Hope is Practical. The gospel is not. When the blind man shouted out begging for Jesus’ mercy, the crowds told him to sit down and to be quiet. Against popular demand, Jesus invited the man to come to him and then asked the man, “What do you want?” Was it not obvious? He wanted to […]

“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” ~Matthew 15: 22b As Jesus entered Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman presented herself as a one-person welcoming committee. She approaches him with shouting, “Have mercy on me.” She is in despair and yet, she draws near to Jesus with […]

Hope broadens the mind. As we enter into the second week of our “Stewards of a Hope-Filled Future” series this week, we are challenged to examine in what and whom we invest our hope, and, to allow the gospel to inspire our imaginations. As the theologian Walter Brueggemann asserts, we Christians struggle to imagine that […]

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” ~Jeremiah 29: 11 -14 World Communion Sunday is a hope filled table. On the first Sunday in October, United Methodist congregations join many Christian churches across the […]

“…Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”  -1 Thessalonians 2:8(b) During the last week of July the FUMC Kalamazoo Youth Tribe, along with a great number of adults, came together for a week of service around the community […]

“For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you.” -1 Thessalonians 1:9a The scriptures this day invite us to connect, and they point us toward true community where none is better than another, none are excluded from the presence and love of the risen Christ. Not sure […]

“If anyone is there who shares in your peace, your peace will rest on that person.”  ~Luke 10: 6a Jesus sends more than seventy out on a mission of peace. He says, “Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” They are to offer peace, receive peace and reassure all that “The Kingdom […]

Faith without works is dead. One of the most often quoted bible verses from one of the shortest books in the New Testament. It becomes a mantra of sorts from churches that like to get things done. And there’s nothing wrong with getting things done. Jesus calls us to do justice and so we do. […]

John Wesley said once that “Religion if it is not to be the pious form of worldliness, if it is instead to be the response to the action of God, must begin where God begins, among the poor, the despised, the oppressed, and the marginalized.” The key words in his teaching are begin where God […]

Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation, Spirit. All these words are packed into these final verses of the book of Ephesians. These are among the most pious and abstract words in all Christian grammar. Truth like a belt, righteousness like a breastplate, peace like a pair of shoes, faith as a shield, salvation a helmet, and […]

“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.”  -Ephesians 5: 13-14a We are called to live as children of the light and we are to shine the light on that which brings darkness. Join us for worship as we light candles in prayer, exposing and naming some of […]