1/25/15 – Jonathan Chute – “Letting Go”
Sermon: Sermon
On the third Sunday after the Epiphany, we continue to explore the call of God as it comes to people who had something else in mind. Our first scripture comes from the book of Jonah. When he hears God’s voice, it tells him to bring a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. He is reluctant to do so, because he fears that God is going to forgive them. He does not want them to repent. He wants God to destroy them instead.
In our gospel we watch as Jesus begins his ministry by the side of the Sea of Galilee. He calls two sets of brothers, all fishermen, to follow him. This is NOT what any of them had in mind! It is hard to imagine how they could walk away from their lives and work so suddenly. But they leave their nets, leave their families, and follow. The texts for Jonathan’s sermon are Jonah 3:1-5 & 10, and Mark 1:14-20, and his title is “Letting Go.”
Scripture: Scripture
1/18/15 – Jonathan Chute – “Hearing the Call”
Sermon: Sermon
This Sunday our focus turns toward the calling of God, and our recognition of God’s voice in our lives. The first story is of the call of Samuel, who is woken up in the middle of the night by a voice that speaks his name. He is serving God in the temple at Shiloh, in a time when God’s word was not often heard by people. Samuel assumes that the voice belongs to Eli, the priest he assists in temple service. It takes a while before the two of them realize who it is that is speaking.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, our gospel tells of the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. His “coming out” as Messiah continues as he calls people to become his disciples. We don’t know very much about them before they meet Jesus. But when he speaks they hear something they’ve never heard before, and recognize it almost immediately.
The first reading is 1 Samuel 3:1-10, and the gospel text is John 1:43-51. Jonathan’s sermon title is “Hearing the Call.”
Scripture: Scripture
1/11/15 – Jonathan Chute – “Who We Are”
Sermon: Sermon
This Sunday we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. Mark’s gospel begins with a bang. Jesus goes out to the Jordan to be baptized by John, along with many others. But who is Jesus, exactly? Mark tells us more about John the Baptist – his unusual style of dress and taste in food – than about Jesus himself. Mark also describes the baptism itself quite simply. Only afterward, as Jesus comes out of the water, is it clear that something extraordinary has taken place. He sees the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending in the form of a dove. A voice calls out from above, claiming and blessing him. The text for Jonathan’s sermon is Mark 1:4-11, and his title is “Who We Are.”
Scripture: Scripture
1/04/15 – Doug Dickson – “Hold On Tight
Sermon: Sermon
From the beginning of the Church’s celebration of Christmas, around 336 AD, believers brought gifts to one another in honor of the Son of God whose birth we commemorate. The Magi brought gifts of great value to the young Messiah to honor and worship him. What gift can we bring? What present–what token of our devotion to God’s newborn Son? The text for Doug’s sermon is Matthew 2:1-12, and his title is “Hold On Tight.”
Scripture: Scripture
