Our disciple of the week is Peter! I love the Peter stories . . . maybe because I have a highly impulsive child who would totally step out of the boat, offer to build houses on the mountain, and make big promises with the best of intentions and the worst follow-through. So, here is our…
I’m excited to begin the Fruit of the Spirit Creative Arts retreat in daily life this weekend! All those who ordered materials should have received a welcome email with links to our Facebook page and the retreat blog page. You can find out more about the retreat here. And it is not too late to…
A few weeks ago I was a guest in a church. A church of kind-hearted, hospitable people, I’m sure. At some point, as is to be expected, my tiny bladder and I needed to use the bathroom. I did not use the main bathroom with stalls and fake flowers and smelly lotion. I used the…
This week, the disciple we are focusing on is Thomas. It is interesting to note his three speaking parts in the Gospel of John. In chapter 11, when Jesus suggests they go to back to Judea the disciples remind him that the last time he was there people tried to stone him. When he insists…
God of justice and compassion, God of Republicans and Democrats and Independents, God of the poor and the 1% and the middle class, in the heat of this election year we pray for our nation, our churches, and ourselves. In the midst of meanness and deception, may our words be kind and true. In the…
I’ve had an intense and fun weekend getting the Fruit of the Spirit retreat books and materials put together. What I thought would be a one-hour editing/copying job yesterday turned into three hours. And the question is, when will I learn that those types of one-hour jobs always take three hours? It’s not like I’ve…
Here at Peace Mennonite we’re starting a series on the disciples that will take us through to Advent. This week’s disciple is Judas–who is fun to begin with, plus his story works well with communion Sunday. Call to Worship As Jesus requested, the table has been prepared, and all are welcome at the meal.…
So here’s the part of yesterday’s sermon that is most compelling for me. The texts are Matthew 4:18-22 and 9:9; you can read the whole thing here. * * * * * * * Peter and Andrew, James and John and Matthew don’t just leave behind stuff, they leave behind their most comfortable identities–the work…
This coming Sunday, we are beginning a worship series on Jesus’ disciples–so I’m starting it off with the call stories in Matthew 4:18-22 and 9:9. The idea in the first responsive line in the call to worship is to have each person say his or her own name. This will take some prior explanation by…
This call to worship is based on Matthew 14:25-33, the story of Peter walking to Jesus on the water. Such a beautiful story. Holy Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Even now after the sermons, the healings, the miraculous feeding Even now in the ghostly pre-dawn glow Even now as the wind riles the waves and this…
Spacious Faith 