Weekly Sermons, Announcements and Events
First Mennonite Church December 30, 2018 Making Known His Grace Text: John 1: 1-5, 9-17 John introduces Jesus not as a baby that was born, but in a rather lofty and poetic language. John celebrates the coming of Jesus, emphasizing his origin, relationship and identity with God. He was the Word, the Word with God, … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 23, 2018 Christmas: A Love Story Text: Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew’s narrative tells us that Joseph is a righteous man. That means Joseph is a God-fearing and law-abiding man. He is humble, honest and simple. Zechariah and Elizabeth are also described as Joseph is, according to Luke, chapter one, verse six. Joseph’s … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 16, 2018 Advent: Joy, A Costly Gift Text: Luke 2:1-20 Often times what we see is not always the real thing. Take for instance photographs of the rich and famous. By photoshopping photographs, not only blemishes or the original backgrounds and other undesired features in the picture can be removed, but … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 9, 2018 Advent Walking In the Way of Peace Text: Isaiah 9:6-7; Hebrews 12:14 Isaiah’s prophecy announces the birth of a child king. By the description given of this child, the obvious is that it is referring to the birth of God’s promised Messiah. “Prince of peace” is one of the … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 2, 2018 Advent: A Seedling of Hope Text: Isaiah 11:1-10 Have you heard about “Seasonal Affective Disorder?” This is the official name given to the condition of the change in mood or spirit affecting people due to the shortening daylight time in December and January. For many people, winter is a … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church November 25, 2018 “Hearing God’s Word Afresh” Text: Deuteronomy 18:15-22 In many Latin American, Asian and African evangelical churches there is a new office in the church leadership: prophets. I remember this issue being raised at a meeting of a national church convention in one Central American country. When the issue of … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church November 18, 2018 Give Thanks In All Circumstances Text: Psalm 100; 1Thessalonians 5:18 Every year, in early November, Carolanna sends me the sign-up sheet with the Thanksgiving Sunday Dinner menu. Every time I get the menu, it seems as if the year got shorter than the previous one. And so, here we … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church November 11, 2018 You Are My Friends Text: John 15:9-17 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church November 4, 2018 So Are You in My Hand Text: Jeremiah 18:1-6 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church October 28, 2018 Matthew 16:13-20 “And He Is . . . .” Here is a sample of today’s response to the question Jesus made to his disciples, who to people say that I am? “I have always heard the name Jesus so I’ve never really had a Jesus-is-my-Savior epiphany. However, I’ve always been … [Read more…]