First Sunday in Advent 12/02/18 by Pastor Ray Meute “Hopes and Fears of All the Years” Advent Series “Do Not Be Afraid” Psalm 16; Lamentations 3: 19-24; Matthew 1: 18-25 Pearl: Fear not the reactions of family and community. Function: To empower worshippers to be true to themselves and willing to follow their path without fear of resistance from kin and community.   Through Advent and into Christmas Eve I will preach on the theme: “The Hopes and Fears of All the … [Read more...]

Christ the King 11/25/18 by Pastor Ray Meute   “Not of This World” Psalm 132.1-12; Revelation 1: 4b-8; John 18.33-37   Pearl: God’s kingdom is meant for this life and this earth as much as it is for the world to come. Function: To awaken worshippers to the “earthly” dimension and reality of the Kingdom of God and how it does clash with the “empires of this world.”   What is it about Jesus’ encounter with Pilate that is so intriguing? Jesus’ encounter … [Read more...]

11/18/18 – Pastor Ray Meute “Songs of Thanksgiving” Hebrews 10: 11-14, 19-25; I Samuel 2: 1-10 Pearl: Songs and testimonies of thanksgiving will come. Function: For worshippers to take confidence in the Lord to turn their songs of lament into songs of thanksgiving. The devastation of life and property in the California wildfires over this last week is staggering. People’s lives are now turned upside down in very short order. All that many have is their very lives. All of … [Read more...]

11/4/18 “Warmer…Warmer” Psalm 146; Mark 12: 28-34 Pearl: Getting closer and closer to the heart of God’s reign Function: To nudge worshippers closer to the heart and soul of Jesus Way by seeking anew to practice loving God and loving neighbor Isn’t it fun playing “Hide and Seek” with your children or grandchildren? It has to be an all-time favorite for everybody! Youth groups love playing variations of Hide and Seek in church buildings! Think of all of the hiding … [Read more...]

"Honest Persistence” Psalm 34.1-8, 19-22; Mark 10.46-52  Pearl: Persistent, “true-blue” desire to follow Jesus the Christ is rewarded (God notices). Function: To move worshippers to ask God for what they most need to follow Christ better).   Blind man Bartimaeus may well have “seen” better than many who had their sight. By faith he saw who Jesus was and he perceived what Jesus was about. He also knew himself! He was a model disciple! Bartimaeus positioned himself along a … [Read more...]

10/21/18 “Pleased to Serve” Psalm 104; 1-9, 24, 35c; Hebrews 5: 1-10; Mark 10: 35-45 Pearl: Our calling as Christ followers is to serve. Function: To reveal to worshippers that true power and true life is found in serving others in the lessor jobs and in the more mundane tasks.   God made you and you are marvelous and amazing in many ways. God who created you, did so with great He gave you the gifts and the aptitudes that you have. You have them for a reason: … [Read more...]

10/14/18 “Abundance vs. Wealth” Psalm 22: 1-15; Mark 10: 17-31 Pearl: Wealth can get in the way of abundance Function: Dealing with the problem of wealth Today’s message is about the problem of wealth. You heard me right. How many of you are thinking, “I wouldn’t mind having that problem.” With the Powerball Lottery up pretty high many imagine winning and thinking about what they would do with all of that wealth. There are many sad stories of lottery winners who … [Read more...]

World Communion                                                                                                          10/07/18 “Hard Hearts Hurt Women and Children” Psalm 26; Mark 10: 2-16 Pearl: Christ and his followers do not dismiss or demean women and children. Function: To motivate worshippers to carry out Jesus’ mandate to value and lift up women and children because of their inherent value as human beings. Jesus was confronted by the religious power brokers of his … [Read more...]