Scripture: John 13:1-17

At the start of her sermon on this day after the US and Israel rained bombs on Iran, Susan admonished us to keep up the coordinated, persistent, non-violent pressure on the administration, and to keep up the prayer.

The way of Jesus is the way of love, and today's text is all about love. In it we read about Jesus washing his disciples' feet. This was completely unheard of for someone in authority--for their teacher--to be stooping to the point of washing the feet of someone "below" him in the caste system. The master takes on the role of a subordinate and pours out his love and devotion.

But then he goes a step further.

If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another's feet, for I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

To pass on the selfless, self-forgetful love of God, sometimes means letting others see you in a less than flattering light. What a radical countercultural way to behave because it means we have to take our eyes off ourselves, and focus on the other person.

What does it mean to serve others when self-forgetful, selfless service opportunities come your way? Especially when we're not particularly comfortable following through on those opportunities? What is God nudging each of us to do?

John 11: 1-44

The first Sunday of Lent Susan Scott delivered a shorter sermon than normal to allow time for a major church life meeting after the service. Lent is a season when we tend to lean more intentionally into engaging with the life and character of Jesus. The scripture was story of Lazarus' resurrection. We all know the outcome, so it is easy to forget all the pain, suffering, and disappointment that occurred during his death when they expected Jesus to be there and do something to save his friend. He isn't even there to offer comfort. People sent word to Jesus and he stayed put for two days. Forcing this tragedy so that he can perform a great miracle seems callous of Jesus. What his followers do not understand is that Jesus is preparing them for the anguish, doubt, and fear that will happen to them after he is crucified. Join Susan Scott as she uses her sermonette to explore this seldom considered part of the Lazarus story and what lesson we can take from it for our own faith journeys.

Exodus 24: 12-17 Matthew 17: 1-8

This is Trey Ferguson's (our pastoral candidate) first sermon here at RMC. How we imagine God shapes how we interact with others, our pursuits, ethics, and mores. Which means that when our understanding of God shifts there is the potential for us to transform along with it. The children of Israel saw God's glory as a consuming fire (from God's appearance on top of Mt. Sinai) and they applied that understanding in the bloody conquest of Canaan. Jesus, however, provided an entirely different view of God's glory to the disciples. Jesus was not consumed by the fire of God's presence--he was transformed. This begs the question, did God's glory change or did the perspective of the witnesses to God's glory change? RMC invites you to join Trey Ferguson as he uses the Transfiguration of Jesus to explore how our perception of God fundamentally affects our faith journey and our community of faith.

Matthew 4:12-23

Nina Balmaceda provided the sermon for this morning's service which was held via Zoom due to the inclement weather.

Jesus was not from the center of power. He began his ministry near Mount Tabor. Not a majestic mountain, but more of a hill, far away from Jerusalem's power. It was close to everyday, ordinary people of mixed ancestry. He began his ministry in a place that religious leaders considered marginal, mixed and overlooked.

Jesus is on the side of the oppressed. Christ's first proclamation, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near," is not a threat. It's not a scream creating shame, but a voice of consolation for those who have suffered deeply.

God's kingdom takes root in places that feel far from the center. God's light still rises in unexpected places.

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

This Sunday we remembered Martin Luther King, Jr. and also focused on the temptations of Jesus as recounted in Luke (and Matthew and to a lesser degree in Mark).

Temptations offer a test. There's a chance to pass it and a chance to fail it. With Lent soon approaching next month, Susan suggested it's a great opportunity to address one of the temptations you face in this tumultuous time. She provided a number of ideas to get us thinking about how we could address some of the temptations we might be facing due to the national turmoil.

What life-giving practice would you do well to embrace? Or what destructive habit would you benefit from turning away from?

Isaiah 42:1-9, Matthew 3:13-17

Phil Jackson was our guest speaker this Sunday, retelling the story of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. Would you have gone out to hear John in the wilderness? Many people went out to hear this guy preach and teach. Jesus was among those who went to where John was preaching. It takes a little convincing for John to agree to baptize him.

In that process, Jesus comes out of the wilderness, saying yes to God's work and John's ministry. After his baptism by John, the Father says "Yes," to Jesus, and anoints him and blesses him for his public ministry.

By joining us in community with himself through baptism and the gift of the Spirit, Jesus incorporates us into his servanthood, which is the establishment of justice and righteousness.

Matthew 2:1-12

On this Epiphany Sunday Susan began with a portrayal of the wise men's perspective crafted by Frederick Buechner. Why did the magi follow the star to where Jesus was? "To be wise is to be eternally curious."

Is to live without Christ the real death, and to die with him the only life? Jesus invites us to pick up our cross; not an appealing image... When we take up the cross we empty our hands and bid goodbye to our old lives, both good and bad.

Paul is an example of giving up his old life with much esteem, to follow Christ. When we die unto Christ, we surrender our identities. Pay attention to the names you call yourself and see what they say about your identity. What is there that you need to surrender to fully embrace your new identity?

John 1: 1-18

Susan Scott reminded us of a powerful image from this week's scripture in John where Jesus became flesh and "tabernacled with us." Jumping back in time to Exodus, God instructs the chosen people in great detail on how to build a portable tabernacle, a sanctuary, for God to dwell in, but only a very select few people could enter. Later the tabernacle is built in stone in Jerusalem with the holy of holies that contains the Ark of the Covenant and God's presence, but is destroyed by the Babylonians and then rebuilt when the Israelites return from captivity. During Jesus' time Herod massively expanded the temple, but the building had no Ark, no cloud of glory, no miracles, and no prophesies like the first one - a silence of 4 centuries. The high priesthood was corrupt and under the influence of the Roman occupiers. Into this darkness, John tells us that the long awaited return of God's glory to the temple has been fulfilled by Jesus, to an extant even greater than that of the first temple. But God is doing something new, amazing, and unexpected this time. Instead of being reserved for an elite few, God's glory now walks without elaborate trappings among all the people, prophesying and doing great miracles. As the short, dim days of winter continue, take some time to reflect on the bright glory of Jesus in our lives - God tabernacling with us, not apart from us.