Today is the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Worthy of the Gospel”. Our Scripture passage comes from Philippians 1:21-30 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 145. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 145)
Leader: I will extol you, my God and King,
People: And bless your name forever and ever.
Leader: Every day I will bless you,
People: And praise your name forever and ever.
Leader: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
People: His greatness is unsearchable.
Leader: One generation shall laud your works to another,
People: And shall declare your mighty acts.
Leader: On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
People: And on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Leader: The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
People: And I will declare your greatness.
Leader: They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
People: And shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Leader: The Lord is gracious and merciful,
People: Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Paul talks about being “worthy of the Gospel of Christ”.
What do you think he means by that?
Are any of us “worthy” of the gospel?

Have y’all ever had a musical crush? Now, let me be clear, have y’all ever had a crush on a musical artist cause they themselves are attractive? I mean, have you ever listened to a new artist’s song and thought, “Oh! I need to hear more of their stuff!”? You get a hold of their record, start listening, and realize that there’s just something about their music that makes you want to do nothing but keep listening. They can do no wrong; their music hits you in just the right way. Have y’all ever had that?

Well, of late, I’ve had a musical crush on Olivia Dean. If you’ve listened to any radio station that plays Top 40 songs, you’ve probably heard either her song, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” or “Man I Need”. Dean sings this wonderful kind of pop-jazz-soul music that is easy to listen to, but I appreciate her lyricism as well. The two songs I just mentioned are fun and flirty, with one of the lines in “So Easy” being, “There’s Heaven in my heart, and we could find you some space.” But there’s one song later in her record, The Art of Loving, with a line that has haunted me (in a good way) since I heard it.

The song is called, “A Couple Minutes,” and it’s this slow, nostalgic song about an encounter the singer has with an ex of hers. She’s surprised by some of his changes at first (“Since when are you smoking now?”), but eventually she and her ex connect over some of their shared memories, the feelings they had for each other, and it becomes clear that while the ex has moved on, the singer has not. She’s trying to, but there is a part of her that he knows and she wishes they could linger in their memories and their shared knowledge (“Back on your sofa/Of course, I still care…And although it’s over/I’ll always be there/Only have a couple minutes, then we’re going back to real life”). But the line that gets me, that prompted this article is buried in the middle of the chorus, “Love’s never wasted/When it’s shared”. The singer, despite the pain the breakup caused, is still able to look at the love the two of them had and see it as a good thing.

As a pastor, I think about that line not in the sense of a breakup, but in the sense of why the church does what it does. Why do we reach out to people and help them, knowing they can never repay us? Cause God calls us to love our neighbors and help those in need as a reflection of God’s love for us. Why do we host events and pursue mission projects even if we don’t achieve “success” as church consultants might define it? Cause God calls us to be joyful people who love others the way God loves us. And so, we reach out. We draw people in. We meet needs. We offer joy. Because God has loved us and has called us to share that love. And love is never wasted when it’s shared. It is always a good thing to love others. I think that’s an idea we could all stand to keep in mind in the days and weeks ahead. Loving our neighbors is never a waste. Loving those who are struggling is never a waste. Loving our enemies is never a waste. Cause God loves us and has never seen it as a waste. Thanks be to God!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

Today is the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Seriously?!”. Our Scripture passage comes from Matthew 18:21-35 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 103. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 103)
Leader: Bless the Lord, O my soul,
People: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Leader: The Lord is merciful and gracious,
People: Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Leader: He will not always accuse,
People: Nor will he keep his anger forever.
Leader: He does not deal with us according to our sins,
People: Nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Leader: For as the heavens are high above the earth,
People: So great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
Leader: As far as the east is from the west,
People: So far he removes our transgressions from us.
Leader: As a father has compassion for his children,
People: So the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
Leader: Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
People: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus reminds us of the radical nature of God’s grace.
What is Jesus’ point about God’s willingness to forgive?
What barriers do we think prevent us from forgiving others?

Today is the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Waiting on God. Our Scripture passage comes from Isaiah 40:21-31 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 147. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 147)
Leader: Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God;
People: For he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
Leader: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
People: Make melody to our God on the lyre.
Leader: He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth,
People: Makes grass grow on the hills.
Leader: He gives to the animals their food
People: And to the young ravens when they cry.
Leader: His delight is not in the strength of the horse
People: Nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner,
Leader: But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
People: In those who hope in his steadfast love.
All: Praise the Lord!

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, the prophet sings of a God who is steadfast.
How does God’s strength allow us to rest?
What can you change in your own life to rest more fully in God?

We are entering my favorite time of the year. Collectively known as the “-ber months” on social media, September, October, November, and December are popular with a lot of people. There are the holiday folks who look forward to the fact that three major holidays happen seem-ingly back-to-back-to-back: Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas. There are the cooking/baking types who look forward to the particular dishes and flavors that come in vogue during the “-ber months”: soups and stews, pies and cookies, cinnamon, ginger, clove, etc. There are also the, what I’ll call, “activity people” who love this time of year for the unique things that come around: ghost tours, hayrides, county/state fairs, caroling, etc. It seems like everyone has some special way of engaging with the “-ber months.”

The church also, obviously, has big events that hap-pen in the “-ber months”. Most churches have some sort of Fall Festival (including us—Saturday, October 31st this year) in October. A fair number will have some sort of Thanksgiving service or mission—whether they open it up to the community, partner with another church, or encourage church members to volunteer that week. And, of course, every church’s December is dominated by Advent and Christmas, for good reason! It is never a small thing to celebrate the birth of our Savior, nor is it something we should take for granted. But you’ll notice that still leaves one “-ber month.”

September has no major church holidays in it. We take a day off for Labor Day, sure, but there’s not really anything on the church calendar that demands the church’s attention. Which I think means September becomes this wonderful time of reflection and rejuvenation. Fall is not quite in full swing yet, meaning we still have longer days and higher temps that encourage us to be outside. Hallow-een is not dominating the airwaves yet, even though you can already buy Halloween candy. Children and youth are back in school, football is on again, and soon baseball will be entering its playoffs. September occupies this interest-ing space in the church calendar. It feels like a moment to breathe.

So, as our sermon series, “Come Away from Rush and Hurry,” comes to an end this
Sunday, I would encourage you all to see September as a month-long moment to catch your
breath. Take it as a time to slow down once more before the hustle and bustle of the other
three “-ber months” begins. Have a slow, easy supper on the back porch a few more times while the days are long. Watch—or go to—a football game and let that be your whole day. Let September be a month of preparation so that when October 1st comes around, you’re rested and ready!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

Today is the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “A Place to Lay Your Head”. Our Scripture passage comes from Matthew 8:18-27 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 4. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 4)
Leader: Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
People: Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
Leader: How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
People: How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
Leader: But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
People: The Lord hears when I call to him.
Leader: When you are disturbed, do not sin;
People: Ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
Leader: Offer right sacrifices,
People: And put your trust in the Lord.
Leader: There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
People: “Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
Leader: You have put gladness in my heart
People: More than when their grain and wine abound.
Leader: I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
People: For you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus tries to find some rest.
Where does he ultimately find his resting place?
How can his resting place help us live more faithfully?

Today is the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “For All Creation”. Our Scripture passage comes from Leviticus 25:1-7 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 116. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 116)
Leader: What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
People: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,
Leader: I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
People: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.
Leader: O Lord, I am your servant;
People: I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
Leader: You have loosed my bonds.
People: I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
Leader: And call on the name of the Lord.
People: I will pay my vows to the Lord
Leader: In the presence of all his people,
People: In the courts of the house of the Lord,
Leader: In your midst, O Jerusalem.
People: Praise the Lord!

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, God establishes a sabbath year for the Earth.
Why does God do this?
How could this sabbath year pose a challenge to humans?

I joked with a couple church members this past Sunday that my sermon was nearly going to be two and a half hours long. Not because I was going to write a 50-70 page sermon, but because I was going to propose we all go to the movie theater and just watch the new Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And while the idea of watching a movie as a sermon was a joke, the message of the new Spider-Man movie is not. I remember leaving the theater thinking, “That’ll preach.” So, without spoiling any of the movie, let me give you a brief taste of why this movie’s message is being so well-received.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day takes place after the events of the previous Spider-Man movie, No Way Home. The incredibly short recap of that movie is this. Spider-Man’s secret identity has been outed by one of his enemies, Mysterio, meaning everyone now knows that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Peter’s friends and family begin to suffer because of that revelation and he tries to fix the problem by having Dr. Strange—a sorcerer—cast a spell to make everyone forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. The spell goes awry, all kinds of crazy shenanigans ensue, and at the end of the movie, reality itself is about to be torn apart. So, Peter asks Dr. Strange to cast a new spell—make everyone forget Peter Parker ever existed. Dr. Strange casts the spell, reality is saved, but now Peter is completely and totally alone. No one knows who he is—at all.

Brand New Day picks up from there. At the beginning of the movie, we get to see what Peter’s life looks like now without any of his friends or family. As Spider-Man, he spends all his time taking down villains, cracking cases for the NYPD, and generally being a force for good in NYC. But there’s a stark, sad dichotomy that the movie starts with. Spider-Man, the hero, is beloved; Peter, the person, is forgotten. Spider-Man builds connections; Peter is isolated. Spider-Man gets the key to the city; Peter gets an asbestos-laced apartment. And so, the movie wrestles with several questions.

On the one hand, it asks questions about identity. Peter must decide, “Am I Peter
Parker or am I Spider-Man?” The movie also asks questions about what truth is—who possesses it and how do you responsibly wield it? But the most persistent questions Brand New Day asks are about love and connection. What does it mean to be loved? How do our connections shape our identity? Who do we build connections with, how do you build them, and what happens when we’re disconnected? In the end, the two main assertions the movie makes are, “You don’t have to do this alone,” and “The people who love you, they love you not because you’re special. They love you because you’re you.”

These are the kinds of questions churches should be asking. These are the kinds of things churches should be asserting. We believe in the truth of a God who loves us deeply, simply because we are who we are. We believe in the truth that God is with us, even during difficult times, and has created and molded the church to be a community where people do not have to go through life alone. We should be a place, as well, where the truth is preached—that there is a God who created us all, a Savior who loves humankind so incredibly deeply, and a Holy Spirit that guides us all to live faithfully. So, yes, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will preach.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben

Today is the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “The Secret to Rest”. Our Scripture passage comes from Philippians 4:4-14 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 46. We will also have our Blessing of the Students today. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 46)
Leader: God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble.
People: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
Leader: Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
People: Though its waters roar and foam, though mountains tremble.
Leader: The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
People: He utters his voice, the earth melts.
Leader: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
People: Come, behold the works of the Lord;
Leader: See what desolations he has brought on the earth.
People: He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
Leader: He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
People: “Be still, and know that I am God!
Leader: “I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”
People: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Blessing of the Students Litany
Leader: God of new beginnings, the new school year is upon us once again. As the children of our community prepare to return to their studies, we ask a blessing over them and all those who care for them. Life-giving God,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: O God, we ask your blessing for school teachers, administrators, counselors, support staff, and volunteers who interact with our children daily. Grant them wisdom as they strive to meet students’ needs. Grant them patience when they are tired or frustrated. Grant them joy and a renewed sense of purpose when they see the spark in a child’s eye that says, “I got it!” Wise and nurturing God,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: O God, as this new school year begins, we ask your blessing on the parents and guardians of school children. Grant them the love and patience they need to help their children learn and grow. Loving and supportive God,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: O God, we ask your blessing over the children as they return to the classroom. Help them feel safe. Spark their curiosity and help them find joy in learning. Teach them your gentleness and mercy, that they may make new friends and build long-lasting relationships. Vibrant and creative God,
People: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Finally, O God, we ask for a blessing for this church. Help us create a place where the energy and excitement of youth has a home. Teach us to be faithful stewards of your love, that these children would know their church family loves them and supports them. Bless us with curiosity, that we would meet new ideas with excitement as we seek your will. Joyful and communal God,
People: Hear our prayer. Amen.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Paul speaks about being content in all things.
What does it mean to be content in the Lord?
How does contentment lead to rest?

Today is the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Our Chosen Portion”. Our Scripture passage comes from Psalm 16 and our Call to Worship comes from 1 Peter 1:3-9. We will also be joined by our friends from the Olive Chapel Handbell Choir for today’s worship service.

Call to Worship (from 1 Peter 1:3-9)
Leader: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
People: By his great mercy he has given us a new birth
Leader: Into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
People: And into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
Leader: In this you rejoice, so that the genuineness of your faith
People: May be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Christ is revealed.
Leader: Although you have not seen him, you love him,
People: And even though you do not see him now,
Leader: You believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
People: For you are receiving the outcome of your faith,
All: The salvation of your souls.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this psalm, David declares God to be his refuge.
How does God’s presence bring joy to your life?
How does God’s presence make rest possible?