Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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Living in the Shadow of Jesus’ Resurrection Glory (Chiaroscuro)
Living in the Shadow of Jesus’ Resurrection Glory (Chiaroscuro)Story Lectionary21 April 2019The Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter)The Time of Jubilee (Leviticus 25)The Celebration of First Fruits (Deuteronomy 26)David’s Song of Thanksgiving (2 Samuel 22-24 and 1 Chronicles 16)Psalm 95: Psalm of JoyPsalm 98: Our Eyes Have Seen the Salvation of…
Holy Week
As we come to the end of Lent, we also complete our adventures through the six Suites for Solo Cello, written in the early 1700s by J.S. Bach.
read more…A Guest Easter Vigil Sermon by Fr. Dr. Norbert Haukenfrers
An Inuksuk is a pile of stones constructed to communicate life giving information. Traditionally constructed by the Inuit, Inuksuk are integral to Inuit culture. A red inuksuk adorns the flag of Nunavut. In Inuktitut, the term inuksuk means “to act in the capacity of a human.” Inuksuk have been found…
Make it Participatory –Preaching Tip for 21 April 2019
The smells, the bells, the sights, and sounds…..these are part of what makes Easter so magical! Don’t forget to include as many as you can in the resurrection experience, so that people can feel the excitement of the empty tomb, the joy of livingness. Encourage people to shout, to dance,…
Pastor’s Prayer for 21 April 2019
O Lord, accept me in penitence. O Lord, leave me not. O Lord, lead me not into temptation. O Lord, grant me good thoughts. O Lord, grant me tears and remembrance of death and compunction. O Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins. O Lord, grant me humility, chastity and obedience. O Lord, grant me patience, courage and meekness. O Lord, plant in me the root of all blessings, the fear of You in my heart. O Lord, grant me to love You with all my mind and soul, and always to do Your will. O Lord, protect me from certain people, and demons, and passions, and from every other harmful thing. O Lord, You know that You act as You will; may Your will be also in me, a sinner, for blessed art You forever. Amen.
–St. John Chrysostom
Ground Zero
Ground ZeroLectionary21 April 2019Easter SundayActs 10:34-43Psalm 118:1-2, 14-241 Corinthians 15:19-26John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12Text to LifeEaster Sunday is the day when everything we think we know turns upside down. Tragedy becomes triumph. Sacrifice becomes success. Failure becomes fulfillment. Death becomes eternal life. Christ crucified becomes Christ the Risen Lord. Easter…
Lamb Parade
Lamb ParadeStory Lectionary14 April 2019The Day of Palms / The Procession of the LambsThe Crushing of the Serpent’s Head and the Striking of the Heel of Man (Genesis 3)The Census of Israel (Numbers 1)A Woman Crushes the Head of Abimelech Saving the People (Judges 9)David Strikes the Head of Goliath…
Add Excitement –Preaching Tip for 14 April 2019
When you are excited about the gospel message, about Jesus’ resurrection hope, about praise, your people will be excited too! In order to get people feeling the joy of the resurrection, the joy of Palm Sunday, you need to get them excited about Jesus’ gift of life. Sometimes you can…
Pastor’s Prayer for 14 April 2019
Waken our hearts, O Lord, our God;
make them ever watchful to serve You and Your purposes.
Trouble us with the smallness of our vision and work.
Trouble us with the greatness of Your command to make disciples of all nations.
Trouble us with Your great love for sinners and our own slowness to make You our greatest love.
Trouble us with the brevity of our lives and time, talent, and treasure not invested in eternity.
Comfort us by drawing us to Yourself with the cords of Your
unfailing mercy.
Comfort us, O Lord, with the assurance of our salvation and
unending glory with You when we suffer and are afflicted.
Rekindle in us a renewed desire
for the coming of Your glorious kingdom
when all wrongs will be made right,
when everything that is broken will be made whole,
and when we will trade a cross for a crown.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
—Adapted from the Prayers of Martin Luther
The Home Stretch
The Home StretchLectionary14 April 2019Palm Sunday / Passion SundayLuke 19:28-40Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29Isaiah 50:4-9aPsalm 31:9-16Philippians 2:5-11Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49Text to LifeWho doesn’t like a party??!! We all love “Palm Sunday” because of the parade of pomp and pageantry that accompanied Jesus as he entered into Jerusalem for that final time…