All - Isaiah 49:1-7 - 1-19-20

Sermon podcast from MLK Sunday, 1-19-20, at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Isaiah 49:1-7.   An inspirational speech – and an uplifting one at that. It’s in the words and in the context of the words.

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Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.
"All" Podcast

All That We Are

This week's Bible reflection (Context) provides a beginning for today's MLK weekend sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"All That We Are" podcast

Context

Isaiah 49:1-7, this week’s Bible reading, sounds like an inspirational speech given to get a group of people ready for a task, a big event, or a restoration.

• Listen everyone!
• I’ve known this since before I was born!
• I’m ready to tell you!
• I wasn’t sure I was ready, but I am!
• It’s time for us to gather to God!
• Not only us – it’s time for us to help everyone gather to God!
• Let’s follow what God wants us to do!

There you have it.  An inspirational speech – and an uplifting one at that. It’s in the words and in the context of the words.

Do you know what this week’s Bible reading isn’t?

It has nothing to do with abortion. Nothing at all.

All that We Are

This week's Bible reflection (Calling) is not in it's expanded version and has become Sunday's short but  significantly encouraging sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"All that We Are" text
"All that We Are" podcast

Calling

Here's this week's Bible reflection:

Sometimes I am positive that God has called me to be a minister by vocation. Things work out. People are helped to journey further in their relationship with God.  I can’t imagine doing anything else for a vocation, at all.

And other times, I think, “What in the world am I doing? Why did I want this job? How fast can I learn to do something else?

And then I continue on the journey of faith that continues to guide me as a minister, called by God.

I don’t think that frustration, difficulty, or doubt diminish the calling to serve God. In this week’s Bible reading from Isaiah 49:1-7, the prophet walks between certainty of God’s call and questions whether his work has been for anything. 

And they continue on the journey of faith and continue to rely on God’s strength.

We’re not alone in our certainty. We’re not alone in our doubts. We’re not alone in our celebrations. We’re not alone in our sadness. We’re not alone on the continuing journey.