Sermon Notes (Page 6)

“Who do you say that I am?” When Jesus asks this of his disciples, Simon answers without hesitation, and Jesus names him Peter, his “rock.” In your spiritual journey, have you sensed a “change of name” or a change of identify?

“Who do you say that I am?” When Jesus asks this of his disciples, Simon answers without hesitation, and Jesus names him Peter, his “rock.” In your spiritual journey, have you sensed a “change of name” or a change of identify?

Our scripture this week is about Jesus and the Canaanite woman, and the walls and boundaries that separated people in Jesus’ day and age.

Our scripture passage this week invites us into a conversation about the issue of good and evil. As people who seek to align ourselves with love on individual, community and systemic levels, what do we do with the weeds when they look like the wheat?

Our scripture passage for this Sunday is the one and only passage that’s found in all four of the Gospels. The account of the feeding of the 5000 is central to our faith tradition as it highlights the “hunger” of the people, the depth of Jesus’ compassion, and the surprising capacity of the disciples when they thought they either weren’t enough or didn’t have enough. I look forward to joining together with you for worship and Communion this Sunday. If you have a few moments before the service, create a small worship space. Find a piece of bread and a cup of something. Light a candle. Reflect on the needs of your heart, your spirit, your life as well as the needs of our world.

Our scripture passage this week invites us into a conversation about the issue of good and evil. As people who seek to align ourselves with love on individual, community and systemic levels, what do we do with the weeds when they look like the wheat?

This year Pride is very different due to COVID-19, but the spirit of Pride prevails. In worship, we will share photos from the past as well as hear from some of our congregation via video clips as they reflect on Pride, what it means to them and how they are celebrating despite COVID limitations. 

All of us have “sacred pillars,” ways that we mark and remember our encounters with the living God. Some of those “pillars” might be tangible, real physical objects like Jacob’s anointed stone. Other pillars might be more theoretical…ideas or values or beliefs that become touchstones for us throughout our lives. Based on your life journey, what are the beliefs/practices/principles that guide you? What are your “sacred pillars?”

This Sunday Pastor Lori will be joining us for her first Sunday at PB UMC! We have the honor of having Mavi Barrena as our speaker, leading us through a reflection on John 21:1-14. Mavi will help us reflect on the ways God is not only present in the midst of change, but how God invites us to change…to do things differently in ways that can lead to new hope, new abundance, and new life.

This Sunday we say farewell to our beloved pastor of 6 years – Pastor Bob. But within the joy and the gratitude, this parting is also full of heartache.