September 11, 2011
Scripture passages from the Message Bible
Good Morning. . . well we have finally come to the end of our journey with Adam Hamilton’s “When Christians Get It Wrong.” Over the past weeks we heard all about what some young people think about Christians, why some are turning away from the church. Now we get to hear about when Christians get it right. But as I think about today being the 10th year remembrance of the 9/11 tragedy. . . I believe that it’s not just when Christian get it right but when humanity gets it right!
1 John 4:11-12, 16, 19-21 “love God = love others”
Christians get it right when they love others. When we, as Christians, proclaim Christ as our Savor. . . and that we love God. . . and are overjoyed with our fresh, renewed, restored relationship with God. . . then all those around us will know to whom we belong by our actions and words. As the hymn goes. . . ”they will know we are Christians by our love. . . by our love. . . they will know we are Christians by our love”. When we love God then we will love all of His creation. . . that’s all of His creation. . . not just who or what we chose but the whole package. . . ! How bright their light shines on that hill. . . shining with the light of acceptance and love for all to see
Matthew 5:13-16 Salt and Light of the World
When Christians get it right, we love those who others may see as undesirable. We love the differences that we all have and accept the differences as God’s way of adding texture, color, diversity to the world in which we lives. We share the flavor that God has put in each and every one of us. Others around us see the attributes of Christ in us. . . Christ Shines Through!! We are that city on the hill shining forth for the world to see. . . we are the seasoning that many in humanity long for. . . how bright their light shines on that hill. . . shining with the light of flavor and love for all to see
Matthew 5:43-48 Love Our Enemies
When Christians get it right we can change the world. It we love our enemies. . . treat them as God would have us treat them. . . maybe, just maybe, there could be peace, there could be some kind of harmony. Now I’m not saying that if we show love the love of God to those around us everything would be perfect. . . what I am saying is that it’s a good place to start. Someone has to begin to break down the walls. We as Christians are called to not live as the world would have us live but as God would have us live. . . to live a life of radical hospitality. . . that same hospitality, the same love that kept Jesus nailed to the cross. . . how bright their light shines on that hill. . . shining with the light of peace and justice for all to see
Matthew 22:34-40 Two Great Commandments
Christians get it right when they live by these two commandments. These are pivotal to our witness ad faith. Christians are that shining light when they decide that the way of the world is not the path they chose to take, when they decide that their life will not be one of dual standards. Christians get it right when they love others instead of their own “ego” so to speak. When they decide to stand out in the crowd for all of the “right reasons”. . . how bright their light shines on that hill. . . shining with that light of love for all to see.
Romans 12:9-21 Paul’s Take on Love
When Christians get it right. . . they want to proclaim and share the gift that God has given them. They love not on the surface but it is rooted in their very being. They don’t go along with the world’s view of right and wrong and they chose not to compromise their beliefs. They pray even when it seems useless because they know the power of prayer and that God hears the prayers of all creation. They choose a life of Radical Hospitality but not in the way the world sees hospitality but in response to the radical hospitality given them from God through Jesus Christ. When Christians get it right they are living with the glasses of God. . . seeing as God sees.
How bright their light shines on that hill. . . shining with the light of God that illuminates the darkest dark with the light of the noon day sun. . . The Light of the Son for all to see. . .
When Christians. . . when humanity gets it right here will be no more 9/11’s. I am reminded of what happened on 9/12 that year of the destruction. . . the year of the terrorist attack. On 9/12. . . this nation came together as one. People forgot about their differences for a while and banned together. If we did it once. . . we can do it again. We as Christians. . . as a nation need to live our lives in 9/12. Then maybe. . . just maybe there can be a change. . . there can be peace. . . here can be healing. And not only that. . . if we as a world. . . as all humanity together would adopted that same 9/12 attitude. . . can you imagine what our world would be like? Just imagine. . .
AMEN
September 21, 2011
Worship Theme: “A Powerful Witness in the World”
Call to Worship
Children’s Message
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD)
1 John 4:11-12, 16, 19-21
Meditation: Shining Stars I-Love as God Loves Us
Reaffirmation of Faith
Hymn: “Love the Lord Your God”, TFWS 2168
Matthew 5:13-16
Meditation: Shining Stars II-Salt and Light of the World
Hymn: “This Little Light of Mine”, UMH 585
Matthew 5:43-48
Meditation: Shining Stars III-Love Our Enemies
Hymn: “Help Us Accept Each Other”, UMH 560
Matthew 22:34-40
Meditation: Shining Stars IV-Two Great Commandments
Hymn: “Lord I Want To Be A Christian”, UMH 402
Romans 12:9-21
Meditation: Shining Stars V-Paul’s Take on Love
Hymn: “The Gift of Love”, UMH 408
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
September 11, 2011
Fourteenth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Luke 14:12-24 (The Message Bible)
Exodus 12:1-14 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship (Psalm 149:1-4)
Prayer of Dedication (Matthew 18:15-20, GBOD)
Worship Theme: "Whose Table Is It?"
Communion
and sermon: "Table Manners. . ."
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
September 4, 2011
Thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5opSXkHBKI
Sing a New Song - Friday Night Sermon - Rev. Amy DeLong
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000572962166
&
James 2:8-13 (Common English Bible)
Acts 10:13-15, 27-28 (NRSV Bible)
Call to Worship (GBOD)
Prayer of Dedication
Worship Theme: “We all have sacred worth. . .”
and sermon: “God says what?!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
August 21, 2011
Eleventh Sunday of Pentecost
&
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (NRSV Bible)
Job 16:1-5 (NRSV Bible)
Psalm 96:1-6 (NRSV Bible)(Call to Worship)
Communion
Worship Theme: “Why do bad things happen?”
Children’s Time
and sermon: “In My Weakness I am Strong”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
August 7, 2011
Nineth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Acts 11:2-18 (NRSV Bible)
1 Peter 3:8-9, 15 (NRSV Bible)
Psalm 118:19-20, 24 (NRSV Bible)(Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “We are all one Family of God”
Children’s Time
and sermon: “I Got Your Back!”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 31, 2011
Eighth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Genesis 1:1-8
Matthew 22:16b-17, 21b-22
Unison Prayer
“Loving, Merciful God, giver of all knowledge,
we thank you for your Spirit, here among us.
We ask for eyes to see you at work in our lives
and the lives of others, ears to hear the words
you have for us, and a heart that is open to
your love and grace. It is truly good to be in
the house of the Lord! Amen.”
Worship Theme: “God’s Wisdom”
Children’s Time
and sermon: “We don’t know everything?”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 24, 2011
Seventh Sunday of Pentecost
&
church sign, “Hanging Out with Jesus”
July 17, 2011
&
Luke 15:1-2
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
“This man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Galatians 5:22-23 (GOD’s WORD Translation)
Psalm 92:1-2 (GOD’s WORD Translation)(Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “What kind of people did Jesus hang with?”
and sermon: “When Christians Are Un-Christian”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 17, 2011
Sixth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Sermon series by the Reverend Adam Hamilton
http://adamhamilton.cor.org/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/RevAdamHamilton
http://www.abingdonpress.com/adamhamilton/forms/default.aspx?pageid=554&id=106
“When Christians Get It Wrong”
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Rev-Hamilton-When-Christians-Get-It-Wrong-1298797.htm
http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=6223
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY
All of my
poems and photographs 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 (raymondafoss@gmail.com)
for usage. See all 40,200+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
No comments:
Post a Comment