February 2021 Summary of Messages and Scriptures
February 7, 2021.
Candlemas
Preview: “Selah”.
Focus scriptures: Psalm 84:1-10 and Luke 2:22-40.
Preview: What does “sanctuary” mean when so many are still not able to go to church? How can Sanctuary be with the people wherever they are? Our focus words are “selah, hesed and shalom”. We will celebrate Candlemas today, United Methodist style.
February 14, 2021
Transfiguration Sunday
Message: “Clouds”.
Focus Scriptures: Mark 9:2-9, Exodus 19:9-11 and Matthew 24:30-31.
Preview: In Jewish thought, G-d is connected with clouds. They thought that Messiah would also come in the clouds and settle into the temple once more. So, we have the clouds over Mt. Sinai. The cloud that settles over the tabernacle. The cloud that settles on the Mt. of transfiguration. And the cloud on which Jesus will come again. But, there are clouds and there are clouds. There will be a bit of the Zach Zobiech story today and his song “Clouds”. Clouds of hope even when things seem hopeless. A vid of the song is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDeDqJ8GQMY
Lent 2021
“Rend Our Hearts and Claim the Promise” Series
February 17, 2021
Ash Wednesday
6:00 p.m.
Message: “Yet Even Now”
Scriptures: Joel 2:1-2; 12-17 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Preview: Even now? After all we have been through, do we still need to prepare for Easter? Rend our hearts and claim the promise? Yes. For our suffering must have meant something. This season must give us space and appropriate reminders of who and whose we are. So that we can claim the promise of Easter.
February 21, 2021
First Sunday of Lent
Message: “This is the Sign”
Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17 and Mark 1:9-15
Preview: During Lent, we look for signs. Signs of hope and promise. Guidance as to how we are doing. Portents of the coming Easter. Symbols of Christ and his presence that bring us comfort. G-d gave us a sign, a covenant, in Noah’s rainbow. But in the calamity of modern days, is a rainbow enough? If G-d is merely setting aside his bow, does that end our adversarial relationship with G-d as he moves from Creator to Protector? With Jesus as the new sign of a new covenant which we now claim.
February 28, 2021
Second Sunday of Lent
Message: “Walk Before Me”
Scriptures: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Mark 8:31-38.
Preview: “…walk before me, and be blameless.” “…take up their cross and follow me.” The Abrahamic covenant came in three parts. Each time, Abraham gained something and each time he lost something as the covenant was revealed. As do we in our walk. As we find walking before G-d and being sinless is a hard task. There are promises to claim, but there is a necessary rending in order to claim these promises. The new covenant we claim at Easter is less about being out front, but more about following Jesus.