Sunday, April 19, 2015

sermon, "A Teachable Moment", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2015

Maundy Thursday
April 2, 2015
Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14 The Message Bible
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 The Message Bible
John 6:47-51 The Message Bible
Psalm 116:1-6, 12-19 The Message Bible

A Teachable Moment…

We have almost come to the end of our Lenten journey together. On our journey we have learned that through Jesus, God pours out so many blessings but the most important is the free gift God Salvation only found through Jesus. As Psalm 116 said, God heard our cry for help. . . He heard and came to help, He knew our need for a Messiah. God did not come and help in the form of a Davidic king taking Rome by storm but in the form of a helpless babe who grew up to be the King of all kings freeing all of humanity from a fate worse than death. . . freeing us from our sin. How interesting it is that He would come in the form of a helpless babe to help us in our helplessness of sin. . . He became like us to conquer for us. . . And this gift. . . is absolutely FREE!

We now enter the upper room where Jesus taught His disciples then and now one of the most important lessons in His ministry. There was one last thing He needed to show them…example for them…before He completed His work on the cross. Jesus took something that they were taught as they grew up…the Pass Over Seder…and turned into something new…something different. They were taught that the Seder was a remembrance of how God delivered the Israelite's from the tyranny of the Egyptians as is stated in the Exodus scripture I read this evening. Now this new thing was about remembering Jesus and His teachings…about remembering how Jesus acted and to go and do likewise.

        At this Seder, Jesus did something that a teacher would never have done. Instead of having others wash His feet…instead of claiming the rights of one was above others…Jesus did a new thing. He was the one who washed the feet. Taking on the posture of a servant instead of being served, He taught the disciples and us to live a new way…one that puts others above our selves.

        I can understand how Simon Peter felt…he knew who Jesus was. Peter understood that Jesus was special. Peter felt unworthy of Jesus washing his feet but Jesus told him that if He didn’t, Peter could have no part of what Jesus was doing…this new way of life. In taking on this new lifestyle… of a servant…Jesus also gave them and us a new commandment. To love others not as our self but as Jesus loved. To be willing to put aside self and take up theirs and our own cross and follow Jesus’ example.

        Jesus taught the disciples many lesson as they learned from their Rabbouni.       We continue to this day to remember those lessons by reenacting the Lords Supper. This too was a new thing that night when the celebrated the passover meal together. You see not only did Jesus become their servant and gave that servant example to them, He also changed the meaning behind the whole “Lords Supper”. It not only was a remembrance of what God did in Egypt but also what God did in Christ Jesus. . . He became that Pascal Lamb. . . He proclaims that He is the “Bread of Life” as in the John scripture from tonight. The disciples then and now celebrate this meal that Jesus offers so that we may live life with Him. Through Him there is life eternal instead of a  life of death. Through His death and resurrection we have new life in Christ. . . 1 Corinthians reminds us that each time we celebrate. . . reenact this meal, we are drawn back to the Upper Room and suit with Jesus. May we always cherish these moments and never get to the point that we become so familiar that we just go through the motions and miss out on the God inspired moment in the Upper Room. . .

        So. . . now Jesus gives one of His final lessons at this meal in the Upper Room. They and we are called to live in a new and radical way…much different than the world around us as Jesus’ disciples. Now. . . they and we are called to serve. . . to set aside ourselves our titles. . . our degrees. . . our self-interests. . . our ego's. . . we are called to not see color. . . we are called to not see economic realities. . . we are called to be a house of prayer and not a house of despair. . . we are called to be the hands, feet, voice and image of the Servant of the Lord. We are called to roll up ourselves and get involved with a hurting world who needs acts of Radical Hospitality.

        We are called to love unconditionally. We are called to serve others with the love and joy that Jesus did. We are called into the family business, as beloved children of the Most High God. We are called to be Christ to the world. Imagine what the world would be if we were more interested in the family business than branching out on our own? Maybe the world. . . humanity. . . needs to return to its original form and walk in the cool of the evening with our God? What to do you think would happen if you and I would unconditionally be the hands and feet of Christ? Just imagine.

April 2, 2015
Maundy Thursday
Opening Prayer and 1st reading:
Psalm 116:1-6, 12-19 (NRSV)
2nd reading - Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14 (NRSV) and 3rd reading -
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NRSV)
4th reading - John 13:1-17, 31b-35
sermon, “Lenten Reflections”
video:
text:

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
prayer of confession
“As the Deer”
“More Love, More Power”
“How Beautiful”
foot washing
Communion – part 1
Communion - part 2
Prayer after communion
Benediction
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 2, 2015
&
Palm Sunday
John 19:28-29 (The Amplified Bible)
sermon, “What Do We Thirst For? . . .”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message – “That slipper snake”
-          Mystery box – rubber snake
video:
text:
Sacred Dance introit, distribution of the palms
to “Hosanna” by Kirk Franklin
praise hymn, “Hear Our Praises”
praise hymn, “How Majestic Is Your Name”
praise hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness
praise hymn, “Break Every Chain”
offertory hymn, “Light The Fire Again” 
Communion hymns, “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever”
closing song, “God You Reign”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
6th Sunday of Lent
Palm Sunday
March 29, 2015
&
Mark 15:21-36a (The Message)
Psalm 22:1
sermon, “You Are Never Alone”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message – “The Protection of the Trinity”
-          Mystery box – jackknife (from Ted)
video:
text:
praise hymn, “I Will Call Upon the Lord”
praise hymn, “Standing In The Need of Prayer”
praise hymn, “It’s Amazing”
praise hymn, “For Those Tears I Died”
offertory hymn, “ At The Cross”
Communion and Communion hymns, “Ain’t Jesus Good” and “I Will Bless The Lord”
closing hymn, “Let Everything That Has Breath”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
5th Sunday in Lent
March 22, 2015
&
John 19:25-27
Ephesians 1:3-14
Romans 8:15
sermon, “You Are Chosen”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message – “God's Love Letter; God is writing your story”
-          Mystery box – a pencil
video:
text:
praise hymn, “Step By Step”
praise hymn, “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High”
praise hymn, “Jesus, Messiah”
praise hymn, “I Stand Amazed”
offertory hymn, “May Jesus Christ Be Praised” (“When Morning Gilds the Skies”)
Communion and Communion hymn, “There Is A River”
closing hymn, “Shout To the Lord”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in Lent
March 8, 2015
&
Luke 23:32, 39-43
sermon, “So This Is Paradise”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message – “Thirsting for God”
-          Mystery box – bottle of grape juice
video:
text:

centering hymn, “Surely the Presence”, Greeting and Announcements, Opening Prayer
praise hymn, “Forever”
praise hymn, “Everlasting”
praise hymn, “To God Be the Glory”
praise hymn, “I Worship You Almighty God”
offertory hymn, “The Love Of God Goes On”
Communion hymn, “10,000 Reasons”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in Lent
March 1, 2015
&
Luke 23:23, 33-34
sermon, “You Are Forgiven”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message – “Jesus is our superhero”
-          Mystery box – Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Scooby Doo
-          and a candy cane
video:
image:
text:
centering, “Surely the Presence”
praise hymn, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”
offertory hymn, “Make My Life A Prayer to You”
Communion hymn, “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him”
closing hymn, “Our God Reigns”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
1st Sunday in Lent
February 22, 2015

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 37,180+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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