Generous to a Fault – Septemeber 24, 2017

by | Sep 27, 2017 | Uncategorized

Philippians 1.21-30 and Matthew 20.1-16 Generous to a Fault OPENING | Stings Attached and Rivalry among Church Members and Factory Workers…                                                                                                                         but what about God? 09.24.17 Generous to a Fault Philippians 1.21-30 and Matthew...

April 9, 2017 Amazed by A Turn of Mysterious Events

by | Apr 11, 2017 | Uncategorized

Read Pastor Marty’s sermon….04.09.17 An Amazing Turn of Mysterious Events Matthew 21 23 and 27 April 9, 2017 Amazed by A Turn of Mysterious Events Matthew 21.1-11 | Matthew 23.37-39 | Matthew 27.32-38   Poetic/Witness OPENING | To Boldly Go… Live Long and Prosper [Place Star Trek Enterprise on top of pulpit]  SLIDE #33:  Starship Enterprise This is a model of the Starship Enterprise from Star   If any adult like myself has such a model of the Enterprise, it is a big hint that I am a true Trekkie!   I must confess that I have been a fan of Star Trek since I was a child.   Growing up in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, I was drawn to the story of hope embedded in that TV show. The story talked about a future where humanity had overcome its warring against one another. Much of human violence and poverty and racial hated were now in the past. The crew of the Starship were now explorers, as their mission said, “to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.”   Watching the other TV channels about the war in Vietnam and then about the corruption of our government, that story caught my imagination and still does.   There is a rather quirky and queer connection between the hope of Star Trek and the hope that we hear overflowing from the story of Jesus today.   Several years ago, Leonard Nimoy wrote his memoirs, entitled, I am Not Spock. As he told his story, he mentioned a little mysterious event that...

March 19, 2017 Embracing Space for Grace Exodus 17.1-7 | John 4.5-42

by | Mar 18, 2017 | Sermons

                March 19, 2017 Embracing Space for Grace Exodus 17.1-7 | John 4.5-42 03.19.17 John 4.5-42 Embracing Space for Grace   SLIDE 36 | SERMON TITLE   OPENING | Messy Church, Messy Leaders   Imagine a mess.  A little chaos.   What makes a mess in your world?   Where are you feeling a little chaos?   SLIDE 37   In the landscape of the Spirit, this messy chaos is imagined to be like the wilderness. It’s a place undefined and constantly shifting. It is a place of vulnerability where life can feel like it is threatened. Life’s nourishment seems to be scarce, and home appears to be far away. And so we find ourselves often mumbling and grumbling.   This woman from the region of Samaria came to Jacob’s well in the heat of the day. She came alone at that deserted time of the day because her life among the villagers was like a wilderness. Because of her “alternative lifestyle,” as we say today, she would have been rejected and ridiculed by those in her village. Sometimes relationships with others can be like a wilderness, can’t they?   This weekend I had the privilege of enjoying a friend of mine in Sheboygan play the role of “Big Mama” in Tennessee Williams’ play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I don’t know if you remember that drama, but, at the very least, it is a tale of a family wilderness. They may all be together in a big house,        but home is so very far away.   So what happened...