Choose Life
What might it mean to choose life in a world such as ours? We look to Jesus for a path forward.
Matthew
Sour Grapes
Message for October 8, 2017 Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passage: Isaiah 5:1-7 and Matthew 21:33-46Sour grapesSour grapes are not good fruit. I have had a bitter taste in my mouth since weheard the news of another mass shooting in Las Vegas last Sunday. Sour, sour grapesindeed.Where did things go wrong? Why does this …
Good seed, good soil
Message for July 16, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passages: Isaiah 55:10-13 and Matthew 13:1-17Good seed, good soilI’m not much of a gardener myself but I love to watch – and benefit from! – otherpeople’s gardens. I love this time of year when homegrown produce becomes available.When those seeds so lovingly planted and tended …
Power redefined, Part 2
Message for June 25, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passages: Matthew 10:24-39Power redefined: Part 2“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sakewill find it.” One of our president’s favorite insults is “loser.” “What a loser!” he sayswith contempt. He expresses the sentiments of many, I …
The love of God
Message for Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passages: Matthew 28:1-10 and John 1:1-5The love of God“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word wasGod. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, andwithout him not one thing …
We hunger
Message for the first Sunday of Lent, March 5, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passages: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 and Matthew 4:1-11We hungerThere was trouble even in paradise. The tree of the knowledge of good and evilgrew there along with all the other trees. It was part of the package. God knew this.God knew that …
Our foundation
Message for February 19, 2017Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passages: Matthew 5:38-48 and 1 Corinthians 3:10-11Our foundation“No one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; thatfoundation is Jesus Christ.” These words of the Apostle Paul were foundational for ourAnabaptist ancestors. Menno Simons used this verse as his motto. In …
Light in the darkness
Message for January 7, 2018Glennon Heights Mennonite ChurchBetsy Headrick McCraeScripture passage: Matthew 2:1-18Light in the darknessThe story of the wise men coming to worship Jesus, the newborn king, carriesmore oomph than we usually give it credit for. We like the trappings – the star, thecamels, the tall regal men in turbans and rich clothing, the …
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 …
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 …