Montecito Covenant

John 1:43 "Follow Me"

2012-01-14T11:55:00.000-08:00

Mark 1: 4-11

2012-01-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

2nd Sunday in Advent: Isaiah 40:1-11

2011-12-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

Advent #2 Isaiah 40:1-11

2011-12-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

Advent 1 Isaiah 64:1-9

2011-11-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

Christ the King: Mark 5:9

2011-11-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

Luke 18: 35-43

2011-10-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

Luke 7:44 "Do you see this woman?"

2011-10-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

John 5:6

2011-10-14T19:30:00.001-07:00

Matthew 6:27 "Why worry?"

2011-10-01T18:13:00.000-07:00

John13:12 "Do you know what I have done to you?"

2011-09-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:29

2011-09-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

Genesis 4:9 "Where is your brother?"

2011-09-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

Genesis 3:11

2011-09-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

Matthew 14: 22-33

2011-08-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Matthew 14: 13-21

2011-07-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

Romans 8:1-11

2011-07-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

Matthew 11: 28-30 "Come to me and rest"

2011-07-03T07:51:00.000-07:00

Matthew 10:40-42 "Welcome"

2011-06-25T10:37:00.001-07:00

Sermon on June 19, 2011 Rev. Yves Pizant (translated by Dr. Marianne Robins)

2011-06-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

**Culte (the French word for 'worship service') Santa Barbara 19 juin 2011.**

The Dried Up Fig Tree

Mark 11:11 – 24

Jesus dries up a fig tree that bears no fruit : the initial meaning of this story is quite clear. It is obvious that WE are the fig tree ; that we have to bear fruit, fruit of love, of justice, of forgiveness, as Paul often calls us to do. The fruit of the Spirit, is about our lives and what we do, our habits, all that we give to others, to the world, and to God.

The fruit do not benefit the tree that bears them ; it’s quite the opposite, the fruit are given to others, this is the very reason for their existence. What this story tells us is that if we don’t produce fruit, if we are concerned only with ourselves, if we are content, like the fig tree, to bear only leaves, then we will wither.

And yet, a vexing little sentence should catch our attention. Only Mark uses it : Jesus sees leaves, does not find fuit, and Mark adds « this was not fig season ». If it was not fig season, how could Jesus accuse the fig tree ? This seems quite unfair. Mark’s sentence seems to ruin this edifying story. Perhaps we should just dismiss this little sentence of Mark’s, but then we would miss the depth of the Gospel teaching.

Rather, let us start with this sentence, and try and figure out what it gets at, its meaning. Remember, the text deals with us, with our capacity to produce fruit for others. The question is : « at what particular time should we give fruit to those who ask for them ? »

We can read the story from two vantage points. On the one hand, there is the logic of the fig tree, that bears fruit only when it’s convenient, only in season; on the other, there is Christ’s logic who asks us to give fruit when others need them, even if this is not the right time for us.

The fig tree’s logic is our logic, the one our nature draws us to, and first and foremost, it is the logic of self-interest : I am willing to give to others, but I will choose the time, and I will do it when it is convenient. This is not Christ ‘s logic : for him, you have to bear fruit when you are asked to give it. The time to give fruit is not for us to choose, it is when the other needs it and and if « it is not the right time », well, it is still time. For indeed, at no time can we say we are not obligated to do anything for God or for others, it is always time to give and to serve.

What Mark tells us with his vexing little sentence, is that, if we adopt the logic of the fig tree, we will never do anything ; the only thing we can then hope for is to wither. The time to give does not need to be marked on our calendars ; it come when someone needs and asks. The parable is clear on this.

We can take this further, because this text presents another challenge : nested in the parable of the fig tree, there is another story, that of Jesus driving out the merchants from the temple. There has to be a relationship between these two episodes, or they would not have been arranged in this way.

If you remember, the merchants’ activities were related to Jewish worship. Jews came to the Temple to set things right with God. They bought pigeons, or some other kind of animal to be sacrificed on the altar, and they changed money to buy offerings. This was part of a set of rituals, of religious deeds that took place in the very presence of God, in the Temple.

Yet both Jesus and the prophets clearly stated what God wants from us : « what I want is love, not sacrifice. I don’t want you to clear your consciences by acting religiously, by going to the temple, by offering sacrifices, by giving money to the Church, by doing good works. What I want is love ». When he drove the merchants out of the temple, Jesus said : « you have turned (a religion of) love and prayer into (a religion of) good conscience buying – a way to make yourselves feel better. This is not what God wants from you. You don’t need to act religiously to clear your consciences, but you need to give the fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. »

What matters in the end is not whether we are a regular church goer or stand as a pillar of the church, but whether or not we bear fruit. Here we stand, in the place of the fig tree.

But there is more : what does Jesus find on the fig tree that so displeases him ? Leaves. In Hebrew, the tree leaf, means « that which climbs » ; but it also means « that which climbs towards God », that which gives meaning to sacrifice, to total sacrifice. Jesus sees a fig tree covered with leaves, much like a human full of good deeds, who makes sacrifices for God in the temple. So Jesus hopes to find fruit, love, but there is none. So he declares that if our lives are about sweeping our consciences clean with religious duty, it will lead us nowhere but to withering.

Also, the question of timing was crucial to the Pharisees of the 1st century. If you remember, Jesus often had to battle to heal the sick on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, however, told him « this is not the right time », but Jesus replied : It is always the right time if we can act. Jesus transgressed a religious order that essentially forbade deeds of love at specific times. This is what the parable of the fig tree is getting at : Jesus does not respect the Pharisees’ time-table, he heals because here, right in front of him, a sick person needs him.

As for the leaves, we can take this even further. There are only two passages in the Bible that mention the fig tree and its leaves : the passage in Mark, and the Genesis story (Gen. 3 :7-8). Adam and Eve, ashamed of their sin, and their nakedness, try and hide themselves with fig leaves. The fig leaf, for Adam and Eve, and symbollically for us, is a good conscience acquired cheaply, a mere external cover. But God refuses it ; rather HE will cover their imperfection, HE will dress them, and will forgive their sin. It is only when we say : « yes Lord, I am not perfect, I am hiding myself behind leaves, I don’t produce the fruit you are expecting from me, God, forgive me », then and only then does God cover our shame – he does not want us to live out of our good conscience and to hide ourselves superficially.

At the end of the story, the disciples wonder why the fig tree has withered. Jesus replies : if you had faith, you could dry this fig tree, you could do even bigger things, even command the mountains to throw themselves into the sea.

Some have understood this to refer to the power of God, to His capacity to perform miracles –the disciples were really impressed by what Jesus had managed to do, and thought they themselves could do the same if they had enough faith. But let’s be serious. What is the point of drying up a fig tree or throwing a mountain into the sea ? This has no value whatsoever. How can we think that Christ would waste his time to flaunt or brag about miraculous power ? This seems to tell us that we need to dig deeper.

What Jesus actually says is that, if we have enough faith, we can kill the fruitless fig trees that grow within us, we can destroy all that does not bear fruit for others in our life. We need plenty of faith to drag the dead and dried branches out of our lives. In the same way, Jesus tells us that we should throw into the ocean the mountains of selfishness, uselessness and fruitlessness that have settled in ourselves.

If we had faith, we could get rid of all these sterile fig trees, throw out all appearances, all pretenses, fig leaves that help us put on airs. WE could throw into the sea the mountains of lies we tell ourselves, our selfishness, throw out all that stands in the way of God as Isaiah writes : « every mountain and hill shall be made low … to prepare the way of the Lord »

This is not an easy task, to pull out this tendency to grow only leaves, because they benefit us, they give us good conscience, and that is not unpleasant.

Fruit, on the other hand, exhaust the tree –they are all that we give to others. That is why Jesus simply says : have faith in God, this is the most important. Our relationship to God is not bartering, as it is with the merchants in the temple. Faith is no fig tree that produces fruit when it pleases it. Rather, ask forgiveness from God : it is always the right time, he will give it to you, without compensation, without conditions.

This is why I tell you, concludes Christ in verse 24, « whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours ». God gives what we ask for in our prayers, not whatever we ask for, of course, but what the text is talking about : it gets us rid of the useless and sterile mess in our lives, and leaves only the most essential : faith in God. IF we can ask for this, in all sincerity, God will give it to us. We will then gain, from him, the power to produce the fruit of the Spirit… and this is what will remain in Eternal Life.

Amen.

Mark 11: 11-24

2011-06-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

John 20: 19-23 Pentecost!

2011-06-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

Ascension: Luke 24: 44-53

2011-06-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Matthew 18:21-35

2011-05-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

Matthew 18:1-20

2011-05-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

Mothers' Day

2011-05-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

The flowers on the communion table for this Sunday have been donated by Nina Nordholm and her family in honor of Alex, whose memorial service was held at church on Friday afternoon. But they are more than decorative and beautiful. The multi-colored flowers anticipates worship on Sunday.

Sunday worship will celebrate what God is doing in three distinct ways (colors?). First, the new Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference (PSWC), Rev. Efrem Smith will be preaching. I knew Efrem back in Minneapolis when he planted a multi-ethnic Covenant Church called “Sanctuary.” The PSWC is the most multi-ethnic conference in the Covenant. You will delight to hear the vision and energy from our new leader!

During worship on Sunday we will also be confirming one young woman, Madison Hale. Madison, along with the first year confirmands, will participate in a litany on the Apostles’ Creed and share her catechism paper with us. Martha and I have had such fun teaching the Old Testament to four young women this past year, watching their faith grow and mature.

We will also hear a witness to God’s faithfulness during worship from Rev. Nagi Said, co-pastor of Kasr El Dobarah Evangelical Church in Cairo, Egypt, who is in Santa Barbara celebrating the graduations of his neice (Jenny Mikhail) and nephew (Sam Mikhail). Nagi and his church are located on Tahir Square in central Cairo and played a key role during the democratic revolution.

And all of this happens on a day in our society when we honor and celebrate our mothers and the mothers among us. That is a pretty bright bouquet of flowers!

Peace,

Don

1. Young Life is collecting old cell phones (of PDA’s) to be recycled to help send kids to camp. There will be a collection bin on the patio Sunday.

2. Jr. High is going to Sky High May 13 for $20. Pick up a release form from Lisa on the patio Sunday.

3. Budget Update

a. Income Needed (YTD): $244,808

b. Income Received (% of YTD): $194,131 (79.3%)

c. Expenses YTD (deficit): $222,194 (#28,063)

Matthew 28:16-20

2011-04-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

Is graduation good news or bad news? Is graduation the beginning of a new adventure or the ending of a dream? This year Martha and I get to celebrate Luke’s graduation from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. For us it’s all celebration. But for Luke and Kelly, it means moving out of seminary housing and finding a new place to live. It means a changing routine and the loss of old friends and finding new ones. The same is true for college and high school graduates.

Graduation is a transition, and transitions can be tough. Good things we are used to come to an end, and new things, patterns, people and responsibilities we don’t know about loom ahead of us. When we think about transitions, all of us are included, not just graduates. We all have faced and are facing transitions and changes. Some of those transitions are voluntary and others are imposed.

The disciples of Jesus faced one of the biggest transitions a human being could ever face: death to resurrection. What does that mean? How are relationships changed? What’s next? Read Matthew 28:16-20 and discover a great word for transitions.

Peace,

Don

1. One 10:00 a.m. service begins Sunday, May 1. This will be a fun Sunday as we receive seven new friends into membership, hear a great witness for Christ and celebrate Holy Communion together.

2. “Women of Faith” is a women’s conference MCC women are attending Sept. 9-10 in Anaheim. See information and sign up at the table on the patio Sunday or contact Sandi Prather at church or visit www.womenoffaith.com

3. Parents’ Night Out is Friday May 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m. RSVP to Ashley Miller by Wed., May 4.

4. Budget Update as of April 28, 2011

a. Income Needed YTD $231,923

b. Income Received (%YTD needed) $177,226 (76.4%)

c. Expenses YTD (deficit) $198,026 ($20,800)

Easter 2011

2011-04-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

What do you see during Easter? Bunnies and candies cluttering shelves and aisles? Guest lists and menus for a grand meal? Family and friends coming together to worship and celebrate? A sanctuary decked out with flowers and great music?

I have seen three distinct sanctuaries for the past four days. On Thursday I saw a kneeling rail, foot washing basins, and communion supplies. I saw Jesus’ love for his disciples in the washing of their feet

I have seen the gory image of a shrouded cross, a stripped sanctuary and seven stark candles. I have reluctantly seen the cost of my sin and the price Jesus paid to restore me.

I have seen (and smelled) the wonderful lilies and other bright flowers that will fill the sanctuary. The colors will change from black to gold! And hopefully I will see you worshiping with us in a full sanctuary with family and friends.

What we see powerfully affects what we feel, do, and believe. The text for Easter Sunday is one of my favorites: Matthew 18:1-10. As you get ready for worship, read this familiar text over several times, lingering on all the words for “seeing”. What do you see?

He is Risen!

Don

1. The Easter Egg Hunt (for kids under 13) will begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

2. Please bring your prepared finger foods to the Satellite kitchen Sunday morning.

3. Bring your plastic, filled Easter eggs to church prior to the first service (9:15 a.m.)

4. Visit the Welcome Table on the patio and see how we are welcoming guests!

5. In addition to the purchased lilies, all the sanctuary flowers were donated from the gardens of Trace Robinson, Annette Simmons, and Sandi Prather. Thank you for the gifts of beauty!!

6. Next Sunday we begin one service at 10: 00 a.m. as we begin our summer schedule.

7. The 2011 Church Directory and Handbook is available Sunday in the Narthex.

8. Budget Update as of April 20, 2011

a. Income Need YTD $219,038

b. Income Receive YTD (% needed) $165,584 (75.6%)

c. Expenses YTD (deficit) $196,076 ($30,492)

Good Friday Tenebrae

2011-04-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

Maundy Thursday

2011-04-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Maundy Thursday is a service devoted to the table, the last supper Jesus had with his disciples. On this Maundy Thursday we will gather in the sanctuary for singing, prayer, reading the story and coming forward for communion at the kneeler. The kneeling benches are not MCC's normal mode of receiving communion. Kneeling is the ancient posture of humility, subservience, prayer, and receptivity. In our self-run, self-controlled world, this night is not about us being in charge, but Jesus.

On either side of the sanctuary there will be stations set up for foot washing (one for women and one for men). For those wishing to experience something akin to what the disciples experienced, you may have you feet washed either before or after coming forward for communion.

Getting Ready for Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011

2011-04-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

In the church in which I grew up, First Covenant Church of St. Paul, Minnesota, Palm Sunday was a big deal. It was a Sunday I remembered more than any other Sunday in the year. Why? Because the children’s choir had to sing and process down the long sanctuary in red robes in front of the adult choir.

Choir in St. Paul was compulsory. Every Wednesday evening, at least forty (my memory about numbers is not that great, but it was a room full) elementary students learned to sing notes and read music. It was not optional that I knew of. Our teacher, the choir director’s wife and organist, Mrs. Opel, thoroughly taught us the basics of music. And the only time I remember the choir performing before the congregation was Palm Sunday.

This coming Sunday (Palm Sunday) the children of MCC will be participating in worship, even processing. But it will not be as a red-robed choir, but something much more surprising and full of energy. If you have elementary-aged children and wish them to participate, come a bit early and look for Ashley Miller or Lisa Holmlund for directions.

Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week around the world. Palm Sunday traditionally marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem for the last time. Then, on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m., we will offer a Maundy (from the Latin word mandatum: commandment) Thursday Communion service in the sanctuary with the opportunity to witness and experience foot washing. This will be a service for the whole family to attend.

On Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. there will be a Tenebrae service (again from the Latin word for darkness) that will recount the crucifixion of Jesus by reading the account from Matthew, singing hymns and lowering the lights into darkness. This is a service that visually reminds us of Jesus’ death.

All three of these services: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will prepare us for the centerpiece of the Christian faith: Easter Sunday. On Easter we will celebrate the great news of Jesus’ resurrection and the hope he brings to all humanity. We will offer two worship services at 9:15 & 10:45, with the traditional Easter Egg Hunt at 10:30 a.m.

As you prepare for Sunday, what are your Palm Sunday and Holy Week memories and traditions? Are they good or painful? Do they bring you closer to Jesus or distract you from him? Are you open this year to allow God to meet you in these traditions and surprise you? I can’t wait to preach this coming Sunday’s Palm Sunday sermon. Why? I got totally surprised by the text this week that I have preached for many, many years. Something jumped out from the text to me that I never saw before and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Grace and Peace,

Don

1. There will be a congregational meeting immediately following the second service for the purpose of voting on the reception of new members.

2. Jr. High Habit will meet Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

3. Confirmation on Wednesday evening is cancelled during Holy Week.

4. An Easter Brunch for college students is being hosted by Lisa Holmlund on Easter Sunday. RSVP with Lisa at lisa@mcchurch.org or speak with her on the patio Sunday.

5. One worship service at 10:00 a.m. will begin on May 1, the Sunday following Easter.

6. The June 26, Condor Express boat trip has 30 people registering interest. The required number is 140 at $50 per/person. Easter Sunday is your last opportunity before we decide to reserve or cancel.

7. Budget Update as of April 13

a. Income Needed YTD: $206,154

b. Income Received (%YTD needed) $157,026 (76.2%)

c. Expenses YTD (deficit) $195,006 ($37,908)

8. You can also read this email and see the altar-piece by going to our church web site (http://mcchurch.org/mcchurch/) and clicking on the orange logo on the lower right side of the screen

Getting Ready to Worship, April 10, 2011

2011-04-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

When I’m preaching, I have a pretty good idea how to help you prepare for worship. I have a sense of where the sermon is going. But today is different. On Sunday Dr. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary will be preaching from Hebrews 4:12-16 with the title “The Longest Journey.” That alone is intriguing! Read the text and look for the journey. I can only guess where he’s going to go with it.

Why is Dr. Mouw at MCC Sunday? Because I have the highest regard for him as a leading voice in the church today and because our own Mary Given works with him at Fuller and agreed to find a time (last Fall) when he could come and speak.

I first heard Dr. Mouw on a cold Saturday morning in St. Paul, MN in 2003 or 2004. 9/11 created a polarizing situation in the Twin Cities where there is a very large Muslim community. We feared each other. Dr. Mouw was invited to speak on a National Public Radio show called “Speaking of Faith” with Krista Tippett. It was the show’s first broadcast and I was in the audience. The driving question for the day was “How do we talk with each other when we so disagree?” Dr. Mouw’s response held me on the edge of my seat with both its simplicity and profundity.

That’s also why the four churches of Montecito (M-4) invited him to speak to all of us Sunday night after a 6:00 p.m. shared soup supper. He will begin speaking around 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary on “Convicted Civility: how to speak the truth in love.” This is a Sunday, both morning and evening, where you should consider inviting a friend (of faith, no faith, or anti-faith).

Grace and Peace,

Don

Visit our website: mcchurch.org

Getting Ready for Worship, April 3, 2011

2011-04-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

I was watching TV the other evening when a new commercial popped up for a web site called “beenverified.com” for identity verification. It was kind of unnerving as three people gave testimony to how helpful it was before meeting their first date, checking on an employee, or doing background search on professionals they were thinking about using. The whole commercial was driven by fear, suspicion and doubt; doubt that people are who they say they are.

Reputations are both important and fragile. A good reputation takes a long time to build and a moment to lose. In the text for Sunday, Jesus asks his disciples about his reputation: Who do people say that I am? (Matthew 16:13). Then Jesus pushed the question deeper when he asked the disciples “Who do you say I am?”

As you prepare for worship this Sunday, ask that question of yourself: who do I say Jesus is? What are the first words that come to my mind when I think about Jesus? How do I describe who Jesus is to others?

Peace,

Don

1. Sunday is sign-up day for Santa Barbara Clean-up on Saturday April 9.

2. A Parenteen Seminar will be held next Saturday (April 9) at Community Covenant Church from 9 a.m. till noon. Register at dlindberg@community-covenant.org for discounted pre-registration ($10).

3. Dr. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary, will be preaching at MCC on Sunday, April 10 at both services and again in the evening at a special M-4 Soup Supper. Please R.S.V.P Sunday or call the church office.

4. Whale-watching anyone? MCC is thinking about chartering the Condor Express on Sunday, June 26 from 1-5 p.m. as a fun event. We need at least 140 people willing to pay $50 per/person. Email Don donnjohnson@mac.com to indicate your participation or use the connection card in the sanctuary.

5. Budget Update as of March 30, 2011

a. Income Needed YTD: $180,385

b. Income Received (% of YTD needed): $136,186 (72.7%)

c. Expenses YTD (deficit): $151,610 ($20,424)

Visit our website: mcchurch.org

Getting Ready for Worship: March 27, 2011

2011-03-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

I love our staff meetings. They are full of energy, insight, humor and creativity. We laugh together, pray together, and wrestle ideas together. Recently we were talking about the calendar and solving programming challenges. One suggestion made by a staff member triggered an immediate response from me: “Absolutely not! We can’t do that!” And then I realized how totally reactive I was. In the ensuing silence, another insightful staff member said, “Don said that because it’s part of his tradition.” She was absolutely right. I’m usually very flexible…about other people’s traditions. But when it comes to mine it’s another matter. Leave my traditions alone, thank you very much!

You don’t know how powerful a tradition is until you step in one. Marriage is one of the best battle grounds for competing traditions. I love to visit with engaged couples and have them talk about how they will celebrate their first Christmas together. Every church I have served has its own bundle of precious traditions that incoming pastors need to learn and appreciate. Living next to Westmont College has opened my eyes to institutional traditions that mark its uniqueness.

The truth of the matter is that I love traditions because they tell stories enacted in rituals. Traditions carry within them time and history. The question I want to raise as you get ready for worship is, when do traditions help and when do they get in the way? When are traditions good tools and when do they become chains and barriers? Read Matthew 15:1-20 with an open ear to your unique traditions.

Peace,

Don

1. April 1 is Parents’ Night Out. From 6:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. there will be activities at church so parents can have free time on their own. Contact Julia or Ashely for more details.

2. April 9 from 9:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. is Parenteen. This is a seminar for parents and other caring adults held cooperatively by MCC, Ocean Hills and Community Covenant. It will be held at Community Covenant, 5070 Cathedral Oaks Road and the cost is $10 per/couple pre-registered (dlindberg@comunity-covenant.org) or $15 at the door. Rev. Bill McPhee is facilitator and this will be excellent!

3. Dr. Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary will be preaching at both services April 10, and lecturing at an M-4 Soup Supper that same evening at 6:00 p.m. on “Convicted Civility.” RSVP to the church office to reserve a seat at the meal.

4. Budget Update as of March 23, 2011

a. Income Needed YTD: $167,500

b. Income Received (%YTD needed): $121,343 (72.4%)

c. Expenses YTD (deficit) $130,784 ($9,441)

Matthew 10: 24-39

2011-03-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:25-34

2011-02-25T15:25:00.000-08:00

Matthew 6:1-4, 19-21

2011-02-19T16:53:00.000-08:00

Matthew 6: 5-15

2011-02-12T12:45:00.000-08:00

Matthew 5:21-48 & 7:1-5

2011-02-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

Mark 5:21-34 Jesus Stops for Broken People

2011-01-26T15:40:00.000-08:00

Matthew 4: 18-25

2011-01-22T11:38:00.000-08:00

“Are you available?” is a phrase Sandi used several times this week after she knocked on my office door. Ideally, I would like to ask her, “Available for what?” But that’s really not an option. As a pastor I need to be available to members and friends who need some time to talk and process where and how God is working in their lives.

How does that work for you? How do you make yourself available to others? What are the ways you let others know you are there for them, to listen to them and to walk through situations together?

One of the things I teach to couples planning on marriage is a session on communication and listening. I try to get them to identify what things prevent them from listening to the other person. What gets in the way of your ability to listen?

It’s amazing all the things that get listed: exhaustion, stress, distractions, work, TV, computers, smart phones, being in a hurry and many others.

As you prepare for Sunday, are you expecting God to talk to you? Are you expecting God himself to say something new and important into your life? The text for Sunday, Matthew 4: 18-25, is the one where Jesus calls the first four disciples. He spoke and they heard.

How does God speak to you? How do you get ready to listen to God? What gets in your way to hearing his voice? What can you do, even now, to turn down the volume of other voices and noises to be ready to hear his voice?

Grace & Peace,

Don

Matthew 4: 1-11

2011-01-16T07:57:00.000-08:00

Matthew 3: 13-17

2011-01-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

2nd Sunday of Advent

2010-12-04T19:04:00.001-08:00

Isaiah 2: 1-5 Advent #1

2010-11-27T10:29:00.000-08:00

Luke 21:5-19

2010-11-13T16:53:00.001-08:00

Luke 20: 27-40

2010-11-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

Luke 19:1-10

2010-10-30T20:25:00.001-07:00

M-4 Walk for Water

2010-10-17T08:44:00.001-07:00

Luke 18: 1-8

2010-10-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

"Pray always or faint....it's necessary" Jesus.

Luke 17:11-19

2010-10-06T11:33:00.001-07:00

Luke 17:1-10

2010-10-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

Romans 12:1-16

2010-09-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

An Ethiopian cross, set on Congolese fabric surrounded by Mexican candle-stands overshadowed by a native California wood cross speaks of both the wide diversity and overarching unity of missions today.

Luke 16:1-13

2010-09-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

Luke 15: 1-10

2010-09-11T15:27:00.001-07:00

Luke 14: 7-14

2010-08-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

Luke 13: 10-17

2010-08-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Luke 12: 35-40....Ready?

2010-08-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Luke 12:13-21

2010-07-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

Holy Spirit & Worship

2010-05-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

John 4:23-24

Confirmation 2010: Salt & Light

2010-05-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

MCC switches to the Summer Sunday format this Sunday at 10:00 am. We will be confirming two of the three confirmands (one is out of town and we will honor him on May 23).

Psalm 119:63

2010-05-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Acts 16:6-15

2010-04-24T17:15:00.000-07:00

Acts 2:1-4 Filled with the Holy Spirit

2010-04-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

Acts 1: Waiting Together

2010-04-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

Easter I Corinthians 15:20

2010-04-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

Good Friday Tenebrae

2010-04-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

Palm Sunday....Psalm 24

2010-03-27T16:59:00.001-07:00

Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

2010-03-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

Galatians 5:23 Self-Control

Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

2010-03-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

Galatians 5:22,23: Faithfulness

2010-03-06T20:25:00.001-08:00

Galatians 5:22,23

2010-02-06T14:32:00.001-08:00

John 16:4b-15

2010-01-30T15:36:00.000-08:00

John 14:12

2010-01-22T14:30:00.000-08:00

Matthew 12:22-30 by the Spirit of God

2010-01-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday Schedule Change

2010-01-06T09:49:00.001-08:00

Do you remember the Verizon ad where an actor stands around locations yelling “Do you hear me now?” That’s kind of how the church staff felt over the past week since the public announcing of the Winter/Spring 1^st Things schedule of only one adult option during the 2^nd worship service time at 10:45 am.

Many of you spoke up to us about what this schedule does to your family’s ability to worship together. The entire staff met this week to address your important concerns.

While the reasons for offering one class during the 2^nd worship service time are still worth considering (providing a strong adult learning time for 1^st service attendees, dealing with the shortage of available adult teachers, recognizing the lower turnout to 1^st Things in the Winter/Spring time), we do not feel they off-set the high value of families worshiping together.

Beginning this Sunday: the Living Word class on Holiness will change times from 10:45 am to 9:15 am. This will allow children, students, and adults (parent-types) to attend both Sunday School and worship together.

We will explore additional learning, growing, sharing options for those who attend the 1^st worship service time, but that will come a bit later. I want to thank Diana Trautwein for her flexibility in rearranging her schedule to flex to our needs.

Grace & Peace,

Don and all the staff

Baptism of our Lord: Mark 1:4-11

2009-12-31T10:54:00.000-08:00

3rd Sunday in Advent: Luke 2:25-38

2009-12-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Luke 1: 5-25

2009-11-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 61:1-4

2009-11-15T06:37:00.000-08:00

Ezekiel 37:1-14

2009-11-07T21:09:00.001-08:00

All Saints' Day: Hebrews 12:1,2

2009-10-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

Exodus 31:3 The Spirit of Craftsmanship

2009-10-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 61:1-3

2009-10-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

Holy Spirit and Trinity

2009-09-05T17:47:00.001-07:00

Matthew 7:7-11: asking, seeking, knocking

2009-08-22T14:54:00.001-07:00

Noah's Images Day 5

2009-08-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

Noah's Images Day 3 & 4

2009-08-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

Noah's Images Day #2

2009-08-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Noah's 2009: Day #1

2009-08-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:25-34 Look at the Flowers

2009-08-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:16-18: On Fasting

2009-07-25T20:07:00.001-07:00

Matthew 5:38-48: the way of the olive branch

2009-07-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

The olive branch is Jesus' gift to his followers of an alternative way of dealing with enemies in our lives: love and prayer.

Matthew 5:21-26: On Anger

2009-06-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

Matthew 5:17-20

2009-06-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

June 7th is Trinity Sunday. Trinity is the BIG mystery for the Christian faith. We swing between our attractions to the sovereignty of God the Father, to the intimacy of God the Son, to the energizing emotion of God the Holy Spirit. In the text for Sunday, Jesus, while not pointing to the Trinity per se, speaks of his connection to God and the Law.

Matthew 5:13-16

2009-05-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

50th Anniversary: Don & Rennis

2009-05-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Joshua 4:6 "What Do These Stones Mean?"

2009-04-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

John 20:19-31

2009-04-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday 2009

2009-04-11T16:32:00.000-07:00