February 19/Transfiguration Sunday
Message: “One Moment in Time”
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 50:1-6
New Testament Reading: Mark 9:2-9
In God’s strange economy of time, glimpses of light, of visions, of God’s presence come and go. Frequently they come out of times of prayer and reflection to those who listen, and are open to them, and they are avenues to new life and growth.
February 26/First Sunday in Lent
Message: “Noah”
New Testament Reading: I Peter 3:18-22
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 9: 8-17
Through these texts we see Noah, ourselves at times on the outside,
and God who acts in judgment and grace. Like Noah, we are called to
build something different. The rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant of
hope and love.
March 4 (Series on the Disciples)
Message: “Andrew/The First Evangelist”
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 61: 1-3
New Testament References: John 1:35-42, John 6:5-9a, John 12: 20-26: Mark 1:4-11
Andrew was always bringing someone to Jesus…the boy with 5 barley loaves and two fish, Greeks seeking to meet Jesus (Greeks to this day refer to Andrew as “First Called.”) Andrew–an example of generosity, maturity and inclusiveness.
March 11
Message: “Matthew/The Tax Collector and Simon/The Zealot”
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 67
New Testament References: Matthew 9:9-13, 10:1-4
Palestine, an occupied country, evoked two very different reactions.
Matthew, a pragmatic Jew, worked for the Romans.
Simon became part of a revolutionary movement to end Roman occupation.
Jesus called two who could not be further apart in ideology.
In doing so he reveals the heart of God and stretches us to see
breath of grace–you and me and those we consider outsiders,
working together…with “malice toward none and charity toward all.”
March 18
Message: “James and his brother, John/The Beloved Disciple”
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118: 1-4, 14, 24
New Testament References: Mark 1:16-20, Matthew 20:20-23,
Luke 9:51-56; I John 3:1-2, 4:10-11.
James and his younger brother John were referred to as “Sons of Thunder”.
Products of their growing years—busy fathers, strong determined mother?
Jesus revealed to them what unconditional love was all about.
That love formed and reformed him into “Beloved Disciple.”