Ezra 3: 8-13 At our house, we have several “Welcome Home” signs. One reads, “Enter as Guests and Leave as Family.” Another says, “Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much.” If…

In just two short verses, Jesus offers a powerful image of the Kin-dom of God: “Again he asked, ‘What shall I compare the kin-dom of God to? It is like…

Luke 18:9–14 Jesus told this parable to those who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on others. Two men went to the temple to pray—one a Pharisee,…

The three “Lost Stories” in the Gospel of Luke are among the most beloved parables of Jesus. On July 27, Pastor Dave offered a wonderful sermon on the “Lost Sheep.”…

When we speak about the word forgive, we may not immediately recognize that it is a transitive verb—a verb that requires a direct object to complete its meaning. Too often,…

Our opening prayer at the 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. services begins, “We are easily drawn away from serving you by the enticements of wealth, ease, and comfort,” and ends, “Help us place our…

In Mark 7, we see two remarkable encounters that highlight the power of faith and the compassion of Jesus. First, a Syrophoencian woman, a Gentile outsider, begs Jesus to heal…

“When someone says, ‘I see you,’ they are showing that they recognize what you are doing,” according to the website Linguaholic. This phrase, “I see you,” captures the convergence of…

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christian faith, marking victory over sin and death. In John 20, we find a profound moment—Mary Magdalene arriving at the tomb…

Dear Members of Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, In accordance with Paragraph 2544 of the Book of Discipline, a request has been made to District Superintendent, Rev. Jim Wilson,…