https://youtu.be/7Jc0lTascsM                                                                                    01/24/21—Highland—Meute “The Good News of God” Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62: 5-12; Mark 1: 14-20 Pearl: the allure and goodness of Jesus’ message of the reign of God. Function: To move worshippers to act upon the inspiration of the message of the kingdom of God which our Lord Jesus promoted. Jesus had a cause, a good and excellent cause—the kingdom of God on earth. … [Read more...]

https://youtu.be/xCoY40ra79A                                                               01/17/21—Highland—Meute “Seeing Greater Things” I Samuel 3: 1-10; John 1: 43-51 Pearl: Seeing the greater things in us, in the Lord, in others, and in everything. Function: To move worshippers to look for the greater things all around us and to look for the greater things of the reign of God in the world. In the season of Epiphany we behold the dazzling nature of God and we read texts … [Read more...]

https://youtu.be/DblgtPZdHtI Baptism of the Lord; Officers Ordination/Installation                       01/10/21—Highland—Meute “New Life, New Passion” Genesis 1: 1-5; Acts 19: 1-7; Mark 1: 4-11 Pearl: Baptism constantly reminds us of our start with God and we can touch back to the newness and freshness of life with God each day. Function: To provoke worshippers to … [Read more...]

https://youtu.be/DblgtPZdHtI Communion                                                            01/03/21—Highland—Meute “In the Beginning was Jesus” Psalm 147: 12-20; John 1: 1-18 Pearl: Witnessing to the eternal Word/Jesus. Function: To move worshippers to bear witness to the heart, mind, and spirit of Jesus, the eternal Word, full of grace and truth. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1: … [Read more...]

https://youtu.be/GpZ04Cs2E8o 4th Advent                                                           12/20/20—Highland—Meute “Love Came Down: Pathways to Love” Advent Collaboration with Susquehanna Ministry Group II Samuel 7: 1-11, 16; Luke 1: 26-38, 46b-55 Pearl: The redeeming effect of love/God. Function: To encourage the unexpected, radical effect of loving action which changes/transforms hearts (The Grinch/The Gospel). When our daughter was a young girl I believe that … [Read more...]

https://youtu.be/Dy2Bgx6oLqc 3rd Advent                                                                12/13/20—Highland “Happy and Blessed: Pathways to Joy” Psalm 30; Philippians 4: 4-9; Matthew 5: 1-12 Pearl: Appreciating God’s creatures and creation lead to joy. Function: To exhort listener to notice and compliment the wonders of people in small day-to-day ways, thus being a spreader of cheer and joy. The movie “Elf” features a cheerful and happy character named Buddy, … [Read more...]

https://youtu.be/xLeTh__dy-A 2nd Advent                                                                    12/06/20—Highland—Meute “From Loneliness to Community: Pathways to Peace” Isaiah 40: 1-11; Mark 1: 1-8 Originally written by Melissa Lopez, Pastor, First Presbyterian, Bel Air, MD Susquehanna Ministry Group Advent Collaboration Pearl: Finding the way to peace and reconciliation. Function: To motivate listeners to do the hard work of reconciliation for the sake of … [Read more...]

https://youtu.be/hqMe_4Qdhlk 1st … [Read more...]

Christ the King                                                                                   11/22/20 https://youtu.be/fOcTjPhoUxk “Righteous Reign” Psalm 95: 1-7a; Ephesians 1: 15-23; Matthew 25: 31-46 Pearl: Christ’s reign includes any who are for “the least of these.” Function: To empower listeners to, from compassion, see Christ in everyone but especially in “the least of these.” Another time when I preached on this parable of the sheep and the goats I called it Jesus’ … [Read more...]