Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Week One
Sunday January 9 2022wILL the Real Jesus Please Stand UP?Week oneMark 8: 27-33Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture 27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are…
A New Way Forward
Sunday January 2 2022A New wAY fORWARDmATTHEW 2: 1-12rEV MARY bETH hARDESTY-cROUCH
Rejoice: Christmas Eve
December 24 2021REJOICE: Christmas EveJohn 1: 1-5; LUKE 2: 1-20Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE One: Come, siblings and strangers, friends and foes, seekers and skeptics. We are all welcomed into God’s reign, for tonight we celebrate the birth of our Messiah, the Lord.All: Rejoice in the Lord always; again we will say, rejoice!One: Now, at last, on Christmas Eve, we light our Christ Candle. This candle is the center of our celebration, just as Christ has a…
Storytime: The Shine Man
Sunday December 26 2021The Shine Man: A CHristmas Story*JOHN 1:1-14 NRSVRev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light…
Rejoice: Week Four
Sunday December 19 2021Fourth Sunday of AdventRejoice: Bursting with God NewsLUKE 2:8-18 NRSVRev mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for…
Rejoice: Week Three
Sunday December 12 2021Third Sunday of AdventReJoice: Week ThreeZechariah 9:9 NRSVHandel’s MessiahRev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE (JOY) One: Come, siblings and strangers, friends and foes, seekers and skeptics. We are all welcomed into God’s joy.All: Rejoice in the Lord always; again we will say, rejoice!One: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon hisshoulders. We light this candle as a sign of our joy in our Savior.All: Christ our…
Rejoice: Week Two
December 5 2021REJOICE: WEEK TWOSECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENTLUKE 1: 39-45REV MARY BETH HARDESTY-CROUCH Lighting of the advent candle (Peace) 8:40amCome, siblings and strangers, friends and foes, seekers and skeptics. We are all welcomed into God’s peace. Along our way, we learn and grow, we make mistakes and make amends, we weep and rejoice. We light this candle to remember that God brings peace into our lives and our world. 11:00amCome, siblings and strangers, friends and foes, seekers and skeptics.We are…
Rejoice: Week One
November 28 2021Rejoice: Week OneFirst SunDay of AdventIsaiah 9:2-7Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch SCRIPTURE 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the…
Not That Kind of King
Sunday November 21 2021CHrist the King Sundaynot That Kind Of KingJohn 18: 33-37Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture 33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”…
A Circle of Life
Sunday November 14 2021A Circle of Lifematthew 14: 13-21Adam Lubbers Scripture 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted…
The Widow’s Way
Sunday november 7 2021The Widow’s WayMark 12: 38-44Rev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture 38 As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”41 He sat down opposite the…
The Next Act: All Saints Sunday
Sunday october 31 2021The Next act: All Saints SundayISAIAH 25:6-10A NRSVRev Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch Scripture 6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever.…