Sermons from Richmond Beach UCC

World Communion Sunday

2011-10-02T17:49:00Z

Today is World Communion Sunday -- a celebration begun by the Presbyterian Church in 1937, now celebrated by Christians, Protestant and Catholic, around the world. Today Christians from every culture break bread and pour wine or juice together. We may have different practices, different theological understandings for sharing this meal; but on this day, men, women, and children of every language, color, and nationality gather in fields, straw huts, brick schools, wooden shacks, stone cathedrals, this sanctuary to praise God and entering into physical and spiritual communion with one another.

Tis A Gift To Be Humble – Servant Power

2011-09-25T22:43:00Z

Servant Power, the title of this sermon -- I looked up those words in Merriam Webster. The first definition of servant -- one that serves others, especially one that performs duties about the person or home of a master. Definition of power, same source -- possession of control, authority, or influence over others. Using those definitions, the phrase Servant Power seems an oxymoron, at the very least a paradox, something contradictory or opposed to common sense, yet perhaps true

Christ’s Call to Us

2011-09-04T20:00:00Z

When I look at or listen to the news, it’s easy to get pessimistic and wonder what’s the use. We can get trapped by pessimism. UCC pastor, Donna Schaper, calls it a soft cage – a prison to which we consent and even encourage. You know – the attitude of there’s nothing to be done; I can’t do anything about it – Congress needs to and they’re not doing anything but causing more problems. Or there’s too many people who don’t see the importance of making changes. We’re stuck with poverty, homelessness, crime, war, unequal access to health care, or a myriad of other issues. Do we dare hope for a better world?

Spirit-led Living

2011-08-28T19:43:00Z

This passage contains one of Jesus’ hardest sayings. “If anyone would come after me, he says to his disciples, “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.“ These words of Jesus come in the midst of an exchange with Peter:, Jesus telling his disciples what was coming: his great suffering, being killed, and then rising on the third day, and Peter’s vehement reaction: God forbid it, Lord. This must never happen to you.” For Peter a violent death was unthinkable for the messiah he was following. Certainly it could be avoided. It was as if Peter said to Jesus: Don’t walk into this trap. Why take the risk of going into Jerusalem.

Sunday, August 21st

2011-08-21T22:55:00Z

Please take a moment to listen to Sunday's Sermon.

Ten Texts

2011-08-14T16:36:00Z

If I were to list for you my 10 favorite texts from scripture, the passage we just read wouldn’t likely be one of them. Even though I usually preach on the recommended Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, this is one of those weeks when I might ordinarily be tempted to choose a different topic.

Hiding in Plain Sight

2011-07-24T21:15:00Z

I often find myself with people who not only don’t go to church but who are skeptical or even hostile about religion. When they hear that I’m a minister, the conversation either stops altogether or their facial expression reads: why would you ever do that?! Sometimes they ask politely: How did you ever become a minister?

Living with Weeds

2011-07-17T19:49:00Z

The Indian poet Tagore told of the day his servant arrived at work late. Like so many of his upper class, Tagore was helpless when it came to menial things, or he made himself helpless because as a member of the upper caste he considered himself above these things. An hour went by and the servant hadn't arrived. Tagore was getting angrier by the minute. He thought of all the punishments he was going to inflict upon his servant when he finally arrived. Three hours passed. Now he no longer thought of punishments, he knew that he would fire him when he got there.

Preparing the Ground

2011-07-10T20:14:00Z

"Listen! Jesus says, Listen! Pay attention. Jesus has a message in this parable that he especially wants his hearers to get. When he finishes telling the story he says, Are you listening to this? Really listening? Are you getting it? You might ask: What’s up with that? What’s so hard to get? Isn’t it rather obvious, this parable of the sower? Watch out.

Lay Your Burdens Down

2011-07-03T18:57:00Z

Have you ever gone to the kitchen with a craving but after looking at all of the contents realized that you weren't hungry for anything you had in the house? Have you ever longed for something everyone is raving about (think IPad, folks), then bought it and realized, only a short time later that owning it didn't give you the pleasure you thought it would? Have you ever attended a wedding and found yourself barely able to tamp down your envy of someone else’s happiness? It’s a little like the beginning of the scripture passage we read today when Jesus tells about 2 groups of children who call back and forth to one another looking for something to do, and neither of them are satisfied with the suggestions of the other. When someone plays the flute, they do not dance; when someone wails, they do not mourn. They can’t join in with one another.