Huntington United Methodist Church

Easter: A New Kind of God

April 4, 2010

Acts 10:34-43

Easter Sunday

In the year 449 a priest named Flavian was the Archbishop of Constantinople.  Though certain fundamentals of the faith had been determined by then, such as the doctrine of the Trinity and the canon of scriptures we call the Bible, other matters hadn’t been decided upon.  So, a council was convened in Ephesus to debate certain theological issues.  At a critical moment in the debates a band of monks and soldiers stormed the meeting hall, taking over control, and forcing bishops to sign a blank paper on which the winning side would later fill in it’s favored statement.  Yelling, “Slaughter him!” the monks attacked Flavian, beating him so badly that he died a few days later from the injuries.

Do you know what the fight was about? >>Continue Reading>>

What Dogs and Babies Know

January 24, 2010

Psalm 19

I told Katarina that I wasn’t really a big poetry fan.  She told me that I should buy the book anyway.  She said it was the most spiritual thing she’s read in a long time.

            I’ve also never read a whole poem to a congregation before.  I’m not sure that poetry translates well in sermons.  We like stories better.  But, when you come across a good thing you want to share it.  And besides, this poem has a couple of stories in it.

            Here goes: (It’s called “Musical Notation: 1”)

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Bread of Life

Aug 2, 2009

2 Sam 11:26-12:13a

Psalm 51

Eph 4:1-16

John 6:24-35

HUMC

We were observing at small group the other day how from time to time we come across scripture readings that surprise us or even leave us wondering why they’ve ended up in the bible.  Often it’s difficult to recite our response (The Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God) with a real solid sense that we mean it or understand why we are saying it.

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A State of Grace

July 26, 2009

2 Sam 11:1-15

Eph 3:14-21

John 6:1-21

Charley and I were sitting in church waiting for the service to begin.  I forget the image on the cover of the bulletin, but I remember the words.  “Let the little children come to me,” Jesus said.  I pointed them out to Charley who I thought would be pleased.  His reply was matter-of-fact with a touch of disappointment.  “But, I’m a big boy now.” 

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A Church We Can be “Into”

June 28, 2009

Mark 5:21-43

What is wrong with the church today?  Why is the mainline church struggling so much?  Why is it that year after year our membership, our resources, and our influence all seem to decline?

There are lots of people with lots of answers.  Pastors, professors, church leaders, lay people with a passion for ministry, even those on the outside have their answers.  It’s tempting to hear the suggestions with a kind of “here we go again” attitude.  Here comes another “solution” to our ailments, which in truth is just another fad, which no doubt will be replaced by next year’s “solution.” 

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Easter

April 12, 2009
John 20:1-18
Easter Sunday

`There is seeing and then there is SEEING, we all know. It’s kind of like the difference between hearing something (like hearing a noise) and listening to something (really taking it in.) >>Continue Reading>>

Palm Sunday

April 5, 2009
(Phil 2:5-11)
Mark 11:1-11
Palm Sunday

I remember a movie in which the primary characters were men and women condemned to an eternity of witnessing the crucifixion of Christ. That was the general gist anyway. The theme developed around the discovery of an ancient sanctuary in which the images of these condemned people were preserved in the statuary. …It turned out that they were the original spectators at Christ’s death. They had been there. They had seen an innocent man crucified. They had known that a guiltless man was dying a hellish death because he had chosen the wrong enemies, because the powers that be felt threatened. But still, they watched. They looked on in fascination, with voyeuristic satisfaction, and said nothing – not a hint of objection, not a word of protest. And so, they got what they deserved (according to the writers;) they got to look upon the crucifixion forever and ever. That’s what they became: eternal onlookers. >>Continue Reading>>

3:16(-17)

March 22, 2009

John 3:14-21

Walking down the street in Milford, I saw a man wearing a plain T-shirt with the numbers 3 and 16 separated by a colon.  The reference of course was to a verse in our gospel reading for today.  John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”  You used to upon occasion see people in the endzones at football games holding up “3:16” signs.  I’ve watched a few baseball games where a person in the crowd behind homeplate (right where the camera is always pointing) would wave the numbers around.

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Baptism of the Lord

Jan. 11, 2009

Gen. 1:1-5

Mark 1:4-11

It’s not a real vacation unless the beach is somehow involved.  Maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement, but that’s kind of how I feel about it.  Graciously, Angela gave me special dispensation to spend a few days at the beach in FL to find rest and renewal with a few other clergy friends last week. 

As we looked across the glistening gulf one friend noted that we as a race have searched and explored well beyond our own planet, looking into distant solar systems, but we’ve never even been to the bottom of our own ocean waters.  Water draws us and there at the edge of the sea with its great beauty and vast mystery just below the surface it seemed like we were in the perfect place to reclaim our spiritual selves and to remember the goodness and love out of which we were created.

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Good Soil

July 13, 2008
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
HUMC
Timothy B. Hare

So, there I was last week visiting with Bishop Middleton and her husband during coffee hour.  She had surprised me by attending worship and I have to admit that my heart started racing when I saw her arrive.  I thought, “O no!  My sermon is too short.  There aren’t enough people here.  What is she going to think about me? >>Continue Reading>>