Sermons Archive - Pacific Beach United Methodist Church - PB UMC - PBUMC: Recent Episodes
Pacific Beach UMC
This Sunday is Ascension Sunday, a day in the life of the church that is baffling, awe-inspiring and rich with meaning and invitation. What can this peculiar account of Jesus being “taken up” into the clouds mean for us, the church in Southern California in 2026? In its antiquated strangeness, can it possibly provide food for our souls and encouragement for the living of our faith?Scripture passage: Acts 1:1-11
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This Sunday the lectionary readings continue in “Jesus’ farewell discourse.” Some of you may be thinking… “Hey, didn’t we just celebrate Easter? Why are we back to talking about Jesus’ words to his disciples right before his death?” And what does the word “abide” mean here? Good questions! We’ll cover that and more as it relates to what it means to be a person of faith in a post-Easter world, where Jesus is no longer physically present right in front of us.Scripture passage: John 14:15-21
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During the Sundays after Easter we contemplate what it means to live a life of faith… connected to God and one another. This week’s text from John brings us alongside Philip and the other disciples as they begin to face the idea of “life after Jesus.”
Overcome with angst, the disciples wanted to know who they would be and how they would operate without Jesus physically present. Thomas said to Jesus, “We do not know where you are going.” Philip pleaded, “Show us the Father and that will be enough.” Jesus spoke words of reassurance and instruction to the disciples and to us today… helping us to remain grounded in Christ while navigating life in uncertain and difficult times.
Scripture passage: John 14:1-14
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This Sunday is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” a day to explore biblical images of the “good shepherd” who calls, leads and protects us. This week’s scripture reading from John draws our attention to Jesus as “the shepherd” as well as to Jesus as “the gate.” How do we hold these two images together? In what ways do those images challenge us and how do they lead us, in the gospel writer’s words, to “abundant life”?
Scripture passage: John 10:1-10
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Ordination is one part celebratory worship, one part sacred consecration, and one part solemn mystery. Today Pacific Beach UMC is honored to host the Church Within A Church ordination of our beloved sibling Adam Edward Marshall. In the CWAC tradition, it is the community that confers ordination—not a bishop, or board, or institutional authority.
Scripture passage: Esther 4:10-17. The order of service is here.
For more information on the Church With A Church Movement, visit www.cwac.us.
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Have you ever had one of those “lightbulb” moments? You’ve likely seen them in cartoons when a character is deep in thought and suddenly — a lightbulb appears over their head! Obviously it’s played for gags in those contexts, but have you ever felt like that in real life? I know for me the lightbulb moment NEVER happens when I need it to. Usually it’s so long after the fact that it ceases to be useful. Have you ever wondered what that “lightbulb” moment was like for the disciples after the Emmaus road? Think about that Emmaus experience from Luke 24 as we prepare for guest preacher Adam Marshall on Sunday.
Scripture passage: Luke 24:13-35
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Easter is more than a day… it’s a season! Join us this Sunday as we move into the season of resurrection and new life, gathering with Jesus, Thomas and the other disciples amid fear and doubt, to receive Jesus’ words of peace, presence and promise. Our guest preacher is the Rev. Lesley Brogan.
Scripture passage: John 20:19-31
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Join us today for Easter Worship! Our sermon series has highlighted essential aspects of “the gospel good news,” awakening our hearts and souls and senses to the God of good news at work within and around us. This week we celebrate this most joyful truth: The Good News Is Alive in the World!
Scripture passage: Matthew 28:1-10
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Join as we gather to remember the Passover meal where Jesus gathered with his disciples for a “last supper” and gave them a new commandment, “to love one another.”
Scripture passages: Exodus 12:1-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31-35
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This week we continue our Lenten sermon series…The Good News Is…! Lent prepares us and moves us toward the good news of Easter. Each week we’ve examined a different aspect of “the good news,” awakening our hearts and souls and senses to the God of good news at work within and around us.
This week, as we enter into Holy Week, we’ll explore a central component of Christ’s good news: It inspires us to act.
Scripture passage: Mark 11:1-11
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This week we continue our Lenten sermon series…The Good News is…! Lent prepares us and moves us toward the good news of Easter. Each week we’ll examine a different aspect of “the good news,” awakening our hearts and souls and senses to the God of good news at work within and around us.
This week we explore a central component of Christ’s good news: Rooted in Justice, Mercy and Faithfulness.
Scripture passages: John 8:2-11; Matthew 23:23
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This week we continue our Lenten sermon series…The Good News is…! Lent prepares us and moves us toward the good news of Easter. Each week we’ll examine a different aspect of “the good news,” awakening our hearts and souls and senses to the God of good news at work within and around us.
This week we explore a central component of Christ’s good news: Protection and Care for the Vulnerable.
Scripture passages: Matthew 19:13-15; Deuteronomy 24:17-22
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This week we continue our Lenten sermon series, The Good News Is…! Lent prepares us and moves us toward the good news of Easter. Each week we’ll examine a different aspect of “the good news,” awakening our hearts and souls and senses to the God of good news at work within and around us.
This week we explore a central component of Christ’s good news: Together…the impossible is possible.
Scripture passages: Mark 6:32-44; Ephesians 3:20-21
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This week we continue our Lenten sermon series… The Good News Is…! Lent prepares us and moves us toward the good news of Easter. Each week we’ll examine a different aspect of “the good news,” awakening our hearts and souls and senses to the God of good news at work within and around us. This week we explore a central component of Christ’s good news: great love for God and neighbor. It sounds simple but, the more we try to live it out, we find it requires our attention and intention!
Scripture passages: Luke 7:36-50; Matthew 25:35-40
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Due to technical difficulties, today’s video has no audio. To hear a separate audio recording of the sermon, click on the Listen button above.
This week we begin our Lenten sermon series: The Good News is…! Lent prepares us and moves us toward the good news of Easter. Each week we’ll examine a different aspect of “the good news,” awakening our hearts and souls and senses to the God of good news at work within and around us. This week we begin with the account of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana and the parable of the mustard seed. We’ll take a look at how these passages remind us that “the good news is… so good that it catches us by surprise!”
Scripture passages: John 2:1-11 and Matthew 13:31-32
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Transfiguration Sunday is observed on the last Sunday before the season of Lent begins. Since Epiphany Sunday in early January, we have contemplated the glory of God as it’s revealed in and through Jesus. This Sunday puts an exclamation point on that theme as we witness Jesus’ glowing transfiguration on a mountaintop in the presence of patriarchs of old as well as three of his disciples.
What is the takeaway from this mountaintop experience for the disciples and for us? What might we learn about the nature of God’s glory, not only on the mountaintop, but also on the dusty paths back down into the valley?
Scripture passages: Matthew 17:1-9
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We continue in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, shifting from Jesus’ description of God’s realm to instructions for those who follow Jesus. In this passage, Jesus calls his followers “salt of the earth” and “light of the world,” imploring them to be more righteous than the religious leaders of that day. What does it mean for us to be “salt” and “light” and how does that relate to being “righteous” in today’s world?
Scripture passages: Matthew 5:13-20
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Last Sunday we heard Jesus’ words about the kingdom of heaven coming near. This week we gather with the disciples to listen in on Jesus’ “sermon on the mount.” Jesus begins his ministry offering words of “blessing.” But who is characterized as “blessed” goes against the grain of who the world, then and now, calls “blessed.” Join us as we explore the upside down world of Christ’s realm through these words of love and encouragement.
Scripture passages: Matthew 5:1-12
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Today we spend time with Matthew’s version of Jesus’ move to Galilee, where he called his first disciples to “follow him.” What does Jesus mean by “Repent”? Why and how did those fisherfolks respond so quickly and decisively to Jesus’ invitation and how are we to understand Christ’s invitation to a new way of life in this day and age?
Scripture passages: Matthew 4:12-23
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Today we have the joy of celebrating the baptism of baby Julian! We’ll ponder Jesus’ invitation to discipleship, “come and see,” reflecting on what that means for Julian’s life as well as for each of our own.
Scripture passages: John 1:29-42
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Today, join Rev. Lesley Brogan as we explore together the story of the “Healing of the 10 lepers”… but only one comes back to say thank you. “Your faith has made you well.” What’s in a healing? Is it from the outside-in or the inside out? “Your faith has made you well.” Who turns back to say thanks, to tell the story?
Scripture passages: Luke 17:11-19
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On this Communion Sunday, we meet Timothy, a young minister in the early church who experienced ups and downs in his life of faith. Perhaps like us, Timothy struggled as he navigated paths of suffering and uncertainty. How might Timothy’s story connect with ours? And what can we learn about faith, hope and resilience from this snippet of correspondence between Timothy and his mentor?
Scripture passages: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
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It has widely been said that only two things are certain: Death and Taxes. It’s possible that “hoarding wealth” should be added to that list. Unfortunately that would make the aphorism lose its punch.
The authorship of our scripture passages this Sunday span nearly a millennia. Even today, two thousand years after the gospel’s writing, we still see clear evidence of humans hoarding wealth. Is this anomaly or inevitability? Several studies in recent decades point to a link between wealth/affluence and reduced empathy. Whether this is correlation or causation is largely outside the concern of these scriptures, which instead focus on the moral downsides—lack of sympathy and care. What are we to do with these reminders to notice and address inequality and injustice? Join us this today as we wrestle with both Amos and Luke.
Scripture passages: Luke 16:19-31 & Amos 6:1, 4-7
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Today we will wrestle with one of Jesus’ most challenging parables, the parable of the dishonest steward. Jesus’ parables were designed to shock and surprise listeners into engagement and this parable is a perfect example. What do we do with these verses that seem to recommend a conniving and dishonest way of being in the world? How might we tease out the gist of Jesus’ advice for the “children of the light” as he points them…us…to learning a thing or two from the “children of this age?”
Scripture passages: Luke 16:1-13
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Have you ever lost something and invested an over-the-top amount of time and energy to find it? If yes, you have a small glimpse into the heart of our searching God who is unrelenting when it comes to finding the lost. Who was Jesus talking about in these parables? Are we the ones who are lost, or the ones who seek, or are we the community that is called to rejoice when the lost are found? Or maybe a little bit of all three?
Scripture passages: Luke 15:1-10
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In this week’s lectionary reading, Jesus helps us to see how opting into kin-dom living doesn’t necessarily happen in extraordinary moments in our lives. In fact it often happens in the most ordinary moments, including how we gather around tables. Today we get a glimpse into how that might have unfolded through the eyes of Sophia, a servant in the house of a prominent pharisee where Jesus was invited to dine.
Scripture passages: Luke 14:1, 7-14
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This Sunday is a 5th Sunday, which means we have the treat of hearing from one of our own! Many of you know Tim Adams as a kind, intelligent, musical and creative soul among us. You may not know that he is also an art historian, author, and lecturer, specializing in historical goldwork, particularly the work of Carl Fabergé, jeweler to the Russian Imperial Court.
Today, Tim takes us on a fascinating exploration of the creative spirit, both as an innate, vibrating aspect of God and as well as imbued in each of us as God’s creatures. Find out how string theory connects science and religion, and how the Biblical jeweler Bezalel sets an example of using God-given gifts to create beauty in the service of God.
Scripture passages: Romans 12:4-8, Genesis 1:2-3, Exodus 31:1-5
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Our lectionary reading this week invites us into the story of the “bent over woman.” It’s hard to approach this text without feeling the weight of the world on our shoulders… our personal concerns, our worries for the world, everything that feels heavy or unmanageable. How does this word from Jesus revive our spirits and the soul of our weary world?
Scripture passages: Luke 13:10-17
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Today we are confronted by a scripture passage about Jesus that has the potential to cause confusion or alarm. We know Jesus to be the one who brings peace—shalom—to the world. Why on earth would he say he comes to bring division? In a time in history when we feel profoundly divided, one from another, is there any guidance or good news to glean from Jesus’ words?
Scripture passages: Luke 12:49-56
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Join us for our second hymn sing concert, a collaborative effort between St. Mark’s UMC and PB UMC. Renowned gospel pianist Ellen Marsh will be joining us again this year. We hope you enjoy our performance at PB UMC!
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Some of us are travelers, who love to get out and about in the world and some of us feel content staying right at home. But all of us have embarked on a journey of faith that has somehow changed and shaped our lives. Our text from Hebrews this week invites us to contemplate our faith journeys, remembering from whom we’ve come, giving thanks for what sustains us on the way and looking forward to that which continues to beckon us on down the road.
Scripture passages: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
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Today’s scripture passage invites us to contemplate our stuff! As children of God, as members of God’s commonwealth, how do we think about our possessions? What’s the difference between “possessions” and “treasures” and how does Jesus help us around “spiritual congestion” in order to let God’s blessings flow?
Scripture passages: Luke 12:13-21
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Today’s scripture passage invites us into a reflection on prayer. In this passage from Luke, Jesus teaches the disciples not only what to pray, but how to pray. What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? And what difference does it make to have prayer woven into the fabric of our lives?
Scripture passages: Luke 11:1-13
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Today’s scripture passage invites us to continue our reflection on hospitality, this week through the lens of sisters, Mary and Martha. This short passage will touch a chord for many of us who find ourselves duty bound, sometimes griping and grumbling our way through parts of our days. What did Jesus mean when he told Martha that her sister had “chosen the better part” (ouch!) and what is the invitation he extends to his beloved friend, Martha… and to each one of us?
Scripture passages: Luke 10:38-42
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This week’s scripture passage invites us to reflect on the notion of neighbors! Who are our neighbors? How are we called to interact with them? How does Jesus put a rather extraordinary spin on these seemingly ordinary questions?
Scripture passages: Luke 10:25-37
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Today is outdoor church! Join use as we gather on this long Independence Day weekend to contemplate how Jesus sends his followers out into the topsy-turvy, sometimes hospitable, sometimes hostile world to be bearers of peace.
Scripture passages: Luke 10:1-11
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This 5th Sunday, we are honored to have Dr. Bill Harpur as our speaker. Bill shares his thoughts on unity through the lens of his life experience and faith. How are we all connected to each other and to God?
Scripture passages: Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, Matthew 22:39, Matthew 6:33, Luke 17:20-21
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Today we come alongside the prophet Elijah who found himself exhausted and afraid in his quest to answer God’s call and carry out his particular ministry. Many of us may relate as we hear Elijah cry out, “Enough! Enough! I’ve had it! That’s enough!” Elijah wanted to die. But God had something else in mind. Join us as we reflect on Elijah’s journey, his search for God and how and why he found the courage to carry on.
Scripture passages: 1 Kings 19:1-15
We had technical difficulties with the recording today. Words to the hymns were not embedded as usual–please click Save above to see the words in bulletin. Sound was poor until about 11 minutes 20 seconds in; scroll back if you want to see the beginning. Thank you for your patience as we troubleshoot!
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Pastor Lori, Ken Brown and Ron Jessee have just returned from the Cal-Pac Annual Conference in Indian Wells. Today they share updates on the Conference and reflections on this year’s theme, “Cherish.” What are concrete ways we can cherish those in our congregation and in the community around us?Scripture passages: John 13:34-35
We regret that today’s video was not recorded successfully. Click the Play button above to listen to audio of the conference reflections.
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Today, Rev. Dan helps us explore the power of a name. What does it mean to “hallow” a name? Or to “profane” a name? Can a name describe not just a person but a relationship? Thank you, Rev. Dan, for sharing your words and wisdom!
Scripture passages: John 17:26
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This Sunday we return to the Gospel of Mark and to a passage that is familiar to some… the widow’s mite. This passage is often shared by churches during stewardship season to encourage generosity! But a second look reminds us of its words of wisdom related to generosity in “giving” but also, and maybe more importantly, its guidance regarding integrity for the people and institutions who “receive.” What do we… both givers and receivers… have to learn anew?
Scripture passages: Mark 12:38-44
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This week we conclude our “Do Unto Others” series with a focus on love. Over these five weeks, we’ve remembered Christ’s call to kindness, compassion, humility, respect, and love. While the world doesn’t prioritize these values, they are the ones that come to us directly from Jesus, the ones that can and will lead us more deeply into and toward God’s kin-dom as it comes on earth.
Nationally, this week is full of tension and anticipation, hope and anxiety. These are very real feelings and we pray for this nation and its people as we exercise our freedom to vote. Our scripture reading reminds us that we can and will disagree about much. But these words of Jesus also invite us to consider if we might do so in a spirit of kindness, compassion, humility, respect and, above all, love for one another.
Scripture passages: Matthew 22:34-40
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We continue in our five-week series “Do Unto Others.” We’ve explored how kindness, compassion and humility are central to our interactions with others, especially when we find ourselves in places of conflict or on “opposite sides of the aisle.” This week we’ll explore the role of respect as we seek to live out our faith amid the daily joys and challenges of our lives. The word respect comes from the Latin word “respectus,” which means “the act of looking at one often, to consider, to observe.” How might a holy respect draw us back to engagement with others, to the work of “looking again,” where we may have disconnected in anger, frustration or lack of understanding?
Scripture passages: 1 Corinthians 12:1-26
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We continue in our five-week series “Do Unto Others.” We’ve explored how “kindness” and “compassion” are central to our interactions with others, especially when we find ourselves in places of conflict or on “opposite sides of the aisle.” This week we’ll explore the role of humility as we seek to live out our faith amid the daily joys and challenges of our lives. The words “human” and “humility” come from the same root word. Can prioritizing “humility” in our lives help us to see one another more clearly as fellow humans, each one beloved by God?
Scripture passages: Ephesians 4:1-6
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Compassion can be a sticky thing, especially when thinking about extending compassion across lines of political difference. Isaiah gives us a radical and mind-bending vision of what peaceful compassion might look like. But what if compassion doesn’t start within relationships, but instead within ourselves?
Join us as we explore ‘Compassion’ in our Do Unto Others series!” The self-compassion exercise that Adam mentions in his message is available here.
Scripture passages: Isaiah 11:6-9
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Bonus! The Tritones’ afternoon concert can be streamed here:
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This Sunday we begin a five week series called “Do Unto Others.” Many of us feel saturated by the vitriol and animosity that has become standard fare in our political conversations. In the midst of it all, how can we stay true to our convictions and engage one another as people and not as positions? And how are we as the church called in these particular days to live out Jesus’ words to do unto others as we would have them do unto us? Join us this week as we begin to explore life in the “purple zone,” the space where we are not “red” or “blue” but where we come together to be our best selves and do our best work in and through Christ Jesus.
Scripture passages: Luke 6:31-36
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In the Bible, God’s physical presence with humans is noted in at least five different ways…walking with Adam in the Garden of Eden, within the flaming bush before Moses, in the Ark of the Covenant kept in the Tabernacle and Temple of Solomon, in the person of Jesus, and at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit became the presence of God among God’s people. Throughout Christian history, our places of worship have used light as a metaphor for the presence of the Almighty. Where is God’s presence and light in our world now, a world that seems so desperate to see it?
Scripture passages: 2 Samuel 7:1-7; Jeremiah 3:16
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According to Jesus, the ways of discipleship are deeply counter-cultural. Want to be a follower of Jesus? Give your life for others in order to save it. Strive to be at the back of the line instead of the front. Turn the “ladder” of honor and privilege upside down. In fact, dismantle it altogether. Be with and for one another in ways that defy cultural norms but that encircle all God’s children into a communion of neighborly love.
Scripture passage: Mark 9:30-37
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The language of the gospels can sound peaceful and poetic to those who are familiar with it and peculiar and puzzling to those who are not. In our world today, what do these words about losing and saving life and following Jesus really mean?
Scripture passage: Mark 8:27-37
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Bonus: the Louis and Friends concert is also available online! Click below:
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Last Sunday we wrestled with Jesus’ challenge to be more pure in heart than pure in tradition. This week’s reading about Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman invites us to take the next step…to consider how we might be called to stretch spiritually in order to put Jesus’ words into practice.
Mark 7:24-37
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Our scripture reading for this Sunday draws our attention to the power of tradition. When does a tradition offer healthy structure and a sense of belonging and when does it get in God’s way? The biblical tradition in question has to do with the state of our hands. On this Sunday of Labor Day weekend, we’ll focus on hands and their remarkable role in God’s good labor. Our service will include a “Blessing of the Hands.”
Scripture: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21
Audio is a bit choppy until the 11:30 mark of the video. To skip directly to the sermon, click on the Listen button above.
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This is our second week exploring the Letter to the Ephesians. Last week we examined what we might let go of in order to live into God’s intention for us and the world. This week we contemplate what we can “put on” in service to God’s kin-dom. This passage is full of language that has the potential to ruffle our “spiritual” feathers. But it also offers us courage and hope for living lives of peace and promise in a world that still struggles between death-dealing forces and forces that bring love and light.
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20
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We will be spending the next two Sundays exploring parts of the Letter to the Ephesians. Its author reminds us that we live with one foot in “this world” and one foot in another. By the grace of Jesus Christ, we are invited to live into and be a part of an “alternative community,” where we seek to “imitate God.” How is that even possible? If we were to take that seriously, what would it require of us and how would it make a difference to the world around us?
Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-5:2
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Psalm 130 is one we might want to carry in our back pockets these days. It’s not very long and its verses linger in our hearts, minds and spirits. It contains words for crying out from the depths before the morning watch… before morning comes. And it reminds us, all the while, God is there, somehow seeing “backward and forward.”
Scripture: Psalm 130
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As human beings we are designed to hunger… in body and in spirit. But understanding our hunger can be a tricky thing. Does it lead us down paths of destruction or does it turn our hearts and spirits toward God and one another?
Scripture: John 6:24-35
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Mavi Gonzalez has experience as a certified lay speaker in the UMC and while she’s moved all about, she’s a longtime member and friend of PB UMC. We are delighted to welcome her home this Sunday and look forward to her reflections on how God’s created world informs and inspires our faith.
Scripture: Job 12:7-10
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Join us for Pride Sunday as look back at “what was,” mark the moment of “what is,” and lean into “what will be.” We celebrate the truth that all people are created in God’s image and that we, as individuals and in community, are called to draw the circle wider in Jesus’ name!
Scripture: Mark 3:20-35
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What on earth do we have to learn from a fickle King and a headless prophet? This account of the death of John the Baptist is a strange and disturbing piece of scripture tucked in between accounts of Jesus and his disciples going out and about to liberate and heal. Why did Mark include this account here and what does it have to say to us today?
Scripture: Mark 6:14-29
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Jesus “hit a bump” when he attempted to minister in his hometown of Nazareth. It was a good opportunity to teach his disciples (then and now) what it means to travel light as we journey through life and seek to be of consequence for Christ in the world.
Scripture: Mark 6:1-13
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On 5th Sundays we shake things up and see other faces/hear other voices from within our diverse and delightful congregation! Today Ken Brown, our Lay Leader and Church Council Chair, will bring the message, inviting us to consider our faithfulness to God as well as God’s continued faithfulness to us.
Scripture: Mark 5:21-43
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The account of Jesus stilling the waves and the wind is one that touches hearts and souls deeply. While most of us haven’t found ourselves on storm-tossed seas, all of us have weathered turbulent times in life, times when fear rises and faith falters…because we are human. Join us as we explore Mark’s version of this account. We’ll struggle together with Jesus’ words that feel a bit stinging and lean together into the the divine invitation to hold fast to faith even in the midst of fear.
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
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In the midst of this growing season, spring turning to summer, Mark offers us delightful words about seeds! Jesus used the humble seed when talking about the kingdom of God and how it is coming. How often do we pray these words…”Thy kingdom come?” We long for the coming of God’s kingdom (or sometimes we say kin-dom!) with its fullness of peace, joy, justice, well-being and love for all the earth. On the days when we are hopeful AND on the days when we fret we are moving in wrong directions or will never get there, how might Jesus’ words about seeds offer us hope and reassurance?
Scripture: Mark 4:26-34
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We are so fortunate to have Rev. Dan Meyer-Abbott with us again today! Today Rev. Dan reflects with us on what it means to be human and a child of God.
Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9
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This Sunday we are delighted to welcome back Rev. Dan Meyer-Abbott. As some know, Rev. Dan did a ministry internship at PB UMC many years ago and lived in one of the duplexes across the parking lot. Rev. Dan is now a retired United Methodist Minister who most recently served Jacumba UMC. He is a father, grandfather, Padres fan and an expert in End Time Theology and Church and State History. And our very own Ron Jessee played the organ at Dan and Linda’s wedding! Please welcome Dan and Linda warmly as they share with us this coming Sunday. What does the coconut have to do with communion? Rev. Dan explains…
Today we also welcome the paradise Valley UMC Youth Choir and Handbell Ensemble from Paradise Valley, AZ under the direction of Dr. Ashley Strawser.
Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-3
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On this Trinity Sunday, we explore Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus as Nicodemus struggles to understand the meaning of being “born again” or “born from above.” What invitation does Jesus extend to Nicodemus and what must Nicodemus wrestle with as he seeks to enter more fully and deeply into relationship with God?
Scripture: John 3:1-17
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Today is Pentecost, also known as the “birthday of the church.” We remember the coming of the Holy Spirit and the ways the gathered community was amazed and transformed. How do we encounter the Holy Spirit today? Can and will we be amazed and transformed? And if so, what difference might that make…in us and to the world around us?
Scripture passages: Acts 2:1-21
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What does it mean to be “in” the world but not “of” it? How do we live deeply, fully, faithfully in this precious world AND remember that we belong to another world as well… the kin-dom that is still becoming? What does one have to do with the other?
Scripture passages: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; John 17:6-19
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Today we continue with the notion of “abiding in Christ,” examining the invitation to “abide in Christ’s love.” But for what purpose? To what end? Our gospel reading spells it out for us. We abide in Christ’s love for the sake of complete JOY! How does joy show up in our lives? And how do we take part in “completing joy” as it seeks to move in us, among us and around the world?
Scripture passages: Acts 10:44-48; John 15:9-17
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Today we delve into two scripture passages, exploring the notion of what it means to abide in Christ and to allow Christ to abide in us. To what extent do we choose such abiding? And how does the encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch flesh out the details of how that might look in our day to day lives?
Scripture passages: John 15:1-8; Acts 8:26-40
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This is Creation Care Sunday. On this Sunday closest to Earth Day, we celebrate God’s creation and remember our connection to one another and all that God has made. Rev. Lesley Brogan, an ordained UCC minister, is our guest preacher.
Scripture: Selections from Psalms
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Today we conclude our Wandering Heart series, having wandered with Peter through the ups and downs of his faith development as he journeyed alongside Jesus. In many ways, our scripture passage for this Sunday brings us full circle… back to fishermen by the seashore, doing what they do best: fishing. In this passage from John, the disciples encounter the risen Christ who prepares breakfast for them over an open fire. And after feeding them, Jesus instructs Peter to “feed my sheep.” Jesus leaves “his heart” with the disciples and, in turn, asks them to give their hearts to the world.
Scripture: John 21:1-19
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Today we welcome Certified Lay Minister Dakota Koenig from UMC Vista to bring us the message on living in gratitude. In her first career, Dakota served as a Teacher, Principal and District Administrator. She was selected as Prized Principal of the Year in San Diego County.Scripture: Luke 17:11-19
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Today, Easter Sunday, we come together to rejoice in the power of God’s love and the message of the empty tomb. We’ve been “wandering” with the disciple Peter all throughout Lent. Today we contemplate HOPE… what that meant and how it came for Peter and what it means for us in the context of our lives and world.Scripture passage: Luke 24:1-12
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Today, Palm Sunday, we continue in our Lenten series following along with the disciple Peter as he companions Jesus throughout his ministry. As Holy Week begins this Sunday, we’ll stand with Peter and the other disciples as they watch Jesus enter Jerusalem on a donkey, welcomed by crowds waving palm branches and crying “Hosanna,” which means “Save now!” After everything they’d been through, after everything he knew (and still didn’t know) about Jesus, what must Peter have felt as he watched Jesus and heard the hopeful songs of the crowd? What would he remember about those “Palm Sunday” moments when this week ended and all was said and done?Scripture passage: John 12:12-16
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Today we continue in our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. We are quickly approaching the events of Holy Week but make one last stop with Peter and Jesus as Peter asks a sincere question of his teacher… how many times do I forgive? Perhaps there is no other question that is more timeless. How does our faith teach us about life in a complex world? What does it look like for us to practice forgiveness?
Scripture passages: Psalm 130:1-8; Matthew 16:21-23
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Today we continue in our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. Last week Peter hit a high note. When Jesus asked who Peter believed Jesus to be, Peter said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Today’s scripture passage opens our eyes to the fact that Peter, while he had the right words, didn’t entirely have the right understanding. He was “fixed” on the notion of a Messiah who would free them from Roman rule. When Jesus began to talk about how things would get tough–really tough–Peter rebuked him, unable to accept Jesus’ talk of suffering and death. Jesus, in turn, offered a rebuke of his own.
Peter’s experience invites us to reflect on our experience. What happens to us in the face of tough times? How do we hold the reality of suffering, our own or others, alongside a belief in a loving God?
Scripture passages: Psalm 130:1-8; Matthew 16:21-23
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Today we continue in our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. Each week we hear about an encounter between Peter and Jesus, allowing us to come alongside Peter in his growing faith. In today’s text, Jesus asks the disciples who others say he is and the disciples reveal what Jesus already knows…that there’s much confusion about who he is! But when Jesus asks who they say Jesus is, Peter (who is still Simon) doesn’t miss a beat. He says, “You are the Son of the living God.” It’s then that Jesus gives him his new name, Peter. Peter sees Jesus clearly in that moment and speaks with conviction about what he knows. His experience invites us to reflect on our own faith journeys. When have we seen Jesus clearly and how do we speak with conviction about what we know? What we believe?
Scripture passages: Psalm 19; Matthew 16:13-20
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Today we continue in our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. Last week we focused on the calling of Peter. This week we’ll spend time with the account of Jesus walking across the water toward the wind-battered boat to reach the disciples. Peter attempts to walk on water in order to meet Jesus and finds himself sinking. He cries out for Jesus to save him. What does it mean to be “rescued” or “saved” by Christ? How do we trust in God’s saving power while bearing witness to so much suffering in the world? How does this part of Peter’s story illumine our own faith journeys, inviting us to grow closer to Christ and one another?
Scripture passages: Psalm 36:5-10; Matthew 14:22-33
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Today is the beginning of our Lenten sermon series featuring one of the most well known disciples, Peter. Peter had a faith journey that was full of ups and downs, making him relatable for most of us. Today’s scripture passage focuses on Jesus’ calling of Peter: how he sought him, a fisherman, in the midst of his daily work. As we explore Peter’s calling, we’ll also reflect on the beginning of our faith stories. When and how did Jesus seek us? How are we responding to God’s call?
Each week in Lent, our scripture reading about Jesus and Peter will be paired with a line from the hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” This week the phrase comes from verse 2 of the hymn and from the line that says: “Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God.”
Scripture passages: Psalm 25:1-10; Luke 5:1-11
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What goes up, must come down…that’s how the old saying goes. And that holds true in the Gospel of Mark. The first part of the Gospel leads up to this mountaintop moment, what we’ve come to know as the transfiguration of Jesus. It’s a dazzling moment, full of light, awe, wonder and glory. But as Jesus and the disciples descend from the mountain, everything seems to literally and figuratively go downhill. How did that mountaintop moment change or equip Jesus and the disciples for what was ahead as Jesus’ path takes a decisive turn toward Jerusalem and the cross? How do moments of light, awe, wonder and glory change and equip us for the ups and downs of life’s journey?
Scripture: Mark 9:2-9
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Seeking is a fundamental part of our human journeys and our lives of faith. We are mindful of God who seeks us. We seek deeper and more meaningful connections with the Divine and one another. Our scripture reading from Mark invites us to reflect on the notion of “seeking.” When and how does “seeking” impede the movement of the Spirit and when and how does it lead us deeper into relationship, light and life?
Scripture: Mark 1:29-39
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Today we find ourselves in the very early parts of Mark’s gospel, discovering more and more about Jesus and his ministry. Our text for this week reveals Jesus as a teacher and an exorcist. A demon asks Jesus this crucial question: “What have you do with us?” Join us as we explore the ways this ancient question has relevance for our lives today.
Scripture: Mark 1:21-28
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Today we welcome Certified Lay Minister Dakota Koenig from UMC Vista to bring us the message. Dakota invites us to consider the “dash” between the beginning and end of our lives, and how God is with us as the ups and downs strengthen us for the journey.
In her first career, Dakota served as a teacher, principal and District Administrator. Now, she serves the church on many committees and is also Lay Leader, a participant on the District DPAS Committee, and has served as Chairperson of Staff Parish. She currently serves as Chairperson of Congregational Care.
Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20
Apologies that the video has no audio during the introit. Audio starts after four minutes with Louis’s welcome.
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Rev. Lesley Brogan is our guest preacher this week. Join us as she helps us explore what it means to “come and see” in our path of discipleship.
Scripture: John 1:43-51
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Today we conclude our “How Does a Weary World Rejoice” series. Our final Sunday, which falls on Baptism of the Lord Sunday, invites us to “trust our belovedness.” As we baptize several of the children of our church, we have the opportunity to remember/renew our own baptisms as well.
Scripture: Luke 3:21-22
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On this 5th Sunday, our Lay Leader and Church Council Chair, Ken Brown, offers the year-end message. We continue in our “How Does a Weary World Rejoice” series. Ken helps us explore the relationship between rooting ourselves in holy ritual and the ways we bloom and blossom in and for the world.
Scripture: Luke 2:21-38
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On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we continue our reflection on “How does a weary world rejoice?” We sing stories of hope: that’s what Zechariah did, and Mary, too! We’ll explore how music and singing supported “robust hope” for those who came before us, what it does for us today and how those tunes and melodies will support and transform generations still to come.
Scripture: Luke 1:46-55, 67-80
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On this 3rd Sunday of Advent, we continue to contemplate the theme, “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” This week we spend time with the notion of amazement and awe. Can we grow in our capacity to be amazed and to experience awe? How are awe and amazement related to joy?
Scripture: Luke 1:57-66
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Today on the second Sunday of Advent, we continue to contemplate the notion of how a weary world rejoices. What is happiness? What is joy and where does it come from? What part does connection with others play in joy?
Scripture: Luke 1:24-45
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Today we explore the Bible passage about Moses and the burning bush. How does God reveal God's self to us? Where and how are we invited to take off our shoes in recognition that we are standing on holy ground? And what are the invitations God extends to us in this time and place?
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It can be tempting to get stuck in a cycle of slaving away and planning for the future. The Israelites were instructed to collect only the manna that they needed. In seasons of rest, how can we be intentional with actively resting? What practices or societal pressures threaten to draw us back into the “rat race”? How should we believe or how should we live if we were to take this admonition seriously?
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We continue in our month-long exploration of rest. We’ve explored the importance of the commandment to remember the Sabbath and some of the challenges related to keeping it. Today we take a look at our theme through the lens of two Gospel readings, reminding ourselves of Jesus’ words and practices around the Sabbath. We’ll explore ways we can get “off course” from the true intention of Sabbath and reorient ourselves…away from “measuring up” and toward “measuring” that which is truly valuable from the perspective of Sabbath rest.
Scripture passages: Mark 2:23-28; Mark 6:31-34
Due to technical difficulties, there is no video recording of this week’s service. Please click on the Play button above to hear the audio sermon.
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Today we explore these questions about rest through the lens of the prophet Elijah and the much cherished psalm, Psalm 23. Is rest really that important? What happens to us when we don't honor the rhythms of life to which God calls us? What is the personal and communal fallout when we fail to rest?
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Throughout the Sundays of August, we'll explore the notion of rest and renewal from a biblical and theological perspective. What is God's hope and intention for the rhythms of our human lives? What is Sabbath and what difference does it make to us as Christians in 2023?
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Jesus gives us a single sentence about bringing treasure that is new and old. Was he saying that some parables are old and stale? Is one to be preferred over another?
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This Sunday we spend time with the parable of the wheat and the weeds, featuring a "good farmer" with "good seed" and a "bad farmer" with "bad seed." How does this ancient parable speak to the modern church as we struggle with "good and bad" in our world, in our churches and within ourselves?
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Join us for Pride Sunday at PB UMC! We engage with Paul's words from Romans: Nothing can separate us from the love of God!" These are wonderful and life-giving words. But given everything our world is going through, including all that the LGBTQIA+ community endures, can we really believe that they're true?
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This Sunday we spend time with Matthew's version of the Parable of the Sower. What constitutes "good soil" and what conditions are necessary for us to spiritually flourish, as individuals and as a community? What is Jesus trying to tell us about discipleship and ministry?
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Join us for both sacraments of the church! What are these rituals and what do they mean? How do they connect us to the Spirit of the Living God and God's amazing and never failing grace?
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This week our text from Matthew invites us to explore and learn more about the nature of discipleship. We'll reflect on the complexities of how we are in relationship with the world and with one another.
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Matthew's text invites us to (re-)enter into the calling and sending of Jesus' disciples. What if our names were added to the list? What if, as Tom Berlin encouraged, we were invited to spend the rest of our days "doing good well"?
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Today, Rev. Dan Meyer-Abbott helps us reflect on love. What is Paul getting at when he talks about love? What is it and isn't it?
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Rev. Dan Meyer-Abbott guides us today in contemplating our faith journeys using the imagery of running a race. How does preparing for a race, running a race and finishing a race empower and guide us as we seek to live a life of faith?
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Today we celebrate the day of Pentecost! On this special day we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit and celebrate the birthday of the church. What difference does the Holy Spirit make in our lives and our world today? How does the Holy Spirit continue to move between and among us? Join us as we seek the divine Spirit who is also seeking us.
Scripture passage: Acts 2:1-21
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Today is Ascension Sunday and we take a look at the account of the recently resurrected Christ being taken up or ascending to heaven. This account is described at the very end of the Gospel of Luke and at the very beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. Why and how is Jesus’ ascension significant at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry and at the beginning of the mission of the church? And what does it mean for us as we seek to be the church in and for the world today?
Scripture passages: Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11
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Today we continue in what’s known as the “Farewell Discourse” in the Gospel of John, taking a deeper dive into what exactly it means to follow in Christ’s Way. Jesus had some very specifics “asks” of disciples then and now AND he offered the promise of divine presence that would remain with his followers always.
Scripture passage: John 14:15-21
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Our scripture passage is one we often hear at memorial services or funerals but today we’ll take a look and listen from a different perspective. What does it mean that Jesus prepares a place for us? How is that a present reality in addition to a future promise? And what difference does it make for how we think about creating place and space for one another?
Scripture passage: John 14:1-14
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This Sunday is 5th Sunday Service and we’ll get a jump start on Mental Health Awareness Month, which runs through May. Let’s take a deeper look at mental health awareness together and share what each of us can do to be a support and comfort to others, and how we can do this spiritually through love for one another.
Scripture passages: Romans 8:31-39; Romans 12:12-15
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The story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus guides this Sunday. It’s an account that invites us to contemplate how we live into our understanding of “resurrection” and the role of our “traveling companions” on this sacred journey.
Scripture passage: Luke 24:13-35
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Was it just a week ago that we gathered to sing our Easter morning “Alleluia”? And in our gospel lesson for today we learn that the followers have locked themselves in a quiet and dark room. And into the stark room the first words heard by them and now by us, “Peace be unto you.” Timeless words given and heard as if for the first time. Join us as Pastor Les shares the message and as we continue to celebrate the glory of Easter!
Scripture passage: John 20:19-31
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Today we celebrate the risen Christ, naming and claiming the power of resurrection within and among us! Our world hungers for hope, for promise, for good news. Let us open our hearts and spirits in worship to receive that glorious news once again. As our own cups are filled, may our lives become vessels that carry that life-giving news to others.
Scripture: John 20:1-18
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Our spirited and talent-filled choir, Voices of Praise, leads us into Holy Week this Sunday with the musical presentation of Pepper Choplin’s Upon This Rock. We come alongside Simon Peter as he companions (and fails to companion) Jesus through the last days of his life. We are reminded that with all of his strengths and weaknesses, Christ chose Peter to be “the rock” upon which his church would be built.
Scripture passages: Matthew 21:1-11
To skip directly to the musical presentation in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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On this 5th Sunday in Lent, we’ll tackle the question, “Can These Bones Live?” Our passages from Ezekiel and John remind us of the depth of our struggles and our capacity, at times, to lose hope. What message do these texts seek to give us as we rapidly approach Holy Week? What might they say to us about hope for ourselves, for our loved ones and for our hurting world? During this particular time and place, what do our hearts and lives need in the way of hope and how are we called to share that hope with others?
Scripture passages: Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45
To skip directly to the sermon in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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This Sunday we delve into the question that was asked by the disciples when they came upon a man who was blind from birth. “Who sinned?” they asked. “This man or his parents?” This has been a Lenten season full of question asking. This week we come face to face with the reality that there are some questions that are better than others. Good questions lead to wonder, exploration and discovery. Bad questions, often based on assumptions, lead to narrowness and judgment.
Join us as we come alongside Jesus, the disciples, the man who received his sight, the community around him and ALL of the many questions that were asked. We’ll explore some of the many issues raised in this text, including issues around illness and suffering. We’ll also examine our own style of question-asking…do our questions tend to shut us or others down or do they lead to connection and life?
Scripture: John 9:1-41
To skip directly to the sermon in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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We are nearly halfway through the season of Lent and this week our scripture readings draw our attention to themes of water and thirst. The Israelites in the wilderness feared for lack of water, questioning if God was still with them. The Samaritan woman, who came to the well for water, was surprised when Jesus crossed every “appropriate boundary” to engage her, asking for a drink of water. Join us as we consider who literally thirsts for water in this contemporary day and age and how we thirst, physically or spiritually, for the type of sustenance that only God can provide.
Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-30
To skip directly to the sermon in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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This is the second Sunday in Lent and we continue in our sermon series, “Seeking: Honest Questions For Deeper Faith.” The question that guides us this week is “How Do We Begin Again?” We’ll spend time with two different biblical ancestors, Abram and Nicodemus. In Genesis, we hear God call Abram to “begin again” by leaving his homeland and setting off in new directions. In the Gospel of John, Jesus challenges Nicodemus to “begin again,” not with a new location but with a new understanding and point of view.
How have we experienced “beginning again” in our lives? Why do we sometimes resist it? How might God be inviting us to “begin again” this Lenten season? Join us as we ask good questions and seek deeper communion with God and one another.
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4a; John 3:1-17
To skip directly to the sermon in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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This is the first Sunday in Lent and we begin our sermon series, “Seeking: Honest Questions For Deeper Faith.” As we enter into this holy season, we seek all kinds of different things. We seek God, the one who created us and loves us. We seek wellness and meaning for our lives and the lives of those we know and love. We seek the reign of God’s peace and justice in our community and throughout the world. Questions are natural and abundant for those who are seeking and rather than shy away from our questions, we will welcome and embrace them this Lent, gleaning wisdom and inspiration from biblical ancestors, fellow seekers, who have gone before us. This week we begin with the story of Eve in the Garden and Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. These accounts remind us of something essential…that seeking begins with listening.
Scripture: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11
To skip directly to the sermon in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
So much of our faith is holding on and letting go. It is our learning and learning again ways to navigate through our mountaintop and deepest-valley moments. Transfiguration Sunday invites us to engage with words that can companion us as we soon turn our hearts to Jerusalem…”Stand up. Be not afraid.”
Join us this Sunday as guest preacher, Rev. Lesley Brogan, guides us in and through Transfiguration Sunday as we make our way toward the season of Lent.
Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9
To skip directly to the sermon in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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This week we wrap up our sermon series in 1st Corinthians. Paul, frustrated with the worldly ways of the Corinthian Church, begins by chastising the divided community, essentially calling them spiritual babies and telling them to “grow up.” Paul then leads us into imagery that includes a Divine Gardener…where many play a part working in the field but God is the One and Only who makes things grow.
What is our role in the garden? And how, by the grace of God, will this garden grow? Join us as we contemplate the essence of Paul’s message as it challenges and encourages us at PB UMC today.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:14-16
To skip directly to the sermon in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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Today we return to our semi-continuous readings in Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. This section of Paul’s letter reminds us of what we sometimes forget…the message of the cross, when viewed through a worldly lens, is scandalous. How and why would God work through a cross, symbol of death and powerlessness, in order to reveal God’s power? Join us as we think, pray and sing about this symbol central to our faith, exploring what it means for us and our lives.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
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This is a 5th Sunday which means our Education Team provides leadership and includes some folks and faces who we don’t always get to see up front! Dart Rhoades’ message focuses on something our hearts and minds and spirits need to return again and again…forgiveness.
Scripture: Ephesians 4:32
To skip directly to the sermon in the video, click on the Listen button above.
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We continue in Paul’s letter to the community in Corinth, diving into the details of the conflicts, disagreements and struggles that divided their community. Their ancient struggle strangely reflects some aspects of our modern day predicament as we too bear witness to conflicts within the church that can decenter our focus on Christ. This text raises difficult questions about how the church finds and maintains “unity” without sacrificing justice and a firm commitment to beliefs or practices that seem essential to life grounded in the Gospel. Join us as we explore these issues and ponder that challenging, essential, elusive notion…Christian Unity.
Scripture passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
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Join us as we begin a series on 1 Corinthians. What does it mean to us that we are able to “read the mail” of this ancient Greek community? Do Paul’s very particular instructions have meaning for God’s church in Pacific Beach (and elsewhere) today? We look forward to diving in together as we draw alongside Paul, the church in Corinth and one another to be guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit, holding us all.
Scripture passage: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
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Help us to welcome one of our own to the pulpit this Sunday. We are grateful to Rev. Warren Dale Blackford for filling in while Pastor Lori is on vacation. Rev. Blackford was ordained in 1983 by Unity School of Christianity. He has served five ministries as Senior Pastor, most recently in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and is author of the book Seeds of Content: Sprouting Full Joy from Utter Despair. Father of two daughters and a grandson, he has lived the past ten years in Pacific Beach with his partner, Marina Marsh, regularly attending PBUMC.
Join us as Rev. Blackdale reflects on the words of Jesus in order to strengthen our understanding and nurture our faith!
Scripture passage: John 8:42-58
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This is Epiphany Sunday as we begin the new year with a wonderful guest preacher! Karen Scanlon, a Certified Lay Minister, is a lifelong Methodist who remembers well those little wooden Sunday School chairs and the sweet spirit of a grandmother’s “Methodist” lap. She has served in various capacities at St. Mark’s UMC for lots of years, especially in children’s ministries. As a freelance writer her works include teacher/children curriculum and in the genre of historical non-fiction.
As we begin a new year, join us as Karen leads us in reflection on how we will spend the time we have been given.
Scripture passage: Matthew 2:1-12
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On this 4th Sunday of Advent, we spend time with Mary and Elizabeth, two expectant mothers who encounter one another with love, care and blessing. This beautiful text raises the question of what it means to be “blessed.” How do we understand blessings and in what contexts do we experience them? We’ll explore this and more as we make a final stop before Christmas on this last Sunday of Advent.
Scripture passage: Luke 1:39-45, 56-58 and Luke 1:46-55
Please scroll forward to about 4:40 in the video for the beginning of the recording. Note that no there is no audio-only recording of this service.
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Join us as we delight in the music of Christmas and celebrate the meaning of this sacred season! Voices of Praise will be joined by a small orchestra as they share Mary McDonald’s Festival of Christmas.
Scripture passage: Matthew 1:18-25
Note that no there is no audio-only recording of this service. Please enjoy the video!
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We are living into the season of Advent, a season that invites us to slow down, to take deep breaths, to wait and listen as we anticipate the coming of Christ. This service we spend time with Mary who received news from the Angel Gabriel that she was to bear a son. The angel’s words, “Do not be afraid,” are words that are repeated over and over again throughout scripture. What did Mary make of those words? What do they mean to us as we move through this Advent season? How do we take them to heart and what difference do they make in our own lives that are so often touched by anxiety and fear?
Scripture passages: Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 1:26-38
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This Sunday marks the beginning of the Christian year as we enter into the season of Advent. Advent is the liturgical season when we prepare for Christ’s coming in the birth of the baby Jesus. It is a time of waiting, watching, hoping, praying and staying attentive to the movement of God’s Spirit. We begin with Jesus’ genealogy from the Book of Matthew. At first glance, it appears to be a laundry list of names. But as we move closer, we discover that each name represents the story of a person…a story that is profoundly connected to the story of Christ’s coming into the world. Join us this Sunday as we ponder names and stories, theirs and ours, in preparation for God’s incarnate love as it comes to us once again this season.
Scripture passages: Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 1:1-17
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How can we build vision amidst trials and tribulations we find all around us?
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Join Pastor Lesley as we explore the question; what does it mean when we ask God to "Save us from the time of trial.”?
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Has a loved one in your life passed this year? Join us as we light candles and remember the saints of our lives.
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Can prayer work as a shopping list? Does God give you all the things you ask for in prayer?
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How much is "enough" and what does God want from us when it comes to managing our resources?
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Did you know that our church has been around for 75 years? Come join in the 75th Anniversary Celebration with some familiar faces!
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Together with Tim we explore our human attempt to create a portrait of Jesus throughout Western art history, and the different forms it takes on.
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Is Jesus still in the habit of inviting himself over for dinner? How might we respond to such an invitation? And how would our response shape our ability and desire to gather at Christ's table with siblings near and far, like us and very different?
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We continue in the Gospel of Luke, a gospel that focuses our attention again and again on our use of resources and our treatment of those in society who are most vulnerable.
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Today we spend time with possibly Jesus' most perplexing parable! Why on earth does Jesus seem to commend the dishonest manager and what is Jesus, along with the gospel writer, Luke, trying to tell us about money, resources and fullness of life?
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Today marks the 21st anniversary of 9/11. We lost so many and so much on that day, yet we have a God who searches wholeheartedly for each one.
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Join us for our Labor of Love Celebration with special guest Pastor Bob Rhodes!
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Jesus attended a dinner at the home of one of the religious leaders. Jesus offered advice about more than just table manners...he was talking about Kingdom manners.
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Join us on Sunday to hear more about the "bent over woman" and explore what it might mean for us and our world today as we continue to seek freedom from that which binds or diminishes us.
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Who on earth is Eutychus? Join us as we ponder Eutychus' story, his experience in that upper room and how he might encourage us in relation to those who have "fallen" in life or "fallen away" from the life of the church.
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Through the story of Judas we are reminded that we grow in faith in many different ways.
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This week we are exploring the story of Mary Magdalene with guest speaker and Sunday School Director, Dart Rhoades.
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This Sunday we will return to the story of Jesus' birth and infancy, focusing on a woman and prophet named Anna.
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This Sunday we are delighted to welcome the Rev. Lesley Brogan as our preacher. She will help us explore the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch, inviting us into the realities of his difficult life, the hurdles he faced, and the depth of his faith.
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Today we begin at the beginning...with Adam and Eve, focusing on the second creation story (yes, there are two of them!). This story looks less at the creation of the cosmos and more at God's intention for human community.
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Neighbors...they can be a joy and/or a struggle! This Sunday we are spending time with one of Jesus' most well known parables, the parable of the Good Samaritan.
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Today's passage gives us the opportunity to reflect on what it means for us to "follow Jesus," and how that takes shape in unique ways in each of our lives.
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Our Gospel reading is the account of "Legion," a man occupied by many demons. We explore this fascinating text, digging in a little deeper to find ways that this passage intersects with our lives..
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Come and enjoy the "Phun" as Pat Walker journeys with us through the various mysteries in Physics, Philosophy and "Phaith." With a pinch of humor, a shake of meaning, and a cup of faith, Pat walks with us as someone trying to understand and be thankful for it all.
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Pentecost is the fiftieth and last day of the Easter Season, the day the church received the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s considered the “birthday of the church” as the gathered assembly received the Holy Spirit. How does the spirit break out of our expectations and become "too hot to handle," even today?
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Today we remember the victims of the Uvalde shooting, share our grief and tears and reaffirm our faith, holding fast to the hope we receive from God through Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Join us on Sunday as we explore these passages that remind us of the divine vision that guides, encourages and inspires us.
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Peter's world was turned upside down when he realized the Holy Spirit was pushing and expanding the boundaries of their faith community in order to include those who had previously been adversaries.
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This week we spend time with the only woman in the Bible who is named as a disciple...Tabitha. (Also known as Dorcas.) (Which can be translated gazelle!) Tabitha was well known in the community for her charitable spirit and good works supporting widows and the poor.
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Paul went from being early Christianity's biggest threat to being its biggest proponent, following an unexpected and life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. We may not match the high drama of Paul's story, but what can we learn about how God transforms individual identity and uses us as instruments in God's unfolding story?
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It's Jesus' first post-resurrection appearance. The disciples, understandably afraid, were holed up, locked inside, unsure and uncertain about what would happen next. Jesus came to them, showed them his wounds and breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. Bring your hope, fear, doubts, struggles...bring it all and come as you are!
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We have been intentional this Lent in our exploration of what it means to be "filled to the brim" and to lean into the abundant and expansive life to which God calls us. There is no day that "overflows" with God's love and grace more than Easter.
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Good Friday marks the day when hate and fear did their worst...the day of Jesus' crucifixion. On this day of grief and sorrow, we will gather with one another, in God's care, to remember Jesus' death on a cross.
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We join together to explore the meaning of the last supper, and to celebrate Holy Communion. Online participants are invited to prepare bread and grape juice (or wine as appropriate for your home).
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Our talented and dedicated choir leads us through the joys and sorrows of this important day through the eyes of the very human Apostle Peter in a a beautiful musical presentation, "Upon This Rock."
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Mary anointed Jesus's feet with expensive perfume. What bold, brazen acts of faith, beauty and love might we be called to as we approach Holy Week this year?
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Bailey Brawner leads us through a reflection on the Parable of the Prodigal Son as we work to be open to God's perspective and really allow ourselves to be known by God.
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Adam will be leads us through a reflection on the Parable of the Fig Tree as we contemplate God's care and nurture in this holy season.
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Our scripture passage for this second Sunday in Lent has us contemplating the nature of God. Jesus describes himself in a somewhat surprising way...like a mother hen who wants to gather in all of her baby chicks.
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Today we introduce our Lenten theme, "Full to the Brim." We will contemplate what we need to "do" or "undo" in order to lean into the abundant life God offers.
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This Sunday will mark the end of the season of Epiphany, a season when the identity and mission of Jesus are revealed in small and large ways. Our text for this week is Luke's account of the Transfiguration, arguably the grandest of all the epiphany accounts.
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We continue this week in Jesus' sermon on the plain. Last week we contemplated what Jesus' "blessings and woes" told us about God. This week we dive into what that might look like, in practical terms, for each one of us.
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Come with us as we challenge our mainstream understanding of the word "blessed" and expand our thinking, seeing and understanding beyond "me" to embrace a divine sense of "we."
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After a demoralizing night of attempted fishing, Jesus instructs Simon to go back out into the deep waters and drop his nets for a catch. Miraculously, Simon pulls in such an abundance of fish that other boats and fisherfolks come to his aid.
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Today, Jesse Hodge, will be reflecting on the calling of the young prophet, Jeremiah, encouraging all of us to consider our own calling in this precious life.
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Today we look at the beginning of Jesus' ministry from Luke's perspective. In Luke, Jesus' ministry starts in the middle of a worship service. Jesus stands in the synagogue, reading scripture in his faith community. But the ordinary turns extraordinary when Jesus makes an astonishing claim!
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Today we spend time in the Gospel of John with the first of seven "signs" that Jesus performs or offers, each one giving us a glimpse into his true identity and mission. This first sign is the account of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
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This is the perfect season to be intentional about new beginnings! Imagine what LOVE looks like in this new year.
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The Bible says very little about the childhood of Jesus but today we spend time with the one and only passage that provides a window into Jesus’ boyhood. Interestingly enough, the snapshot we get of Jesus’ young life is, in some ways, not at all extraordinary. If you were ever lost as a child OR if, as a parent, you’ve lost track of your child, you’ll be able to relate! Join us as we spend time with this interesting passage that gives us a glimpse into Jesus’ young life and his growing understanding of who he was and what he was to be all about.
Scripture passage: Luke 2:41-52
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Our California-Pacific Annual Conference has gifted us with a special Christmas Service called Light in the Darkness. Our Bishop, Grant Hagiya, preaches today on this meaningful topic, sharing his thoughts, hopes and encouragement with all of us as we enter into 2022!
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This evening we share in a traditional service of Lessons and Carols which includes the reading of the Christmas story, inspiring music and a Christmas message. At the end of the service, the light from the Christ Candle is carried out into the courtyard and the world.
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On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we take a step closer to the manger, spending time with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Our text returns us to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah where Mary finds refuge in the early days of her pregnancy. What did it mean for her to find safe space in the midst of that uncertain time? How did that safe haven impact her capacity to be “Theotokos,” or “God-Bearer”—the one who provided the first home and safe space for God incarnate? We’ll ponder these things along with our own experiences of giving and receiving sanctuary.
Scripture passage: Luke 1:39-55
Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of the service are missing. We join the service during the opening announcements. Turn up the volume to hear it all!
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Last week we spent time with Zechariah’s beautiful blessing for his newborn son, John, and this week we meet John, fully grown and in the wilderness, as he calls others to repentance in order to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. What does that mean and how does it get expressed in the real lives of listeners of that day and listeners today? How can we hear John’s severe language as “Good News” and how does John’s ministry move us closer to the JOY to which God calls us? Join us this Sunday as we continue our journey in and through Advent and as we light the third Advent candle, the candle of JOY! Scripture passage: Luke 3:1-18
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Because God is a God of relationships and stories, the birth of Christ is not a solitary, disconnected event. The birth of Christ is woven into the fabric of relationships and the stories of others. This week we begin to explore the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist with a specific focus on John’s father, Zechariah. Zechariah offers a blessing for John’s life at the time of his birth, a blessing that will shape John’s life and ministry for all his days.
Scripture passage: Luke 1:57-80
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This Sunday is the beginning of a brand new Christian year! It is the First Sunday of Advent and we begin the preparations of our hearts and spirits for the coming of Christ at Christmas. We are thrilled to welcome Mavi Barrena as our preacher for the day! We’ll light the first Advent candle, the candle of Hope, as we begin our journey toward Bethlehem.
Scripture passage: Luke 21:25-36; Jeremiah 33:14-16
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Most would be confused or upset at the thought that “sorrow is better than laughter” like it states in Ecclesiastes 7:3. When we pretend that everything is okay, we are not handling our deep hurts and griefs—the only way to do that is to feel them and to open ourselves to healing. Putting on a happy face is not always right for our soul.
The servant found Rebecca at the well (Gen 24), Jacob found Rachel at the well (Gen 29), and the Samaritan woman found Jesus at the well (John 4). These Biblical figures went to the well because they knew that’s where they could get what they needed. Favorite and popular scripture passages are wells of inspiration, and God can choose to inspire us through any number of mediums… fiction, movies, nature, state parks, regular gatherings. Whenever you find yourself in need, go back to that well of inspiration.
Scripture passage: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
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We have spent this last year navigating our way through the Gospel of Mark and this week’s reading brings us full circle, back to the place we started. This section of Mark is known as “apocalyptic” and it points our hearts, minds and spirits to that which God is revealing in our midst. It encourages us to ponder if and how God is afoot—with life, hope, promise—even in times when things appear to be falling apart.
Scripture passage: Mark 13:1-8
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This Sunday we celebrate All Saints Sunday, a day when we are especially mindful of the great cloud of witnesses and the communion of the saints. It is a day of acknowledging death and the tears, grief and sadness that accompany it. But it is also a day of holding fast to life, including life in our here and now and the promise of life eternal to come. We honored members of our church family and other loved ones who have died in the past year with a special candle lighting ceremony. We created an All Saints banner, where members pinned a bell or bells onto the banner in memory of their loved ones. Our text for this Sunday is the raising of Lazarus, one of seven “signs” in the Gospel of John that reveals Jesus’ identity and mission. Join us as we explore this meaningful text and celebrate resurrection hope!
Scripture passage: Isaiah 25:6-9; John 11:32-44
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As Christians, we speak about love, we sing about love, we pray about love, we talk about love…the word “love” is so familiar and embedded in every aspect of our faith that it’s possible to hear the Great Commandment and miss the truly radical and life-altering nature of this divine call! What is this love to which we are called? How is it different than other types of love? How do we embody and enact this love in ways that unleash the grace of God and the love of Christ in the world? Join us on Sunday as we sit with this remarkable exchange between Jesus and one of the scribes. Scripture passage: Mark 12:28-34
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Our scripture reading for Sunday draws us into the world of Bartimaeus, a blind man begging on the streets, whose encounter with Jesus not only changed him but the entire community around him. This account raises tender and important issues around healing, hope, and discipleship.
Scripture passage: Mark 10:46-52
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Today is Laity Sunday when we lift up and celebrate the ministry of the laity. And PBUMC has remarkable laity! We are reminded once again that ministry is not just the function of ordained clergy. It is the calling of every Christian as we seek to share the inviting, healing, transforming love of God in the world. Ken Brown, our Lay Leader and Church Council Chair, will be offering the sermon this week. We are so blessed to have Ken’s leadership each and every day and I know we will be inspired by his words and witness this Sunday! Scripture passage: Mark 10:35-45
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A Blessing of the Animals is often celebrated close to the Feast Day of St. Francis (October 4th) and we are partaking in this wonderful tradition this morning! We delight in the knowledge that all of God’s creation is GOOD. We will be lifting up, in word and song and story, thanksgiving for the many blessings we receive through our pets and all of God’s glorious creation.
Scripture passage: Genesis 1:20-25
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Today, along with siblings in Christ around the world, we will be celebrating World Communion Sunday. In literal and figurative ways, we will be “at table” with one another, near and far. Please join us in person or online as we reflect on the sacrament of Holy Communion and what it means, in the midst of all of our differences, to come together at Christ’s Table.
Scripture passage: Galatians 3:23-29
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