Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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A Major
Is there anyone who does not love The Sound of Music? The story of Maria’s challenges, adventures, and new-found family includes some of the most memorable music in Broadway history. Maria is A major’s heroine: a will-o-the-wisp. This description is part of Hammerstein’s lyric – a series of phrases spoken by the Abby nuns, attempting to capture Maria’s elusive qualities. read more…
Reformation Resources
During the month of October, many churches will be talking about the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation which is traced back to Martin Luther’s nailing of his 95 theses on Wittenberg Castle. For those who would wish to delve further into the history of the Protestant Reformation or might be looking for seminars to attend, please check out the links below.
2017 – Marking 500 Years of Reformation
Summary: The Lutheran World Federation has a few resources and very helpful historical links to the Protestant Reformation. Even those who do not come from the Lutheran stream of the church will find the history helpful and the emphasis on grace fulfilling. read more…
Jagged Edge –A GUEST sermon this week by Rev Bruce Barnard
“Jagged Edge” –A Guest Sermon this week by Rev. Bruce Barnard Story Lectionary 8 October 2017 The Lord Speaks to Moses from a Burning Bush (Exodus 3) Elijah Confronts Ahab (1 Kings 18) Psalm 7: The Lord Will Judge the Peoples Psalm 35: May Those Be Put to Shame Who…
Galileo’s Daughter
Galileo’s Daughter:
A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love
by Dava Sobel
–Review by Teri Hyrkas
How does a writer transform a rigorously researched historical memoir of Galileo Galilei into a touching and fascinating family story? Author Dava Sobel accomplished this bit of magic by discovering a passageway into the life of Galileo that had not been considered before: Galileo’s deep and tender relationship with his oldest daughter, Virginia. Sobel’s book center’s around this affectionate alliance, which was not built on evenings spent entertaining illustrious friends or by long walks together in a garden but from letters exchanged between Galileo and his illegitimate daughter. read more…
Kneeling, Standing, and Sitting Before Our Idols –GUEST SERMON by Rev Thomas Haugh
“Standing, Kneeling, and Sitting Before Our Idols” GUEST SERMON by Rev. Thomas Haugh Exodus 20:1-20 Lectionary 8 October 2017 Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Psalm 19 Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46 Text to Life Who would have thought that standing, kneeling or sitting would have caused such a…
Implantation Leads to Impartation: Blessed to Bless
Implantation Leads to Impartation: Blessed to Bless Lectionary 8 October 2017 Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Psalm 19 Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46 Text to Life The Bible has a lot to say about faith and finances. Even when it doesn’t appear that it is talking about the…
Metaphors are Change Agents –Preaching Tip for 8 October 2017
“If you want to change a life or a church, change their metaphor.” –Len Sweet Everyone has a metaphor that defines his or her identity. Churches are no different. But be careful. There are metaphors that describe what you’d like to be, or what you imagine you are. And then…
Pastor’s Prayer for 8 October 2017
“Lord, please restore to us the comfort of merit and demerit. Show us that there is at least something we can do. Tell us that at the end of the day there will at least be one redeeming card of our very own. Lord, if it is not too much to ask, send us to bed with a few shreds of self-respect upon which we can congratulate ourselves. But whatever you do, do not preach grace. Give us something to do, anything; but spare us the indignity of this indiscriminate acceptance.”
–Robert Farrar Capon
The Parable of the Vlogger
The Parable of the Vlogger –Guest Sermon by Rev Derek White “Jesus is history’s Master Storyteller. He taught with story, he played with story, he healed with story, he loved with story. He showed us the truth of God’s love in the stories of the Hebrew people and in the…
The Mustard and the Cedar
The Mustard and the Cedar Story Lectionary 1 October 2017 The Parables (My choices for this week are Ezekiel 17 and Matthew 13:31-32: The Cedar and the Mustard, but this lectionary is meant to give a wide choice of parables to use in preaching. These might also be used to…