This sermon was given at the 1030 AM service on March 10, 2019 at Hilltop UMC in Sandy, Utah.  

I jokingly call it "Episode Zero Point One:  A Sermon ... " because I intend to break up this podcast with sermons, conversations and reflections.  Said another way, "I will have Episode #1 -- A Conversation with ..." Here, Zero Point One reminds me these are not ready for prime time yet, and I may end up deleting some of these.  The number means I will probably do about 10 or so before I am ready to really 're-launch.'  But it helps to remind me I am in Beta Time (development).  

Part of my objective here was to get myself shown as active again on the Apple Podcast Website.  

The passage is Luke 4: 1-13.  

Obviously one of the things I need to do is to learn how to get rid of the 60 cycle hum - a new mic?  A work in progress. These will get better ... feedback welcome.  Rough I know.  

The Transfiguration Text from Luke.  I felt a number of weeks ago that focusing on the valley experience was where the Holy Spirit was carrying me (us?).  There is a good bit of pain at this church over the recent General Conference.  I have tried the last several weeks to minimize direct discussion of General Conference, and focus more on implied elements.  This day, I felt a direct discussion was in order.  All I can tell anyone is that I agonized over what to say, and this is what God provided me.  

This is from 9:00 AM.  I may also do the 10:30 service, which was a little longer.  

First Corinthians 15 meets Luke 6 with a touch of For Every One Born, A Place at the Table.  Our choir performing this piece is shared.  

Invaluable help here from Rev. Kerry Greenhill.  Her opening prayer, Call to Worship, Confession and Pastoral Prayer were exquisite. 

I had to add the Youth Choir with their I Believe by Mark Miller.  A great piece and something they do quite well.   

I confess that General Conference 2019 in St. Louis was in my mind.  I don't think I mention it directly.  

The sermon starts about 11:30 or so and goes to 38:00 or so.  A little longer than is my norm.  Kerry's Litany of Commitment wraps up the Sermon.  

The scripture is 1 Corinthians 12: 31b through the end of 13.  

Gift and Fruit of Love.  Paul has been driving to this point in his letter and lays out his theology of Love.  To love, in a mature way, as God loves.  

Sermon is from 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a -- Listening in Kindness ... 

Gifts of the Spirit, Fruit of the Spirit, Gifts are what you have been given, fruits are what is made manifest by your connection to God.  Big ideas:  common good, community, trusting the Spirit for others to have gifts I don’t have.  GC2019 – Peace is a fruit.  Peace will (might?) come if we collectively take a deep, inspiring, breath.  

Receiving the Holy Spirit – Gentleness

 Primary Text that I will read:  Luke 3:15-22 – Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.

 Marilyn White and Claudine Haight reporting on the mission trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Marilyn during her report on the mission trip to San Juan will, in part, address the need for helpers in that kind of role to be respectfully gentle in relationships.  We don’t show up and say “this is what you must do” and when presented with road blocks and problems, keeping them informed as to what is going on conveys a gentleness of spirit that I think Paul is driving at in his Fruits in Galatians. 

Ephesians 3: 1-13

Liturgical material for the service developed by Kerry Greenhill, Sacred Stones.  

1 Kings -- God Speaks in a Small Still Voice, and Galatians 5 -- fruits of the Spirit.  Today the fruit is generosity.  

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 (English Standard Version)

From my newsletter article (click to read):  Our theme for Advent will be: Waiting patiently in hope, peace, joy and love.  Each week will focus on one of those four ideas.  We want to honor Advent I think part of how we honor the season is cherishing and embracing waiting.  The Isaiah above is a theme for all who want to move quickly.  ‘Renew your strength:  wait.’ 

This week, we are somehow, waiting patiently … in joy … This is Gaudete Sunday – which is a 25 cent Ecclesiastical Latin word meaning Rejoice. 

The sermon will be drawn from the Philippians 4: 4-7 – Rejoice. 

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 (English Standard Version)

From my newsletter article (Click to read):  Our theme for Advent will be: Waiting patiently in hope, peace, joy and love.  Each week will focus on one of those four ideas.  We want to honor Advent I think part of how we honor the season is cherishing and embracing waiting.  The Isaiah above is a theme for all who want to move quickly.  ‘Renew your strength:  wait.’ 

This week, we are somehow, waiting patiently … in peace … Last week the invitation was to be alert, be awake, be on watch, here are there God sightings which make us hopeful and if yes, don’t wait to be a messenger for God on this.  Yes, wait patiently, but patiently is not necessarily silently.  Go and tell people the Good News.  Be a messenger.  Be a Malachi.  Be a John the Baptist (ok, maybe not a John the Baptist).  The Lord IS coming.  Go tell someone!