Sermon podcast from our 4-26-20 livestream only worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 24:13-35
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"Bread" podcast
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Showing posts with label Luke 24:13-35. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luke 24:13-35. Show all posts
4/26/2020
Bread - Luke 24:13-35 - Third Sunday of Easter - 4-26-20
Sermon podcast from our 4-26-20 livestream only worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 24:13-35
Video sermon preview
"Bread" podcast
The whole worship service livestream recording
5/01/2017
Bread
Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 24:13-35
"Bread" podcast
"Bread" podcast
5/04/2014
What Things?
This week's Bible reflection (Two) provides the introduction to this morning's Confirmation Day sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. May the 4th be with you.
"What Things?" podcast
"What Things?" podcast
4/30/2014
Two
Here's this week's Bible reflection, from Luke 24:13-35
They were walking along the road to Emmaus. One of them was named Cleopas. The other is unnamed. Why is that?
The other one was a woman. The culture of the time, and for a long time, didn't see women as important enough to be named, for the most part.
So who would Cleopas have been traveling with? Cleopas was married to Mary. I mentioned her on Easter Sunday. She went to Jesus' tomb with Mary Magdalene. She's the other Mary in the story. And she was married to Cleopas. So . . . who was Cleopas traveling with? Mary. Mary and Cleopas on the road to Emmaus.
Two of them met Jesus. They didn't know it at first, and they thought he was the only person in the world who didn't know the biggest news ever.
And the two of them, Mary and Cleopas, not knowing who was with them, still did what came naturally. They offered hospitality. To a stranger. To a stranger who seemed to be from very far away. To a stranger they knew nothing about.
They didn't ask for his immigration status. They didn't ask his orientation. They didn't question whether he believed the right things. They didn't take an inventory to be sure he had the same opinions they did. They told him the story. And they invited him to eat with them.
Just like that.
They were walking along the road to Emmaus. One of them was named Cleopas. The other is unnamed. Why is that?
The other one was a woman. The culture of the time, and for a long time, didn't see women as important enough to be named, for the most part.
So who would Cleopas have been traveling with? Cleopas was married to Mary. I mentioned her on Easter Sunday. She went to Jesus' tomb with Mary Magdalene. She's the other Mary in the story. And she was married to Cleopas. So . . . who was Cleopas traveling with? Mary. Mary and Cleopas on the road to Emmaus.
Two of them met Jesus. They didn't know it at first, and they thought he was the only person in the world who didn't know the biggest news ever.
And the two of them, Mary and Cleopas, not knowing who was with them, still did what came naturally. They offered hospitality. To a stranger. To a stranger who seemed to be from very far away. To a stranger they knew nothing about.
They didn't ask for his immigration status. They didn't ask his orientation. They didn't question whether he believed the right things. They didn't take an inventory to be sure he had the same opinions they did. They told him the story. And they invited him to eat with them.
Just like that.
5/02/2011
The Day After
The entire world is talking about the death of Osama Bin Laden. We’re experiencing emotions ranging from joy to sadness to thrill to confusion to vitriol to caution and about 1000 other emotions covering the map. We’re discussing what it all means. We’re discussing what comes next. We’re wondering how everything fits together. We feel as if we’ve hit a milestone and we’re also unsure of the new road we’ll travel.
It does seem, however, that no one hasn’t heard. It seems that no one lacks an opinion. It seems that no one is unaffected.
What would you say to someone who is completely unaware? What would you say to someone who raises the question, “What are you talking about?
Would you say, “Are you the only person in the world who doesn’t know what just happened? How can you not know?” Would you try to make them feel the way you do?
Jesus, in everything we’re feeling today, please walk with us. Help us to see you as we continue the journey. Help us to notice our hearts burning within us as you continue to reveal your love and your peace to all.
Peace be with you.
It does seem, however, that no one hasn’t heard. It seems that no one lacks an opinion. It seems that no one is unaffected.
What would you say to someone who is completely unaware? What would you say to someone who raises the question, “What are you talking about?
Would you say, “Are you the only person in the world who doesn’t know what just happened? How can you not know?” Would you try to make them feel the way you do?
Jesus, in everything we’re feeling today, please walk with us. Help us to see you as we continue the journey. Help us to notice our hearts burning within us as you continue to reveal your love and your peace to all.
Peace be with you.
4/04/2008
Living Under a Rock
'Where Have You Been?', this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org, is now a fun, yet eye-opening sermon for this Sunday at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk.
"Living Under a Rock" text
"Living Under a Rock" podcast
"Living Under a Rock" text
"Living Under a Rock" podcast
3/31/2008
Where have you been?
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org:
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? And doesn’t he have a best friend?
You’ve got the answer, right? It’s Spongebob and Patrick!
Not too long ago, after some controversial publicity, Spongebob received an extravagant welcome at the United Church of Christ headquarters in Cleveland. The whole event, while small and very silly, helped to share the theme: “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey; you’re welcome here.
However, in all the fun, I think we missed something important. Spongebob rarely goes anywhere without his pal, Patrick.
Where was Patrick when Spongebob visited the UCC headquarters? I wish someone would have gone to get him. Do you know where Patrick lives?
Under a rock.
Maybe that’s why he didn’t come to the UCC headquarters with Spongebob. He had no idea what was going on. Patrick was at home, under his rock, not knowing anything about any kind of controversy about Spongebob or trip that Spongebob took. (Incidentally, if Spongebob and Patrick live under the sea, how would they get to walk around in the UCC headquarters without ‘above water’ equipment? And for that matter, how do a sponge and a starfish talk in the first place? And have you given up reading this silly little aside – realizing it adds no value to the post?)
When Patrick crawled out from under his rock, I wonder what stories Spongebob had to tell him about God’s extravagant welcome?
In this week’s reading from Luke 24:13-35, Cleopas and his friend encountered Jesus as they were walking along the road. They didn’t recognize him. They even asked him something like, “What rock have you been living under that you haven’t heard about what’s happened to Jesus?” During their conversation with the person they thought was a stranger, Jesus said something similar to them. “What rock were you living under, that you didn’t understand what the prophets have been telling you? Let me tell you some more!”
What rock have we been living under? What have we missed? What will Jesus show us?
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? And doesn’t he have a best friend?
You’ve got the answer, right? It’s Spongebob and Patrick!
Not too long ago, after some controversial publicity, Spongebob received an extravagant welcome at the United Church of Christ headquarters in Cleveland. The whole event, while small and very silly, helped to share the theme: “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey; you’re welcome here.
However, in all the fun, I think we missed something important. Spongebob rarely goes anywhere without his pal, Patrick.
Where was Patrick when Spongebob visited the UCC headquarters? I wish someone would have gone to get him. Do you know where Patrick lives?
Under a rock.
Maybe that’s why he didn’t come to the UCC headquarters with Spongebob. He had no idea what was going on. Patrick was at home, under his rock, not knowing anything about any kind of controversy about Spongebob or trip that Spongebob took. (Incidentally, if Spongebob and Patrick live under the sea, how would they get to walk around in the UCC headquarters without ‘above water’ equipment? And for that matter, how do a sponge and a starfish talk in the first place? And have you given up reading this silly little aside – realizing it adds no value to the post?)
When Patrick crawled out from under his rock, I wonder what stories Spongebob had to tell him about God’s extravagant welcome?
In this week’s reading from Luke 24:13-35, Cleopas and his friend encountered Jesus as they were walking along the road. They didn’t recognize him. They even asked him something like, “What rock have you been living under that you haven’t heard about what’s happened to Jesus?” During their conversation with the person they thought was a stranger, Jesus said something similar to them. “What rock were you living under, that you didn’t understand what the prophets have been telling you? Let me tell you some more!”
What rock have we been living under? What have we missed? What will Jesus show us?
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