Seeking: honest questions for deeper faith – “How do we begin again?”

Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a and John 3:1-17Watch Sermon: 03/5/23 Worship Many years ago, early in my pastoral ministry, a powerful practice for reading scripture was shared with me. I was in a group of clergy and some laity from various United Methodist churches in the area who were coming together to plan an event to…

Seeking: honest questions for deeper faith – “Who will you listen to?”

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 and Matthew 4:1-11Watch Sermon: 02/26/23 Worship Are you a good listener? Would the people you are listening to agree that you are a good listener? In an article by Harvard Business Review their research shows that most of us like to think we are good listeners, and much like our…

Seeking: honest questions for deeper faith – “Is this the fast i choose?”

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12 In the memoir, Eat Pray Love, that was later made into a movie, author Elizabeth Gilbert has everything a modern woman should want in her life. She’s got the American dream – a spouse, a house, and a successful career. She’s got it all. Yet something deep within her was unsatisfied.…

Reset – “Reset Direction”

Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-15Watch Sermon: 2/5/23 Sunday Worship Before coming to Summerfield Peace I was serving in Hayesville, NC, which most people have never heard of. Our youth now know it some from having gone to Hinton Rural Life Center on a summer mission trip. Hinton is a United Methodist Retreat Center that is located…

Reset – “Reset Values”

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:24-6:10Watch Sermon: 1/29/23 Sunday Worship We can aspire to live by good values to direct our life, but we may find out that those values are not always the values of the Holy Spirit. They might be values that our friends and family live by. Our coworkers and neighbors that we spend…

Reset – “Reset Purpose”

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:32-39Watch Sermon: 1/22/23 Sunday Worship Rev. Junius Dotson, former leader of the United Methodist Church’s Discipleship Ministries agency, wrote a book called Soul Reset. In this powerful book, written not long before a cancer diagnosis that would claim his life, Rev. Dotson reflects on the importance of touching the first base bag…

Reset – “Soul Reset”

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:21-23Watch Sermon: 1/15/23 Sunday Worship ***This sermon was intended to be preached a week before to coincide with Baptism of the Lord Sunday. I became sick and wasn't able to preach it on this day, so it was pushed a week later*** I grew up playing ball. It started with tee ball…

From Generation to Generation – “We Keep Seeking”

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-23Watch Sermon: 12/11/22 Sunday Worship This morning we are finishing out our Advent sermon series, From Generation to Generation, that has taken us through the story leading up to Jesus’ birth. We looked primarily at the gospels of Matthew and Luke who are the ones who share narratives about the events that…

From Generation to Generation – “We Tell This Story”

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20Watch Sermon: 12/24/22 Christmas Eve Service Different families have different birthday rituals to celebrate another year of life for their loved ones. What rituals or traditions does your family do for birthdays? Your birthday rituals may be influenced by the culture in which you are part of. Different cultures have different birthday…

From Generation to Generation – “We See God in Each Other”

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:39-55Watch Sermon: 12/18/22 Sunday Worship Dr. Christine Hong is Korean American, born to parents who were Korean immigrants who came to the US. She recalls that her mother used to say that back in the days of immigration for Koreans, whoever met you at the airport decided your destiny. Whoever met you…