Darkness and Light - the prevailing theme of Advent. Always been interesting to me how oftentimes just a bit of light in a dark room - even the pinpoint of a cell phone screen can help me to see in the middle of the darkest night as I get my bearings if I need to get up and check out the sounds that go bump in the night. Without light to lessen the darkness we are immobilized because we don't want to run into anything - don't want to trip over anything. Advent is all about the coming of the Light - the Light that gives light to the world - a light that is to be carried into the world by the torch bearers - know of any torch bearers.....ever been a torch bearer?  

Sin is troubling - either being the one doing the sinning or the one sinned against. Forgiveness is necessary - but hard. Yet, even when we are forgiven do we receive the gift? Even when we forgive, do we release the gift - to truly forgive is a God thing.....with God-sized outcomes..... The scriptures were Nehemiah 2:17-18, 6:15-16, 8:1 and Nehemiah 8:2-3, 5-12.

What happens when it all comes together? When we come to that place when our lives become an offering? All that we have - all that we are - what happens then? The scriptures were Exodus 39:32-43 and Exodus 40:16-34.

We all are willing to sacrifice in order to get something that is important to us. We all are willing to sacrifice everything for those we love. So when it comes to our Lord are we willing to sacrifice in order to serve Him?

Any God sightings in your daily living? Where have you seen God lately? AND have you shared these experiences with others - what’s your witness like? It matters! The scriptures were Acts 3:1-10 and Acts 3:11-16. A video of this sermon from the Common Ground service is available on PenderUMC.org

Sticks and stones can break our bones but words can never hurt us - the rhyme of childhood which is incredibly misleading! We live in a culture of warring words that leave hurts and scars far more painful than any stick or stone we might be able to throw - how can we be better stewards of the words we use?

Gifts! Can we talk about this? We investigated the norm of life today and our understanding of how things are valued and just where God fits into the picture. The scriptures were Ecclesiastes 5:10 and Luke 12:15

What do you find joy in doing? In what things do you excel? These are the things defined as our God-given talents - the skills God has blessed us with as we go about our lives in the world. Once we have identified those talents, the question becomes WHY has God given us these talents? For ourselves and our own pleasure....or for something more? The 'something more' is the place of risk - what does that risk entail? ....... 

Time – a vanishing commodity – we never seem to have enough of it – and we more often than not have little to show for the time we have. Our priorities are constantly shifting, and we always seem to be playing catch up – trying to live into our plans – trying to make the best of our time……and suddenly, it’s gone – vanished. What if we could press a pause button – and allowed God to order our time – what would life look like then?

God has called us to so many things - so many opportunities to serve - so many opportunities to share the truth of Christ with all others - and we want to do just that - it's exciting - show us how, Lord! But the reaction from others is often - we're just people....these opportunities are too much for us to tackle! Such different responses to Christ's words to GO - how do we respond .... and what is the basis for our response.....?

We do so many things for God’s glory - and serving God gives us such joy in so many ways - but what if God calls us into new opportunities in new places - are we flexible enough to go? Are we ready to serve whenever and wherever? The scripture was James 2:14-26 A video of this sermon from the Common Ground service is available on PenderUMC.org

We will be looking at the story of the woman who touched Jesus’ robe and how her courageous faith can be an inspiration to us as we are living lives of faith. Do we have times in our lives when we must step out in faith even if it is uncomfortable or different? How can we as a community of faith be courageous in our faith?

When you think of the mission of the church, what is the first thing you think of? Which people, which place? Our first mission field may surprise you – it is closer than you might think! The amazing thing is, that if we are in mission to this particular group, the impact we can make for God in the world is overwhelming! It takes all of us lovingly serving together – not just some of us – but all of us in order for this transformation to take place – want to know who, what, when and where?

When you think of the mission of the church, what is the first thing you think of? Which people, which place? Our first mission field may surprise you – it is closer than you might think! The amazing thing is, that if we are in mission to this particular group, the impact we can make for God in the world is overwhelming! It takes all of us lovingly serving together – not just some of us – but all of us in order for this transformation to take place – want to know who, what, when and where?

By following Jesus and reaching out to others, we seek God’s transformation of ourselves and our world. This is our vision statement at Pender – but where do we each fit in? How can God use us as part of this vision – what is our mission as individuals and as the Body called for God’s purpose in the sharing of our gifts for the transformation of the world…..we may not think we have much to offer – we may not think we have many gifts – we may not think that we are worthy of being used by God in any significant way – that was THEN perhaps – in the time before today – indeed perhaps in the time leading right up to today…..but let me remind you of Simon Peter, that disciple on whose faith Christ would build His church. Peter knows EXACTLY how such thinking caught up in who we were and how we lived THEN can threaten to define us – but what about NOW? Peter came to his own answer – an answer we, too, should hear and appropriate for our own lives.

Ever feel that you have been trying so hard to live a life of blessing in the midst of hardship and sadness – so hard to answer God’s call on your life no matter what obstacles arise and things – but you just never seem to get a break? Hard not to check out isn’t it? Hard not to go back to the way things used to be– life seemed so easy then (even when we know it wasn’t!) How do we respond in the midst of the profound challenges and griefs of life? Do we give up or hear the call to joy in spite of it all? We can learn a lot from Moses and Miriam and their responses to the overwhelming challenges to their lives lived in God’s call. Hope you can join us on Sunday as we spend time in God’s word together – and just a hint…..never let them steal your JOY!

When people are preparing to die to their lives in this world, they often speak their most important words and often take very significant actions – all those things they want us to remember when they are no longer with them. That night in the upper room as Christ and His disciples ate their last meal together this side of the cross, John 13 reminds us of this observation – “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” How did He love them? We know that it was by instituting a new covenant through the bread of life and the cup of salvation – but something most profound came even before this. Something Christ wanted His followers to remember and do? Know what it was? What implication does this act have on our lives if we are true followers of the One true Lord? A video of this sermon from the Common Ground service is available on PenderUMC.org

Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the ability to act in the presence of fear.’ Sometimes we are called by God in ways that might make us afraid – call us to change our mind – from the fear we have of what will happen when others find out we are wrong about something we were so sure of, to the fear of what will happen to us if we unreasonably put ourselves in a place of danger just because we sense that God is calling us to GO. When has God called you to do something, to go somewhere, and it just rocked your world with fear? In those times, the only thing to be sure of is the love of God that will go with you. After all, perfect love casts out all fear and our Lord’s love is just that - perfect!    Listen as we considered the lives of two men who had the courage to overcome their fear and serve God in mighty ways! The scripture was Acts 9:1-19

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. His most memorable quote is a good reflection point as we consider the call to stand as spelled out in this week’s sermon from the book of Esther.   First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—  Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—  Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.   Where is God calling us to stand? The scripture was Esther 4:1-14

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.   He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there." The scripture was Genesis 12:1-5

Did you know that even though God calls us each to different opportunities within our lives, each and every one of us is initially born to live out the ‘first call.’ It is a call that is sorely needed in our world – now like never before. It is a call that was ‘in the beginning’ and continues on today and into the future. What is this first call? How are we answering this call in the living of our lives? Come and join us for worship as we consider the ‘first call’ – the grounding of our legacy of the past and the framework of our hope for the future.

People are always talking about being called…..or not called…..to do things. It’s an expression that is tossed around a lot: and just as often misused to express preferences or to avoid unpleasant tasks. “I feel called to go to Hawaii" "I don’t feel called to be part of the community trash pickup." If I can sing, so I must be called to Broadway. If I don’t like getting sweaty, I obviously am not called to go to the gym and work out. Other times call is used in a correct yet limited way to refer to those called to ministry. Call is so much more! It is God’s invitation to each and every one of us to live our lives as witnesses to God’s love for the entire world 24/7. Every single one of us is called for a purpose as God’s children planned for since before the beginning of the world – all in the name of Jesus, our Lord. What is your calling? Over the next several weeks we will be exploring God’s call to people in pages of the scripture and how do these call stories awaken our own awarenes

As Dan and Jay complete their pastoral ministries at Pender Church this Sunday, they have chosen to have a dialogue with each other as the sermon. The scriptural text for the dialogue will be the end of the second chapter of Acts, as well as other scriptures which are a part of the dialogue. The dialogue will be mostly serious, and will be facilitated by our Lay Leaders who will ask the questions to which Dan and Jay will respond.   Listen to the fun and spontaneity of the dialogue at each worship service, entitled "One More Comment We'd Like to Make..." The scripture was Acts 2:41-47 A video of this sermon from the Common Ground service is available on PenderUMC.org

Thom Jones preached at the 8:15 service Thom is a Certified Lay Servant and has begun his journey toward full-time ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. The scripture was Matthew 7:7-14 A written transcript is included and a video of the 9:30 Common Ground service is available on PenderUMC.org

Often it feels like we live in a crowded world – there are many of us! And yet, each of us is one . . . unique . . . loved as a child of God. Do you ever wonder about your uniqueness, how you stand out, what makes you distinctive? Is it the way you dress, or walk, or say “Y-All,” or chew on an ear of corn? Jesus has definite ideas about our distinctiveness as followers of the Way, as persons who live out the Good News. When he came home to Nazareth, early in his ministry, he declared his distinctiveness . . . and some were amazed and some were appalled. We look together at Luke 4: 16-30, “Paradigm S-h-i-f-t.”

This month of June is one of endings and beginnings. The school year is ending as pools open and summer finally begins in earnest. For some, their high school or college journey has come to an end, and the next stage of life begins with great hope and expectation! We celebrated these achievements at our 11am worship service. With the end of the school year, our season of Children’s Choir ministry culminated in their musical performance presented at the 9:30 worship service. In the life of the United Methodist Church, June is the time in which pastors who are moving say, “Goodbye,” and transition to new appointments or retirement. This Sunday, Pastor Dan shared from one of his favorite scriptures, 1 Kings 19 at the 8:15 and 11am services. Endings and beginnings… they’re bittersweet, for sure, but they are a part of life through which our God is always with us, no matter what. Don’t let summer keep you away from worshipping with your church family through it all!

When we talk with each other about taking risks, we often hear phrases like all or nothing or go big or go home or taking a big leap . Yet if we were honest, we would need to admit that sometimes our risking and trusting are very calculated, weighing our options and our potential gain or loss. As the apostle Paul concludes his letter to the Corinthian church, and as we conclude our sermon series on our households of faith and family, Paul throws all caution to the wind saying there is no middle ground: Either our faith in Jesus Christ is very right and our salvation is secure . . . or it is very wrong and “we are of all people most to be pitied!” Which is it?? “Jesus Is In the House: King Jesus Lives!”

This weekend we will celebrate Pentecost Sunday! It’s the observance of the Holy Spirit descending upon the apostles gathered in the upper room after Jesus had told them to wait there in prayer. When the Spirit came, gifts were given to the apostles and believers for the building of the church, the household of faith. What gifts does Jesus bring in our households? Not material gifts like some Santa Claus, nor gifts that we necessarily choose or want, but these are gifts that build us up in faith. How might your household be strengthened by living out the gifts of God in love?

It’s Mother’s Day weekend! It’s a time to gather our households to celebrate moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, daughters, and all those women who have nurtured us in life and especially in faith. It’s a day when typically we try to act like everything is fine. We try to stay on our best behavior. Yet, we don’t need reminding that everything is not always fine. In fact, often if Mom says she’s, “fine", be careful! Reality is that many households are less than fine. Many struggle with great brokenness. What does the Bible say about how God would have us deal with brokenness in our households at home and as the church? Did you know our households can be better than fine? Join us as we worship God and hear again the difference Jesus makes when he is in our house!

One of the things we all know about preschool kids is that we rarely have to wonder if they are “in the house” with us. They have many amazing and sometimes alarming ways of letting us know they are present. Our worship theme on “households” has been looking at the impact that Jesus makes when “Jesus Is In the House!” Both the households where we live and the households where we worship are radically and beneficially changed by Jesus’ presence. This week we will look at the blessing that derives from Jesus having a seat at the table – our table! Our text is I Corinthians 11: 23-26, 28, but you might want to check out the context of all of chapter 11.