We can all think of something that started small that grew into something big. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God--and the way we are to live in the world--is like that.
Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for July 26, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Sunday. We do plan to gather for worship in the parking lot this week!
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
None of us gets to make the world be exactly how we'd like it to be. And it seems that God chooses not to either. Jesus tells a story in Matthew's Gospel that addresses that.
Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for July 19, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and if we hope we will be able to worship together in the parking lot this week!
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
How would you react if someone showed up at your house uninvited and dug a hole through your roof to get in?
I'm guessing probably not the way Jesus reacted when it happened to him!
Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for July 12, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and if we do decide to worship together in the parking lot we will let you know.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
Those of you who feel comfortable with it, please join together with me this Sunday at 10 AM in the parking lot at McKnight UMC—wearing masks and with appropriate social distancing. It will be different.
And of course, the Bible has plenty of stories about people making sense of new and different experiences. This Sunday we’ll look at Acts 10 where Simon Peter finds himself needing to do just that—and how God leads him to, and sustains him in the midst of it. We will find insight in this story for our own lives.
Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for July 5, 2020 for further thoughts. If you choose not to attend in person, then tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Sunday.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
We don't always listen, because we are focused on any number of other, often urgent, things, but nature makes noises. And so do we--the older I get the more "grunts" and "groans" emerge spontaneously from me. The Scriptures also tell us of the cries and sounds God makes. Is it possible that all of those sounds from all of those sources are related?
Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for June 28, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Sunday.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
We are going through a time where even those times of celebrating together aren't able to cheer us, since we've not been able to actually be together to celebrate. Graduations happen, weddings happen, but it's not the same. We don't get to be together. We are not the first people in history to have those celebrations curtailed. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah speaks of such times. And we can resonate; and like Jeremiah, have hope that it's not going to be this way forever. Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for June 21, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Sunday.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
The Psalms are probably the rawest and most genuine parts of the Bible, people not holding back emotions expressed about God and to God--many directed right at God. This Sunday we'll look at Psalm 77, a "crying out" to God out of genuine anguish that turns into praise for God. Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for June 14, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Pentecost Sunday.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
This Sunday is Peace with Justice Sunday, and recent events in our nation certainly remind us that we haven't gotten either peace OR justice down. So we need the Scriptures to guide us to see "The Things That Make For Peace". Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for June 7, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Pentecost Sunday.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. Our birthday celebration will not be like we are used to it being--like our own birthdays since this time of physical distancing. But the Holy Spirit that was the gift on that birthday does not depend on us being together in the same place to draw us together. Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for May 31, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Pentecost Sunday.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
The author of the Gospel of John explains who Jesus is from the very beginning of the book, and explains at the end of the book why he's telling us all of this. We'll look at that this coming Sunday. Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for May 24, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Sixth Sunday of Easter.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
Jesus and Peter have a conversation in John 21:15-19 that reminds us that our time spent with Jesus also involved listening to what he has to say to us--and responding to his invitation. Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for May 17, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Sixth Sunday of Easter.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
Ever return to a place you'd been to before, and it seems the same as it did, but not quite? It is, or you are, or something about it is different. This is the reality of the disciples gathered on the lakeshore breakfasting with the risen Jesus (John 21)--it is the same, but different. Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for May 10, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Fifth Sunday of Easter.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
Have any of your patterns and practices changed? Are you doing things now in ways that you couldn’t imagine ever doing them? The story for this Sunday from John 21 has that—at the suggestion of Jesus. Insight for us? Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for May 3, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Second Sunday of Easter.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
As I stated last week, often for us, seeing is believing. Jesus shows the disciples--and later, Thomas--his scars. But what of scars that we don't show? Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for April 26, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Second Sunday of Easter.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
Seeing is believing. This statement makes sense to us. The disciple Thomas said in essence the same thing when the other disciples told him they had seen Jesus alive after he had been crucified--basically, "I'll believe it when I see it". Does that really make him "Doubting Thomas"? Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for April 19, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Second Sunday of Easter.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
How do we celebrate Easter in social isolation? Well, the first Easter involved social isolation too--and the Risen Christ made it possible to go on from that. Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for April 12, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Easter Sunday.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
"I Love a Parade” is a catchy song from nearly 100 years ago that many people agree with--loving a parade, that is. The first Palm Sunday was a parade of sorts, with different meanings as to what made it a parade—and then what happened during the week after the parade. Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for April 5, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Palm/Passion Sunday.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
"Where he leads me I will follow" begins the refrain of the old hymn. But what does this mean? And what does it mean to follow "more nearly"? Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for March 29, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Fifth Sunday of Lent.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce
Kenny Rogers has died at the age of 81. His long career in music, in "The New Christy Minstrels" and "First Edition" before many years as a solo artist, produced a whole slew of songs. What insights does a particular Kenny Rogers song give us into "Loving God More Dearly"? Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for March 22, 2020 for further thoughts. Tune in on Facebook Live or call in on WebEx for worship at 10 AM this Fourth Sunday of Lent.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce