"Is It Fair?"

Sermon Notes for September 24, 2017

Read Matthew 20:1-16, where laborers earn a day's wages for a day -- or less -- of work.


Take a moment right now, and decide if you think this is a fair story.

No, right? Anyone who grows up in a culture where the work is supposed to match the pay, will immediately say that this isn't fair. That fair would be a proportional amount for everyone based on the number of hours they put into the field.

But is it a good parable? Does it make you think? Does it fill you with hope and joy about what comes next? I think we'll find that changes greatly depending on who you identify with. Because if you see yourself as one of the people who were out there at first light, ready and willing to work, this is a frustrating parable. This is a story about working harder for the same pay.

But if you identify with the people at the end of the day, the people who had been looking for work, but just didn't find it, the people who were still in the marketplace and hoping against all odds, this is a story of generosity and grace.

"Forgiveness"

Sermon Notes for September 17, 2017

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Jesus spends a lot of his ministry trying to build his followers into communities. Care for each other. Learn from each other. Eat with each other. Gather together in my name. Part of being a disciple is about being in community. That's my concern about people who identify as spiritual, but not religious Christians. Usually when people call themselves spiritual, what they mean is that they have a close personal relationship with God. It's just them and God far away from the rest of the world. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to have such a relationship with God. It's a good thing to go off and find God away from people. The trouble comes, when we have to go back into the world. We can't stay in our spiritual retreat forever and the world is full of people we have to deal with.

"Now What?"

Sermon Notes for September 3, 2017

Our passage this morning continues with where we left off last week in Paul's letter to the Romans. First he told this early church that they have to come together as one community, as one body, even though they are very different people with many different gifts. This week he tells them how they are supposed to behave when they come together.

Paul tells them that they must begin with love. The root of the church is a community that loves like Jesus showed us how to love.

Pastor's Greeting

I wanted to begin by saying thank you for making me feel so welcome. The congregation, and especially the PNC has gone out of their way and I really appreciate it. From the cleaning of the manse top to bottom, the beautiful window treatments, the gifts of food and the well-wishers, moving into my new home has been a joy. Thank you all.

Pastor's Summer Message

Dear Friends,

I am writing this on the day of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Today is three minutes longer than yesterday was and three minutes longer than tomorrow will be. Three minutes by themselves don't seem like much, yet there is something about those extra three minutes that makes this day significant. It's the longest day of the year, so we make sure we watch the sunset. It's the longest day of the year, and we feel an urgency to use those three minutes wisely and productively.

Pastor's Message

Dear Friends,

Last June at the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) our Co-Moderators, Rev. Denise Anderson and Rev. Jan Edmiston challenged each presbytery to address the sin of racism in a more intentional way than it has in the past. Toward that end, the Presbytery of Geneva, of which we are a member congregation, has formed the Anti-Racism Work Group. One of the Group's first efforts is to support the Co-Moderators' suggestion that we all read Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving.

I have read the book and highly recommend it to you. The author is someone who has dared to look at how she unknowingly contributes to perpetuating racism and gently yet firmly challenges others to do the same. Her chapters are short – four to five pages – and each contains a thought-provoking description of a step she has taken toward becoming more aware of the role racism has played in her white, middle-class, New England life.

Guest Message

When you are feeling stressed, remember: Moses started out as a basket case, and the Lord made something of him anyway! We have now been a year and a half without a permanent minister and some folks have expressed anxiety because of this. But we have been fortunate to have had and still do have excellent interim ministers who have guided our way through this period and have given us new insights and experiences.

Sometimes we have not had a full slate of minister office hours but it is important to remember that God's office hours are 24/7. He is looking out for us and also working with our PNC committee to find the right permanent leader for our congregation. Many thanks to those in the congregation that have volunteered to fill in when help is needed.