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Sunday, January 2, 2022 - Second Sunday of Christmas
"Worlds Into Being" - Rev. Seth D Jones
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14; John 1:1-18
Today, we considered John's mystical, unusual opening to his Gospel. The word "Word" would have meant something more encompassing and cosmic than how we understand it today. When you hear "Word", think "pattern" or "matrix" or "defining principle". Understanding this helps us understand how the Gospels and Jesus are helping us map our lives of faith. Faithful people in the Middle Ages understood this "pattern" way of thinking, which contributed to a sacramental view of the world. I use the Ebstorf Map to explain this worldview.
You can see an interactive version of the Ebstorf Map here and here.
Enjoy the video of the sermon and the audio of the whole service.
Peace and grace, Pastor Seth
"Worlds Into Being" - Rev. Seth D Jones
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14; John 1:1-18
Today, we considered John's mystical, unusual opening to his Gospel. The word "Word" would have meant something more encompassing and cosmic than how we understand it today. When you hear "Word", think "pattern" or "matrix" or "defining principle". Understanding this helps us understand how the Gospels and Jesus are helping us map our lives of faith. Faithful people in the Middle Ages understood this "pattern" way of thinking, which contributed to a sacramental view of the world. I use the Ebstorf Map to explain this worldview.
You can see an interactive version of the Ebstorf Map here and here.
Enjoy the video of the sermon and the audio of the whole service.
Peace and grace, Pastor Seth
Sunday, December 26, 2021 - First Sunday after Christmas
Hymn Sing!
Today, we celebrated Jesus' birth with songs of praise.
Enjoy the video and audio below!
Hymn Sing!
Today, we celebrated Jesus' birth with songs of praise.
Enjoy the video and audio below!
Friday, December 24, 2021 - Christmas Eve
"Taking Everything Personally"
We had a beautiful service, in person and online. It was wonderful to have all the people in the church after being online only last year. We welcomed the Midcoast Brass Quintet and four 5th graders from Ashwood School. The Lord blessed us with presence, people, and joy.
Enjoy the video below and the written sermon above.
Merry Christmas to all!
Peace and grace, Pastor Seth
"Taking Everything Personally"
We had a beautiful service, in person and online. It was wonderful to have all the people in the church after being online only last year. We welcomed the Midcoast Brass Quintet and four 5th graders from Ashwood School. The Lord blessed us with presence, people, and joy.
Enjoy the video below and the written sermon above.
Merry Christmas to all!
Peace and grace, Pastor Seth
December 19, 2021 - The Fourth Sunday of Advent
"The Good and Great Things"
Scripture: Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55
Enjoy the video of the readings and sermon, and the audio of the full service below.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
"The Good and Great Things"
Scripture: Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55
Enjoy the video of the readings and sermon, and the audio of the full service below.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
December 12, 2021 - The Third Sunday of Advent
"What Do We Do Now?"
Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18
Enjoy the video of the readings and sermon, and the audio of the full service below.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
"What Do We Do Now?"
Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18
Enjoy the video of the readings and sermon, and the audio of the full service below.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
December 5, 2021 - The Second Sunday of Advent
"Refined and Sent Messengers"
Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
Advent is the time of preparation. We are at once being prepared and also preparing, as if we were being refined into pure gold or strong steel. At least, this is what the Prophet Malachi tells us. How do we prepare, especially in a time like we are living through now?
Enjoy the video of the sermon and the audio of the entire service below.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
"Refined and Sent Messengers"
Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
Advent is the time of preparation. We are at once being prepared and also preparing, as if we were being refined into pure gold or strong steel. At least, this is what the Prophet Malachi tells us. How do we prepare, especially in a time like we are living through now?
Enjoy the video of the sermon and the audio of the entire service below.
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
November 28, 2021 - The First Sunday of Advent -
Extraordinary Spiritual Experiences
"Disclosure: The Meaning of ESEs"
Scripture: Numbers 22; Luke 1
Making meaning of anything is a process. Making meaning of an experience that is qualitatively different from our ordinary experience is an even deeper process. I believe we cannot make full meaning of an ESE unless it is shared with others. From the hazy history of the very early church (Paleo-Christianity, as my friend Brian Muraresku calls it), it would seem that a worship service was primarily the process of meaning-making around ESEs, either personal ones or The Big ESE, which was the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This Sunday, I try to talk us through a new way of thinking about church in this 21st century and refocusing us back into the experiential and extraordinary. Part of how I talk through it is by sharing my facilitated ESEs by way of the study I participated at Johns Hopkins in 2018 and 2019.
The video is just of the sermon, and the audio is about 2 hours long because I included the Q&A that followed the service. If you listen to the audio, the sermon begins at about 23:00.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
Extraordinary Spiritual Experiences
"Disclosure: The Meaning of ESEs"
Scripture: Numbers 22; Luke 1
Making meaning of anything is a process. Making meaning of an experience that is qualitatively different from our ordinary experience is an even deeper process. I believe we cannot make full meaning of an ESE unless it is shared with others. From the hazy history of the very early church (Paleo-Christianity, as my friend Brian Muraresku calls it), it would seem that a worship service was primarily the process of meaning-making around ESEs, either personal ones or The Big ESE, which was the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This Sunday, I try to talk us through a new way of thinking about church in this 21st century and refocusing us back into the experiential and extraordinary. Part of how I talk through it is by sharing my facilitated ESEs by way of the study I participated at Johns Hopkins in 2018 and 2019.
The video is just of the sermon, and the audio is about 2 hours long because I included the Q&A that followed the service. If you listen to the audio, the sermon begins at about 23:00.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth