Body Armor
August 22 “Body Armor” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69 13th Sunday after Pentecost We all understand that, when a new recruit joins the military, he or she goes through extensive training and physical fitness preparation before they are sent into action. But we wouldn’t think of deploying them without a helmet or body armor—that would be just plain foolish! In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he’s saying something similar: Christians need to put on body armor…
Becoming or Behaving
August 15, 2021 “Becoming or Behaving” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58 I once heard a teacher describing the kids in his class. He said that some of the kids looked at him while he talked, nodded their heads when he made a point, chuckled when he said something funny, raised their hands when they wanted to speak—basically making his day easier. And then there were others—kids who didn’t seem to listen to him, who never seemed…
The Words of My Mouth
August 8, 2021 “The Words of My Mouth” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 4:25-5:2 John 6:35, 41-51 11th Sunday after Pentecost When you were growing up, I’ll be you were told, “If you can’t say something nice—don’t say anything at all!” Some attribute this to Bambi, but Bambi was just quoting our mothers, right?! Be nice. Be sweet. I’ll agree that we need to teach our children to be KIND, to hold back on those words that hurt. …
Works or Faith?
August 1 “Works or Faith” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35
“Who Are You, Jesus?”
Romans 5: 1-11————John 3: 1-21————John 4: 1-30 July 25, 2021—————-Rev. Kate Freeman—————9th Sunday after Pentecost Good Morning, Spanish Springs Church. It is good to be back together with you all. Today I invite us to take a look at two familiar conversations which involve Jesus and someone who is seeking to know, “Who is this man?” Want to get to know someone, have a conversation, right? Let’s discover how Jesus reveals his Identity and what that means for us. These…
Drawn to Power
Drawn to Power 8th Sunday after Pentecost Ephesians 2:11-22 July 18, 2021 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 I’m willing to bet that something like this has happened to you: You’ve been working on something really hard (without a break), and you are really looking forward to a chance to kick back and relax. And just at the time when your break comes, someone asks you to help them—and it’s obvious that you have to defer that break. Something in you says,…
It Is For Freedom
2 Corinthians 12: 2-10; Mark 6: 1-13 July 4 6th Sunday after Pentecost It Is for Freedom 6th Pentecost 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 July 4, 2021 Mark 6:1-13 The word freedom is tossed around a lot these days, and it has been especially on my mind as we have approached our country’s Independence Day. Freedom! It’s the battle cry of every person who is struggling against powers that would enslave them, that would imprison them unjustly. Freedom. I’m remembering a conversation…
Normal or Nomad
1 Samuel 8: 4-11, 16-20; Mark 3:20-35 June 27, 2021———-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Guest Preacher, Rev. Christy Ramsey We have all felt like Samuel. No, I’m not talking about being called old by the people, although we may have been there, too. I’m talking about Samuel going crazy. This is crazy Samuel time. When you know what is right. When you know what happens, and what will happen, and how the world is arranged, and you tell the people that. …
Praise to Our Fathers
Isaiah 40:28-31;———–2 Timothy 3:10-17———— June 20, 2021 Praise to Our Fathers Elaine York, Commissioned Lay Pastor This morning I will speak of three kinds of fathers. One, our biological fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers. Do we have any great grandfathers here today? Please raise your hands! Thank you!! Second, we will talk about step fathers, father’s through adoption, uncles, mentors and any other significant men in the lives of children. And third, we will give praise and honor to our…
God Sees the Potential
1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13; 2 Corinthians 5:6-17; Mark 4:26-34 God Sees the Potential 3rd Sunday after Pentecost – – – -June 13, 2021 Many of you know the name of Ben Carson, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Still more of you know that he had a career as an acclaimed brain surgeon. But I think that most of you don’t know that Ben was born to a woman who only completed 3rd grade. She married real…
From Temporary to Eternal
From Temporary to Eternal 2nd Pentecost Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; June 6, 2021; Mark 6:20-35 Most of us know what a mirage is, right? You’re out in the desert, hot and parched, and you see up ahead some WATER, shimmering in the heat! You move toward the water, anticipating a good drink. But, of course, when you get there, the water has all disappeared! It was an optical illusion, not really there at all. We’ve seen this…
The Father’s Adoption
The Father’s Adoption Trinity Sunday Romans 8:12-17 May 30, 2021 John 3:1-17 In 1954, just four years after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe made a big splash on the literary scene, C. S. Lewis published The Horse and His Boy. It’s actually the fifth book published in a series that later came to be called The Chronicles of Narnia. (Now, remember: Lewis was a man with a deeply-held Christian faith, and his books convey an underlying message of…