Second Sunday of Easter 4/27/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Your Turn”
Sermon: Jonathan Chute
This week’s gospel describes the appearance of the risen Christ to his disciples, early on the evening of the resurrection. He finds them still in Jerusalem, locked in fear behind the doors of the house where they were staying. Over the next days he makes several attempts to reach his friends with the hope and peace they cannot seem to find. Just as he kept working with them before, he does not give up on them now.
Scripture – Scripture
Easter Sunday 4/20/14 – Jonathan Chute – “From the Other Side”
Sermon: Jonathan Chute
Easter celebrates the central truth of the Christian story, that God’s grace and forgiveness are more powerful than sin and death. Yet the first Easter was an uncertain time for those who lived through it.
Early on the first day of the week two women come to the tomb, where the body of Jesus had been laid. It is guarded by soldiers and sealed with a large stone. As they arrive the earth shakes, and they find an angel sitting on the stone, who tells them that Jesus has been raised from the dead and will meet them in Galilee. They run to tell the others, trembling “with fear and great joy.” As they go, the risen Christ meets them with a word of hope for all who have lost their way.
Scripture – Scripture
Palm Sunday
4/13/14 – Jonathan Chute – Palm Sunday
Sermon: Jonathan Chute
A series of moments from the last days of Jesus’ life: Palm Sunday launches the week at the heart of the Christian year. On Sunday morning the services open with the waving of palm branches and the joyful procession of children. Our gospel text is a series of moments from the last days of Jesus’ life. That story begins with an act of generosity by an unknown woman, showing her love for him as she anoints him with an expensive oil. It continues through the night of the Last Supper, when Jesus is arrested and the disciples flee in fear. Later he is brought before Caiaphas, the High Priest, and Pilate, the governor. Then he is led out to be crucified. At the end he cries out from the cross, and a Roman soldier sees in his death something more than others have realized. The story of Holy Week is a drama of grace and love, gathering Christians around the world as we give thanks for a gift beyond all measure.
Scripture – Scripture
5th Sunday of Lent
4/06/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Same Story, Different Tomb” –
Sermon: Jonathan Chute
John 11: 1-45. In this week’s gospel Mary and Martha face the death of Lazarus, their brother. The two sisters ask Jesus to come while Lazarus is still alive. But Jesus seems not to want to hurry. By the time he does arrive his friend is dead and buried. The scene at the house is familiar to anyone who has lost a family member. People are anxious and upset. No one quite knows what to do. Lazarus is dead. That much is obvious. Mary weeps. Jesus goes to the tomb. The stone is closed over the opening. The participants in the story don’t know it yet, but we are about to see that “dead and buried” doesn’t mean what it used to.
Scripture – Scripture
