Passage: Psalms 107:1-43 & Ephesians 3:14-21    

  Description: Guest worship leader: Vickie King

Passage: Isaiah 61:1-11 & Mark 4:21-25    

  Description: guest worship leader: Carrie Belke

Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20 & Hebrews 13:1-9    

  Description: Love one another as I have loved you. Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you. Love your neighbour as you love yourself. Show loving hospitality to strangers. Love God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul. Let mutual love continue. That is what we are told we must do as followers of the Way of Jesus. This kind of love doesn’t function on feelings. It is not the romantic, “I love you!” It is not the “I feel good when I am with you so therefore I love you.” The love that we are to share as followers of Jesus is demanding and challenging. There are days when we might not feel loving at all, might feel cranky with everyone around us. Yet, on those days as well, we are to live love to others. So what is love? It is treating the other person with compassion, being willing to understand what is going on for them, taking their needs into consideration, offering hospitality and care, food and a cup of water. It is considering their feelings, even if they do not consider your feelings. Love is a choice and an action, we do as Christians whether we feel up to it or not.

Passage: Matthew 5:1-16 & Revelation 21:3-6    

  Description: There are days when I would rather not admit that I am a Christian. One of those days was last week when a group of “Christian” protesters showed up at a funeral for one of those killed in the Orlando shooting, protesters who were shouting anti-gay slogans and waving anti-gay signs, as the family of this man mourned the death of their beloved son. I don’t believe that Jesus would have supported such protests, a rude interruption of the raw grief of those mourning. Jesus, who welcomed those outcast by society & ate with those others considered to be sinners, wouldn’t have agreed with those who waved anti-gay signs in his name. That’s why I would rather refer to myself as a follower of the Way of Jesus, for I believe too many things, that are done and proclaimed in the name of Jesus, do not reflect what Jesus taught, but rather reflect our culture and society. All too often faith is used to justify personal beliefs, prejudice & values that really have nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21 & Mark 12:28-34    

  Description: Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life, life in all its fullness.” God’s intention, when creation was set in motion and animals, plants, birds and humans emerged, was that all of creation should reach its potential, that we should all live life in its fullness, that we should become all that we are meant to be. In order for that to happen, we need three things: Rest, Play & Grace (or Love). We see these themes in the Bible. Now brain research is confirming the wisdom of our tradition. We need Rest, Play & Grace in order to become what we are created to be and to enjoy life in all its fullness. Let me speak briefly about Rest & Play before spending more time on Grace (or Love.)