Month: October 2022

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Dear Church,

Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘give us this day our daily bread.’   He goes on to explain what a life shaped by that prayer looks like: ‘consider the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them…consider the lilies of the field, they do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.’ 

And this is beautiful and compelling speech–and there is a not-so-small part of me that wants to talk back to Jesus and say, ‘consider the bills piling up in the mailbox, if we do not pay them the water will not flow and the light will not shine in our homes…consider the children and loved ones who depend on me to earn money to feed them and shelter them and provide them healthcare, for lo I do not have the power to multiply loaves and fishes like you do, Jesus.’

Jesus is teaching us that, no matter what the culture tells us, we are not sustained by what we earn but by what we receive from God. It’s a word of warning for those of us with too much, but a word of hope and promise for those of us who are struggling to get by.  I hope you’ll join me as we allow our hearts and minds to be reformed by the power of Jesus’ words.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

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NOTE: We only have the last nine minutes of this week’s message.

Dear Church,

Remember the time Jesus climbed up a mountain and told us, ‘“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.‘ (Matthew 5:13-16)

Me too. 

This Sunday as we continue to savor the sermon on the mount, we come to these words: ‘Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.’  (Matthew 6:1-4) If you keep reading, He says something similar about praying and fasting.  Do it–but don’t let anybody see you, don’t let anybody know, don’t let anybody guess. 

You are the light of the world, shine your light so everyone can see–but practice your faith in secret, so only God can see.  Well, which is it, Jesus?  Surely you aren’t asking us to be visible and hidden at the same time? Are you?

I hope you can join me as we listen deeply to the words of our Savior and seek the Spirit for revelation.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:

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Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16

Dear Church,

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.  His disciples came to him and he began to teach them. (Matthew 5:1-2)

A lot of people around here are into nature and hiking.  I don’t understand, but I love them anyway.  Why risk the ticks and bears and skunks and poison ivy, why do you want to go to all that trouble? They tell me that making it up to the top of a mountain is worth it because once you get to the top and look out, you see things differently.  It’s beautiful up there, and the view from the mountaintop changes your perspective.  The things you see every day up-close look different from up there–they are sanctified.   And that changes the way you look at things, even when you come back down.

Many of Jesus’ teachings are gathered together in the gospel of Matthew in what has become known as the sermon on the mount.  We are going to spend the next few weeks looking out from the perspective of that mountain top sermon.  Because we believe our faith in Jesus should be shaped more deeply by his words about us than our words about him.  The view from the mountain is challenging, but the way the vast beauty of Christ’s words is sanctifying.  

Jesus’ words will challenge us–and the challenge will change us.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:

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Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, John 15:4-5

Dear Church,

So, it’s going to be a really special day at the Grove on Sunday (I know, I know–I say that a lot), Pastor Ron McClelland will be preaching a message on how we can live our whole lives with the Lord.  Afterwards, he will lead the first of a series of five workshops on creating a rule of life during an extended second hour (with lunch provided).  I’ve been looking forward to this for more than 3 years, so I really hope you’ll join us.  If you’ve ever worried and wondered why your faith in Jesus wasn’t transforming your daily life, this is for you.

Here’s the thing–the world doesn’t need more people who believe in Jesus, think about Jesus or know about Jesus.  All creation is groaning and laboring and waiting for people who are more-than-believers, for followers of Jesus.  The world needs you–alive in Christ, not doing things for God but wholly and holy alive with God.  In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul puts it like this, ‘You’ve received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live in him.  You’re deeply rooted in him.  You’re well-constructed upon him.  You know your way around the faith.  Now do what you’ve been taught.  School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving!’ (Col. 2:7, The Message)

If you are ready to start living your faith in Christ, this is for you.  You don’t have to figure it out alone.  You already have everything you need to be faithful to God in this season.  Together, Pastor Ron will lead us through a practical process of discernment to design a simple, powerful and personal rule of life.

Peace,

Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:

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