Together - Acts 16:9-15 - Easter 6 - 5-22-22

 

Sermon podcast from the Sixth Sunday of Easter, 5-22-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Acts 16:9-15

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Together

Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Acts 16:9-15.  Also the last sermon podcast from me for the Summer.  I'm on sabbatical until mid August.

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Sermon podcast from today at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Immigrants Rights Sunday, May Day, and Confirmation Sunday
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Together

This week's Bible reflection -- (Lydia) was just a song.  And that song was in today's Confirmation day sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, too. 

"Together" podcast

Lydia

It's been awhile since I've had a newish song in my head.  A while is now past.  Here's this week's Bible reflection -- in whiny 50's ballad style.

Lyrics?

Here you go.

Oh Lydia
Words and music by Kirk Moore

CHORUS
Oh Lydia
I love you so
Give hospitality
To folks that you don’t know

You work with rich folk
And poor folk too
Oh Lydia, how I love you

You love to worship
Listen eagerly I know
Your home in Philippi
Is where we’ll go
Oh oh oh
Oh Lydia I love you so

CHORUS

You don’t let society’s rules
Become a bother
You live those important two:
Love God and one another
Oh oh oh
Oh Lydia I love you so

CHORUS (slight variation at end of chorus)
You work with rich folk
And poor folk too
Oh Lydia you're one I look up to
Oh oh oh - Lydia, I love you so
Oh oh oh - Lydia, I love you so

© 2010, 2013 Kirk Moore

Lydia

This week's Bible study blog post for i.ucc (Everyone) adds to the inclusive flavor of Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL. There's even a song in this one!
"Lydia" text
"Lydia" podcast

Everyone

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

In this week’s Bible reading from Acts 16:9-15, Paul had a dream. When he woke up he said it was time to head to Macedonia. After travelling through Troas, Samothrace, and Neapolis, (say all those names 10 times fast you win a prize!) they came to Phillipi. There they met Lydia – a worshipper of God.

Lydia was way cool.

I’m sure Paul’s vision and the missionary journey in the towns before Phillipi are interesting, But this week I’d prefer to talk about Lydia. She loved God. She ran a business. She listened eagerly. (Oh that we ALL would do that!) She was the head of her household. She offered hospitality to strangers! She was persistent. She heard and believed. And I think that after she and her household were baptized, they started telling people about what they’d experienced. Women, men, children – everyone started hearing about Jesus because of this extraordinary woman.

God’s love and welcome to those who are usually on the margins is evident in this week’s reading. It seems that no one told Lydia that running a business and a household was men’s work. It seems that no one told Lydia that men are the ones who get all the recognition and leadership when it comes to following Jesus.

The early Christians were continuing to learn that God’s neighborhood – everywhere – is for everyone.

Sent out

This week's i.ucc "Opening the Bible" blog post (And her household) from earlier this week started the process that ended up as tomorrow's sermon for Mother's Day at Union Congregational Church. And you get to see it a day early! (unless you're looking at this after today, then you're just seeing it afterwards . . . )
"Sent Out" text
"Sent Out' podcast

And her household

Here's this week's "Opening the Bible" blog entry for i.ucc

In this week’s Bible reading from Acts 16:9-15, Paul had a dream. When he woke up he said it was time to head to Macedonia. After travelling through Troas, Samothrace and Neapolis, (say all those names 10 times fast you win a prize!) they came to Phillipi. There they met Lydia – the first Christian convert in Europe.

I love this story and what it has to say about Lydia.

I don’t really know what to say about Paul’s vision and the missionary journey in the towns before Phillipi, But I love reading about Lydia. She loved God. She ran a business. She was the head of her household. She offered hospitality to strangers! She heard and believed. I think that after she and her household were baptized – they started telling people about what they’d experienced. Women, men, children – everyone started hearing about Jesus because of this extraordinary woman.

This reading continues to speak about God’s love and welcome to those who are usually on the margins. It seems that no one told Lydia that running a business and a household was men’s work. It seems that no one told Lydia that men are the ones who get all the recognition and leadership when it comes to following Jesus.

It seems as though the early Christians were continuing to learn that God’s neighborhood – everywhere – is for everyone.