Weekly Sermons, Announcements and Events
First Mennonite Church November 20, 2022 Contentment and Thanksgiving Text: Philippians 4:10-20 Besides other themes that can be found in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, one that stands out holds a tension between joy and suffering. Paul was suffering in a Roman prison at the time he wrote the letter. The Philippians were suffering for … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church November 13, 2022 A Testimony of God’s Salvation Text: Titus 3: 3-8 Let me begin by saying that there are many people who do good things in the world. There are many who make sacrifices to serve the needy around them or those in faraway places. There are many who are passionate … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church November 6, 2022 A Different Kind of Fear Text: Mark 4:35-41 Last Wednesday night, Hurricane Lisa made landfall on the coast of Belize. Although it was a category-1 hurricane, there was extensive damage to property and lots of rain. In Belize City, the sea surge reached up to eight feet high in … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church October 30, 2022 A Prayer Offered on Our Behalf Text: John Chapter 17:1-3; 20-23 Mary was Lilian’s English teacher when we lived in Elkhart, IN. Lilian and Mary kept in touch even after we moved back to Belize. Shortly after we arrived here in Paso Robles in the fall of 2005, Lilian … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church October 23, 2022 Living the Resurrected Life Text: Colossians 1:1-5, 9-13; 2:6-14; 3:1-4 Just once again to refresh our memory: regardless of how beautiful, meaningful, or theologically laden a passage might be, it can be better understood in light of the whole book, especially when the passage is from one of the … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church October 16, 2022 When Grace Touches the Heart Text: Luke 19:1-10 When God appeared in the world or to people, both the world and those to whom he appeared never were the same again. In Genesis, where we find God’s first appearances, the world came into being; it teemed with life, beauty, … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church October 9, 2022 Proclaiming the Gospel as We Go Text: Matthew 10:1-20 I will help us a lot to look at what Matthew says at the end of chapter nine in order to understand our passage. So, here it is: 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church October 2, 2022 Communion: A Witness of God’s Grace and Call Text: Luke 22:14-23 There are views about the meaning and purpose of why Christians should celebrate the Lord’s Supper. I have heard pastors describe it as the spiritual thermometer for believers. They believe that by whether a believer participates or not … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church September 25, 2022 Text: Psalm 119:169-176 Prayer and the Pray-er—the Precant How often do you pray? And when you pray, what concerns or petitions you bring before God? Have you seen God answering your prayers? Last week, before Jasmine went back to Davis, she was telling me about the testimony of one … [Read more…]
Willow Creek Mennonite Cemetery Sunday, September 18, 2022 Biblical Reflections Exodus 3:1-6 This place is special and sacred to us all. Yet, for many of you and your past relatives, this place is sacred for many more reasons. As most of you know, there was a church building here that burned down in the winter … [Read more…]