Colville United Church of Christ Sermons

18-0617 If You Were God

There are three parts to this audio: 1) Sacred Texts read in worship - I Samuel 15:34-16:13 and Mark 4:26-34; 2) Pairing and Sharing Time in Church - a new feature in our worship of breaking into pairs to share on a question for the day - today's question: If you were God what are the first three things you would do; and 3) Pastor Jim sermon related to the sacred texts and the question.

18-0603 What We Are Made For-- Mike Denton

Rev. Mike Denton is not our boss as Conference Minister in the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC. Instead he is our mutual partner in ministry working relationship to deepen our relationships of mutuality across our Church and within our churches. Today, he helps build an understanding of this using the Micah 6:6-8 text. As part of this, we had some relational time together as we paired up to discuss "Ways we have experienced being included, being held in our Church life and our community life?" All of this is an antidote to loneliness - the #1 health crisis of our times.

18-0527 Building Your Spiritual Toolkit - Rev Judith Rinehart - Nelson

Rev. Judith Rinehart-Nelson discusses the need to be aware of the spiritual tools we use to help us thrive in life situations. Sometimes we learn these tools from others. The spiritual toolkit comes in handy when we learn to manage mental health challenges. These spiritual tools can help us be born again as Jesus discusses in John 3:1-17 with Nicodemus.

18-0520 Mortal Can These Bones Live

For each sacred text, we 1) read it, 2) had an invitation to dialogue, 3) paired up for an encounter with invited questions, 4) came back together and shared connections we made. Note that on this audio you don't get to hear #3 and I hope you hear the sharings in #4. Sacred Texts: Valley of the Dry Bones Ezekiel 37:1-14, and Filled with the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) Acts 2:1-21.

18-0513 The People We Know The Stories We Tell

The sacred texts today cause us to want more. Jesus knows he will be leaving the disciples soon and so he prays for their protection and understanding. Jesus shows us how much he cares almost like a parent for this small group he has been with everyday. We also see the disciples coming together after Jesus is gone choosing a new disciple. Makes me wonder about all the interpersonal relationships they have developed -- now reconfigured without Jesus there everyday. The People We Know and the Stories We Tell -- I want the details to this story of the disciples. And what about our stories. Sacred Texts: John 17:11-13; Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; John 17:14-19

18-0506 Love Is Really The Answer

In some ways this was a very personal sermon. I suppose a sermon about Love is personal by nature. We were a small group today sitting in a circle around the Communion Table which supported the intimacy. I was not thinking about this going out on the podcast as I spoke. Oh well, here it is. I hope it is of benefit to others. In these times, making the hard choices to advance the cause of Love is our best way to navigate through and actually succeed. I really believe that. Think Jesus agrees and the writer of the Gospel of John. Sacred Text: John 15:9-17

18-0415 Peace Through Touch

This appearance of Jesus in Luke's Gospel (24:36-48)bridges the binary distinction between heaven and earth, between the body and spirit, between human and divine. The resurrected Jesus can be touched, can eat food, and the wounds on the hand and feet are still there. I find this such a hopeful vision that offers sacredness of our body, our touch, and even our wounds. Listen here and see how this relates to Jesus words "Peace by with You." Also read Psalm 4

18-0408 Resurrection Results

What is the evidence of the Resurrection? The common reading for this Sunday is the "doubting Thomas" story. Jesus invites Thomas to overcome his doubts by touching his wounds. Yet, the best evidence of the Resurrection is the way the early Christianity Community is acting. This passage (Acts 4:32-35)shows these Resurrection Results. Can we emulate this in today's churches and faith communities?

18-0401 Writing Your Own Ending

The Resurrection Story from Mark is first written. Later Mark readers felt compelled to clarify or add to the story. Today we look at the Resurrection story where it first ended at 16:8 and then the extended version and the more embellished Matthew, Luke, and John. In this we are encouraged to tell our own story of life and death understandings and our own answer to what the resurrection is and what it means. In this process the Joy comes not from the right answer but a broader and deeper sense of the Big Story of Creation in and beyond time. Sacred Text: Mark 16:1-8 and 9-20

18-0325 Looking Around At Everything

Jesus enters Jerusalem to a crowd laying palms and cloaks before him. He heads right to the Temple to check things out and Mark tells us, he "looks around at everything." In this sermon, I consider what that means for Jesus and for us s we enter this holiest week of the Christian year.