Preaching Through the Week

Text: Romans 8:18-25 Theme: Hope Reflection: What is it you long for today? Paul's writing in Romans guides us through human reality (suffering) into divine revelation (God's work). In this year 2020, certainly these words speak loud and true. One does not have to look far to understand the presence of suffering: -global pandemic -racial injustice -economic hardships -abuse of mother nature -isolation and loneliness -anxiety over the future These are but a few examples of ways in which I have seen, or experienced, suffering recently. You could add your own to the list, but the point remains; individually and collectively, suffering is a part of our human experience. Paul acknowledges this, and we, too, must acknowledge this as a part of our lived reality. Good news in this is that God does not forsake, nor abandon, that which God has created. God continues to usher in hope, in in the midst of suffering. God has sent the Son, Jesus Christ, so that the world may

Text: Psalm 145:8-14 Reflection: There are many ways we can describe God. We use language that we understand (for me, it happens to be English) to describe a God that is beyond any string of words. This psalm provides language that describes both who  God is, and how  God works in the world. This language is not all encompassing, nor it is perfect. But this language gives us more than a glimse of who God is. The Psalm today is rooted in who God is- one who offers grace and mercy. One who is slow to anger, and loves abudandtly and reliably! God is good, and acts with compassion. God is faithful, and God holds up those are falling and brings up those who are bowed down. In these few verses of this particular psalm, a lot about God is revealed. The hinge upon this all swings is that God is relational. God reaches out, to you and to me, through Jesus Christ on the cross. God reaches out, to you and to me, through the Holy Spirit, who continues to bind us to faith, unite us in God