in the church. Gratitude and humility and service are our response. All people need guidance. Some are reluctant to ask and try to go it alone. Sometimes a false pride in our own power and strength blinds us to our dependence upon the Creator, the Savior.

It’s interesting that on January 9, 1928 in Nashville, TN “The Seeing Eye,” the first school to train dogs to guide the blind was opened. We are all spiritually impaired and need guidance. We all need guidance on January 9, 2022 and onward. Baptism by “water and the Spirit and fire” is intended to open our spiritual eyes and help us see throughout this world and beyond.

God bless us as we celebrate our Lord’s own Baptism and renew our congregational covenant in this New Year.

Pastor Barry †

Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 1:3-14 and John 1:1-18

Our first Sunday in 2022 brings us Holy Communion and a meditation upon Law and Gospel. It is right and good to ask between Christmas and Epiphany (Jan 6) just WHAT did Christ bring that Moses did not?!

John 1 clearly says Moses brought the Law while Jesus brought Grace and Truth. All are good but there are differences and what better time to review those differences than as a New Year rolls in! We tend to compare and contrast the past year with the hopes for the New One. We can do something similar with Law and Gospel.

I came upon the sermon title while sitting at the entrance to Kohl’s department store on the last Wednesday in 2021. Some 20 minutes to observe quietly the comings and goings and the setting of that moment. I highly recommend just sitting and observing whenever you get the opportunity!! Invariably you can discover something spiritual in those moments! All I will hint at now is the image of Moses and Jesus and I sitting on the benches going into Kohl’s! If you can, do something similar before worship this Sunday January 2!

Blessings on your observations upon the New Year 2022 this coming week.

Pastor Barry †

I Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Colossians 3:12-17 and Luke 2:41-52

We often hear it said, “Christmas is about the children.” True enough. But kids keep growing and the Christmases add up! What would you hope has stayed with you as you remember your childhood? Or with any child, teen, or now an adult?

Our texts point to two examples in the boy Samuel and the almost teen Jesus. And Colossians just about sums up what most any of us would hope for past the presents, gifts, parties, and fun of the holiday. It’s a holy life that is not so much “pious” as it is practical in its influence upon others. A life fulfilled and complete when words and deeds come together such that love is the result. Care and empathy shine forth.

Prophets, kings, apostles, disciples all participate in “holy living” but only to a degree. Ultimately we only have the Life, Death, Resurrection of Jesus to point to as holy. Thus, we are followers of perfect love as imperfect as we are. To aspire to love and to do so in faith is our calling.

But it’s great to have even those imperfect examples. At most any age, kids on up! Most people, in their imperfection and uniqueness leave some of the impact of their talent with us. We can be grateful for that. And always look to Jesus as the perfected love that sustains us forever.

May your Christmas Season be meaningful!

Pastor Barry †