When Rules Don’t Help – August 16, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 15: 6-20 

So you do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. Hypocrites! Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their worship of me is empty since they teach instructions that are human rules.” (Matthew 15:6-9)

When human instructions take over in our faith journey, and they don’t follow God’s commandment to love, we are displeasing to God. Learning to discern when we are following humans rather than God is an important part of our faith journey- and often leads us into paths that are rather dangerous and unpopular.

When We Begin to Sink – Aug 9, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 14: 22-33

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed. Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”  And Jesus said, “Come.”  (Matthew 14:26-29)

Following Jesus can be a scary proposition, even as it draws us in, feeds us, and helps us embrace new challenges. But Jesus always bids us to come, to confront our fears, and to trust that he will be there to grab our hands when we begin to sink.

There’s Plenty for Lunch – August 2, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 14: 13-21

But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to me.” (Matthew 14:16)

The story starts with the disciples lamenting the lack of food for the huge crowd that was there to listen to Jesus. The radical learning? When we are following Jesus and standing together in love, there is always enough. 

A Plethora of Parables – July 26, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 13: 31-33; 44-52

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough.” (Matthew 13:33)

The parables of the mustard seed, the yeast, the treasure, the merchant, the net and the treasure chest all give us glimpses of the abundance of God’s kingdom…and what acceptance of the abundance can mean for us as Jesus followers. Why and how was this radical news?

Seeds and Weeds – July 19, 2020

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Seeds and Weeds – July 19, 2020

Scripture: Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43

“The servants of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Master, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?’ (Matthew 13:27)

Why, when we try so hard to do what is right, do we still see so much hatred and division and evil in the world?  God plants good seed…how do we get weeds, and what do we do about them? How this different way of looking at the world truly includes all who desire to grow in God.

Scattered Seeds and Readied Soils – July 12, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 13: 1-9;18-23   Other seed fell on good soil and bore fruit, in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one. (Matthew 13:8) 

Both what is planted and the ground in which it is planted are crucial for growth—both in farming and in the church. How do we as a church determine what seeds to plant, and how to cultivate our community to receive what God wants to plant?

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Finding Rest for Your Souls – July 5, 2020

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Rev. Susan Holden preaching

Scripture: Matthew 11: 25-30 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 28-30)

Six years after Wreck It Ralph, Ralph and Vanellope are now life-long best friends. Their lives couldn’t be more perfect, until Vanellope’s game, Sugar Rush is broken and unplugged. But luckily, thanks to the newly installed WI-FI router in the arcade, Ralph and Vanellope now embark on an adventure to find a Sugar Rush steering wheel and save Vanellope’s game. But on their journey, Vanellope discovers a new place she would like to call home and it causes some insecurity in Ralph which strains their relationship. In the end, there is only one thing he can do.

Bohemian Rhapsody: Finding Welcome – June 28, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” (Matthew 10:40)

Bohemian Rhapsody is a biographical drama about Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the British rock band Queen. The band reached unparalleled success in the 1970’s but Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, eventually shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. 

Freddie Mercury was the least likely person to be a rock star and in scripture we see God use the least likely people to accomplish his will. Queen describes themselves as misfits welcoming other misfits and scripture tells us Jesus welcomed the outsiders. Freddie let success and fame destroy himself and his relationship with others. Scripture reminds us that pride goes before a fall. With the help of his friend Mary, Freddie gets his life together and reconciles with the band. Jesus tells us if we want to be right with God we need to be right with others first.

Mary Poppins Returns: Finding Life in Unlikely Places – June 21, 2020

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Scripture: Matthew 10:24-39

Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)

In Depression-era London, a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. Through her unique magical skills, and with the aid of her friend Jack, she helps the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. So where does this story point us toward the Gospel?

Crazy Rich Asians: Hope Does Not Disappoint Us – June 14, 2020

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Scripture: Romans 5:1-8

And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

Crazy Rich Asians is a 2018 Romantic Comedy based on the 2013 novel of the same name. The film follows native New Yorker and Chinese American Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family. Rachel is shocked to find out that her boyfriend’s family are the biggest real estate developers in Singapore and extremely wealthy. The film deals with Rachel trying to be accepted by his family. So where does this film point us toward the Gospel?