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Epiphany: CHRIST AND THE SOUL
January 6 - February 24, 2019
February 24th, 2019 - Epiphany 7C
"I'm Beginning to See the Light: Breaking Open the Soul"
Luke 6:27-38; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
This week is a continuation of the Sermon on the Plain, as Luke calls it. If standing in the midst of paradox was difficult last week, wait until we have to love our enemies and do good to those who harm us. This rigorous approach will break open any soul, and it is meant to.
Both PDF and audio are available this week.
Peace to you!
Pastor Seth
"I'm Beginning to See the Light: Breaking Open the Soul"
Luke 6:27-38; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
This week is a continuation of the Sermon on the Plain, as Luke calls it. If standing in the midst of paradox was difficult last week, wait until we have to love our enemies and do good to those who harm us. This rigorous approach will break open any soul, and it is meant to.
Both PDF and audio are available this week.
Peace to you!
Pastor Seth
February 17th, 2019 - Epiphany 6C
"Come As You Are: Paradox and The Soul"
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26
We are coming to the end of Epiphany, the time of illumination in Christ's story. Today, we look at paradox. I believe that paradox and living more deeply into the paradoxes of our lives are the rocket fuel that propels our faith and experience of God and Jesus. I titled the sermon after Nirvana's hit song off their Nevermind album. You can watch the video here.
I have linked the PDF above and the audio is below.
Enjoy! Peace and grace to you all! Pastor Seth
"Come As You Are: Paradox and The Soul"
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26
We are coming to the end of Epiphany, the time of illumination in Christ's story. Today, we look at paradox. I believe that paradox and living more deeply into the paradoxes of our lives are the rocket fuel that propels our faith and experience of God and Jesus. I titled the sermon after Nirvana's hit song off their Nevermind album. You can watch the video here.
I have linked the PDF above and the audio is below.
Enjoy! Peace and grace to you all! Pastor Seth
February 10th, 2019 - Epiphany 5C
"Becoming the Net" Preached by Rev. Peter Panagore
This morning we welcomed Rev. Peter Panagore to the pulpit.
He gave an excellent talk about the deep spirituality in the story of Jesus' call to the first disciples.
If you do not know about Peter, you can find out more at his website, www.peterpanagore.love
You can watch the sermon on Peter's YouTube channel:
Becoming a Net of Light #1718
"Becoming the Net" Preached by Rev. Peter Panagore
This morning we welcomed Rev. Peter Panagore to the pulpit.
He gave an excellent talk about the deep spirituality in the story of Jesus' call to the first disciples.
If you do not know about Peter, you can find out more at his website, www.peterpanagore.love
You can watch the sermon on Peter's YouTube channel:
Becoming a Net of Light #1718
February 3, 2019 -Epiphany 4C
"Feel Like I'm Tied to the Whipping Post: The Soul in Conflict"
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13, Luke 4:12-31
Last week, we heard wonderful words from Jesus, and saw a favorable reaction from the crowd. This week, things go south fast for Jesus. Of course, he goes off on the congregation of his hometown and incites their rage. It is a strange moment, and a difficult first public appearance for Jesus. There is a lot going on here about crowds and messaging and receiving new information. As one of my favorite radio announcers used to say at the end of his broadcast, "Good luck out there!"
PDF above and audio linked below.
Enjoy! Peace and grace to all. Pastor Seth
"Feel Like I'm Tied to the Whipping Post: The Soul in Conflict"
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13, Luke 4:12-31
Last week, we heard wonderful words from Jesus, and saw a favorable reaction from the crowd. This week, things go south fast for Jesus. Of course, he goes off on the congregation of his hometown and incites their rage. It is a strange moment, and a difficult first public appearance for Jesus. There is a lot going on here about crowds and messaging and receiving new information. As one of my favorite radio announcers used to say at the end of his broadcast, "Good luck out there!"
PDF above and audio linked below.
Enjoy! Peace and grace to all. Pastor Seth
January 27, 2019 - Epiphany 3C
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine: Many Souls, Many Perspectives"
Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-10; Luke 4:14-21
Several years ago, The Dress controversy exploded on the interwebs. About 30% of the people saw a white and gold dress; and about 57% saw a blue and black dress. Imagine being the only person in a room of 50 people and you are the only one who sees a white and gold dress. I was that person on Sunday. I did what I could with a failed illustration for a sermon on multiple perspectives on the Kingdom of God.
Enjoy the audio and the PDF above.
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine: Many Souls, Many Perspectives"
Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-10; Luke 4:14-21
Several years ago, The Dress controversy exploded on the interwebs. About 30% of the people saw a white and gold dress; and about 57% saw a blue and black dress. Imagine being the only person in a room of 50 people and you are the only one who sees a white and gold dress. I was that person on Sunday. I did what I could with a failed illustration for a sermon on multiple perspectives on the Kingdom of God.
Enjoy the audio and the PDF above.
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
January 20, 2019 - Epiphany 2C
"Spill the Wine: The Soul of Scarcity and The Soul of Abundance"
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11
We canceled church this morning so I have the sermon up early. I also have linked the full service above as a PDF. Today, we talk about cosmic forces and a different way to think about Jesus' miracle at the Wedding at Cana. There is a whole lot of wine in this story, and some things going on in the background that are easy to miss.
Enjoy the PDF and the audio!
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
"Spill the Wine: The Soul of Scarcity and The Soul of Abundance"
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11
We canceled church this morning so I have the sermon up early. I also have linked the full service above as a PDF. Today, we talk about cosmic forces and a different way to think about Jesus' miracle at the Wedding at Cana. There is a whole lot of wine in this story, and some things going on in the background that are easy to miss.
Enjoy the PDF and the audio!
Peace and grace to all!
Pastor Seth
January 13, 2019 - Epiphany 1C
"The Winnowing Fork of the Lit-Up"
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-22
Jesus' baptism is the foundation for one of the two sacraments of the Congregational church, the other one being communion, or the Lord's Supper. Both sacraments are meant to change our worldview and our world. One of the ways they do that is to call us into a 'sacramental perspective', meaning God's creation becomes continually renewed by our participation in the gifts of baptism and communion with one another. It is deep stuff, and it is often beautifully practiced and spoken in many of our churches. But we miss the part where John the Baptist tells us it will be like a Winnowing Fork. So that is what we are talking about today - the sacramental view of life and winnowing forks.
Audio is below and my notes are linked above.
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
"The Winnowing Fork of the Lit-Up"
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-22
Jesus' baptism is the foundation for one of the two sacraments of the Congregational church, the other one being communion, or the Lord's Supper. Both sacraments are meant to change our worldview and our world. One of the ways they do that is to call us into a 'sacramental perspective', meaning God's creation becomes continually renewed by our participation in the gifts of baptism and communion with one another. It is deep stuff, and it is often beautifully practiced and spoken in many of our churches. But we miss the part where John the Baptist tells us it will be like a Winnowing Fork. So that is what we are talking about today - the sacramental view of life and winnowing forks.
Audio is below and my notes are linked above.
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
January 6, 2019 - Epiphany Sunday
"Gifts for the Soul"
Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-7, Matthew 2:1-12
The time of Epiphany is the time of illumination, and what that meant in the early church was that the light of Creation and of Christ were making themselves known in the world. We, as human beings, do many things to open ourselves to the light, and we also do many things to keep ourselves in the darkness. As followers of Christ, we are called to continually seek the light, but sometimes, following the light does not lead to good outcomes. Sometimes, following certain lights leads to really bad outcomes. You think you are enlightened, but then you realize all your decisions and even journeys have led you astray.
Perhaps that is the story Matthew is trying to tell with the so-called 'wise men'. Perhaps they are not as innocent as our hymns and stories portray. Maybe, just maybe, the wise men are the negative example, not the positive example. The reason this might be revolves around the idea of innocence.
Enjoy the audio below!
Peace! Pastor Seth
"Gifts for the Soul"
Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-7, Matthew 2:1-12
The time of Epiphany is the time of illumination, and what that meant in the early church was that the light of Creation and of Christ were making themselves known in the world. We, as human beings, do many things to open ourselves to the light, and we also do many things to keep ourselves in the darkness. As followers of Christ, we are called to continually seek the light, but sometimes, following the light does not lead to good outcomes. Sometimes, following certain lights leads to really bad outcomes. You think you are enlightened, but then you realize all your decisions and even journeys have led you astray.
Perhaps that is the story Matthew is trying to tell with the so-called 'wise men'. Perhaps they are not as innocent as our hymns and stories portray. Maybe, just maybe, the wise men are the negative example, not the positive example. The reason this might be revolves around the idea of innocence.
Enjoy the audio below!
Peace! Pastor Seth