Mindful Leader

April 23, 2017 -- Youth Choir

 

Five young ladies -- our Youth Choir ... plus friends with our Youth Bells.  Three of them.  

In Praise of the Village with Hilltop Children's Choir

 

Our focus was on ministry to children, and this just worked.  

Luke 24: 1-12 Easter Sunday

This is the 9:00 Service at Hilltop.  I am indebted to David Watson and N. T. Wright for good quotes here.  

Lazarus and the Rich Man -- Luke 16: 19-31

 

My take on this episode is that it is about privilege.  How do we leave it behind us?  Part of it is that we need to see those around us who are in need.  I do hope that Father Abraham is incorrect in that we can indeed understand God's message by listening to one who has returned from the dead.  

Narrative Lectionary -- New Testament Week Twelve -- Jesus in his humanness

 

The scripture for the week is shown below.  I didn't get a recording of the liturgist reading it this particular Sunday.  

 

Luke 13: 31-35

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32 He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, "Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

 

Narrative Lectionary -- New Testament Week Eight -- John the Baptist -- Go Tell John -- 900 version

 

Luke 7: 18-21 -- Go Tell John but more than that.  It is a moment of inviting John the Baptist to "trust" and advocating a ministry focused on fruitfulness.  

This podcast is the 9:00 Service .. 

Narrative Lectionary -- New Testament Week Six -- Sabbath and Today (with a brief reflection on Methodism)

 

This podcast includes my statement of the them, our prayer over our plates, Emily's exegesis before my sermon, and the sermon.  It also includes a brief commentary on the fact I/we reserve the right to critique the state (both Federal and Utah) on what it is, and perhaps is not, doing.  

The scripture is Luke 6 and mine is mostly on 1-11 but we read to 16.  Narrative Lectionary. 

Narrative Lectionary -- New Testament Week Six -- Peter makes himself vulnerable

 

This is from Psalm 90 and Luke 5.  

Emily Flemming and I are trying a little different approach.  We are going to read the other's scripture before the sermon with a teaching moment.  

This reflection is more from the Luke than the Psalm, but it gets to both.  I have been talking a little about Emotional Intelligence (EQ) of Jesus and how he has done, and offer Peter up here as a good example of how he has made himself open to the idea of possible change, and from that, a new vocation.  

Narrative Lectionary -- New Testament Week Three -- 1st Sunday of Christmas - Simeon and Anna

A little riff here on the idea of "New Year's Resolutions" and play with that.  This is Luke 2: 21-36 (or so).  Simeon and Anna -- their resolve.  

Narrative Lectionary -- Old Testament Week Five -- The Golden Calf

Exodus 32 and the Golden Calf saga.  What are our own Golden Calves?