Wednesday December 4, 2013 Colossians 1:9-14 The Gospel of Luke (1:26-38) describes a scene that changed Mary’s life forever and set the stage for the most remarkable event in all of human history. The angel Gabriel came to speak with Mary. He told her that she would give birth to a son. “He will be great and will be called the Son…
Tuesday December 3, 2013 Colossians 1:3-8 The power of prayer is really a remarkable reality of the life of faith. People have been praying since the beginning of time. The Jewish community from biblical days had been praying for a Messiah for centuries. They dreamed about a day when everything would be different. They longed for a time when the power of…
Monday December 2, 2013 Colossians 1:1-2 Have you ever received a letter from a friend, a mentor or perhaps a coworker that became sacred as soon as you opened the envelope and read your name at the top of the handwritten page? It is a powerful and personal experience when words come directly to you from the heart of a deep and…
On Sunday night at SNL I shared a Nooma video with the youth. It is titled “Breathe” and is done by Pastor Rob Bell. Rob introduces an interesting concept that name of God written in the Old Testament can actually be heard as a breath. In our English text, it is often spelled as LORD, however in the Hebrew language it is…
So this past Sunday I showed a Video at SNL called “To This Day” by Shane Koyczan. Bullying is something that has been present in our society for quite some time. Kids face it or see it almost every day at school. Just recently, Richie Incognito of the Miami Dolphins, was suspended indefinitely for what appears to be bullying of another player.…
November is bearing down upon us. The kids have had Fall Break and the schools are now in the big push to finish the semester strong. Bands, Orchestras, and Choirs are all planning and preparing for their Christmas or “Winter” concerts. Stores are beginning to prepare for Black Friday sales and all the shoppers that will be “doorbusting” at the end of…
I grew up in a wonderful town called Lyons, Colorado. My family moved there when I was in the middle of my 2nd grade year. I performed in many plays, and built some amazing friendships. I participated in three sports: volleyball, basketball and track and field. And I graduated from Lyons with 40 of my friends. It was a wonderful childhood, and I am so thankful that I…
In just a few weeks we will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Many will travel to see family while others will host a reunion of friends. Most of the time, there will be a table. That table will be a demonstration of abundance and those who gather will be family by choice or by connection. It is also a season inward reflection. For some it will be…
Fall is my favorite time of the year! Finally, we have a reprieve from the hot temperatures… the leaves are changing into a beautiful masterpiece… the crock pot meals start making my house smell wonderful. Love love love fall! Of course, it is also the time to start preparing for the cold dark months that are to follow. We get our yard…
The month of October typically represents a shift in the life of the church. Everyone is settled into the fall season as the school systems gear up and small groups abound in the congregation. Worship services fill up and a spirit of vitality begins to flow into the hallways! I love October! We celebrate the season and move forward with a spirit…
Each week, the staff here at Parker UMC try to put together a worship experience for Sunday that will warm your hearts, lift your spirits, and challenge you in your spiritual journey. We often try to remind you of your calling as a Christian to serve and to share the gospel of Jesus with others. We will encourage you to stay strong…
I saw this great video just recently. It speaks volumes to how we often put up barriers and make judgements about people before we ever get to know them. As followers of Christ, how do we begin to break down barriers and truly get to know people for who they are. Perhaps a ball pit is not a bad idea.
Mission of The Month for September Crop Hunger Walk We often forget that church missions, like the Parker Crop Hunger Walk, are about much more than just getting people more food. They empower communities with sustainable clean water, provide water resources to grow crops, and support nutrition and land rights education. It is even more important to remember that church missions are…
Mary and her two children were new to the church. They arrived on Sunday morning with a bit of anxiety as they surveyed the lay of the land to determine if they should head left or right. She glanced across the entry area to catch a glimpse of a sign that would give them some direction. Her ‘almost anxious’ spirit was quickly…
In the United Methodist Church, one of the topics you will hear a lot about is grace. John Wesley made God’s grace a touchstone for his preaching. All of the small groups, the societies and classes, that he arranged or participated in involved sharing God’s grace with each other and those who were in need. In the larger scope, God’s grace includes…