Jonah & The Whale
This is a story about a reluctant prophet swallowed by a whale, but the rest of the story is how a Jewish nationalist was forced to extend God’s mercy to those he hates most, challenging our human understanding of justice.
Noah & The Ark
Sunday June 27 2021 The Rest Of The Story: Noah & The Ark Genesis 6:5-8, 13-14, 17-19 NRSV Rev Jessica Wright This is a story about a chosen family tending a floating zoo, but the rest of the story is about humankind’s tendency toward corruption, sin, and violence while God chooses mercy, making the first covenant with humankind we find in our Bible. Scripture 5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every…
David & Goliath
Sunday June 20 2021 Father’s Day The Rest Of The Story: David & Goliath 1 Samuel 17:38-50 NRSVRev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch This is a story about a young hero, but the rest of the story is about David’s motivation and doing the thing you’re already really good at. Scripture 38 Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David strapped Saul’s sword over the armor,…
Mary & The Angel
Sunday June 13 2021 The Rest Of The Story: Mary & The Angel Luke 1:26-38 NRSV Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-CroucH This is a story about God choosing Mary to be the mother of Jesus, but the rest of the story is how she was favored by God. Scripture 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the…
Adam & Eve
Sunday June 6 2021 The Rest Of The Story: Adam & Eve Genesis 3: 1-13 Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch This is a story about the human habit of sin, but the rest of the story is God’s ongoing effort at redemption. Scripture 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The…
The Power of Worship
Sunday may 30 2021The Power of WOrshipIsaiah 6: 1-8Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-CROUCH scripture 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy,…
Days Ahead
Sunday May 23 2021Graduate SundayDays AheadJeremiaH 29:11 NRSV; Romans 8:35-39 NRSVGrant Bernhard, Sabrina Fairchild, Caleb Gant, Brenden Pitney Scripture 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.JEREMIAH 29:11 NRSV 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your…
ReNEW: Week Six
Sunday May 16 2021ReNEW: Week SixChange The World SundayMatthew 28:16-20 NRSVRev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father…
ReNEW: Week Five
Sunday May 9 2021ReNEW: Week FIVESanCtification1 Peter 1:13-16 NRSVRev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch SCRIPTURE 13 Therefore prepare your minds for action, discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. 14 Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. 15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter…
ReNEW: Week Four
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
MATTHEW 11:28-30 NRSV
ReNEW: Week Three
Sunday April 25 2021ReNew: Week ThreeThe Gift of SabbathGeNESIS 2:3, ExODUS 20:8-11, LUKE 13:10-17 NRSVRev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. GENESIS 2:3 NRSV 8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God;…
ReNEW: Week Two
SUNDAY April 18 2021ReNEW: Week TwoRev 21:1-5 KJV & Isaiah 40:28-31 NRSVRev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture REVELATION 21:1-5A KJV 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out…