A World Re-ordered In ChristPentecost+7BKatie WhitmireAmos 7:7-15, Psalm 85, Ephesians 1:1-14, Mark 6:7-13 I am grateful for the opportunity to share my reflections with you again. Our scriptures this morning point to beautiful images of God’s restoration, the restoration of his kingdom to wholeness, unity, and love. However, we cannot look at this restoration without also…
Pentecost +6Rev. Doug FloydJuly 4, 2021Ezekiel 2:1–7, Psalm 123, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-6 Facing our own weaknesses or limitations can be frustrating, discouraging. If you look back on your own life, you may see times where you had to face weaknesses. There maybe things that you could have done in the past that you…
Pentecost +5 Rev. Isaac BradshawJune 27, 2021Deuteronomy 15:7–1, Psalm 112, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Mark 5:22 – 43 A few days ago, my brother and I got into a bit of an argument. It was one of those silly, text-based arguments, about a silly topic. We were discussing which Cold War movie was better: Hunt for Red October or Dr. Strangelove. Now, if you’re…
Pentecost +4B 2021Rev. Doug FloydJob 38:1–18, Psalm 107, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Mark 4:35-41 The following quote is sketched onto the wall at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria: “If there is a god, he will have to beg for my forgiveness.” It speaks to the heart of the cry for justice in a world where…
Pentecost +3BRev. Doug FloydEzekiel 31:1-18, Psalm 92, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Mark 4:26-34 In our reading from Ezekiel today, we hear a story of an enormous tree. When I think of large trees, I think of Sequoias, Redwoods, and Cedars of Lebanon.Several years ago, Kelly and I drove up the California coast to the Redwood Forest.…
Restoring Communion in ChristPentecost +2BRev. Doug FloydGenesis 3:1-21, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 4:13–18, Mark 3:20-35 In our Gospel reading today, the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the prince of demons. Our text says that Jesus answered them in parables saying, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against…
The Resurrection of Our LordApril 4, 2021Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 25:6–9; Psalm 118:14–24; Colossians 3:1–4; Mark 16:1–8 “…trembling and astonishment seized them.” The women disciples go to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body only to discover that He isn’t there. He had risen. And trembling and astonishment seized them. The resurrection of Jesus Christ breaks the bounds of all that they…
Lent 2 – Just a Dream Away! Rev. Isaac BradshawGenesis 22:1-14, Psalm 16, Romans 8:31–39, Mark 8:31-38 How many of us in the room have ever dreamed of the future? Not just in the mere “one day I will live on the beach,” but… One day we will have flying cars or travel past the speed of…
Apart from Your GraceLent 1 2021Rev. Doug FloydGenesis 9:8–17, Psalm 25, 2 Peter 1:18–22, Mark 1:9-13 Historically, Easter was a day for baptism: the weeks and months prior to baptism were used for catechizing the new Christians. The catechism and the baptism were seen as entrance into the body of Christ, but also as exorcism…
Last Sunday of Epiphany 2021Rev Doug Floyd1 Kings 19:9–18, Psalm 27, 2 Peter 1:13–21, Mark 9:2–9 When my sister’s oldest son was under five, she was trying to tell Him the story of Easter. She puzzled that she couldn’t find children’s books on the cross, so she tried to tell him the story without a picture…