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Getting ready
In this passage, Jesus uses 4 different words related to seeing or looking. blepete idhte agrupneite grhgorh Don’t worry, there’s not going to be a quiz on the Greek stuff. blepete comes from blepw, the general purpose NT word for see But it also carries a connotation of the ability to see, not blind. Like…
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Praying for an earthquake
Today as your preacherIt is my job to invite you into the spirit of Advent.The time we take each year to talk about waiting[pause]We reflect on our anticipation, our anxiety,Four weeks of worship, even a special theme song!All leading up to our celebration of one of the world’s greatest events,The the birth of Christ Jesus.Aw…
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Thanksgiving reflections
Reflections for Thanksgiving worship service, November 26, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeFor this we are gratefulI imagine that as many of you gathered around the table for your Thanksgivingfeast this past Thursday, somebody asked, “What are you thankful for?” I hope thatprimed the pump because I’m going to be asking us that same question…
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No laughing matter
Message for November 19, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passage: Matthew 25:14-30No laughing matterThe parables and teachings of Matthew 25 are tough. Jesus is tough. In fact,Jesus is downright hard-nosed in the parable we heard this morning. We are put off bywhat he says. We don’t like him very much and that makes us…
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The greatest among you
Message for November 5, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passage: Matthew 23:1-12The greatest among youJesus gets pretty caustic in Matthew 23. There’s no sweetness and light in whathe has to say about the Jewish religious establishment. “They do not practice what theyteach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on…
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Choose life
Message for February 12, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passages: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Matthew 5:17-20Choose lifeIn our world today the term “pro-life” has a narrow meaning. It starts at thebeginning – conception – but doesn’t go much further. Limiting access to abortion maybe one pro-life focus, but there is so much more to being…
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Then your light will shine
Message for February 5, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passages: Isaiah 58:1-12 and Matthew 5:13-16Then your light will shineWe are living in a time of upheaval. Things seem to be happening fast. We don’tknow what’s coming next. For some of us, perhaps, the changes feel good and right. Forothers of us, they cause distress.…
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Love Builds Up
Message for Sunday, February 1, 2015Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passage: 1 Corinthians 8Love builds up“Now concerning food sacrificed to idols…” Huh? What does this have to dowith us? Why on earth are we even thinking about this? It is a subject that doesn’t applyat all to our day-to-day lives. And yet this passage…
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What in the World is the Kingdom of God?
Message for World Fellowship Sunday, January 25, 2015Glennon Heights Mennonite Church Matthew 6:9-13 and 25-34 What in the World is the Kingdom of God?Kingdom is not a very modern concept. Though there are still a few monarchiesleft in the world, kings and queens don’t wield all that much power anymore. For us theyare mostly the…
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Hearing, speaking, listening, trusting
Scripture passage: 1 Samuel 3:1-20 You’re probably tired of hearing this, but things change. This is a constant theme.Change, change, change. Change is good. Change is hard. Change is inevitable. Don’tstand in the way of change. As Christians we believe that God changes us. God changesus from isolated to connected, from unloved to deeply loved,…