Things to Ponder

Sermon Text: Deuteronomy 11:7-21   God is not mindless about land, but cares for it, so the Lord sees your faithfulness on it and sees your unfaithfulness on it.“ There is an ominous – perhaps a fatal – presumptuousness in living in a place by the imposition on it of one's ideas and wishes.” Scripture calls us to this agrarian work, to tell the truth about our land and our selves. Our first, most faithful step isn't to do, but to listen. An agrarian people must be a contemplative people. Action emerges from silence. Planting emerges from pasture walks. Design emerges from seasons. Repentance emerges from confession. Programming emerges from observation.  Because good land, good economy, good communities come from deep faithfulness. Listen. And it is listening, to God, ground, and neighbor, that we come to learn how we live faithfully in this place, a place that Christ gave himself for.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Genesis 11:1-9, Philippians 2:1-13, Luke 4:1-13   The Church is the body of Christ, so we reflect Christ's nature - fully human, fully divine. Therefore, there's nothing we do in the church that doesn't have eternal, spiritual ramifications. When it comes to stewardship, all of it draws us to Christ or obscures Christ to us. So as we go through the "administrative" parts of the church in the coming months, let us look with the eyes of faith - pray, listen, discern, and commit.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Acts 1   The Church is the body of Christ, so we reflect Christ's nature - fully human, fully divine. Therefore, there's nothing we do in the church that doesn't have eternal, spiritual ramifications. When it comes to stewardship, all of it draws us to Christ or obscures Christ to us. So as we go through the "administrative" parts of the church in the coming months, let us look with the eyes of faith - pray, listen, discern, and commit.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Proverbs 3:1-12; Matthew 19:16-26   So when we talk stewardship, we aren't first talking about budgets, but about a vision. We aren't talking about money, but about how we align our lives with a world being renewed by Christ, How do I take ALL of me and let Christ's power flow from me and from us?  That's the question of stewardship!   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text:  Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16   Our associate conference minister, Sheresa Simpson-Rice, joins us to celebrate World Communion Sunday, and to reflect on a faith that calls us to a wider view of God's welcome for all people around the table!   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: James 2   We continue in James, who reminds us that if we are to be faithful people, we must do, not just believe. The minute we ask, "How do I love God?" we are into the realm of religion.  Religion based in love requires discipline and sacrifice, but it also makes space for joy. If we would love God well, let us "lift our hands, that our hearts may follow."   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: James 3; Mark 9   Our desires are central to our identity, and to our faith. Jesus calls out the apostles because they wanted greatness, instead of relationship.  Jesus' brother, James, teaches us to pay attention to our desires that we might live a wise life.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Ephesians 4:17-32   We welcomed 5 new members at St. Mary's, and we reflected on Ephesians' call to be a certain kind of community.  Because God has blessed us with "every spiritual blessing in Christ," we commit to following him. In doing so, there are some things we do, and some things we don't. In doing so, we lean into the shared calling we have as a community of Christ.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Psalm 104   We all desire renewal, and that's certainly a healthy part of what it means to be human. But we can seek renewal and never consider God's place in it. The scriptures tell us that all renewal begins in God's work.  God is moving, we discern, and then we respond. If we are serious about real renewal in our lives, it begins by listening carefully to the Spirit, and planting our feet firmly in God's promises.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Psalm 70   The opening to Psalm 70 has been prayed more than any other scripture, "God, come to my assistance!"  Our need of God is at the core of our existence and our prayers. But then the psalm goes to pray against one's enemies. How can we understand this in light of Christ and his cross? Are we really supposed to pray against others, or is there a healthier, truer way to pray this prayer?   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Isaiah 42:5-12; Matthew 9:14-17   We celebrated our students' return to school, and we wondered about God's work in new places. We asked the question:  where is God and what is God doing? God is not an old man on a throne judging, but is living and active, taking us to new places, making all things new.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Daniel 3; Matthew 16   When faced with grief, society gives us two options: succumb to fear, or puff out our chest in bravado. Perhaps there is a third way, a way that roots us in faith? The story of Sharach, Meshach, and Abednego tells a story of three guys who stood at a real hell and lived to tell the story. When in grief, we discover God is in it with us. And Jesus says that the Church is to be the place where we trust in God's presence always.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Matthew 5:20-26  As we explore grief, anger seems to be a strange but constant companion. Anger reveals something about our desires, and if we aren't careful, we can use that anger to defend ourselves from others, when the spiritual reality is inside of us. So "lay your weapons down, there are no enemies in front of you."   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text:  Matthew 14:22-33   From a religious point of view, "Totem" is a chaotic song, with all of its religious references. In this way, it's a lot like grief - in challenging times, we grasp for solutions to ease the pain. When we do that, we become spiritually confused. Where do we actually put our trust in times of grief?  In the story of Jesus walking on the water, we are invited to keep our eyes fully fixed on Jesus even in the most difficult moments of our lives. He's got us, and we can trust him.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text:  Psalm 77; Matthew 8:1-4   In Week Two of Turntable, we turned to the grief of others.  "Born in the USA" is the dark story of a Vietnam veteran. The beauty of the song is the in the tension of the struggle in the verses and the triumph in the chorus. When we encounter people with grief, what can we offer? Jesus shows us the gift of dignity, that our grief and suffering does not have to define us. Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...  

Sermon Text:  Psalm 137; Luke 9:18-25   Turntable Gospel will center on grief, so we started with the genre that does that best:  country. Country music thrives in its specificity, to bring you into the story. In faith, grief is what starts our journey towards God, but we must be specific about our grief and name it.  In doing so, we discover that our Savior joins us in that grief. Whatever you are carrying, it is a good place to seek the Savior.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...  

Sermon Text:  2 Samuel 6   We wrapped up a week of VBS by asking the question we asked the kids all week:  What is at the core of YOUR faith?  For so many of us, it's really fear.  But the Bible says, "Fear not."  In Christ, we can know a joy deeper than our circumstances.  Joy is not a requirement of discipleship, but is rather the by-product of it. We experience that joy as we walk in the way of Christ.    Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...  

Sermon Text:  Exodus 19   In our final installment of this series, we talk about the United Church of Christ. At the heart of the UCC is a commitment to covenant - an exchange not of goods or services, but of people. In the UCC, we are not connected by laws or authority, but by deep relationships to one another. That empowers our work to proclaim the gospel, work for reconciliation, and to seek justice and liberation for all.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...  

Sermon Text: John 21:3-19   We are built for community, which means that as soon as we start following Christ we find ourselves in a community of believers, and Christ calls us to care for them, "Feed my sheep." We don't do that as "volunteers," but as "disciples" who are carrying out God's purposes for our lives. To help us do this, we have structures at St. Mary's that lead us, structure our work, and call us to our best selves.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

We're covering the basics of membership in our Sunday worship. Today, we talked the heart of membership - discipleship of Jesus Christ. When we join a church, we don't join an organization, but an organism. At the heart of the church is the story of Jesus - his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. And his most basic call to us is, "Follow me."  And we're given some important tools - prayer, scripture, and sacrament - to guide us on good and faithful paths.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 7:13-20   A testimony is a record of the choices we make to live by faith out of the soil of our disciplines, and the impact our lives make on others. There is no testimony that doesn't require making choices. Abram's choice was to go in the complete opposite direction of the entire world, and Jesus tells us to enter by the narrow gate. Make those hard choices towards the way of God - the love of God, and the love of neighbor.   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: John 14:1-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-12   We are all spiritual beings because we are beings who love. If we love anything at all, we are being spiritually formed. The question then is, “Who or what is forming you?” and “is that where you wanna go? Jesus doesn't say, “I'll show you the way.” He's saying, “I am the way…no one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus makes a bold statement: there's no path to God you've glimpsed in your own soul, without Jesus.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text:  Deuteronomy 6:1-12; Luke 5:1-11   We kick off a new sermon series for Lent, "If You Wanna Go Far..." We begin with motivation. What drives us forward? Can external things, really keep us moving forward in life? Our Scriptures give us a different answer. At Sinai, God implores the people to "Love the Lord your God." And in Luke, Peter has an experience that changes his life. Love is at the core of our most meaningful journeys. What's your story?   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text:  Mark 9:2-9 The Transfiguration shows us fully what the gospels have only shown us in part: the full divinity of Christ. Elijah and Moses bear witness to this final, full revelation of God's purposes, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him!"   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Mark 1:29-39   When we participate in intercessory prayer, what is it that we do?  In our reading today, Jesus shows us how he interacts with the sick and suffering.  Not only was Simon's mother-in-law cured, but she was restored to her vocation.  In this way, we see a difference between curing and healing.  And when we understand the difference, our eyes can be opened to new ways of seeing the work of God in the lives of others.   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 8:1-18   Last week, Mary told us to "do whatever he tells you." This is the path of discipleship. Faith is less about what we think, and more about what we do. Apply this to a unique situation of meal being sacrificed to idols - what should we do? The answer? Always prioritize the needs of others. Don't let anything come between them and their Savior.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: John 2:1-11   In all of scripture, Mary is our most faithful guide for following Jesus, and helps us understand what we are called to be as the church. In the story of the wedding at Cana, she gives us the most basic instruction of discipleship, "Do whatever he tells you." And in this step, Jesus turns the regular water of our lives into the wine of life and purpose and meaning. To make it even more clear, we took a look at a religious icon to show us in color what being the church is all about - point them to Jesus.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Mark 1:4-11   In Noah's flood, a dove announced dry land, a new world is here! Except it wasn't. But in Christ, a dove announces that new world is here, and it lands upon Christ, who has given us a new identity - the Beloved. As we welcome our new consistory, they too receive a new identity, to lead this "ark" not to keep people out, but to bring people on board.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi came to worship, and so we are invited in this final Christmas story to worship Christ. In worship, God and his story is made present to us, in a deeply personal way. God is nearer to you at this very moment than your own breath. Worship is simple, but it is a choice to make ourselves fully and personally present to God. And when we fix the life and person of Christ as our star, and we worship with body and soul and spirit, we find a central point to follow on the vast journey of life.   Follow St. Mary's: www.facebook.com/stmarysunitedchurchofchrist/ www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Psalm 119   Today we celebrate the hiring of our new program leader for children, youth, and families, as well as bless our 2023-34 confirmation class! Psalm 119, an extended treatise on the "law of God," says they are "happy" who follow in the way of God. Happiness is what we all seek, but our young people are as unhappy as any generation we've seen. The world has promised that all sorts of things can ease that unhappiness, and yet the call to follow Christ promises to remove us from the highway of noise and information and help us walk on water when we keep our eyes fixed on Christ.   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Revelation 7   Today we celebrate All Saints Sunday, and we are brought face to face with the reality of death. And while death is all around us, and can make us lose hope, we don't have to. Even Christ died, and so there is no place we can go where Christ has not already gone. And Revelation shows us, in images and suggestions, how we can draw hope for our lives from the lives of those who have walked the way of Christ.   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text:  Ezekiel 36   We usually think of the "Protestant Reformation," but reformation is required anytime people ask other things - church, other people, celebrities - to carry our faith for us. Why? Because our God is intensely personal, and that means faith's beauty and power only comes to full bloom when we carry that faith inside ourselves and live it out in our lives. Perhaps reformation is needed in our lives and in the Church's life once more.    

Sermon Text: Mark 1   When are we saved? Is it at baptism? Is it at confirmation? When we say a prayer? Or are we bound to guess for our entire life, hoping to attain heaven one day? In baptism, Christ comes to us, and the powerful voice of God says, "You are my beloved child." Is that not salvation? A good word today as we celebrated the baptism of Bryce!   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text:  Ephesians 2   What is the role of the church?  What are we supposed to do?  In Ephesians, Paul identifies the problem - "sin," as he calls it; identifies the solution - God's amazing love, and our path forward - a new way of being human.  That is what Christ called us to be.  And the role of the church is to live as that new humanity, and in doing so, become the "poem" God intends us to be.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/     Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...  

Sermon Text: John 12   Worldwide Communion Sunday was established in the 30's to meet the needs of a world that was coming apart. Its message was to bring Christian communities together. Today, the world is different, as we all receiving teaching and encouragement from a variety of Christian sources. So what is the urgent question facing the church today? And what can communion say about it?   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Romans 12:1-5   While the gospel is a message of what Christ has done for us, it can only be fully understood as it is lived, and the Church's responsibility is to witness to that love in the same cruciform way. As Christ gave his body, so we give our bodies. This is what Paul stresses when he writes "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice." And we know this changes lives because someone did that for you - someone gave of themself and witnessed to you so that you could witness to others. So let's do our shared work as a church looking for those who need that love and support.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-7   Pastor Sam stumbled across a social media post that claimed that the main tenet of each religion is basically the same., "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." While there's value to understanding the similarities of religion and the humanity of those who practice them, we also do well to discover what is distinct about Christianity. That distinctiveness we call the gospel - Christ crucified, buried, resurrected, and living today. That is the core of our faith, and is the key to understanding it all - even love.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Luke 19:1-10   What does a life – shaped by Kingdom realities, priorities, and values – look like? How do we worship here and go to work on Monday? We can't do it i the style of Babylon; it begins by waiting. Waiting leads to discipline, and discipline leads to passion. And that is a recipe for a vibrant life of God.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Galatians 2   We celebrated a baptism today, which intersected nicely with Turntable. If baptism is to mean anything, it has to help us live well, which means it has to be able to speak love and hope to us on our worst days. So we "learn a hard lesson" at the baptismal font, that we are crucified with Christ. But in that death, we know that Christ accompanies us always, and whispers love and hope throughout our life.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Romans 57:15-24   Armed with the most wonderful story in the world, why is it that so few believers seem to live as if it makes a difference? Truth is, it's really hard to move into the new life of Christ. As U2 sings, we find ourselves unsteady and unsure. The path forward? To keep practicing the new life, doing the small things that keep us moving forward, trusting that God is bringing the new life inside of us to fruition. Just keep singing.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text:  Romans 5, Psalm 40   This song moves our conversation about "Babylon" from the global to the personal. Babylon makes false promises, and yet there's this nagging sense of hope, that things can be different. In Romans, Paul teaches us that in Adam, we are all fallen, but in the second Adam, Christ, we are all made new. This is reflected in the Editors lyrics - our "broken hearts" of shame are turned into the "broken hearts" of freedom and joy. And as a church, we are called to share that new life with others. In our Bonus Content, we talk about a simple prayer that can help us tell this deeper truth - the truth about Christ, and the truth about ourselves - and how this prayer can move from confession to rejoicing.  Let us introduce you to the Jesus Prayer.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Isaiah 21; Luke 4   This song is taken right from Isaiah 21, where Isaiah pronounces judgment on Babylon. Babylon is one of the major themes of the entire Bible. What is Babylon? Why is she judged? And what does it mean to live faithfully in the midst of her? Into the midst of another Babylon - Rome - just comes and shows us an entirely new Kingdom.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...  

Sermon Text: 1 Chronicle 16:7-15; Psalm 42   Last week, we celebrated a baptism. This week: do you remember your baptism? Baptism makes present the reality it proclaims - the cross of Christ and new life! If it is so core to our identity, we cannot allow it to become a distant memory or an old certificate. We must remember regularly. And when we do, God transforms us.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Matthew 3:13-17   Today, we celebrated the baptism of Everett! So we wondered about the sacrament of baptism: what is the truest thing about us? At its core, baptism is a desire to say unequivocally the truest thing about you, That you are the beloved child of God. Full stop. And that is why we baptize children. We want to say it before anyone else whispers anything else to you. Before you decided to follow Jesus, Jesus decided to follow you, and called you, and seeks to lavish on you grace and mercy and peace and growth and discipleship and the very Kingdom of God.   https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 17; Matthew 14:13-21   Follow St. Mary's: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13; Colossians 3:9b-14   Follow St. Mary's: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: John 15; Ephesians 4   We concluded our series on the windows by looking at the final two, representing baptism and communion. What are the sacraments, and what do they do? We talked about the remarkable gift they are. Then we stepped back and looked at the sanctuary in its fullness - what is the message of this place? Short answer? In our deepest heart, God meets us with love and bids us come follow him. That's still our call today.   Follow St. Mary's: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...  

Sermon Text: Revelation 4:6-8   Today we looked at the traditional symbols for the four gospels in our windows, and discovered these images come from Scripture itself! They are a reminder that every time we open Scripture, we are brought into the presence of God in a powerful way. the Bible is intended to point us to Christ, and the Bible is only life-changing as we allow Christ to shine through it.   Follow St. Mary's: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Colossians 1   Today, we released a new logo! Logos - and imagery of all kinds - makes our feelings, beliefs, and visions tangible. But the Bible is notoriously skeptical of images, because we can't capture God in a finite image. But what if God GAVE us an image? In Christ, God did. And all of our images are intended to point back to that singular image - Jesus crucified, resurrected, and coming again.   BONUS:  For the mission to be alive in the church, it has to be alive in us.  What is God cultivating, growing, and renewing in you?   Follow St. Mary's: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: 1 John 4   Trinity Sunday is one of a very few Sundays where we celebrate a doctrine. But what does the doctrine of the "Trinity" actually do for us? In the Trinity, God is a swirling, living, breathing experience of love. By being 3-in-1, God can be love in God's very essence. And through the Holy Spirit in us, we participate in that life. To be disciples, then, is to go seeking to give love in community. That is the challenge of the Trinitarian Church.   Follow St. Mary's: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

Sermon Text: Acts 2   The apostles waited eagerly for the sending of the Holy Spirit, and on that Pentecost Sunday the Spirit was sent and the gospel began its spread across the world, until it reaches us. We are the people the apostles were praying for. In the same way, this congregation has prayed for an outpouring of God's Spirit, and today we confirmed 6 students into the faith and family of Jesus Christ. They are the people we've been praying for. May God bless them, and us, as we set out on this new journey together.   Follow St. Mary's: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysunite... https://www.instagram.com/stmarysucc/   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...