Sermons

And the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness

Sermon for February 22, 2015 (First Sunday in Lent)
Rev. Amy Welin:
The Gospel of Mark portrays Jesus as a driven man. Throughout the three years covered in the gospel’s 16 short chapters, Jesus is on the move from one place to the next, proclaiming the coming of the Reign of God with a real sense of urgency. His ministry has an immediacy that no other gospel captures. Jesus knows what God needs done, and there is no time to waste. Read More Read more • Leer más → “And the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness”
Sermónes / Sermons

God invites you to a holy Lent • Dios te invita a una santa Cuaresma

Sermon for February 18, 2015 (Ash Wednesday)
Sermón del 18 de febrero 2015 (Miércoles de Ceniza)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Starting today... God invites you to a holy Lent. God invites you for the next 40 days to a season of self-examination, service, repentance, forgiveness, prayer, fasting, self-denial and the regular reading and meditating on God's Word. Desde hoy ... Dios te invita a una santa Cuaresma. Dios te invita para los próximos 40 días para una temporada de auto-examen, el servicio, el arrepentimiento, el perdón, la oración, el ayuno, la abnegación y la lectura regular y meditación de la Palabra de Dios. Read More • Lea más Read more • Leer más → “God invites you to a holy Lent • Dios te invita a una santa Cuaresma”
Sermons

Under the right conditions, snow for Valentine’s Day could be romantic

Sermon for February 15, 2015 (Last Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Picture the snow quietly falling on the trees and lawn as you gaze out the window, sitting close to your beloved, enjoying a nice cup of cocoa or glass of wine. A glowing fireplace warms the room behind you. You are amazed and uplifted by the overwhelming power of love. Love is enough as it fills your heart and all is right in your world. The romance of fantasy. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Under the right conditions, snow for Valentine’s Day could be romantic”
Sermons

Jesus is on his way. Are we willing to keep moving with Jesus?

Sermon for February 8, 2015 (Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Jesus comes to tell us good news - the good news that we are also connected to the power of God, the good news that we shall never be alone. And, that good news is accompanied by mighty acts that free people from their burdened lives. When Jesus sneaks out to pray early in the morning, and the disciples find him, he responds with a renewed commitment to his mission of proclamation and confronting the power of evil. Lives are changed, the world is different. Can we let Jesus heal us of our fevers - as he healed Peter’s mother-in-law - so that we can hear the good news of deliverance and join him on his mission? Jesus is on his way. Are we willing to keep moving with Jesus? Read More Read more • Leer más → “Jesus is on his way. Are we willing to keep moving with Jesus?”
Sermons

God makes marvelous works to be remembered

Sermon for February 1, 2015 (Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
When was the last time you felt amazed? Was it a recent experience - perhaps a glimpse of the stars in the clear winter sky? Did you witness a miracle or sense the presence of God? Or is amazement a long-ago memory? Was your observation of the wondrous a good feeling or a negative one? Read More Read more • Leer más → “God makes marvelous works to be remembered”
Sermons

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer the call of our Savior Jesus Christ

Sermon for January 25, 2015 (Third Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
St. John’s parish needs to get in touch with your spiritual side. Embrace Sunday as a celebration by disciples of Jesus Christ. We are church and not just a gathering of friends. (It is not possible to overstate the import of this foundational theological principle of our reason to exist). Do church like you mean it: sing, pray, respond. We need to transform our worship and our music so they are active and engaged and not passive. Worship in this community must be our passion, not merely habit. The God we worship is the God to whom we pray and sing, and the God of our worship is tired, kind of dull, and easy to tune out. Participation in worship gives apostles the energy to share the good news beyond the doors of the parish. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Give us grace, O Lord, to answer the call of our Savior Jesus Christ”
Sermons

Speak, LORD, for your Servant is Listening

Sermon for January 18, 2015 (Second Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Have you ever needed an expert to help you resolve a problem? At St John’s, I lean on Cindy and Tony, and on Dave and Don, and sometimes we need to call the experts. Expertise has its merits. This week, the RePurposing Task Force met with a representative of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which helps local non-profits build communities where people can thrive. The woman who met with us has experience as a developer, and she had many insights to share with us. We were grateful for her expertise and her questions, and we think that we will benefit from exploring some options for development of our property. We hope that she will connect us with other experts, who can assist St John’s in securing a future here. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Speak, LORD, for your Servant is Listening”
Sermons

You are my beloved; With you I am well pleased

Sermon for January 11, 2015 (First Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
What would it do in our lives if we knew - really knew, all the way down in our bones - that we are beloved by God? Beloved - cherished - as we are - with our weaknesses, faults, and any of the good bits we would like to boast about. Personally, I think it would be a foundationally healing and transformational awareness, even better than being born into a loving family, even better than winning awards, even better than hitting the lottery. Read More Read more • Leer más → “You are my beloved; With you I am well pleased”
Sermons

My Favorite Things

Sermon for December 28, 2014 (First Sunday After Christmas)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Imagine the following sermon sung to the tune of My Favorite Things, from the musical The Sound of Music.
 
Poinsettias decorate the sanctuary. Thinking the snow won’t start ‘til January. Gold bows and white candles and choirs that sing These are a few of my favorite things. Read More Read more • Leer más → “My Favorite Things”
Sermons

Are you ready to sing “Joy to the World”?

Sermon for December 25, 2014 (Christmas Day)
Rev. Amy Welin: Which nativity character are you? Are you ready to sing "Joy to the World"? My friend Catherine and I were discussing (on Facebook!) the generally cheerful chaos and occasional insanity of the Christmas season: the challenges of working and preparing for the holiday, the delights and stresses of family and children, adventures in baking, and so on. Catherine says that for her, the joy and sparkle and wonder of Christmas is what keeps her going. She often uses #Blessed on her facebook page. Are joy and sparkle and wonder a part of your Christmas? Would you be inclined to use #Blessed to identify your feelings about this season? Read More Read more • Leer más → “Are you ready to sing “Joy to the World”?”