United Methodist Chucks

As we begin our Easter series, Mystery of Faith, we start with "Christ Has Died." Palm Sunday can sometimes push the crucifixion to the side. What is the mystery of faith in the death of Jesus? What can we learn from the mix of joy, sorrow, and hope? Come join the Easter exploration of faith! Our scripture reading comes from Luke 23:1-49.

Our final message from These 40 Days is "Celebrate the Now." Are we so busy preparing for tomorrow that we forget today? Do we appreciate the people around us? Do we let others know that we are grateful?  Let these 40 days be a time of preparation and revelation. Our scripture readings come from Isaiah 43:16-21 and John 12:1-8.

The latest message in These 40 Days is "Be Reconciled." We are called to be reconciled to God, but what does that include? Do we put off doing important things? Should we? Let these 40 days be a time of preparation and revelation. Our scripture readings come from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 and Luke 15:1-3,11b-32.

This Sunday brings us to the third message in These 40 Days. "Live Fruitfully" looks at how we live. Do we produce good spiritual fruits? Does fear keep us from doing all the good we could do? And do we all share the same fate? Let these 40 days be a time of preparation and revelation. Our scripture readings come from Isaiah 55:1-9 and Luke 13:1-9.

As we continue in These 40 Days we come to "Stand Firm." Jesus and Paul both give examples if standing firm in faith. How do we handle doing things that are difficult? Do we use what limited time we have well? What happens when we are weak? Let these 40 days be a time of preparation and revelation. Our scripture readings come from Philippians 3:17-4:1 and Luke 13:31-35.

As we begin These 40 Days, our series for Lent, we begin with "Pass the Test." The story of Jesus being tempted paints a picture of his to pass the test of or own faith. But what should we learn from it? Do we ever put God to the test? How do we use our time? Do we use it wisely? Let these 40 days be a time of preparation and revelation. Our scripture readings come from Romans 10:8b-13 and Luke 4:1-13.

The last message in Being Transformed is "Transformed to Boldness" and looks at the way we are transformed to boldly proclaim the message of Christ. This is a deeply personal message today. How do we lift the veil to see the divine? Is our boldness in proclaiming Christ in proclaiming a message of good news for the least and the last? Is our boldness in breaking the yoke of oppression? Is our boldness that in God we can proclaim all these things and still have more to say? Let us make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! Our scripture reading comes from Luke 9:28-36 and 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2.

Today's message in the Being Transformed series is "Transformed to Mercy," and continues in Luke from last week. What does it mean to be transformed to mercy? Why should we choose love? What do we lose when we judge others? How can we change the world? Let us make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! Our scripture reading comes from Luke 6:27-38.

Today's message is the first in our Being Transformed series. "Transformed to Greatness" explores how we are changed by doing God's work. In what ways does God encourage us to change? When we change ourselves, how do we experience God?What do we find when we humble ourselves to serve instead of seeking to be served? How does God transform us in this life? Let us make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! Our scripture reading comes from Luke 6:17-26.

The last part of our Facing Doubts series is "Am I Good Enough?" How do we see ourselves? Do we feel we are good enough? Do we see ourselves how God sees us? Do we see others through human eyes? What happens when we view them through Christ?  Let love cast out fear as we face our doubts. Our scripture reading comes from Luke 5:1-11.

The second message in the Facing Doubts series is "Am I Special?" This week we take a look at the things that cause us to feel we aren't special. As we explore these doubts, we also explore the people we see called in the Bible. What kind of people does God use? Are we really special? Do we have a place in the church? With God? Let love cast out fear as we face our doubts. Our scripture reading comes from Jeremiah 1:4-10.

We begin our new series, Facing Doubts, with "Do I Belong?" Weall have fears and doubts. What happens when we doubt that we belong? What is our role in the church to welcome others? Who does Christ welcome in? Do we follow his example? Let love cast out fear as we face our doubts. Our scripture reading comes from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a.

Today's message is the last in our Christmas Spirit series and covers the "Spirit of Acceptance." What can we learn from the acceptance of the Holy Spirit? What about the acceptance of the early disciples? How can we practice God's radical love? Keep the Spirit of Christmas with you all through the year. Today's scripture readings come from Acts 8:14-17 and Luke 3:15-17,21-22. There will be no new message next week, as I will be on vacation.

Our next message in Christmas Spirit is "Spirit of Praise." We often focus on the wise men brining gifts, but what happens after? How did that gift of praise impact others? How do we keep a spirit of praise year round? Keep the Spirit of Christmas with you all through the year. Our scripture readings come from Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12.

Our first series after Christmas is Christmas Spirit. Our first message is "Spirit of Growth" and we look at how we keep Christmas with us. After the holiday is over, what happens to all that good will? The kindness? Keep the Spirit of Christmas with you all through the year. Our scripture readings come from 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 and Luke 2:41-52.

Tonight we have a special Christmas Eve message. "Child of Light" is the final message of Advent Children. How do we keep Christ in Christmas? Love. Merry Christmas to you all!

"Child of Peace" is our last Sunday in Advent Children. As we look to Christmas we ask a difficult question. How does one prepare for peace? What does peace mean to us? How do we share peace? We experience the advent of Christ as a child of God. Our scripture reading comes from Micah 5:2-5a.

Our third installment of Advent Children is "Child of Redemption" and looks at our salvation. What does it mean to be redeemed by God? Do we act as if we are saved? Do we show thankfulness? Do we share that gift with others, freely and joyfully? We experience the advent of Christ as a child of God. Our scripture reading comes from Zephaniah 3:14-20.

Our second message in Advent Children is "Child of Righteousness" and continues our Advent preparation. Can we make ourselves righteous on our own? What really lasts in our lives? What does it mean to be made righteous? We experience the advent of Christ as a child of God. Our scripture reading comes from Malachi 3:1-4.

We start our Advent series today. "Child of Promise" is the first sermon in the Advent Children series. How do we see God's promise in Jeremiah? Is it about the birth of the Messiah? Jesus in our lives today? Christ yet to come? Or is it all those things? We experience the advent of Christ as a child of God. Our scripture reading comes from Jeremiah 33:14-16.