Does the word "judge" make you uncomfortable? Why?
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Pentecost Sunday is all about the Holy Spirit coming to bring Unity, NOT Uniformity!
And if unity is the sign that Christ is King, perhaps our churches should worry more about how to practice peace and reconciliation instead of how good the band is or how "correct" our theology is!
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So many of us love when things are “non-institutional” and “organic… man…” So naturally we LOVE the stories about the early church: everyone sharing their resources, the poor being provided for, a genuine Spirit-led movement.
However if we read just a few more pages we stumble along the Spirit of God doing something different… essentially handing out clipboards, putting on a tie, and saying “but for real now, we’ve got to start getting organized!”
How does the Spirit work in chaos, and in order?
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Eucharist Church has moved locations five times in five years… which is sort of crazy! What have we learned in that wandering, and what can we learn about wandering from the story of scripture?
These are the questions we ask as we settle into our (hopefully longer term!) new building: MacNab Presbyterian!
A quick tour of our time together on Sunday! We started in the garden outside before the gathering eating popsicles. JP came out and started leading us in music, singing “come into this place, meet us with your grace…”
We then entered into the hall where we will be gathering, and continued to worship and learn and communion together.
Finally we moved into the Sanctuary and got a tour by one of MacNab’s elders. He shared the history of the building, the stained glass windows, and the congregation… and it was super inspiring and gorgeous. We closed with a hymn and a benediction from the mega-pulpit.
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Anyone have a story about a time where someone was hurt by a person who claimed to be a Christian? Where a congregation was prejudice, controlling or judgemental?
… Thought so.
In a time where SO many people have been hurt by people claiming to be Christians, it’s refreshing and encouraging to see so many communities valuing the idea of “safe church”
But there is another question worth asking: should the church be safe?
This week we also dedicated Aaron and Cath’s baby Georgia, so if you hear references to families that are joining us, or some general baby-talk, that’s why!
The text:
Acts 9:1-5
That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.
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Who is the Holy Spirit and what is s/he doing in the world?
Also, the first 15 minutes of this podcast feature an EXCITING announcements about the future of Eucharist’s public gathering. If you are someone who attends the gatherings, listen up! If you are just a “pod-rishioner” then feel free to jump to minute 15.
The text:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
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TrueCity is a local network of over a dozen congregations, committed to serving the city for the common good. One of the ways we celebrate this movement is to rotate our preachers once a year, and welcome other pastors to preach in our pulpit!
Connan from NewCity Church joins us as we take part in the “TrueCity Pulpit Swap 2015” on the theme of “witness!”
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The very cool story about how the Spirit used a wealthy, powerful, gender/sexual minority foreigner to shape God’s people forever!
Also some updates on our current building, and the next steps for finding a more settled location to gather on Sundays.
The text:
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
The water was COLD.
“Touch the waters, and remember your baptism!”
2014.06.08 - Kevin Makins - So What?
Technology: The Stencilling on the Casing of an Atomic Bomb
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Some of the topics in this series are often talked about in church… but Christians rarely talk about technology.
Technology surrounds us: it’s cars and bikes and running shoes and smart phones and printed books and slides on a screen!
And it shapes us. Whether we want it to or not, technology changes us.
2013.12.22 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins
RECONCILIATION REMIXED / ADVENT LOVE
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Colossians 4:7-18, Acts 13 & 14
Paul closes his epic letter with a long list of names that means nothing to us at first glance. Once you find out who these people are, it begins to come together!
The text:
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.
Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.”
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Targum written and read by Chrissy Hurn
Suffering, the Holy Spirit, and Waiting on Words
Acts 2, Romans 8
“Today I have a hard time believing all things work out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Today I have doubt.”
What should we do when we suffering or when we grieve? How do we speak when we lack the words?
Music led by Joel Cumby and Dave Hamilton - starts 25 minutes in.
2013.04.21 - Kevin Makins - The Thing I Am Most Afraid Of: Two Sermons About Power
Acts 8, Mark 10, Romans 12
Power can corrupt us. How do we survive?
Music led by Justine Lodder - starts 41 minutes in.
2013.04.14 - Kevin Makins - The Thing I Am Most Afraid Of: Two Sermons About Power
Acts 8, John 14
If you were to ask me a few years ago what I was afraid of I would have probably said failure, but I’ve failed plenty of times, and now I’m not so scared of it.
I might have said weakness, but I’ve learned that God is with us even more in our weakness than in our strengths.
I might have said the devil or demons, and sure, that’s a frightening thing, but it’s not what I’m most afraid of.
This is a sermon about what I am most afraid of.
Music led by Justine Lodder - starts 49 minutes in.
2012.12.02 - Kevin Makins and Dave Witt - GET BEHIND ME SANTA!
Revelation 4, Revelation 17, Acts 19
You would not believe all the resistance we’ve faced getting ready for the Apocalyptic Advent this year.
Part of that resistance is that for the first time in over two years, BOTH of the audio files that record the weekly sermon were corrupted. This, along with about a dozen other factors, gives us a sense that there may be some other powers at work in this whole thing. Powers that don’t like the idea of being exposed, which is what this whole sermon series is about.
But while the powers can corrupt our audio files, they can never silence our podcasting!
So Dave Witt and myself gathered in a local coffee shop to go over the basic ideas of what an Apocalyptic Advent looks like, and why we think it’s such a crucial tool for us to use this season.
Time to get apocalyptic!
Music led by Aaron Craig - starts 34 minutes in.
2012.01.15 - Greg Reader - Soma: 1 Corinthians
Judging in the Present, Preparing for the Future
1 Corinthians 6, Daniel 7, Matthew 5 &18, Acts 2
Greg Reader is tagged in to tackle 1 Corinthians 6, and continue our “micro-series” on judgment in the church.
“Do you not know that you will judge Angels?” asks the Apostle Paul. Well, no, actually Paul I didn’t know that.
What does it mean that we will judge the world? What does it mean to rule with Christ? And how exactly does that affect our day to day living, right here and right now?
Music led by Joel Cumby and friends - starts 1 hour and 2 minutes in.
2011.10.30 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
And in the last days it shall be
1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Joel 2, Mark 1, Acts 2
Paul has done a lot of “wisdom bashing” in the beginning of his letter, but he doesn’t want to suggest that the message of Jesus has no wisdom of its own - it has wisdom and power, but of a very different kind.
This wisdom is a secret to the powers and rulers of our time, it cannot be understood in terms of wealth or success - it is a secret wisdom, revealed to mankind by the Spirit of God.
And that Spirit has been graciously and generously poured out.
Music led by Joel Cumby and Dan Leythem - starts 32 minutes in.
2011.10.02 - Kevin Makins - Soma: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 1:1-9; Acts 18
In our first week studying the letter of 1 Corinthians we learn about the city of Corinth, the church that was founded there, and the grace that holds this whole mess together.
Music led by Alex Drumm and Justine Kormann - starts 57 minutes in.
