Mindful Leader

Narrative Lectionary -- Lord, your servant is Listening!

 

This is drawn from 1 Samuel 3: 1-11, and I address brefly the context of the passage at the beginning of the reading.  

Samuel is being advised to "listen" ... and Eli tells him to communicate to God that Samuel is actively listening for God to speak.  That constitutes the core of the reflection/message.  

 

 

Stewardship Reflection #2

 

Stewardship Message #2 -- focus on the transformative elements of the Building ... Curtis Crichton is our Senior Trustee

Narrative Lectionary -- Called with Blessing in Mind!

 

Two readings, 1 Kings 19 where Elijah is given a demonstration of God, and Genesis 11/12 with the Call of Abraham.  

Abraham is called to be a blessing.  Important.  Elijah has the advantage of history and knowledge of what God has done, but Abraham is starting out cold.  

We are like Abraham, called to be a blessing.  Often however we are like Elijah, the testimony of the "small, still voice" or "the sound of silence" is insufficent to move us from our own self-focus.  We need to keep remembering, God will Provide!  

Communion Sunday -- September 3, 2017

First Sunday back after nine weeks gone.  The sermon was from 1 Corinthians 11: 24-27 or so and focused on the "big idea" of communion itself.  Take, bless, break, give.  This is also the Sunday where Eugene Peterson (of The Message) meets Ned Flanders (of The Simpsons).  Little longer than I meant for it to be -- was shooting for more like ten to twelve minutes, but ... it takes a while to get the pace and feel back, right?  At least that is the story and I am sticking to it!  

John 20: 24-29 -- Doubting Thomas

 

Rev. Emily Fleming on John 20: 24-29 and her reflection on Doubting Thomas.  I also included a little of our music after the sermon and before the benediction.  

In Praise of the Village with Hilltop Children's Choir from 9:00 Service

 

This is the 9:00 version with the Sanctuary Singers, and I think based on microphone positioning, and smaller adult ensemble, the children are more obviously part of this.  Goose bump to me, I know how long this dream has been nurtured at Hilltop and what kind of potential fruitfulness exists with this ministry.  

Hilltop Musicians: Brass, Bells and Congregation

 

Various ensembles and congregational singing at Hilltop on Easter Sunday.  

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 Eleven -- The Scandalous Samaritan

 

This is the familiar story of the Good Samaritan.  This was acrtually extremely scandalous for Jesus to use this imagery.  Amy Jill Levine, Jewish New Testament Scholar at Vanderbilt, suggests that the image is someone coming to your rescue, that was so detested, that you would just as soon die rather than be helped by him.  Wow.  

This is an excellent text for us to examine in this most hostile of times.  How do we learn to listen to each other in a way to understand rather than to hate and reject?