We, as the Church and as individual followers of Jesus, are called to be shaped into the medium to not only communicate but to be God’s message to the world; to reach beyond boundaries of cultural and linguistic and generational differences and become part of the Spirit’s holy work of translation.
"I am the vine; you are the branches." — John 15:5
Sermons
What does it mean to belong to Jesus’ sheep. Well, Jesus says his sheep recognize his voice and follow him. And to follow Jesus means to do as he does…
In Easter, we turn our attention to our call, as followers of Jesus, to respond to the great need for healing and restoration that we see all around us. How do we go out into the world as agents of God’s transforming, resurrecting love? I don’t have a detailed plan for you but I do know we’ve been given the tools we need, just as the first disciples were.
Like the women at the tomb, we all need to be reminded so that, once reminded, we can remember. And, then having remembered, we can, once again, believe. Jesus is not in the tomb. He has risen! Life is trustworthy and love is strength and truth is freedom and forgiveness is wisdom and hope is alive!
For this is not a story simply for telling – it is a story for living – and not only in the rituals of this week but – and more importantly – with every breath and every thought and every action of every day, life without end. Amen.
So repent – which is to say, turn again and again to God, who is our patient and attentive gardener. Offer yourself up to be pruned and fed and watered. Reach your roots deep into the fertile soil and your branches high towards the sunlight so that you might bear all the fruit you possibly can for however long your fragile, beautiful life turns out to be.