Timing - 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 - Ash Wednesday - 2-14-24

 

Sermon podcast from the Ash Wednesday, 2-14-24  worship service - Peace Memorial Church, UCC in Palos Park, IL. 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

"Timing" sermon podcast

The whole worship service

Treasure - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 - Ash Wednesday - 3-2-22

 

Sermon podcast from the Ash Wednesday, 3-2-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

"Treasure" podcast

The whole worship service

Timing - 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 - Ash Wednesday - 2-17-21

Sermon podcast from the Ash Wednesday, 2-17-21 online worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Video sermon preview

"Timing" podcast

The whole online worship service

Return - Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 - Ash Wednesday - 2-26-20

Podcast from the sermon for Ash Wednesday, 2020 at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Joel 2:1-2, 12-17. I loathe the blame game.

"Return" podcast

Treasure

Ash Wednesday 2019 (March 6) sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. Not for the recognition – but for each of us, and for all of us in community, to seek to make the world a better place.

"Treasure" podcast

Timing

Ash Wednesday 2018 Sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
"Timing" podcast.  (Includes the Jonathan Rundman song, Ashes, played on an old, broken down guitar.)

Return

Ash Wedneswday 2017 sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL
"Return" podcast

Treasure

Sermon podcast from Ash Wednesday - February 10, 2016 - at St. Paul's UCC.
"Treasure" podcast

Timing

Last night's Ash Wednesday sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  It's a little muffled -- using a back up recorder placed in an imperfect spot.  And welcome to Lent!
"Timing" podcast

Return

Last night's Ash Wednesday Sermon
"Return" podcast

Secret

Ash Wednesday Sermon - 2013 - at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL
"Secret" text
"Secret" podcast

Timing

Yesterday's Bible reflection (When is the right time?) is expanded and stretched and it's now the Ash Wednesday sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Timing" text
"Timing" podcast

When is the right time?

The right time for what?

In romance, it seems we always hear the words, “You’ll know when the time is right – you’ll just know.”

In real estate, the three most important things to remember are location, location, and location. But I think the fourth most important thing is picking the right time to buy and the right time to sell.  (I guess that works for any kind of investment.)

There’s the right time to stay and the right time to move on. The right time to thrive with the status quo and the right time to make a change. 

It’s not easy to know the right time – for just about anything. 

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 may not answer all the above “When is the right time?” questions, but it does describe when it is time to be reconciled to God.

Now.

No obstacles. No excuses. No worries.

Now.

How?

What do you think?

Return

Monday's Bible study post (Problems) provides the beginning for Ash Wednesday's short sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Return" text
"Return" podcast

Problems

Here's the first of two Bible reflections this week.  This one relates to Ash Wednesday.

There is tragedy. People are suffering. There is a famine and people are dying of starvation.

That’s the backdrop for the book of Joel, right near the end of the Old Testament.  And what did Joel say about the tragedy, suffering, and famine?

God is mad. God is the one who is behind this punishment. 

Really? I hate this stuff. When modern-day Pharisees and other, well, let’s just call them jerks, (and yes, I can think of several much stronger describing words and phrases) start spouting about how God is angry and that’s why there was a tsunami or a hurricane or some other disaster, my skin crawls and my stomach twists and I start feeling real, seething anger directed at those who blame God for the disasters. 

But as I search through why I am angry, it is less about the blaming God for the catastrophe and more about why those folks, who I must remind myself are God’s precious children, place the blame. The people are being naughty. The people are not following the rules as the Pharisees, etc. see them. God is angry because the people dare to treat others as human instead of abominations.

I don’t see the Pharisee-like attitude in Joel, 2:1-2, 12-17, but the blame still really bothers me. What doesn’t bother me is the ultimate point of the reading.

Come back to me, says God. I’m not worried about how dressed up you are, I want you to be serious about following me with everything that you are.  I love you, I am kind and gentle, I forgive, and I just want you to start loving me and your neighbor.

Even if your neighbor is a jerk.

Secret

At tonight's Ash Wednesday worship service at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL, we'll have hymns, prayer, confession, contemplation, imposition of ashes and this short sermon based on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.

"Secret" text
"Secret" podcast

Now is the Time

Last year our Ash Wednesday worship service was cancelled because of extreme weather.  The (undelivered) sermon from last year has been adapted slightly -- and is now tonight's Ash Wednesday Sermon at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk.  (The weather forecast is positively balmy!)

"Now is the Time" text

"Now is the Time" podcast 

Now is the time

Here would have been this year's Ash Wednesday sermon at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk. However, we cancelled the service because of all the snow. But you can still read it!
"Now is the time" text

Renounce and Enjoy

Today at noon I went to a local Roman Catholic Church for an Ash Wednesday Prayer Service. It was short, solemn, and thought-provoking.

The Priest explained the journey of Lent as something that began during Advent -- when we prepared and learned how valuable God thinks we are. After Christmas, we spent eight weeks responding to that knowledge by hearing God's call to discipleship. And now that we've responded to the call, saying, "Here I am, Lord", God gives us Lent: "Come into the desert with me."

He likened it to the Hindu expression of "Renounce and Enjoy," explaining that during Lent, we give up the things that keep us from living our lives as disciples of the Christ and then go on a journey of preparing for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection.

I'm good with that.

I had ashes placed on my forehead too.