August 2, 2020 – April Herron “Limping Along With God”
Sermon: sermon
Jacob’s story continues this week as we find him on the brink of returning to the place of his birth. Jacob has worked for his uncle Laban for twenty years, gained wives and children, and prospered in the management of his and his father-in-law’s flocks. Laban’s sons feel jealous and resentful of Jacob’s success. As tension in the family rises, Jacob receives a message from God. “Return to the land of your ancestors and your kindred, and I will be with you,” says the Lord. After a series of negotiations, Jacob manages to depart on good terms with Laban. However, as he and his entourage approach a reunion with Jacob’s twin brother Esau, another set of anxieties surface. Will Esau still be angry over the ways Jacob cheated him all those years ago? After praying to God for deliverance from danger, Jacob sends wave after wave of generous gifts and flattering messages to his brother. Jacob knows the moment of reckoning is very near. Our scripture reading for Sunday, August 2, is Genesis 32:22-31. April’s sermon title is, “Limping Along With God.”
Scripture: scripture
August 9, 2020 – Diane Rehfield “Dreams and Nightmares”
Sermon: sermon
Dreams play a big part in many of the stories from the Bible. Dreams have played a part in more modern days as well. Sometimes the pursuit of our dreams can lead us into scary places before they finally become a dream come true. Joseph is a dreamer. His dreams cause much strife between him and his brothers; so much strife in fact that they want to kill him, or at least make him go away from them forever. Keeping with family tradition, they use deception to hide their part in his disappearance. It seems as though the dreams have led to a nightmare for Joseph. Our scripture for August 9 is Genesis 37:1-28. Diane’s sermon is titled, “Dreams and Nightmares.”
Scripture: scripture
August 16, 2020 – April Herron “Surprise Beginning”
Sermon: sermon
Last week’s scripture text from Genesis 37 ended when Joseph was sold by his brothers to a group of traders on their way to Egypt. Today’s text describes a reunion of the brothers that no one could have imagined possible, way back when Jacob was being presented with horrifying evidence that his beloved 17-year-old son was dead. In the intervening years, Joseph has spent time as a reliable servant in a wealthy house, a disgraced prisoner, a long-suffering manager, an interpreter of dreams, and the Egyptian pharaoh’s right hand man, with unlimited power to organize the entire economy. The brothers are totally unaware of all these developments, and Jacob has continued to grieve the loss of his precious boy, even though a younger son named Benjamin has come along to console his hurting heart. Then, famine strikes. In desperation, Jacob advises the ten clueless sons to go to Egypt and buy grain. He has heard that Egypt has saved up a supply. The brothers make the journey. After extended, frightening, and complicated negotiations with an all-powerful official, a stunning scene unfolds. The reading is from Genesis 45:1-15. April’s sermon for August 16 and beyond is, “Surprise Beginning.”
Scripture: scripture
August 23, 2020 – Jonathan Chute “Five on One”
Sermon: sermon
We continue our summer journey through the history of God’s people, picking up with the book of Exodus. Several centuries after the death of Joseph, his descendants have grown in number, though they are now enslaved in Egypt. Pharaoh worries that there are too many of them, and fears they will rise up against his people. He imposes ruthless conditions on them, and orders that all newborn Hebrew boys shall be killed. In the midst of this terror and threat, a baby is born. And at this key moment, a small group of women refuse to go along with the king’s order. Their defiance of authority is the only reason the child survives, and the story continues. The text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Five on One,” is Exodus 1:8-2:10.
Scripture: scripture
August 30, 2020 – Jonathan Chute “Not Finished”
Sermon: sermon
Though he is raised within the house of Pharaoh, Moses understands that he is a Hebrew. When he sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave he strikes and kills him. When the news of his deed comes out Moses flees for his life. In the hill country of Midian, east of Egypt, he stops by a well for a drink. He sees a group of shepherds harassing some women as they draw water for their flock. He comes to their defense and chases the others away. When the women report to their father what happened, he invites Moses into his home and family. Far from the trouble in Egypt, it seems that he has found a place to settle. Exodus 2:11-22 is the text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Not Finished.”
Scripture: scripture
