Jesus loved his disciples as friends and he ministered to them the night before he died. This talk invites us to ponder what it means to be a community of soul friends with Jesus.

Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter:

• Acts 7:55-60
• 1 Peter 2:2-10
• John 14:1-14
• Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

Jesus is both shepherd and gate. We are sheep and we are to listen to the voice of Jesus and follow our good shepherd to green pastures and abundant life but there are still are thieves and bandits who seek to kill and destroy. But Jesus is also our gate. Jesus is how we tell if someone can be trusted to care for the flock. A faithful shepherd is someone who Jesus would let through the gate.

We are called to be the kind of shepherd that Jesus would let through the gate for the good of all the sheep.

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter:

• Acts 2:42-47
• 1 Peter 2:19-25
• John 10:1-10
• Psalm 23

The risen Jesus didn't appear to Pilot or the Chief Priests or Herod or stage a comeback tour.

But instead the risen Jesus accompanied confused, frightened, grieving people....One way we can be like Jesus is to accompany people...Jesus showed up. He didn't stay too long. He ate and prayed when appropriate. He didn't draw attention to himself. He focused on others and then he left. And that was enough.

Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter:

• Acts 2:14a,36-41
• 1 Peter 1:17-23
• Luke 24:13-35
• Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17

On one large macro level Jesus was giving an important gift to the church - the authority to let go of and hold on to sin.

This gift also applies on a personal level.

So be like Jesus - forgive and retain.

Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter:

• Acts 2:14a,22-32
• 1 Peter 1:3-9
• John 20:19-31
• Psalm 16

Four kinds of questions followers of Jesus can and should ask in our lives if we want to be like Jesus:

• Followers of Jesus should question authority.

• Followers of Jesus should question what we've been taught.

• Followers of Jesus need to question ourselves.

• Followers of Jesus may at times question God and that is a faithful thing to do.

So don't be afraid of your questions. They may be the power of the risen Christ at work within you.

Easter Sunday Readings

Acts 10:34-43

Colossians 3:1-4

John 20:1-18

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Jesus sometimes frightened people.

When we look back through scriptures we see that God often worked through freighting times or experiences to accomplish something good.

After the resurrection of Jesus followers of Jesus started to shake things up...they were called these people who are turning the world upside down and it was not a compliment but it was good news.

Episode note: This sermon was interrupted by a power outage! The remainder of the sermon was not recorded due to the loss of electricity.

Easter Vigil Readings

Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18, 8:6-18, 9:8-13 [The Flood] Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 [Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea] Ezekiel 37:1-14 [The valley of dry bones] Matthew 28:1-10

In those moments when we come to the cross, when we recognize there is nothing more we can do - we can still be like Jesus. We can surrender and say with him it is finished. I have done what I can do. O God, take it from here.

Good Friday Readings

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Psalm 116:1, 10-17

Jesus said he wanted to be our example. Jesus wants us to be like him. Washing feet is meaningful but it was just one part of a larger overall goal. Jesus called it his new commandment -"Love one another just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."

Love notices an issue like dirty feet. Love has the courage and hum to stoop down and help. Love corrects and instructs when ness. Love serves even those who deny us like Peter or question us like Thomas or betray us like Judas. The main way to be like Jesus is to love with abandon and to love everyone we can.

Maundy Thursday Readings

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Psalm 116:1, 10-17

Preacher: Rev. Grace Burton-Edwards

Fifth Sunday in Lent Readings

• Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Romans 8:6-11
• John 11:1-45
• Psalm 130

Preacher: Rev. Grace Burton-Edwards

Fourth Sunday in Lent Readings:

• 1 Samuel 16:1-13
• Ephesians 5:8-14
• John 9:1-41
• Psalm 23

Let us be guided by the love of God which has been poured into our hearts.

Preacher: The Rev. Grace Burton-Edwards

Third Sunday in Lent Readings:

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Romans 5:1-11
• John 4:5-42
• Psalm 95

Preacher: The Rev. Grace Burton-Edwards

Second Sunday in Lent Readings:

• Genesis 12:1-4a
• Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
• John 3:1-17
• Psalm 121

Preacher: The Rev. Grace Burton-Edwards

First Sunday in Lent Readings:

• Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
• Romans 5:12-19
• Matthew 4:1-11
• Psalm 32

Preacher: The Rev. Grace Burton-Edwards

Ash Wednesday Readings:

• Joel 2:1-2,12-17
• Psalm 103
• Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

We have a ready made possibility for AWE available here every week.

We are invited in worship to experience awe and then go from here to love and serve the Lord.

Seek out AWE in this Holy Season.

Preacher: The Rev. Grace Burton-Edwards

Sunday Readings:

• Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12]
• 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16]
• Matthew 5:13-20
• Psalm 112:1-9, (10)