Messages and Scriptures for May 2021
June Schedule and Annual Conference
“Living the Resurrection” Series continues through May 16
May 2, 2021
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Communion Sunday
“Living the Resurrection” Series
Message: “Abide in Me”
Focus Scripture: John 15:1-8
Thread: We will work with the parable of the vine and branches again this Sunday. The word “abide” is used 8 times in this lection and we will explore what it means to abide in Christ, for Christ to abide in us and for us to abide in each other. And yes, we will talk about pruning. The big freeze of February 2021 and the damage wrought will serve as an illustration.
May 9, 2021
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Mother’s Day – Festival of the Christian Home
“Living the Resurrection” Series
Message: “No Greater Love”
Focus Scriptures: John 15:9-17 and 1 John 5:1-6
Thread: This will be a fairly traditional Mother’s Day Message, celebrating our moms and those who were like mothers to us. But as always, the emphasis on Jesus, who taught sacrificial love. I want to explore this a bit, especially how John wrote that this is a victorious love. A conquering love. And that is this love, we are more than conquerors, as Paul wrote in the 8th Chapter of Romans.
May 16, 2021
Seventh Sunday of Easter –
“Living the Resurrection”- End of the series
Graduation Sunday
Ascension Sunday
Communion Sunday
Shavuot is tomorrow (G‑d gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai)
Focus Scriptures: John 17:6-19 and Luke 24:44-52.
Next Sunday is Pentecost/Confirmation
Message: “We Are Yours”
Thread: “We are yours”. It defines who we are in relationship with Christ and in relationship with each other. It defines how we are to be in relationship to the world. In this last of the series, “Living the Resurrection” we are reminded that we are called to glorify G-d as we live. To recognize the glory of Christ in the world. To know God’s glory in our own lives. Living the Resurrection is to celebrate the community of faith that we have become. We live the Resurrection by making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. I will make mention of the ascension of Jesus, but that will not be the focus of the message. Our graduating seniors will be invited to say a few words and we will make some room for that.
May 23, 2021
Confirmation Sunday
Pentecost
Aldersgate Sunday
Focus Scriptures: Acts 2:1-21 and Romans 10:8-10, 17
Message: “Strangely Warmed”
Thread: Today will be a celebration of our Confirmand. In the message, I will draw heavily from John Wesley’s “confirmation” at Aldersgate. John Wesley was at a prayer and bible study meeting when someone read from Martin Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. And he felt his heart strangely warmed. I have read the Preface and determined just about where the reading was that was so important to Wesley and from there I think I have found the references in Romans chapters 3,4 and 10 that Luther was expounding on. And it all goes back to salvation by faith alone, which will be the heart of the message.
(Next week is Memorial Day Weekend)
May 30, 2021
Trinity Sunday
Memorial Day weekend
Message: “Whom Shall I Send?”
Focus Scriptures: Isaiah 6:1-8; 1 Samuel 17:32 and 40; Mark 6:7-11.
Thread: The focus this Sunday will be on the Lord sending us out to do his work. Might be battle, as David went to fight Goliath. Might be disciples, sent to call people to repentance and to heal. Might be us, sent to wherever there is a need.
June Scheduling
Note: Annual Conference is going to be virtual again this year but is going to be spread out over 5 part-days. The Laity session is Saturday, June 5 from 3:00 to 4:30. The Clergy Session is on Wednesday, June 9, from 3:00-4:30. First and second plenary sessions (reports and voting for lay and clergy delegates) are Thursday 3:00-5:30 and 6:00-8:00 and Third and Fourth plenary sessions are Friday from 3:00-5:30 and 4:00 to 7:30. On Saturday the 12, there is commissioning and ordination from 11:00-1:30. We have no details on issues before the conference that will require a vote.