Jesus told us that his followers should be "salty"--have a particular taste, and particular uses, when compared to the broader culture.
Keeping ourselves salty, however, can be a challenge--but this quick assessment from Christianity Today can remind us how to keep a unique Christian flavor in all parts of our lives.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Food for the body and for the soul
Thanks to all who brought food for the hungry last month. Today we delivered at least eight sacks of groceries to the food bank at First United Methodist Church. The staff there reports more requests for assistance than is typical at this time of the year. We’ll bring food again on the third Sunday of May (May 16).
Our “month of experiments” in worship will continue Sunday with repeated, meditative readings of the sermon text and the interplay of images with the sermon and the Lord’s Prayer. We’ll also sing the contemporary hymn “Child of God” (which some of you might remember from a while back).
To prepare for worship, read Acts 11.1-18, which tells of a strange dream that Peter had that helped him see that God was extending the covenant beyond Israel to include the Gentiles. And then look at the hot water he gets himself into! In the sermon, we’ll explore at one way the conflict in this scripture is being played out in the contemporary church.
Our other readings will be Revelation 21:1-6, about the arrival of the New Jerusalem—God’s perfect community in the fullness of time—and John 13:31-35, in which Jesus gives us a new commandment related to love. We’ll also sing “Spirit of the Living God” and “Today We All Are Called to be Disciples.”
Hoping to see you Sunday—
Our “month of experiments” in worship will continue Sunday with repeated, meditative readings of the sermon text and the interplay of images with the sermon and the Lord’s Prayer. We’ll also sing the contemporary hymn “Child of God” (which some of you might remember from a while back).
To prepare for worship, read Acts 11.1-18, which tells of a strange dream that Peter had that helped him see that God was extending the covenant beyond Israel to include the Gentiles. And then look at the hot water he gets himself into! In the sermon, we’ll explore at one way the conflict in this scripture is being played out in the contemporary church.
Our other readings will be Revelation 21:1-6, about the arrival of the New Jerusalem—God’s perfect community in the fullness of time—and John 13:31-35, in which Jesus gives us a new commandment related to love. We’ll also sing “Spirit of the Living God” and “Today We All Are Called to be Disciples.”
Hoping to see you Sunday—
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Branding, Brueggemann style
A prayer from Hebrew Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann:
"You mark us with your water,
You scar us with your name,
You brand us with your vision,
and we ponder our baptism, your water,
your name,
your vision.
While we ponder, we are otherwise branded.
Our imagination is consumed by other brands,
- winning with Nike,
- pausing with Coca-Cola,
- knowing and controlling with Microsoft.
Re-brand us,
transform our minds,
renew our imagination.
that we may be more fully who we are marked
and hoped to be,
we pray with candor and courage. Amen"
"You mark us with your water,
You scar us with your name,
You brand us with your vision,
and we ponder our baptism, your water,
your name,
your vision.
While we ponder, we are otherwise branded.
Our imagination is consumed by other brands,
- winning with Nike,
- pausing with Coca-Cola,
- knowing and controlling with Microsoft.
Re-brand us,
transform our minds,
renew our imagination.
that we may be more fully who we are marked
and hoped to be,
we pray with candor and courage. Amen"
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