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#38. The Shape of Discipleship - Rev. Shane Page Dec 03, 2019

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This Sunday we will begin a new sermon series on the central figure—next to our Lord—of the Advent season: Mary the Mother of Jesus. We will walk through the biblical account of Mary as Luke’s gospel presents her in his opening chapters, starting first with the Annunciation (this Sunday), then with the Visit of Mary to Elizabeth (the next week), and then, finally, we will conclude our study with Mary’s song of victory better known as the Magnificat. You can study all these passages by perusing Luke 1, beginning with verse 26. Allow me here to offer a brief word about Advent too. Whereas our culture tends to think of Advent as a fancy word for Christmas, Advent in Christian tradition is in fact a season of preparation, self-examination, and yes, even repentance. Are we really prepared for the return of the Lord? If Jesus returned today, for example, would you feel ready to meet him? Think of Advent, then, as a miniature Lent, a brief time of discipline, a clearing of the soul-clutter, before the celebrations of Christmas begin. Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter, a time of fasting before the feast. You will see that classic understanding reflected over the next few Sundays in our worship.

#37. Signs of the Kingdom - Rev. Alexis Coleman Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

In worship this Sunday we celebrate the final Sunday of the Christian year, which is called Christ the King Sunday. As we fill the chancel area with our Harvest Procession bags, we’ll be thinking about the signs of the kingdom that are all around us every day. The text, Luke 23: 33-43, is one that we hear most often on Good Friday. As you prepare for worship, ponder what the text says about the Christ the King and how his kingdom is already here.

#36. Unwanted Saviors - Rev. Shane Page Nov 18, 2019

Show notes

This week we end our series on the parables of Jesus unique to Luke’s gospel. This Sunday we will revisit what we know—and even pop culture knows—as the parable of the Good Samaritan. Long thought to be a parable of do-gooding and example-setting, let’s try to reframe some of this story and see it from another vantage point. We might find it’s really the story of our salvation.

#35. Generosity. Guaranteed. - Rev. Shane Page Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

This Sunday we resume our sermon series on the parables of Jesus unique to Luke's Gospel. This week Jesus spins a yarn about a man who experienced, in ancient terms, a hugely profitable year and then things, especially the man's character, degenerated from there. "You fool," the voice of the Lord says in response. What made the man foolish in Jesus's reading? What's the good news of this great parable? Let's consider it this Sunday. One more thing: Our Commit. Give. Grow. campaign culminates this week in worship. Please bring your completed pledge card to worship. Join me as we commit together to be the generous disciples Jesus called us to be.

#34. Committed - Rev. Shane Page Nov 04, 2019

Show notes

This Sunday we come to one of the highest days in the Christian year. All Saints Sunday is a day of poetry more than prose as we consider our calling as Christians and commemorate those members of DUMC who have entered the church triumphant since last year. Come this Sunday giving thanks for the saints in your life who have pointed you in the direction of heaven, the people whom you still love but see no more. Each week we profess we believe in the communion of saints. What a gift to know all the saints we have known in life still remain, through the bond of the Holy Spirit, in fellowship with us.

#33. It's A Trap! - Rev. Shane Page Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

This week we continue our sermon series on the parables of Jesus found only in the Gospel of Luke. This week we will visit the story Jesus told regarding two people who went to church one Sabbath morning, the first an upstanding and moral member of religious society, the second a downright scoundrel (Luke 18:9-14). The zinger? The scoundrel went home a better friend of God. Let’s be very careful of reading this parable without difficulty or controversy. For this parable has traps embedded all over the place. It’ll be our (hard) task this Sunday to avoid falling into one or all of them.

#32. Living Faith - Rev. Linda Zastovnik Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

Professing faith is a lifelong response to the call of God, gift of grace and inclusion in the church as the body of Christ and witness to the coming kingdom of God. But, what is faith? * Faith is the basic orientation and commitment of our whole being - a matter of heart and soul. * Faith is grounding our lives in the living God as revealed especially in Jesus Christ. It's both a gift we receive within the Christian community and a choice we make. * Faith is trusting in God and relying on God as the source and destiny of our lives. * Faith is believing in God, giving God our devoted loyalty and allegiance. * Faith is following Jesus, answering the call to be his disciples in the world. * Faith is hoping for God's future, leaning into the coming kingdom that God has promised. Read and reflect on the Parable of the Unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8. After telling his disciples this story, Jesus asks, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8) Will he?

#31. Getting What We Want - Rev. Shane Page Oct 14, 2019

Show notes

This Sunday in worship we will start a new sermon series in which we will focus each week—aside from All Saints Sunday--on a parable of Jesus found only in Luke’s gospel. This week we will examine the harrowing (Lucan) parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Jesus pulls no punches with this one. What is its point? What is the good news? This Sunday let’s reflect on it together and hear what the Lord wishes to say.

#30. The Good Shepherd and World Communion - Rev. Alexis Coleman Oct 07, 2019

Show notes

This weekend in worship we celebrate World Communion Sunday. Christian unity, symbolized through the act of Communion, is the focal point of World Communion Sunday. The day was founded by a Presbyterian pastor in 1933. The concept spread slowly, but during WWII the spirit of the day caught hold as people were trying to hold the world together. It emphasized that we are one in the Spirit. As you prepare for worship, please read Psalm 23 and John 10:1-10. These texts tell us about the Lord as a Good Shepherd and how relates to World Communion Sunday.

#29. Sibling Rivalry - Rev. Shane Page Sep 30, 2019

Show notes

This Sunday we will conclude our quick tour through the book of Genesis by reflecting on the longest story in Genesis’s 50 chapters: the story of Joseph, youngest and favorite son of the patriarch Jacob, whose adventurous tale rivals any yarn spun today. Left for dead by his envious brothers, sent into Egypt where he remained a prisoner until circumstances enabled him to become the right hand man of Pharaoh, meeting his brothers again: there’s more to this rollicking story than our time together will permit us to explore. We will consider just a few angles, taking away the truths these chapters still convey about our life together with God. I encourage you to read Genesis 37-50 for a complete perspective.

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