Easter Sunrise

Easter Sunrise 2009
Leader in plain text
People in bold text

For a year and more we had followed him.

We learned from him.
We ate with him.

One of our own turned him over to the 
authorities.

We ran away.
We looked for places to hide.

In one day our whole world changed.

We were warned.
We were not ready.

He was the one we thought would save us.

We had no idea.
We were wrong AND right.

His burial was not finished so spices were gathered

We knew our duty
We knew what had to be done

A heavy stone had been rolled in front of the tomb

We knew where the tomb was
We had seen the stone 

The stone had been moved, and the tomb was empty.

We don't know what to do.
We never expected any of this.

An angel greeted us and instructed us.

We had made a mistake.
We were looking for the living among the dead.

For our sins he died.
By his death we were set free
and eternal life is ours to claim.

Christ has died
Christ has died
Christ has risen
Christ has risen
Christ will come again.
Christ will come again.
AMEN

KOG: Dandelion Poof

The kingdom of Heaven is like a Dandelion poof. Though it is one of the smallest of seeds, those seeds are blown on the wind to wherever they can take root. Roots that grow as deep as they can, and can only be removed by digging. Roots that if left alone will always spout anew. In the shallowest and roughest of places they grow and prosper. In the most manicured and precise of lawns they take root and prosper. As they prosper they send out other seeds on the wind throughout the earth.

Matthew 13:31–32, Mark 4:30–32, and Luke 13:18–19

KOG: Writer

The kingdom of God is like a writer. Whose publisher put her book on shelves in every bookshop, grocery store, and market that would take it.

Some people read the cover and never took it off the shelf.

Some people read the cover and took the book home, where it sat on their shelf and was never read.

Some people took the book home, read it from cover to cover wrote a little review for their social media but never really changed anything.

One group took the book home, read it thoroughly, marked it up, shared it with their friends, and used it to make life better for those around them.

Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:1-15.

Share a Cookie

Six years ago I shared a message of Cookies and Good News at my moms funeral. Today I remind everybody to not be greedy with their cookies.

Who will you share a cookie with today?

Will it be someone who shared a cookie with you before?

Will it be someone who liked the cookie you gave them last time?
Will it be a recipe you have never tried before?
Will it have flavors from other places?
Cookies are Good News
Go share your cookies with your world.

God is A Gardener

So much of the time we hear of God as a warrior, a protector, a guardian. But are there any other “job descriptions” that God has? I went looking for one, because I felt there had to be another way. I went looking for God not for war but for peace. I went looking for God not as one more voice for violence but for peace.

I found one, and it is an amazingly large one. God is a Gardener. 

God will till, plow, plant, water, weed, prune, harvest, feed the people, and give us a dream for what is yet to come.

It then falls to us to follow God’s lead. Planting, watering, pruning, harvesting, sharing, and dreaming. 

Let us grow not just plants but souls. Not just our own spirits but the spirits of those around us. Helping each other to grow deeper in God. Supporting each other in times of storm and drought. Stripping away the things that separate us from God’s love. Creating a harvest of joy and peace. Always remembering to continue to dream, not just our own dreams, but God’s dreams. 

Matthew 5.2-11

Blessed are those who know the garden isn’t theirs, but tend it anyway.

Blessed are those who’s sadness waters the garden, joy shall rise up around them.

Blessed are those who work without being pushy, everything will come up in its time.

Blessed are those who are focused on God’s harvest, knowing the grace that is coming.

Blessed are those who plant mercy around them, their crop will be huge.

Blessed are those who are looking for God, God will always be near them.

Blessed are those who grow peace, God has made them children of the Garden.

Blessed are those who are made fun of for working in God’s Garden, many before you were treated the same way and God cared for them, watched over them, and made them prosper.

Sermon Titles 

God Planted a Garden

God Planted the Human

A Land of Plenty

What is sown is reaped.

You Never Know what might Grow or where.

What Grows Dies First

How is it with your Soil

Fruit or Firewood

Transplants and Graftings

When in Drought

Wheat and Weeds

The Growing Belongs to God

Cut it Back to Make it Grow

Leave the Leftovers

Abundance comes from God

Bring God the Harvest

A Giving of Thanks

The Garden That is to Come (I have this one set as the Sunday before Advent)

Creed 2009

I believe in the ONE

  who was before all things

  and from whom all things come

I believe in Jesus Christ

  who is my Lord and my God

  who bore my sin and my shame

  who died and rose again

  who prepares a place for all those who choose to follow him

I believe in the Holy Spirit

  who is present with us and within us

  who gives us the power and courage to forgive

  who calls us together as the church

    for prayer

    for praise

    for teaching

    for reaching out

    for LIVING as the redeemed children of a Living and Loving GOD

AMEN

Of Course I See Color!

Of course I see color!

What is the point of a rainbow it's just the streak of red? 

What is the point of flowers if they are the same hue as the grass? 

What is the point of sky without sunset and sunrise that separates us from endless dark?

Of course I see color!

We are made of the earth. 

Black and red soils. 

White and grey and brown clays. 

Black and white and tan beaches and dunes. 

Even when we cannot see the ground we are still formed from it and by it.

Of course I see color! 

Following the brilliant tones of the wings around us. 

Following stripes and spots on hoof and paw. 

Following fierce manes and sleek furs. 

We decorate ourselves in cloth and color. 

We decorate our bodies and homes.

Of course I see color! 

Of course I see you. 

Of course you are important to me. 

In you I see the marvelous variety of the Image of God.