Ministry Matters - Sermon series on our baptismal vows | Transfer of power

But what must our coming together and giving ourselves to the church look like to outsiders? Sermon series: our baptismal vows by Jennifer H. Williams   Our faith is about filling us for the present and preparing us for the future, and that is not foolish. As I said, you come here on Sunday mornings; you leave the paper, the television, and the warmth to come to church. You spend your evenings in committee meetings. You give out of your firstfruits, not to get another tax rebate, but because God invites you to do so. Read here

What do we give up and what do we gain in baptism? Transfer of power: the vows of baptism by Carol J. Miller   My atheist phase lasted for about fifteen minutes one sunny, late-spring afternoon. Freshman year in college was coming to a close for me. There was a party at a nearby river. A couple of my friends and I were standing midstream on a large rock. Read here

Why else would we confess “I was blind but now I see,” unless we experienced it? The extent of grace, sacramental life, and the history of incompatibility by Wesley Bros Comics   I have intentionally been using baptismal waters imagery through this theological section of our story, because I fiercely believe and advocate for the deep connection we have to Christ when we are baptized and believe. Baptism unites us uniquely to the Body of Christ in a way that is different from universal prevenient grace. We often call this justifying faith, it’s the belief that Jesus is who he says he is, and that this changes everything. Justifying faith happens when we trust that God’s love for us is so real, every sin has been washed away, forgiveness and resurrection life re-establishes us in the world as ambassadors for Christ. We are given a mission of reconciliation, of making things right. Of healing. Of loving compassionately the way Christ does. Read here

A thanksgiving sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas Worship elements - prayers and litanies - for a new year's first Sunday

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